Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(21)

“No, he thinks I’m circulating.” Nola placed her hand on Bryn’s shoulder. “Zavien has gone out of his way to make sure you’re taken care of. You shouldn’t mistake his kindness for anything but friendship.”

A small growl escaped her throat. “Maybe you should ask Zavien how kind he’s been to me.”

Nola shook her head. “You’re young. He’s a flirt. I can assure you any interest perceived was your imagination. I best get back. I wouldn’t want him to know I spoke with you.”

Oh, he was going to hear about this conversation. How dare he explain away her anger as a stupid crush? Flames roared up her throat and her breath came faster. Valmont appeared at her side, holding her drink.

“Thought you might need this. But if you’d rather torch Zavien, I’m okay with that.”

She reached for his free hand. “I will literally rip the head off the next person who says his name.”

“That would create a terrible mess.” He grinned. “But if that’s what you want, I’m in.”

The punishment for decapitating a student was probably more severe than detention, so she pushed the idea aside. “Better not.”

“Let’s move on to option two. Do you want to dance?”

“I was about to ask you the same question,” Jaxon said. Rhianna stood by his side.

“Why would you ask me to dance?” She pointed at Rhianna. “Are you punishing him for something?”

Rhianna grinned. “As painful as it may be for you, I’d appreciate it if you’d dance with Jaxon. I’m tired of people dropping hints about your matching book bags.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She wants us to dance together to show we’re not involved,” Jaxon said. “It’s her theory that people who carry on affairs in private don’t appear together in public.”

Hello, irony.

Valmont placed an arm around Bryn’s shoulders. “Introduce me to your friends.”

“Sorry. Rhianna and Jaxon, this is Valmont, my knight.”

Jaxon’s eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. Rhianna pressed her lips together like she was trying not to talk.

“You’re dying to ask questions, aren’t you?” Bryn chuckled.

Rhianna’s cheeks colored. “It wouldn’t be polite.”

“If we’re switching partners, it’s my duty to entertain you,” Valmont said. “We can dance, and you can ask me anything you like.”

Rhianna grinned like a child with a new toy. “I have so many questions.”

Valmont led his new partner to the dance floor.

“I don’t like him,” Jaxon said.

Where had she heard that before? Valmont inspired jealousy wherever he went.

Jaxon placed his hand on Bryn’s elbow. “Ready?”

“Can I refuse?”

Rhianna’s laughter drifted across the room.

“Let’s get this over with before Rhianna starts mooning over your knight.”

Bryn bit her lip to keep from laughing. Couples stared as Jaxon placed his hand on her waist and began moving her around the dance floor.

“This might actually work,” she said.

“It’s ridiculous for people to think we’d be together,” he said. “I’ve no idea how they could be so delusional.”

She’d had just about enough rejection for one night. “It’s not like I have a third eye.”

“You lack basic social skills.”

“I do not.”

“I’ve seen you eat.”

Since she couldn’t argue the point, she stepped on his foot.

He glared at her.

“Sorry, that was an accident.” The smile on her face probably damaged her credibility. The smile vanished when Zavien and Nola came into her field of vision.

“Must you let every emotion show on your face?”

“Do you want me to step on your foot again?”

Jaxon sighed. “I’m about to give you sincere advice. Pay attention. Zavien is amusing himself with you. He will end up with Nola. The odds of the Directorate matching your lineage with anyone else’s are slim. Stick with your knight.”

It wasn’t that simple. She couldn’t just turn off her feelings for Zavien. Eyes hot with unshed tears, she took a deep breath and focused on not crying.

“Tell me the story of this Valmont guy,” Jaxon said.

“Zavien and I were arguing, and he followed me into Fonzoli’s where Valmont works. I told the jerk he couldn’t sit with me. Valmont was standing in the aisle. When Zavien tried to push by him, Valmont refused to let him pass. He could tell I was upset and he protected me from a perceived threat, which activated the dormant spell all the knights’ descendants in Dragon’s Bluff carry in their blood and… He became my knight.”

“Perhaps Zavien’s behavior then should have been a clue.”

She managed to step on his feet three more times before the song ended. Valmont showed up with a glowing Rhianna in tow. Jaxon took one look at his girlfriend and scowled at the knight.

“I see what you mean,” Valmont stage whispered.

Rhianna giggled.

Jaxon aimed his scowl at Bryn. “All the aggravation in my life leads back to you.”