Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(75)

Who would stay with her once Ivy went to class? Maybe she should return to the long-term care room. “If it would be easier, I could stay in the medical center.”

“Not a problem. I’ve found someone to sit with you while we’re in class.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Stanton spoke to the librarian, Miss Enid. She’s bringing you some books.”

…

Hunger woke Bryn several hours later. After making herself presentable, she entered the living room in search of breakfast. Miss Enid sat on the couch, engrossed in a book. A tray of bagels and cream cheese sat on the coffee table. A white carafe of coffee, several porcelain mugs, and packets of sugar and creamer sat next to the tray.

Miss Enid shut her book and gave Bryn a warm smile. “How are you?”

“I’m hungry. Other than that, I’m fine.”

“We could go down to the café for a hot breakfast.”

Bryn grabbed a bagel and smeared a large glob of cream cheese on top. “Bagels are good.” She poured a cup of coffee and stirred in two packets of sugar. “What are you reading?”

“This is my favorite novel. It’s about a couple who are forbidden to marry. They stay true to each other and keep their relationship a secret.”

Bryn wolfed down a bagel while she thought about how to phrase what she wanted to say. “It’s hard for me to understand how the Directorate has so much control over everyone’s lives. My parents ran away. Why don’t other dragons defy the Directorate?”

“Your mother and father were unique. They loved each other so much they were willing to give up their entire way of life.” Miss Enid gave a sad smile. “Most dragons aren’t that adaptable. The idea of living as a human all the time is impossible to imagine.”

Bryn picked up another bagel. “It seemed normal to me. I had no idea they were dragons.”

The woman’s jaw dropped open. “They didn’t tell you?”

“No. A little advance warning would’ve been nice. Zavien stopped by to visit and set off a chain reaction of stress that led to my transformation.” Bryn sipped her coffee while she thought about Zavien. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“I may choose not to answer, but you can ask.”

She wanted to clarify why she was interested. “I’m not being nosy. Mr. Stanton said the Directorate won’t allow me to marry.” The words came out bitter. “Is that why you’re not married? Did the Directorate deny your marriage petition?”

Miss Enid sat forward. “What I tell you goes no further than this room.”

Bryn nodded.

“My marriage petition was denied, and I was devastated. I’d only ever loved one man. When the Directorate offered me another option, I didn’t consider it. The man I loved reacted the same way. We still see each other.”

“You never considered running away?”

“We talked about it, but both our passions revolve around the Institute. We didn’t know how we’d live in the human world. In the end, we decided what we had was enough.”

“It’s nice you still have each other. From what Zavien said, most dragons take whatever the Directorate offers.”

“There are some who choose to go their own way. They normally find an older man to keep them company.”

“That’s bullshit,” Bryn muttered. “It sounds like the Directorate keeps a group of young women on hand so rich, middle-aged men can have mistresses.”

Miss Enid choked on her coffee.

Bryn passed her a napkin. “Are you all right?”

She nodded and cleared her throat. “I’ve never considered it that way. Females are denied more often than males.”

Big surprise. “Does the Directorate justify their decisions?”

Miss Enid blotted the spots of coffee on her blouse. “The reason given is always the same. The bloodlines wouldn’t combine well.”

“What does that mean?”

“We questioned them when they denied us. They refused to give any hard data. It was maddening.”

The Directorate sucked. “I won’t be someone’s mistress. If there was someone else who was denied, we could date and see if we liked each other.”

“I thought your heart already belonged to someone.” Miss Enid gave her a knowing look.

Bryn felt her cheeks color. “Is it that obvious?”

“Your face lights up when you say his name.”

Maybe she’d have some insight into Zavien’s feelings. “Does his face light up when he say’s my name?”

“No, but his voice drops a little.”

“I always thought that was a sign of irritation.”

“Males are harder to read. Speaking of reading, I brought you some books.” Miss Enid reached into a tote bag sitting next to the couch and pulled out a paperback. “In this story, a Red and a Black Dragon run away together and help end a war.”

“Do you have any books about a hybrid and a Black dragon running away together?”

“Sorry, the authors weren’t that creative.”

After finishing breakfast, Bryn spent the rest of the morning reading in companionable silence with Miss Enid. A part of her brain suggested she should be working on missed homework assignments, but she ignored it. The homework would be there when she got around to it. Right now she needed the escape of a good book. Just as she wondered what to do for lunch, Zavien opened her door with a key. She felt the corners of her mouth curve up.