Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(98)

“Who taught you how to do that?” one of the friendlier-looking men asked.

“My mother taught me visualization as part of yoga. I can visualize my life force, and I can channel it to change my hair color or heal minor injuries. Medic Williams thinks I’m a natural and would make a good medic.”

The Council members muttered among themselves.

“Who do you think is behind these attacks?” her grandfather asked.

“I have my theories, but I doubt they’d be popular in this room.”

“Enlighten us.” Ferrin’s eyes sparkled with malicious intent.

Bryn squared her shoulders. “The individuals who are most irritated with my presence are all Blues. At school, the other Clans have been a tad more accepting of me.”

Ferrin chuckled. “You challenged the Blue dragons to a race. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them were behind the first incident.”

“I didn’t challenge anyone to a race. I was supposed to fly timed trials by myself. Your son and his friends turned it into a race. I flew for the sheer joy of flying. We flew several more races that day for the same reason. Your future daughter-in-law almost beat me. I like her.”

Ferrin growled. “Stay away from Rhianna. I don’t want you poisoning her mind.”

“I’m not the one who poisons people.” Bryn let the statement hang in the air, accusing Ferrin without actually saying the words.

Her grandfather cleared his throat. “Someone broke into my home and threatened the safety of my guests. I don’t believe a Blue dragon would do such a thing.”

“I don’t know who would break into your house. You’re quite intimidating.”

His chest puffed out like he was pleased with her response.

Bryn’s breath caught as she remembered Merrick’s words. “That bomb was designed to take out more than one person. If Jaxon and Merrick hadn’t been standing in the doorway, waiting to leave, they would’ve been hurt much worse. If all three of us had been gravely injured, I doubt all of us would have survived.”

She turned to Merrick. “Where’s Jaxon?”

“The last I spoke to him, he planned to take a walk in the garden with his mother.”

Goose bumps pebbled her arms. “What if the target wasn’t just me? Anyone who knew I was being sequestered in the library would have known Jaxon was there, too. Right?”

Her grandfather nodded. “You were both listed on the agenda.”

“What if the bomb wasn’t meant just for me? What if it was meant for him, too?”

“That’s absurd,” Ferrin snapped.

“Why? Because you’re so well loved?” She looked to Merrick. “Is there any security left on the estate?”

Merrick shook his head. “We moved everyone inside.”

Her grandfather pulled out his cell phone and spoke rapid-fire. Ferrin bolted for the door.

“Stay here,” Merrick ordered and ran after Ferrin.

Was he crazy? She ran after him and slid between the elevator doors before they closed.

Ferrin stood eerily still, staring straight ahead as the elevator descended. Without glancing her way, he said, “If anything happens to my son, you’ll wish that bomb had killed you.”

A shiver ran down her spine. She had no doubt he meant what he said.





Chapter Twenty-Nine


The elevator jerked to a stop, but the doors remained closed.

“Something’s wrong,” Merrick said. “We shouldn’t have stopped.”

Ferrin growled and attempted to pry the doors open.

“There’s a better way.” Merrick pointed at a panel in the ceiling and then clasped his hands together to make a step. “I’ll boost you up.”

Ferrin managed to knock the ceiling panel out of the way and pull himself through the opening. His face appeared in the hole. “There’s a maintenance shaft we can squeeze through. I’ll start in the gardens.”

“I’ll be right behind you.” Merrick exhaled a stream of ice onto the floor, creating a platform. He held his hand out to Bryn. “Your turn.”

“You go first. I don’t know the grounds. You can find them faster. I’ll catch up.”

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Go.”

Using the block of ice as a step, he climbed out of the elevator.

Bryn shivered and stepped on the block of ice. She reached up to catch hold of the opening and pull herself up. The elevator doors slid open. That’s weird.

A blast of air tainted with mold, dust, and something acrid burned her nostrils. This must be a part of the estate no longer in use. Why would her grandfather let part of his home fall into ruin?

“Come out, mixed breed. We’ve much to discuss.”

The masculine voice sounded familiar. No way would she walk out there. She moved to the edge of the elevator and scoped out the room. Moonlight seeped through the windows lining both walls, giving enough light to see a dilapidated couch and molding chairs. She could make out an open set of French doors farther into the space and a neglected four-poster bed.

The other notable feature in the room was the giant chandelier, which hung suspended from the ceiling. Unlike the one outside the meeting room, this one was encrusted with spider webs.