Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(32)

Clint gaped at his girlfriend. “Don’t encourage Bryn, or we’ll spend our weekends visiting her in jail.”





Chapter Fourteen


Suddenly, all the students in the café and lounge started talking at once. Bryn glanced toward the door to see what caused the disturbance.

Valmont strode into the dorm like he belonged there. Light glinted off the broadsword strapped to his thigh. Was it the weapon or his presence in the Black dragons’ dorm that caused everyone’s interest?

When he reached Bryn, he sat and grabbed her hand. “I came to make sure you were all right.”

Damn it. Why couldn’t Zavien act like this? “I’m fine.” Better, now that he was here.

He studied her. “Fine never means fine. What’s up?”

She shrugged.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll respect your wishes.” He turned to Clint. “What did the spiky-haired nitwit do now?”

“Hey,” Bryn shouted.

“You don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to,” Valmont said, “but I still want to know. Clint?”

“After the attack, Zavien didn’t bother to check on us or her,” Clint said.

The knight squeezed Bryn’s hand. “Sorry about that.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“It’s my job to protect you. Short of running the idiot through with a sword, I can’t think of a way to help.”

“There are all those nice deep rifts out there,” Ivy muttered. “It would be a shame for them to go to waste.”

Valmont raised a brow.

Bryn chuckled. “Ivy volunteered to help throw Zavien’s body in a rift.”

Valmont tapped his chin like he was thinking. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“Am I the only sane individual left at this table?” Clint asked.

“If Clint won’t let us kill Zavien, I guess we need another plan for the evening,” Bryn said.

“All three of you could come out to my cabin,” Valmont said.

“I doubt we’ll be allowed to leave campus.” Bryn’s stomach growled. Channeling Quintessence must burn calories like crazy. Eating with friends would be nice. “We could order pizza and eat in my room.”

A serious expression crossed Valmont’s face. “First, I have a question you must answer with utmost certainty. What is your stance on anchovies?”

She made a yuck face. “Anchovies are disgusting.”

“Correct answer.”

Twenty minutes later, Bryn sat next to Valmont on her couch while Clint and Ivy sprawled out on the floor. The situation seemed surreal. It was like someone removed Zavien from a photo and Photoshopped Valmont in his place to restore balance to the picture.

“Why are you frowning?” her knight asked.

Bryn grabbed another slice of pizza while she fabricated a response, because he didn’t need to know how strange her brain truly was. “I was wondering who’s behind the attack.”

“Who has the most to gain from upsetting the Directorate?” Valmont asked.

“Someone who wants to start a revolution,” Bryn answered. “I’m not sure who that would be.”

Ivy rearranged the pepperoni on her pizza in a symmetrical pattern. “The radical Revisionist dragons in the forest talked about affecting change. I’m pretty sure that’s code for ‘let’s start a revolution.’”

Pizza sauce dribbled down Bryn’s chin. She wiped it off with a napkin. “I’m not sure how effective the regular Revisionists’ petitions are, but war seems extreme.”

“There isn’t much middle ground with the Directorate. It’s their way or no way,” Valmont said. “Maybe war is inevitable.”

“That’s not a cheery thought.” Ivy moved closer to Clint and leaned against him. He kissed her forehead.

Envy shot through Bryn. Zavien should’ve been here to comfort her.

Warm fingertips brushed against her cheek. “You’re not alone,” Valmont reminded her. He leaned in and whispered, “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

Well, that offer was wide-open to interpretation. He seemed to be waiting for an answer she didn’t have. “Thank you. But right now I’m a mess.”

He grinned and passed her another napkin. “That statement is true in more ways than one.”

She wiped her face. “Better?”

He nodded.

“I’m exhausted.” Ivy yawned.

“Stress wears you out.” Clint eyed the pizza boxes. “One more piece and then we’ll go.”

After Clint and Ivy left, Valmont helped clean the mess from dinner. “Need anything else before I go?”

“No. Thanks for coming to check on me.”

“If I could, I’d camp outside your door just to make sure you were safe.” He sighed. “Knowing you could’ve been hurt eats away at me. And yes, I know it sounds like I’m obsessed, but since I became your knight, you’re my number one focus. I tried asking around for advice, but there hasn’t been a citizen of Dragon’s Bluff who’s stepped forth to protect a dragon in more than a century.”

“Why did you intervene that day?”