Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(6)

“Nice landing.” She copied his snooty snout-in-the-air maneuver. “Too bad you’re so slow.”

Ivy set down on the rooftop. “Enough flying, I’m ready for chocolate.”

Right on cue, Bryn’s stomach growled. “We’re going to eat our weight in dessert if you’d like to join us.”

Inviting Jaxon to join them felt strange, but not asking him seemed rude.

For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then he cleared his throat. “I’ve eaten already. Thank you.”

“This is weird,” Bryn said.

“I could insult you before I leave, if you like.”

“No thanks. Let’s go, Ivy.”

They flew down to the entrance and shifted back to human form. It was a neat bit of magic that whatever clothes or jewelry a dragon wore had been spelled to shift with them, because ending up naked after a shift would be way too embarrassing.

They entered the building. About half the tables were full, since most students liked to eat in Dragon’s Bluff on Sunday night.

“What’s Clint doing?” Bryn asked as she checked out her dessert options on the buffet and grabbed three slices of apple pie.

Ivy reached for a piece of chocolate cake and then hesitated. “Is it rude to eat this in front of you?”

“I doubt I’ll ever find cake appetizing again.” A carrot cake laced with Dragonbane had ended her love affair with that entire line of baked goods. “Go ahead. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Thanks. When I left, Clint was about to start on his homework. He asked me to bring him a pizza at eight.”

“Homework. Wait a minute, I had three completed assignments in my book bag.” She groaned and headed for their usual table. “I wonder if the Directorate would write me a note so I won’t have to do them again.”

“What happened to your book bag?” Ivy asked.

“Legally, I can’t tell you. But watch.” She pantomimed an explosion.

Ivy’s jaw fell open. “Your bag blew up?”

Bryn nodded.

Her friend scooted closer. “Were you hurt?”

Bryn batted her eyelashes. “How do you like my new eyebrows?”

“It sucks that you can’t tell us what happened.”

“Later, we can play charades. The Directorate never said anything about that.” Bryn took a bite of pie. “Do they offer cooking classes as an elective?”

“My sister used to gripe about being paired with a Blue who couldn’t cook to save his life, so there must be a foods class somewhere in the curriculum.”

They chatted as they ate. Bryn tried not to look for Zavien, but his absence gnawed at her. Where was he?

“You’ve checked the door every time it’s opened.” Ivy licked chocolate icing off her fork. “Did Zavien say when he was coming back?”

“No.” Bryn finished off her second piece of apple pie. One major perk of being a dragon: a much faster metabolism, which gave her the ability to eat whatever she wanted and never gain weight. “Once she appeared, he never looked back.”

“He cares about you.”

“I know.” She smacked her fork down on the table. “He swore they were just friends. What if that changes? I know they’re not into the same things, but she’s so freaking perfect.”

“I don’t think she’s perfect,” Ivy said. “Her look is too contrived. No one walks around in those flowing dresses in real life. It’s like she’s putting on a show.”

“For whom?”

“I don’t know.” Ivy toyed with her cake. “Now that your grandparents have recognized you, do you think an arranged marriage is in your future?”

“My grandfather wants the Sinclair line to continue.” Bryn slumped in her seat. “He told Ferrin to have me declared eligible for marriage. I don’t even want to think about what a nightmare that might be. On a happier note, Merrick retracted his offer to be my benefactor.”

“That must be a relief. Now you don’t have to wonder at his motives when he’s helping you.”

“Exactly. My grandmother wanted me to accept him. She doesn’t think the Directorate will declare me fit to marry.”

“You’d think she’d want what’s best for you.”

Bryn leaned closer. “In the human world, no one assumes a woman needs a man to support her. I told my grandmother that if Zavien and I don’t work out I’ll become a medic and take care of myself. She didn’t approve of my answer.”

“Growing up, we were taught that only a small percentage of petitions are denied based on lineage. About half of those denied are offered an arranged marriage that would be more suitable. The unlucky ones with undesirable genes are offered a benefactor.”

“And everyone just accepts that?”

Ivy shrugged. “It’s the way things have always been done, but if you told your grandmother you’d be happy single she should respect that.”

“Happiness isn’t a big part of the Blue Clan’s belief system. ‘Honor and loyalty above all else even if you’re miserable’ seems to be their motto.” Bryn sipped her soda and tried to focus on the positives. “My grandfather was warmer while I was there. The only time my grandmother showed any emotion was when she warned me about being involved with Zavien. She said he was just amusing himself—gave me this whole ‘only those you love can truly hurt you’ speech.”