On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn

Here is a summary, with spoilers for On Wings of Blood

In a prologue, a male reflects on a decision he made. He appears to have used his fangs to take blood from a girl he loves. He did this—and perhaps something else—to betray her, but believes she will forgive him. However, when he looks at her, all he sees is betrayal and hatred in her eyes. Then the ground shakes, and the two are violently torn apart.

Rewind ten months. Medra, princess of Camelot and a powerful fae, awakens in a new world, having just sacrificed her life to kill a corrupt god. She wakes up in a pile of dead bodies. A group of people searching for survivors finds her. Leading the group is a handsome prince. They notice she is marked—by her pointed ears (which they’ve never seen before) and her red hair—and refer to her as a Blight-Born. Prince Blake Drakharrow takes her to a council, noting her unique traits. He also reveals that he and his people are High Bloods, or vampires, and tells her she should feel honored if they choose her to feed from.

While at the council, a woman’s voice suddenly enters Medra’s mind. She can’t figure out where it’s coming from or who it belongs to. When asked who she is, Medra announces herself as Medra Pendragon, claiming she’s not from their lands and that many of her memories are gone—though this is a lie, meant to protect herself. She soon notices that everyone around her has blonde, white, or silver hair—no other shades. The council mentions there haven’t been dragon riders in over a hundred years, but they note that Medra has the build of one. They decide to keep her to preserve the bloodline for potential future riders. To ensure this, they bind her to Blake. After sharing blood, the two are marked, and Medra gains the official title of Second Betrothed to Prince Blake.

After the council, Blake brings Medra to Bloodwing Academy. He is a third-year student there, and she is to begin attending. Blake mentions she likely won’t last a term, since everyone else earned their place—unlike her. Medra quickly befriends Florence, a non-vampire who offers her support. However, it is Regan, Blake’s first betrothed, who is assigned to show Medra around. Regan makes it clear she is no friend and sabotages Medra’s first day. Medra observes how mortals revere the vampires as gods, but she speaks out, insisting that all should be treated as equals.

Regan’s sabotage continues when Medra is misled into a weapons class meant for third-year vampires. Despite this, she stays and holds her own, even when one of the students beats her unfairly. Impressed, the professor offers her a permanent spot in the class. Her day ends with Regan using compulsion to humiliate her. That night, Medra addresses the mysterious voice that has appeared in her mind several times throughout the day. The voice claims it saved her by bringing her to this new world—and then reveals that it is her deceased mother, Orcades.

The next day, Medra receives a new schedule with two professors who genuinely want to teach her—one for weapons training, the other for mind shielding. As time passes, she grows to despise the High Bloods, who act superior and treat others as beneath them. She wonders if the dragon riders once kept them in check.

Blake then gets a point-of-view chapter. The evening after becoming betrothed to Medra, he angrily confronts his uncle, who tells him to deal with her. Blake also meets with his sister Aenia and his cousin/best friend Theo. Theo is sleeping with men, which their house disapproves of. Blake’s brother Marcus is also present—he is next in line for the throne and just as arrogant as any other High Born.

Medra’s studies continue. One night, she attends a party Theo invited her to, accompanied by Florence. Florence is nearly killed by compulsion. They flee, but not before Blake kills the attacker. On their way out, Medra sees a child who had taken blood from a small animal, which is now dying. She tries to heal it but eventually asks Blake for help. He reveals it was Aenia who did it and promises to speak with her.

Medra learns more about her bond with her mother and discovers it’s likely a blood bond—once common among vampires, dragons, and riders. She learns of two upcoming trials: one for house leaders to be challenged and another where betrotheds must protect one another. She is forced to take part in the second, with Regan as her ally. During the house leaders’ trial, one of Blake’s friends challenges him. A brutal fight follows, but Blake wins. He’s then summoned by his uncle, who tells him to keep Medra in her place.

Medra continues her mind shielding lessons. One day, Blake is her teacher. He doesn’t hold back and finds memories of her past life and a great battle. Suddenly, a woman’s voice forces him out of Medra’s mind—and she enters his. She senses his hatred toward her and sees other memories before he pushes her out and storms off.

Medra uses old spellbooks to cast her mother’s voice from her mind. Though it saddens her, she knows it must be done. She finishes the spell, but instead of vanishing, her mother’s spirit is trapped in a dagger. Before anything else can happen, Blake appears and enters a secret tunnel. Medra follows and finds him feeding on a willing girl. She is caught, and afterward, she and Blake share their first kiss.

They avoid addressing the kiss for weeks. During that time, first-term exams take place, and Medra feels confident. She also continues to have recurring dreams about dragons—and Blake. Meanwhile, Blake struggles with his conflicting feelings for her. Medra tries to make peace with Regan in hopes of cooperating during the trials, but Regan refuses.

After exams, the winter festivals begin. Kage, a head of another house, asks Medra to go with him—to spite Blake and show her she doesn’t have to be a pawn. Medra also learns she can escape her betrothal if she continues to refuse Blake's blood.

At the winter ball, Medra attends with Kage, making Blake jealous. Blake manages to get one dance but fails to say anything meaningful. He leaves in secret, hoping Medra will follow—which she does. They stumble upon a vampire ritual, which quickly turns dark. A Blight-Born girl is killed, her blood drained by the High Born. Blake is shocked—it wasn’t supposed to happen. Medra is furious. She tells Blake he should be better, but she is disgusted by what he’s part of.

Back at the castle, panic erupts—a child is missing. Medra and Blake find Aenia feeding from the child. Blake protects Medra from Aenia but also shields Aenia. Weeks pass with Medra ignoring Blake, until he forces a conversation. He gives her his blood to help with the trials and reveals a secret: Aenia is not truly his sister. He turned her as a child to save her life, but the turning didn’t take. Aenia now struggles, and if anyone finds out, they could both be killed.

Two days later, the trials begin. Thanks to Blake’s blood, Medra survives. She and Regan manage a temporary truce, though Regan still makes things difficult. The trial ends with Medra being forced to mercy-kill her friend, Naveen. Days later, she is still devastated. A meeting is called between Blake, Medra, and Regan—for breaking rules during the trials. Blake and Medra are found not guilty. Blake ends his betrothal to Regan, and Medra is given the choice to decide Regan’s fate. She spares her, believing that killing her wouldn’t bring peace.

Blake then meets with his uncle and claims that he and Medra have completed the bond—to protect her. This means they must actually complete it. He plans to do so the next day.

That night, Blake bites Medra, tasting her blood. She hadn’t agreed to this and pushes him away, furious that he treats her like something to own. Blake insists the bond is now complete, and he can no longer feed from anyone else. He uses the bond to force her to stay still and continues feeding from her against her will. As this happens, the ground shakes—a giant awakens. Nyxaris, the black dragon, has returned, somehow thanks to Medra, though she hadn’t meant to summon him. She tries to bond with him, but he refuses. He simply wishes her luck—and flies off into the sky.