Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(104)

His body stiffened. “What explosion?”

She gave him a recap of the fabulous, fun time she’d had since landing on her grandparents’ doorstep.

“I don’t understand why Alec went after you.”

“He said he wanted to get back at my grandfather for something the Directorate did to him. Do you know anything about that?”

“I know his marriage petition was denied. He was offered another choice, which he refused. I’m not sure what happened to the girl he loved.”

“Maybe that was it.” Bryn sighed. “Whatever the reason, he wanted to make me a martyr for the Revisionists.”

“That son of a bitch.” Zavien placed his hand under her chin and held her gaze. “You know I had nothing to do with that. I would never let anyone hurt you.”

“I know.” She gave a halfhearted smile. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Zavien kissed her forehead. “I heard your grandfather say he was proud of you.”

“Better late than never. Right? The downside is now he thinks I should be allowed to marry. He wants the Sinclair line to continue.”

Zavien’s eyebrows drew together. “I want you to be happy.”

“You make me happy. I don’t want to worry about the future.” She grimaced. “Lillith and my grandmother have this crazy idea that Jaxon and I should marry.”

Zavien clamped his lips together like he was trying not to laugh.

“Go ahead.”

He laughed and then shook his head. ”You’d kill each other.”

“I’m aware of that fact.” She played with his hair. “My grandfather has a nickname for you.”

“He does?”

“He calls you a spiky-haired malcontent.”

“That would be a great name for a band.” The smile left his face. “What’s this?” He tugged on her necklace.

“Merrick gave it to me when yours was squished.”

“Plotting bastard,” he muttered. “Where’s mine?”

This was the second person to imply Merrick’s intentions weren’t honorable. She retrieved her original necklace and handed it to Zavien.

“It kept a piece of the door from slicing open my carotid artery.”

He studied the bent locket. “It certainly did. What about the key?”

“It doesn’t bother me to be separated from it. I must have drained the protection charm.”

Zavien produced a small bolt of lightning in his palm. He directed it at the edge of the locket, and it popped open.

“Impressive.”

He took out the key and handed it to her. Then he continued to zap the locket until the metal was soft enough to bend back into place. After he returned the key to its resting place, he reached over and unhooked her necklace. He pulled Merrick’s dragon charm off, tossed it over his shoulder, and put his locket back on.

“That’s much better.”

She snuggled against him. All was right in her world. Except her grandmother and Lillith were scheming to marry her off to Jaxon and the Fall Dance was next weekend, and she didn’t have a date.

Maybe she could solve one of those problems if she played her cards right. The other would have to wait.

“I’ve been thinking about the Fall Dance.”

Zavien’s muscles tensed.

“I understand if you aren’t comfortable taking me, but I want to go. Maybe I’ll call Valmont and ask him to escort me.”

A low growl sounded from his throat. “You’re trying to manipulate me.”

It took effort to keep an innocent expression on her face. “I have that pretty copper dress.”

He cursed and then kissed her.

She took that as a good sign.

When he came up for air, he said, “We’ll go to the dance with Clint and Ivy.”

Woo hoo!

Insistent knocking on the bedroom door interrupted her moment of joy. Muttering obscenities, she stalked to the door.

Merrick stood in the hall. “Can I assume Zavien is with you?”

“He is.”

“Good. Your grandfather thought he might try to leave before the trial.”

Goose bumps pebbled her arms. “What trial?”

“Tomorrow morning, Zavien will stand trial for Alec’s death.”





Chapter Thirty


“Zavien Blackthorn, how do you plead?”

It was nothing like the trials Bryn had witnessed on television. The Directorate members sat at a long, raised mahogany table, presiding over the court like gods. Where was the jury? Why didn’t Zavien have a lawyer?

While she was on the edge of her seat, literally, everyone else sat back, comfortable with the fact that the Directorate ruled with absolute authority. If they convicted Zavien of murder, there would be no appeal.

And she’d fry the entire lot of them where they sat.

Zavien stood before them, his face calm. “I did what was necessary for the greater good. Alec was attacking Jaxon and Lillith Westgate. He had to be stopped.”

“I don’t understand.” Ferrin feigned ignorance. “Alec was a member of the Revisionists. Isn’t that the group you recruit for on campus?”

Flames erupted in Bryn’s chest. The ungrateful bastard was trying to set Zavien up.