Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(12)

Students congregated at the new picnic shelters that had been installed around campus since so many of the trees had been demolished during the attacks last semester. Granite tables and benches sat underneath the shelters, which had decorative copper roofs. The official story claimed they were meant to provide shade. Of course, they would also provide protection from most aerial attacks. Not that the Directorate mentioned that part. Did they think the students wouldn’t figure it out, or were they supposed to be polite or obedient enough not to say anything? Too bad for them she was short on both counts.

When they reached the back gate leading off campus, there was another change. The guard post where students had to sign in and out had transformed into what looked like a military bunker, complete with a dozen guards, camera surveillance, and an observation deck with something that looked suspiciously like a gun turret on top. Rather than a gun, there was something that resembled a cannon with a javelin sticking out of the barrel.

“What’s that thing on top there?” Bryn asked as the car stopped at the gate and a guard approached the vehicle.

The driver ignored her question in favor of rolling down the window.

“State your business,” the guard said.

“I’m transporting Bryn McKenna to Dragon’s Bluff to meet her grandmother for lunch.”

The guard checked an electronic tablet he held in his hand. “I don’t see your authorization permit.”

“Last minute change of plans,” the driver said.

“I’ll need to see your ID.”

The driver pulled a badge from his pocket and flashed it at the guard. “We shouldn’t keep Mrs. Sinclair waiting.”

Unmoved by this statement, the guard tapped away on the tablet. “Miss McKenna, I’ll need to see your ID as well.”

That was going to be a problem. “I didn’t bring any ID with me.” Since her grandmother was paying for lunch, she hadn’t even grabbed her wallet.

The guard frowned. “Please step out of the vehicle. I can scan you and check it against the photo ID online.”

That was new. Bryn tugged on the door handle, but it didn’t open. “The child safety locks must be on. Can you let me out?”

“Sure.” The driver leaned away from the window, where the buttons to release the locks would be, and reached toward the passenger seat. An uneasy feeling grew in Bryn’s stomach. Something about this wasn’t right.

“Miss McKenna, exit the vehicle. Now.” The guard drew a gun and aimed it at the driver.

Holy hell.

The driver turned, knife in hand, and lunged at Bryn. She sucked in a breath and blasted him with flames as she scrambled over the seat into the back of the SUV. The driver roared in pain but still managed to dive partway over the seat and grab her ankle. She kicked out, making contact with something that caused the driver to curse. What the hell was going on? The interior of the SUV was smoldering and smoking. She didn’t want to risk any more fire. Focusing on cold, she blasted him with ice. He countered with flames, melting the ice and filling the car with a cloud of steam. Now what? If she shifted in this confined space, she’d probably break a wing, so she kicked again, and missed. The back window of the SUV shattered, a new guard grabbed Bryn’s arms and pulled, but the driver still held her ankle.

“Let go.” Bryn kicked again. Razor sharp pain sliced through her leg. She twisted and kicked.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Gunshots reverberated through the car. The grip on her ankle fell away, and the guard holding her arms tugged her through the jagged edged window. Glass sliced through her clothes, biting into her skin.

“Down.” The guard shoved her to the ground as the militia surrounded the vehicle.

She sucked in a breath. The cuts on her back and arms stung, but they weren’t fatal. Her leg throbbed.

“Is it over?” she asked. The sound of water trickling under the car caught her attention. Then the fumes hit her. Not water. Gas. And the inside of the car was still smoldering. Not good.

“Shift!” Bryn shouted. She lunged away from the car, shifted and Boom. The SUV went up in a ball of flames. Fire engulfed her body, playing across her scales, doing little damage.

Screams came from behind her. The guard by the door was engulfed in flames. She blasted him and the burning remains of the SUV with sleet, dousing the blaze. Everyone around her screamed. Dragon wings beat through the air. She eyed the sky. Friend or foe? How was she supposed to tell?

Half a dozen Reds descended and stood guard around her. She turned in a circle checking the sky. Everything seemed okay. She sat down, oddly exhausted and unable to catch her breath, like someone had knocked the wind out of her. What was going on? The cut on her leg hadn’t been that bad. She checked the gash on the back of her right calf. If she were human, she’d need a few stitches. Since she was a dragon studying to be a medic, she’d healed minor wounds before, so she focused on the angry red line. Reaching inside, she gathered her life force like a small sun in her chest. Then she tried to direct the Quintessence, which she could normally do without breaking a sweat. While channeling her energy, a strange smell like rotten meat hit her. She gagged. Damn it. The blade must’ve been poisoned.

More wing beats filled the air. A green dragon landed and shifted.

“Bryn? What’s wrong?” Medic Williams shifted to human form. “Shift for me.”