Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(91)

The connecting door opened, and Lillith’s face appeared. “May we come in?”

“Sure.” Bryn prayed the sheet provided full coverage.

Lillith entered the room. Jaxon followed. He wore a T-shirt spotted with dried blood, and his face was streaked with freshly healed abrasions. When he saw Bryn, he froze.

“What?” she asked.

“Sorry.” Jaxon averted his gaze. “I didn’t expect…”

Bryn gripped Merrick’s hand tighter. “Get me a mirror.”

“No. The medics have more work to do. You’ll be yourself again soon.”

“Get me a mirror, or I’ll get up and find one myself.”

“You don’t need a mirror.” Jaxon squared his shoulders and met her gaze. “Your face is a crosshatch of bright pink lines. Your eyebrows are gone. If I remember correctly, regrowing eyebrows takes about fifteen minutes.” He smirked. “Of course, you only singed mine. Complete regrowth might take longer.”

That wasn’t so bad. “Thanks for being honest. I was afraid I had huge gouges in my face. I suppose I should apologize about your eyebrows.”

“Neither of us was at our best that day,” he said.

“She singed your eyebrows?” Lillith said. “How?”

“She shot a rather large fireball at my head after I insulted her mother.”

“That will teach you to mess with someone you don’t know.” Lillith grinned.

Medic Williams stepped away from the bed. “We need to eat before we continue. I could start on your eyebrows before I leave.”

All three medics appeared worn out. “Take a break. I don’t care about my appearance right now. Food sounds good.”

Merrick stood. “I’ll call downstairs and ask for some food to be sent up.”

“Order something for us, too,” Lillith said. “I’ve no idea when tonight’s meeting will end. We should plan to spend the night.”

“What happens during the Directorate meetings?” Bryn asked.

“I’ve sat in on a few,” Lillith said. “They discuss curriculum changes at the school, and marriage petitions are always being finalized. Sometimes the meetings go on for days. I’d hoped this one would take a while so I could visit with Jaxon. I packed for the weekend.”

It was sweet that Jaxon’s mother wanted to visit with him.

“Once I’m healed and presentable, I’d love to ask the Directorate a few questions about how the system works.”

“Bad idea,” Merrick said. “Certain Directorate members will be less than pleased about your grandfather’s decision to offer you aid. It would be best to wait until this trouble has passed before you stir up more.”

The door to the room opened. Bryn’s grandmother came in followed by a maid carrying an armload of clothes. “Gentleman, I brought a change of clothes for both of you. If you’d like to adjourn to the rooms next door or across the hall, you can make yourselves presentable.”

Merrick and Jaxon accepted her offer and exited the room.

Bryn’s stomach turned as her grandmother approached. The woman seemed to be carved of ice. If she smiled, her face would probably crack.

“I apologize for your mistreatment under our roof. I see the medics still have work to do. If you’d like, Abigail can assist you in the bath.”

Mistreatment seemed like an understatement.

“Thank you. I believe I can manage on my own.” She glanced at the sheet draped over her body. “I’m not sure how to maneuver and keep this sheet in place.”

Abigail, the maid, said, “Let me get a robe.” She ducked into the bathroom and emerged with a white robe.

Bryn tucked the sheet under her arms, sat up, and allowed Abigail to drape the robe around her back. Slowly, she eased to the edge of the bed, taking the sheet and robe with her. She stood, cringing at the ache in her pelvis. Despite the pain, she wrapped the robe around herself. One step sent shooting pain up her thigh. Walking was out of the question. She gritted her teeth and eased back onto the bed.

“Maybe I’ll wear the robe until after the medics finish.”

Her grandmother frowned. “I’d hoped to have you dressed before dinner.”

“Sorry, I can’t walk.”

“I could ask Merrick to carry you.”

“No, thank you. That would be embarrassing for both of us.”

“Abigail could help you with a sponge bath.”

Her grandmother didn’t get it. “Fractures in my pelvis and legs have been fused back together. My face looks like a lobster, and I have no eyebrows. A bath and clean clothes won’t make much difference.”

The woman’s chin jutted out. “I was doing what I could for you.”

“I appreciate that, but walking hurts.” How much clearer could she be?

“Why don’t you lie back down? When Merrick returns, we’ll ask for his assistance.”

Please let the medics return before Merrick. While she doubted she could sleep, it was better than arguing with her grandmother. Lying back down, she closed her eyes, and the voices in the background faded to an indistinct buzz.

Warmth enveloped Bryn’s legs. She opened her eyes and saw Medic Williams by her side.

“Sorry to wake you. This shouldn’t take long.” The sensation of being covered in warm honey returned. Slowly, the pain in her pelvis and legs disappeared. Her muscles relaxed.