Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(25)

Un-freaking-believable. “Why is the system so screwed up? Who decided this was a good idea in the first place? Why hasn’t there been a revolution?” Bam. Bam. Bam. It felt like someone was whacking her in the head with a bat. She rubbed her temples to try and lessen the pain.

Zavien scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulders. “We intend to mount a peaceful revolution, but we need your help. You see the system from an outside perspective. The rest of us have been raised this way, and we can’t see it clearly. Will you stay and help us?”

It’s not like she had an actual choice to leave. No matter how pissed off she was at her parents, she didn’t want the Directorate to make good on their threat of eviction and unemployment. She leaned into Zavien. His body was solid and reassuring, and God, he smelled good.

He squeezed her shoulders. “Stay and fight the Directorate with me?”

Best to lay some ground rules. “I’ll be crabby the entire time I’m here, and I’ll curse a lot.”

“I can deal with that.” He grinned. “Anything else?”

His arm around her felt wonderful. Maybe she could encourage his affection. “I’ll require occasional hugs and a large stash of chocolate.”

“I’ll steal a vending machine for you. Any other requests?”

What would help her fit in with the Black dragons? “I want a cool tattoo.”

“I could design a tattoo for you,” Ivy said.

“That would be great.” Bryn’s stomach growled.

Zavien poked her belly. “When were you last fed?”

“I ate breakfast.”

Ivy stood and stretched. “I’m hungry, too. Let’s go to Dragon’s Bluff. We can eat at Fonzoli’s and shop for school supplies.”

“What’s Dragon’s Bluff?” Bryn asked.

Everyone stared. This being out of the loop crap was pissing her off.

“That’s it. Over lunch, you three are going to fill me in on all the stuff my parents never told me.”

“You need a primer,” Clint said.

“You need to change back into real clothes,” Ivy said.

“Damn dress code.” Bryn stalked into the bedroom and slammed the door.

…

They walked to the shuttle station and waited in line. Students stared and muttered comments. To keep her mind off the scrutiny, she focused on Zavien. “Tell me about the town.”

“Dragon’s Bluff is unique. It’s made up of descendants of knights who used to go to war side by side with dragons,” Zavien said. “They know about us.”

“You’re joking.”

“No. It’s a symbiotic relationship. They’re involved in business dealings with dragons. The town protects our secret, and they’re more prosperous than they would be if left to their own devices. Technically, if called upon, they are still bound to fight by our sides. Not that any of them act as knights now.”

“Hasn’t anyone ever questioned the name of the town?” It seemed obvious to her.

“The town sits at the base of a cliff, and on the uppermost bluff, there is a rock shaped like a dragon. That’s where the name comes from,” Zavien said.

Ivy scooted closer. “There’s a romantic legend about a dragon who fell in love with her knight. The knight died in battle and was buried on the bluffs. The dragon sat at his graveside and died of a broken heart. Magic turned her body to stone so she could stay by his side forever.”

“That’s not romantic,” Bryn said. “It’s depressing.”

“They were together in the end,” Ivy said.

“Yes, but they were dead,” she snapped. “I doubt they had much fun.”

“It’s a legend,” Clint said.

“From now on, I only want to hear happy, uplifting legends.”

“I know a few limericks.” Clint wiggled his eyebrows.

Bryn held her hands up. “No thanks.”

The white shuttle bus arrived. Bryn and her companions climbed the metal steps and settled into the black, plastic seats. Out the window, she watched as the shuttle wove through campus and headed toward the back gate.

The stupid seat was uncomfortable. “Why can’t we fly to town?”

“We could,” Zavien said. “But this way, we don’t have to deal with everyone lining up to see what you look like in dragon form.”

There was something to look forward to. “Maybe I should post pictures around campus so people will leave me alone.”

Ivy pulled a list out of her pocket. “I hope my dad set up my line of credit.”

“I know my card works. If your dad forgot, you can use mine,” Clint said.

Besides food, what expenses were involved in living away from home? How was she supposed to pay for things?

Zavien reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit card. “Your parents asked me to set up an account for you.”

A silver stripe ran down the side of the black card. Dragon’s Bluff was printed on one side in silver letters, and her name was embossed on the other. “This works at any store in town?”

“It works at the restaurants, too,” Ivy chimed in.

“Cool.” Good to know she could buy necessities. She doubted her account would pay for much beyond that. Money was tight.