Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(26)

Exactly. “Would you mind pointing that out to him? He doesn’t see it that way.”

Laughter drifted across the stage. Bryn’s gaze shot up to see who was having such a good time. Zavien stood off to the side of the stage with a small group of students, including Nola.

Resentment welled up inside her. Why wouldn’t Zavien be having a good time? He’d had friends before she’d come along. He didn’t need her, and he probably wouldn’t miss her. But she had had three friends and was now down to two.

She slammed her roller into the paint tray. “Can you clean up by yourself? I have to get out of here.”

“Sure.” Rhianna gave her a sad smile. “I’ll tell Ivy you left.”

Bryn fled the auditorium and ran down a side hall. She leaned against a wall with her eyes squeezed shut. She would not cry again. She’d cried enough over that jackass. Once her tear ducts were under control, she found the closest exit, shifted into dragon form, and took off into the night sky.

The cool evening air flowed around her body, washing away some of her anger. If she could stay up here for a while, maybe she’d be all right. Then again, she’d have to come down eventually. When she did, she’d need good company. Pumping her wings to gain speed, she aimed for Dragon’s Bluff. Valmont would make her feel better. How would she find his cabin from the air? She circled the forested area where she thought his cabin stood. All of the greenery looked the same. Change in plans. Fly to Fonzoli’s. If he wasn’t working, they’d know how to reach him.

The street in front of the restaurant was empty. She shifted as soon as her claws touched cement and stumbled a few steps. The chilly evening air, which she’d enjoyed in dragon form, gave her goose bumps. Rubbing her arms, she hustled into the restaurant.

The hostess greeted her. “Table for one?”

“Is Valmont working?”

“Yes. Would you like to sit in his section?”

She wanted Valmont to skip out on work and distract her from her sucky life, but she’d take what she could get.

Seated at a table for two, it took ten seconds for Valmont to spot her. He slid into the chair across from her. “Everything all right?”

“No.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Can I beat him up now?”

Valmont may have been a descendent of knights, blessed with superior strength and trained to fight dragons, but she wasn’t sure he could take on Zavien.

“If I can’t beat him up, you can’t.”

He undid the top few buttons of his work shirt. “Want to get out of here?”

“Yes.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her back into the kitchen. “Grandpa, we’re going to the cabin.”

…

Since her last visit to the cabin, he’d added blue throw pillows to the couch. She pointed at them. “Those are new.”

“My sister said the couch looked sad. She gave me the pillows as a housewarming gift. If I keep having her over, I won’t have to decorate.”

Bryn pointed at the only other decorative item in the cabin. “Did she give you the swords?”

Valmont walked to the fireplace. He pulled down the two swords hanging above the mantel. “No. These are real broadswords. Everyone in Dragon’s Bluff receives swords on their sixteenth birthday as a reminder of who we truly are. We train as a way to stay in shape and to keep our skills sharp.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Bryn groaned. “Was that an intentional pun?”

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

Bryn accepted the sword he held out to her. It wasn’t as heavy as she thought it would be. “Can you teach me how to use this?”

“Sure, let’s go out back.”

“Isn’t it too dark?”

“Nope.” They stepped out the back door into the twilight. Valmont flipped a switch, and lanterns hanging from the eaves of the house bathed the backyard in warm yellow light. It would have been beautiful except for the fir trees that resembled short telephone poles scattered about the yard. Most of the branches had been cut off, and they were only a bit taller than Valmont.

Bryn pointed at one of the oddities. “Is that some sort of knightly landscaping?”

“No. I want to clear this area to make room for a picnic table and a barbecue grill. Cutting down trees is great for sword practice.”

He pointed toward a stump about ten feet away. “Sit over there and watch. You’ll understand how knights can defend themselves.”

Valmont swung at a branch five inches thick. He cut through the limb like it was made of cream cheese. Swinging the blade in a reverse arc, he sliced through another thick branch.

Maybe he could fight a dragon. “I’m impressed.”

He smiled and waved her over. “We’re going to focus on your form. Keep both hands on the pommel and swing in fluid figure eights. Do not bring the sword down and hit yourself in the leg.”

Being careful, Bryn swung the sword in an awkward figure eight. After a few tries, the movement became more fluid.

“I’m doing it.”

“You’re ready to chop wood.” Valmont stepped well out of range. “Try the smaller branches first.”

She aimed at a two-inch branch and the sword passed right through. A six-inch branch met the same fate. Cool. Bringing her arm down with force, she sliced diagonally through the trunk of the tree. The top third fell to the pine needles below, stirring the woodsy scent.