Characters On Wings of Blood Briar Boleyn

Blake Drakharrow: The Cold Vampire Prince Bound by Blood and Duty

Overview

Blake Drakharrow is the vampire prince of House Drakharrow and a central figure in On Wings of Blood. Introduced as cold, arrogant, and fiercely loyal to his house, he is bound to Medra Pendragon through a blood ritual orchestrated by his uncle, Lord Viktor Drakharrow. Throughout the story, Blake struggles between his duty to his family, his possessive obsession with Medra, and a reluctant attraction that challenges his ruthless upbringing. The text presents him as a product of a brutal hierarchy, yet moments of hidden compassion and internal conflict suggest a more layered character.

Plot Role

Blake serves as Medra’s primary antagonist and reluctant love interest. He discovers her on a pile of corpses and brings her to the Black Keep, where his uncle declares her his Second Betrothed. As a highblood vampire and House Leader of Drakharrow, Blake enforces the academy’s power structures while also protecting Medra from other threats—including his own brother and rival houses. His actions drive much of the tension: he kills Kiernan Avari for attacking Medra, kills Coregon Phiri in the House Leadership ceremony, and later lies to Viktor about having fully bonded with Medra. Blake’s dual role as oppressor and protector defines the story’s central conflict.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Blake’s primary motivation is maintaining House Drakharrow’s power while protecting those he cares about—especially his sister Aenia, his cousin Theo, and increasingly Medra. He demonstrates fierce loyalty to his family, attacking his brother Marcus for threatening Aenia. His arrogance often masks insecurity; he fears Viktor’s disapproval and the loss of control. Blake’s possessive nature emerges early: after killing Kiernan, he declares Medra “mine” at the bonfire. Yet his actions also reveal a code of honor—he refuses to feed from unwilling thralls, secretly heals a wounded fluffin pup, and spares Regan’s life at Medra’s request. The text shows him drinking bloodwine to cope with his conflicted emotions, and his internal monologues reveal guilt over killing Coregon and frustration with his attraction to Medra.

Chronological Arc

  1. Introduction and Blood Bond (Chapters 1–2): Blake captures Medra and brings her to court. Lord Viktor performs a blood bond ritual, declaring Blake and Medra bound. Blake is initially indifferent, obeying his uncle.
  2. Academy Life (Chapters 3–17): Blake escorts Medra to Bloodwing, explains the squad system, and remains cold. He observes her from a distance, intervenes when other highbloods threaten her, and shows jealousy toward Kage Tanaka. He kills Kiernan after the thrallweave attack at the bonfire.
  3. Confrontations and Growth (Chapters 18–32): Blake struggles with his uncle’s demands. He beats Marcus for threatening Aenia, kills Coregon in the arena after Coregon stabs him, and lies to Viktor to protect Medra. He invades Medra’s mind using thrallweave, but she counters with her mother’s help. Blake’s hidden memories reveal his childhood and his lie to Headmaster Kim to save Medra.
  4. Deepening Conflict (Chapters 33–45): Blake follows Medra into a brothel, kills a highblood attacking her, and later kisses her passionately. He watches over her, warns Regan not to harm her, and eventually lies to Viktor about having completed the bond. He catches Medra spying on the Bloodmaiden ritual and coerces her into silence, but later helps rescue a kidnapped child (Poppy) from his sister Aenia.

Relationships

  • Medra Pendragon: The central relationship. Blake initially sees her as a political asset, but grows possessive and attracted to her defiance. He protects her, kisses her, and admits he would kill for her. Medra simultaneously hates and desires him, creating a volatile dynamic.
  • Lord Viktor Drakharrow: Blake’s uncle and the true power behind House Drakharrow. Blake fears and resents Viktor’s manipulation, yet must obey. Viktor plans to use Medra for himself, and Blake lies to keep her safe.
  • Regan Pansera: Blake’s First Betrothed. He dismisses her callously, has no romantic interest in her, and allows her to be humiliated. He threatens her when she targets Medra.
  • Theo Drakharrow: Blake’s cousin and closest friend. Blake defends Theo’s same-sex relationships against Viktor’s bigotry. Theo provides comic relief and loyalty.
  • Aenia Drakharrow: Blake’s younger sister. He is fiercely protective of her, even after discovering she fed on a child. His love for Aenia is one of his few pure emotions.
  • Marcus Drakharrow: Blake’s cruel brother. They are rivals; Blake physically attacks Marcus for threatening Aenia.
  • Kage Tanaka: Rival House Leader of Avari. Kage competes for Medra’s attention, provoking Blake’s jealousy. Blake insults him and warns him away.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Killing Kiernan Avari: Blake thrallweaves and throws Kiernan into a bonfire for attacking Medra. This establishes his protective ruthlessness and deepens Medra’s conflict.
  2. Killing Coregon Phiri: In the arena, Blake kills his friend Coregon after being stabbed. This secures his House Leader position but leaves him guilt-ridden and isolates him further.
  3. Lying to Viktor: Blake falsely claims he has fed from Medra and completed the bond. This protects Medra from Viktor’s schemes but traps Blake into a lie that could unravel.
  4. Feeding from a Sellblood: Blake feeds from a willing blightborn girl in a brothel, witnessed by Medra. This shows his attempt to maintain control, but also triggers Medra’s jealousy and disgust.
  5. Kissing Medra: After the brothel, Blake kisses Medra passionately. This intensifies their emotional and physical bond, complicating both their plans.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Power and Hierarchy: Blake embodies the highblood system. His authority derives from violence and family legacy. He uses thrallweave to dominate, yet also suffers under Viktor’s control. See more at Power and Hierarchy.
  • Consent and Control: Blake’s thrallweave attacks on Medra violate her autonomy. His possessive declarations (“you’re mine”) contrast with moments when he respects her choices (sparing Regan). The bond ritual itself is non-consensual. Explore Consent and Control.
  • Identity and Heritage: Blake’s dragon tattoos symbolize his family’s legacy and his own internal struggle between duty and individual desire. His memories of playing with Aenia show a softer self buried under duty. See Identity and Heritage.
  • Resistance and Survival: Blake resists Viktor’s total control by lying and protecting Medra. He also resists his own bloodlust, choosing not to feed on unwilling victims. Learn more at Resistance and Survival.
  • Love and Possession: Blake’s feelings for Medra oscillate between romantic love and possessive obsession. He claims her as “mine” while also admitting he would do anything for her. The bond blurs the line between affection and ownership. See Love and Possession.

5 Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why did Blake Drakharrow kill Kiernan Avari at the bonfire?
Blake killed Kiernan because Kiernan used thrallweave to force Florence to walk into the flames, and then bragged about it. Blake thrallweaved Kiernan and threw him into the fire, declaring Medra “mine.” The act was both possessive and protective, reflecting his willingness to eliminate threats to Medra.

2. What was Blake's relationship with his uncle Viktor, and how did it affect his decisions?
Blake feared and resented Viktor, who controlled House Drakharrow and had arranged Blake’s betrothal to Medra. Viktor was manipulative and hungry for power, planning to take Medra for himself if Blake failed. Blake lied about completing the bond to protect Medra, knowing Viktor would harm her otherwise.

3. How did Blake demonstrate hidden compassion despite his cold exterior?
Blake secretly took an injured fluffin pup to the infirmary and had Healer Ailith treat it. He recalled his childhood pet fluffin Thistle and internally resolved to check on the pup. He also protected his sister Aenia, even after discovering her feeding on a child.

4. What was the significance of Blake's dragon tattoos?
Blake’s tattoos—a full dragon across his back—represented House Drakharrow’s legacy and his connection to the extinct dragon riders. They symbolized his internal conflict: the ancient power he embodied versus his personal struggles with duty and desire.

5. Did Blake ever complete the blood bond with Medra?
Blake lied to Viktor, claiming he had fed from Medra and completed the bond. In reality, as of the end of the provided chapters, he had not fully bonded. This lie placed Blake in a dangerous position, as Viktor would discover the truth eventually.