Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(92)

“Yes.” He picked up his paper, snapped it open, and effectively ended their conversation.

Bryn shot her grandmother a sideways glance. “Anything you’d like to get off your chest about my appearance?”

“I want to burn all of your jeans,” her grandmother said. “But I won’t. I figure if I restock your wardrobe with beautiful alternatives such as this dress, you won’t want to wear them anymore.”

“Good plan.” Bryn poured more syrup on her pancakes. “Not sure it will work, but it’s a good plan.”

“Oh, I didn’t meant to interrupt breakfast,” a feminine voice said.

Bryn glanced up. Lillith came toward them, practically glowing with maternal warmth. Jaxon followed along behind her, his eyes scanning the room like he was checking for something to use as a weapon.

“We were having a late brunch.” Her grandfather stood, folding his paper and placing it under his arm. “Why don’t you join Bryn and Marie?”

“We’re not chasing you off, are we?” Lillith asked.

“No. I was on my way out.” He turned to Jaxon. “Would you like to join me in my law library? I’m drafting a new writ. It would be a good learning experience for you.”

Jaxon’s chest puffed out with pride. “Thank you, sir. I would be honored to join you.”

When had he turned into such a suck-up? And why were Lillith and her grandmother exchanging knowing glances?

Once the males were out of hearing range, Bryn said, “What was that about?”

Lillith poured herself a cup of tea. “That was your grandfather showing his approval of Jaxon as a future Directorate member.”

“I thought Jaxon was automatically on the Directorate since his dad is speaker.”

“Your grandfather’s approval is what’s important.” Lillith placed her hand over the tiny baby bump that was starting to show and sipped her tea in utter contentment.

“It means the alliance between our families is growing stronger.” Her grandmother looked quite pleased with the situation.

Oh, hell. It meant she was one step closer to a marriage contract with Jaxon. She shoved her plate aside and laid her head on the table. Knowing her grandmother would only lecture her if she verbally objected, she decided body language showing abject frustration would have to do.

“Personality-wise, Jaxon is one of the more considerate Blue males,” Lillith said.

Bryn lifted her head. “That isn’t saying much.” Sitting up, she asked the question she couldn’t ask in public or in front of her grandfather. “Don’t get mad at me, but why are the Blue males so crabby, and why do the women of this Clan put up with so much crap from them?”





Chapter Thirty-Five


Lillith smacked her hand over her mouth rather than spew tea across the table, while her grandmother gave Bryn a look that almost made her run from the room.

“I did say don’t be mad,” she reminded her grandmother. “It’s not meant to be an insult to you. It’s just that I’ve seen the way dragons from other Clans act, and the males aren’t nearly as”—she searched for a word and couldn’t find one—“as sure that they are right about everything all of the time. And before you say it, I know never to ask a question like this in front of anyone else but the two of you.”

“That fact does not reassure me.” Her grandmother leaned in. “Never ask a question of this nature when we are anywhere but in my rooms. If the staff overheard you…well, I hate to think about your grandfather’s reaction.”

“Okay. But can you answer the question?”

“We are the ruling class, which means we behave differently from the rest of the Clans. Men like your grandfather make laws that affect the fabric of our society. Much the same way you want a medic to believe they are capable of performing miraculous acts of healing, your grandfather and the other Blue males must believe they are capable of ruling our society.”

Did that make sense? She wasn’t sure. “Lillith, what’s your take on the situation?”

“I agree with your grandmother. To make the decisions they have to make, they must believe they know what is best. It makes them difficult to live with at times, but I know Ferrin and your grandfather would do anything within their power to protect us and make sure we’re safe.”

“It’s just not…” Bryn searched for a word. “Democratic.”

“I never claimed it was.” Her grandmother picked up the teapot and poured. “You’re thinking like a human. You need to think like a dragon.”

And there it was. Once again, she was reminded that she didn’t fit in. She used to fantasize about living in Dragon’s Bluff with Valmont, but that bubble had burst after the confrontation with his grandmother. Where did that leave her?

“One of the good things about Ferrin always being off to run the world is I’m able to do what I want around the house.”

That didn’t sound like a wonderful way to live. It sounded lonely.

“Speaking of doing what I want around the house,” Lillith said, “I was hoping the two of you would go shopping with me to look at baby clothes.”

“Sounds like fun.” Just to be contrary, Bryn added, “Should we send for Jaxon?”