Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(3)

Nola was the friend the Directorate had decreed Zavien should marry based on lineage. Even though Zavien swore they were just friends, the dark-haired Barbie still got under Bryn’s skin.

“Did they seem upset?”

“They seemed sad about their friend, but they weren’t angry,” Ivy said.

“Tell me more about the camping trip.” Bryn didn’t want to think about Nola or the radical Revisionist members. For a while, she wanted to pretend she was a normal person with normal problems and normal friends rather than a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon at the mercy of an archaic society.

“Sleeping on the ground in human form sucks,” Clint said. “But sleeping as a dragon feels strange.”

“Some of the extreme Revisionist guys spoke to us. They’re intense and sort of scary.” Ivy dipped a french fry in ketchup. “The Directorate may have too much control over our employment and schooling, but I don’t think they’re evil.”

Were they? Bryn remembered the men she’d pleaded her case in front of attempting to prove that while she was unique due to her forbidden Blue/Red dragon Clan heritage, she wasn’t a threat that needed to be neutralized. “Some of them could pass for evil. Some are nice. It’s the fact that they’re so sure they’re right about everything that pisses me off.”

Ivy frowned. “I hate that there aren’t any women on the Directorate, even though they claim women are allowed to be Directorate members. In the history book there is the occasional woman mentioned, but it’s always as a footnote.”

“I’d love to ask my grandmother how she feels about that.” And then she remembered her grandmother’s plan. “Right now, I’m glad she doesn’t have a vote. She and Jaxon’s mom have lost their minds. They want the Directorate to check my lineage to see if Jaxon and I are a match.”

Clint laughed so hard he fell off the couch.

Ivy clamped a hand over her mouth and worked at swallowing her food without choking. When she achieved that feat, she said, “You can’t be serious.”

“Since my mom and Ferrin were a match, Lillith thinks Jaxon and I might match up, too. She’s enlisted my grandmother in her scheme. That’s what terrifies me. My grandmother is almost scarier than Ferrin. In a one-on-one battle, I’d give them even odds.”

“What about Rhianna?” Ivy asked. “What would happen to her if you and Jaxon were paired up?”

“If fate hated me that much, then I guess Rhianna would be matched with someone else.”

Clint shook his head. “She’d have to go with someone younger. Most of the top dragon families already have agreements in place. That’s why Ferrin had to marry someone much younger when your mom ran off with your dad. All the contracts with females of his own age had already been worked out.”

“Then I shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Rhianna’s and Jaxon’s families must have their agreement in place. Nothing could change that, right?”

“For Red, Orange, Black, and Green dragons, nothing supersedes an agreement between families,” Ivy said. “In the Blue upper-class circles, things change if a family loses its wealth or status.”

“So, what was your grandfather’s house like?” Clint asked, completely changing the subject.

“Huge and cold. My grandparents have their own separate wings.”

“I guess if you marry someone you don’t like you can hang out in your own wing.” Clint winked at Ivy. “We’re going to have a small ranch house, so I’ll always know where you are.”

Ivy shook her head. “I want a two-story house like I grew up in.”

A goofy smile spread across Clint’s face, making Bryn chuckle. It had taken Clint years to make Ivy fall for him, even though they’d been friends forever. Before she could comment, another knock sounded on the door.

That must be Zavien. She hopped up, dashed across the room, and swung the door open. Jaxon and his friend Quentin stood there. Not who she wanted to see. If the way they were frowning was any indication, neither of them was pleased to be at her door.

“What’s up?” She stepped back so they could enter.

Jaxon shoved a box wrapped in blue paper at her. “My uncle insisted I deliver your new textbooks in this ridiculous manner. The Directorate didn’t want anyone to know why you needed the replacement.”

She accepted the box and set it on the coffee table, but she couldn’t help needling him. “Thanks for playing errand boy. What reason would you have for bringing me a gift?”

“My mother sent you an early Christmas present.” He shrugged.

“That doesn’t make much sense. And why is Quentin with you?”

“He missed me,” Quentin said in a dry tone.

Clint cleared his throat. “What happened to your books?”

She hated keeping secrets from her friends, so she didn’t. “I signed a paper saying I wouldn’t talk about it.”

Jaxon scowled. “You can’t tell them that.”

“It’s not like I told them what happened. I kept my word. What did you tell Quentin?”

“That you can manipulate Quintessence. When Alec collapsed before the Directorate, you assisted Medic Williams.” Quentin checked his watch. “Not to be rude, but I don’t have a burning desire to know anything about your textbooks, and our dates are waiting.”