Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(37)

Mrs. Hanfelder tapped a wooden pointer on her desktop podium.

“You should all know the basics of our history, so I won’t waste time reviewing. If your former schools weren’t up to standard, that would be your parents’ fault.”

Mrs. Hanfelder stared right at Bryn.

Great. She was the class example for how not to raise a dragon. Whispers and laughter broke out across the room. Mrs. Hanfelder gave a satisfied smile and opened her book.

“Children, on page fifty, you’ll find a list of Directorate members. Choose one and write a five paragraph essay on their contributions to the laws we have today.”

Mr. Stanton was definitely her favorite teacher so far.

“To some of you, history is a class where you memorize actions of the dead. History is alive. It’s relevant. Based on what’s come before, we make laws to protect ourselves today.” She smacked the pointer on the podium for emphasis.

“As you know, there have been reports of criminal deeds against Directorate members and their families. Last week, one of our students was incarcerated for setting fire to the summer home of a prominent family. The family wasn’t in residence at the time. However, the groundskeeper and his family who lived on the property were killed.”

Students gasped. This mustn’t be common knowledge. Ferrin hadn’t mentioned the deaths in his speech. It didn’t seem right for Mrs. Hanfelder to discuss this in class. It certainly wasn’t right for her to smile while she delivered the morbid news.

“There are reasons for laws in our culture. Dragons have a strong desire for power and wealth. In the dark ages, dragons fought to keep property. In effect, they created their own kingdoms. Many died in the effort to protect their land.

“The age of Enlightenment came and brought new ideas. Land was parceled out among the Clans, and token marriages were arranged between Clans in an effort to keep peace. Dragons were less likely to start a battle with their neighbor if one of their own lived there. Unfortunately, these couples were barren.” Mrs. Hanfelder tilted her head to the side and gazed straight at Bryn. “As we all know, crossbreeding cannot produce a functional dragon.”

Bryn’s mouth fell open.

Her classmates snickered.

“Was there something you wanted to add, Bryn?” Mrs. Hanfelder asked in a sickening, sweet tone.

Asking “Are you bat-shit crazy?” probably wouldn’t help her grade point average, so Bryn gritted her teeth and shook her head no.

Apparently, Clint didn’t recognize a cobra waiting to strike when he saw one. “I guess they’ll have to revise the textbooks.”

“The Directorate will revise nothing.” Mrs. Hanfelder smacked the pointer on the podium. “You, however, will have detention with me this evening after dinner.”

Ivy placed a hand on Clint’s shoulder. It did little good.

“But we know Dragons can crossbreed.” He nodded toward Bryn. “We have proof right here.”

Bryn fought to keep her jaw clamped shut.

Jaxon cleared his throat. “We only have her mother’s word a Red is her father. We all know what her mother’s word is worth.”

His cronies laughed.

Lava erupted in Bryn’s stomach. “You want proof my dad is a Red? Here you go.” She sucked in a quick breath, and then exhaled, blasting a ten-inch fireball at Jaxon’s head. He yelped and threw himself backward, landing on the floor with a thump.

Whack, whack. Whack. Mrs. Hanfelder smacked the pointer repeatedly. “I don’t tolerate displays of that nature in my class.”

“I don’t tolerate people insulting my mother.” Sparks flew from Bryn’s mouth as she spoke.

Mrs. Hanfelder slammed the pointer against the podium so hard it broke in half. “Your mother is a disgrace, and you are an abomination who should have been put down at birth.”

Bryn held back the fire, but the words poured out before she could stop them. “Do all the teachers at this school attack their students? Or are you just a raving bitch?”





Chapter Thirteen A forest fire raged inside her stomach. Bryn worked to control her anger as she sat outside Mr. Stanton’s office. Whenever she exhaled, wisps of smoke came from her nose. She’d wanted to kill Jaxon. Literally, kill him. That wasn’t right. Not like she wouldn’t be doing the world a favor if she got rid of the smirking asshat, but before she’d become a dragon she never would have considered doing something like this. Of course, she wasn’t able to shoot fireballs then, so who knew? Maybe it went with the territory of being a Red.

Through the door, she heard Mrs. Hanfelder’s tirade. “I want her expelled. She cursed at me in front of the entire class. What type of precedent does that set?”

“You know we can’t expel her. The Directorate insists she stay.”

“I want her out of my class.” The door opened, and Mrs. Hanfelder stomped past.

If there was anyone who deserved to be barbecued from behind, it was this woman. But dragon prison didn’t sound like fun.

“Bryn, come here.” Mr. Stanton’s voice was cold and calm.

Cold and calm is never good.

He sat behind his desk with his fingers steepled under his chin. Disappointment shone from his eyes. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Her first instinct was to yell, but going with her instincts had landed her in this situation, so she spoke in a quiet voice to show she was in control.