Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(9)

“It was a gift. I’m not sure what store it came from.”

“I see.” The blond girl drifted back to her friends. Rhianna was among them.

When Bryn reached Elemental Science, the seating chart on the board had her seated next to Jaxon. What the hell? Had her grandmother blackmailed Mr. Stanton? A quick check showed the entire class was no longer seated by Clan, so Mr. Stanton maintained his spot as her favorite teacher.

Jaxon ignored her, so she smiled at Keegan, who sat to her right. He returned the smile and then yawned, which made her laugh.

Mr. Stanton entered the room from the adjoining classroom-turned-storage-room that he always seemed to lurk in and gave an approving nod. “I hoped you’d notice the new chart. Since it’s Monday, I had my doubts.”

Students chuckled.

“Pair up with two other students with different breath weapons. I’ve seated you in an alternating pattern, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”

To her right, Keegan huddled in a group with two other students. She looked front and back to find the same thing.

Great. She faced Jaxon. “Do you have room for one more in your group?”

Octavius, the only male Orange dragon on campus, spoke from Jaxon’s other side. “You’re welcome to join us, Bryn.”

“Thanks.”

Jaxon sighed as if the situation caused him great pain. “Haven’t we spent enough time together?”

“You’re such a joy to be around I couldn’t stay away,” Bryn mocked.

“Something’s changed between you two.” Octavius’s deep voice carried through the room.

“We learned to tolerate each other at the Directorate meeting.” Bryn turned her desk to face them and tapped her pencil on the desktop while she waited for further instructions.

A moment later, Jaxon’s hand flashed out and smacked the pencil down. “That’s annoying.”

Unable to help herself, Bryn raised the pencil and tapped it one more time. Childish, but fun.

Mr. Stanton cleared his throat. “Our elemental breath weapons were obviously designed to be used as weapons. While we’ve become more civilized over the centuries, it’s a good idea to know how to protect yourself if the need arises. Just a reminder, since we are inside, don’t blast your classmates full force. Use an emissary, and by that I mean a small controllable amount, and aim it at one of your partners. Your partner in turn will deflect it back. Learn what it feels like to defend against ice, fire, wind, lightning, and sonic waves. You never know whom you might face in battle.”

That’s a cheery thought.

Octavius frowned. “My sonic waves are invisible. I don’t wish to hurt either of you.”

“You hit me before by accident,” Jaxon said. “I fell out of my chair, but no harm was done. Maybe you should use a smaller amount than you normally would.”

“I’ll try. Why don’t you and Bryn start?”

“Ladies first,” Jaxon said.

“This isn’t as much fun when I have your permission.” The first time he’d verbally attacked her, she’d retaliated by shooting a fireball at his head. Remembering his expression of surprised terror still gave her a warm fuzzy feeling. She allowed heat to build in her chest, took in a measured amount of air, and shot a much smaller fireball at Jaxon’s head.

He exhaled frozen flames and the fireball fizzled out in midair. The ice went up in a puff of steam. Water droplets drifted down and spotted their desks.

“Ready?” Jaxon asked Octavius.

The Orange dragon nodded. Jaxon held his hand palm out toward his classmate and concentrated. Frozen flames shot from his hand.

Show-off.

Octavius opened his mouth, and the ice disintegrated into snow.

“Your breath weapon is the coolest,” Bryn said.

“I believe that’s why the Directorate deems us such a threat.” Octavius’s tone was bitter.

“What has the Directorate done?” Bryn asked.

“Ask him.” Octavius pointed to Jaxon.

Jaxon squared his shoulders. “The decrease in your Clan’s numbers is not the Directorate’s fault.”

“Really?” The muscles in Octavius’s forearms flexed. “Then whose fault is it?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps you should address the Directorate and find out,” Jaxon said.

“If I addressed the Directorate I’d probably die of an aneurysm like Alec. His death was rather convenient, don’t you think?”

Bryn froze under Octavius’s questioning gaze.

“She tried to save him. Don’t blame her,” Jaxon said.

Guilt flooded her system. Alec had tried to kill her and Jaxon, but he’d been wronged first. Since she’d signed that stupid paper, she couldn’t explain any of this to Octavius. “We’re supposed to be working. Whose turn is it?”

“Why don’t you go against Octavius?” Jaxon said.

“Can you repel flame? I don’t want to hurt you.”

He snorted. “You don’t have to worry about me, hybrid. Maybe you should scoot back a bit so we have more time to react.”

She moved her chair a few feet from her desk, took a deep breath, and huffed a fireball toward his shoulder.

Octavius exhaled, and her ball of fire broke into shimmering individual flames, which winked out of existence.