On Wings of Blood - Chapter 37 Summary
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Several weeks have passed since the last events. Medra receives her Wintermark exam results: a Commendable in Restoration, an Excellent in Basic Combat for Blightborns, another Commendable in Advanced Weaponry, and a Weak in History of Sangratha—where she faced plagiarism accusations. Florence earns top marks across the board, and Naveen is satisfied but refuses to share his grades. Medra’s nightmares have shifted from Blake to a dragon destroying Bloodwing, and a few more tremors have occurred without alarming the faculty.
The term ends with snow blanketing the campus and the upcoming Frostfire Festival and Dance of the Longest Night. Medra has no date and lies to Florence, claiming she will attend with Blake and Regan so that Florence and Naveen can enjoy their time alone. While walking to lunch, Kage Tanaka, the highblood House Leader, intercepts her. He asks to speak privately, then invites her to the ball as his date, arguing that she deserves better than Blake. More importantly, he reveals that if Medra refuses to consent to the bond, Blake may be unable to feed from her blood, offering a possible escape from the consort arrangement. Medra, suspicious of his motives but enticed by the prospect of freedom, agrees to think about his offer.
Key Events
- Medra passes her Wintermark exams with mixed results, achieving her highest mark in Basic Combat and a weak pass in History.
- Florence and Naveen plan to attend the Dance of the Longest Night together, and Medra lies about her own plans to give them space.
- Kage Tanaka intercepts Medra in the corridor and asks for a private word.
- Kage invites Medra to the ball as his date, framing it as a way to defy Blake and prove she is not a pawn.
- Kage reveals that withholding consent to the bond can prevent Blake from drawing power from her blood, hinting at a path to freedom.
- Medra decides to consider the offer, aware that Kage is using her for leverage but willing to use him in return.
Character Development
Medra Pendragon demonstrates resilience and strategic thinking. Rather than wallowing in her unwanted consort status, she actively seeks ways to regain agency—first by lying to protect her friends’ happiness, then by entertaining an alliance with Kage. Her suspicion of his motives shows she is not naive, yet her willingness to consider his proposal indicates a growing desperation to break free from the Drakharrows.
Kage Tanaka emerges as a shrewd and calculating figure. He openly admires Medra’s unyielding spirit and uses flattery and truth to court her. His knowledge of the bond’s mechanics and his willingness to challenge Blake suggest he sees Medra as a valuable piece in a larger political game. His charm is palpable, but his ultimate loyalty remains questionable.
Florence and Naveen remain supportive offscreen, with Florence trusting Medra’s lie and Naveen showing nervous anticipation about the ball.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Power and Agency: The chapter explores Medra’s limited options. Both Kage and Blake try to use her as a tool, but Medra begins to assert her own choices, however constrained.
- Consent and Autonomy: Kage’s revelation that blood-feeding requires the consort’s consent introduces a counterweight to the enforced bond, making Medra’s willpower a source of potential freedom.
- Alliance and Manipulation: The invitation is a mutual exploitation. Kage wants to wound Blake; Medra wants to escape her cage. Their transactional dynamic reflects the highblood world’s pragmatism.
- Fire Imagery: Kage compares Medra’s hair to dragon fire, linking her fiery spirit to her rider blood and foreshadowing her untamable nature.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter introduces Kage Tanaka as a major player in Medra’s story. His invitation—and the crucial information about consent—opens a new avenue of resistance against Blake’s control. It deepens the school’s political intrigue, foreshadows the ball as a stage for confrontations, and sets Medra on a path where alliances may prove more powerful than brute force. The seeds of potential escape are planted, raising the stakes for the upcoming Dance of the Longest Night.
Study Questions and Answers
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What exam results does Medra receive, and what do they reveal about her strengths?
Medra earns a Commendable in Restoration, an Excellent in Basic Combat, a Commendable in Advanced Weaponry, and a Weak in History. Her combat marks highlight her physical resilience and skill, while the low History grade shows the ongoing tension with Professor Hassan. -
Why does Medra lie to Florence about having a date for the ball?
She wants Florence and Naveen to have privacy and enjoyment without feeling guilty about leaving her alone. The lie reveals Medra’s selflessness and her desire not to be a burden despite her own loneliness. -
What potential escape from Blake does Kage reveal, and how does Medra react?
Kage explains that if Medra refuses to consent to the bond, Blake cannot feed from her blood, weakening the power that the Drakharrows hoped to gain. Medra feels excitement at the possibility but remains wary of Kage’s motives, ultimately agreeing only to consider the invitation.