Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(19)

“Did you ask him about it?”

“He claims it was something he had lying around, and it reminded him of me. I took it to Talia at All that Sparkles. She said it was old and real gold, but that didn’t mean it was anything but a piece of jewelry.”

“Did she tell you the story of Wraith Knightshade?”

Bryn nodded. “Some of it. What did she tell you?”

“She didn’t tell me the story. I read it in a book.”

This was news to her. “There are books with that story? Where? I searched all over this library and couldn’t find them.”

He frowned. “There are several books of fairy tales which include stories of the time before the Directorate took control, but they’re told from the knight’s perspective, which might be why they aren’t included here. Talia’s grandmother used to read to us at the library in Dragon’s Bluff when we were kids.”

“There’s a library in Dragon’s Bluff?”

“Of course. It’s attached to the school.” Valmont stood. “I think we should go see if Miss Enid can arrange for an interlibrary loan.”

They found Miss Enid still sitting at the front desk, checking out books for students. When she was free, Bryn filled her in on their request.

“Do you remember the name of the set?” Miss Enid asked as she typed away on her keyboard.

“Days of Knights,” Valmont said with a grin.

“Are puns part of the knightly code?” Bryn asked.

“Maybe.” Valmont grinned. “Although that isn’t exactly a pun.”

“Close enough.” Miss Enid clicked through several screens. “I think I can arrange an unofficial interlibrary loan with the Dragon’s Bluff School librarian. You shouldn’t go around talking about this. The Directorate must have a reason for not housing those books in the campus library.”

“Mums the word.” Bryn grabbed Valmont’s hand. “Come on. We don’t want to be late for my favorite class.” Basic Movement was like gym class, but far cooler. “You’re going to love it.”





Chapter Seven


For some reason, Basic Movement was a bit awkward. While Bryn had seen Valmont in a shirt and jeans before, she’d never seen him in a too-tight Directorate-issued T-shirt and track pants. And she might have felt the muscles beneath his shirt, but now she could see the outline of pecs and biceps. Where Jaxon and the Blues were lean and muscled like runners or swimmers, Valmont was built thicker through the shoulders and chest. Not nearly as muscular as the Reds who were built like pro-wrestlers, but somewhere in between. He walked toward her with an evil grin on his face, and her temperature spiked.

“Funny that his body type is somewhere between the Red and the Blues,” Ivy said. “Sort of symbolic, don’t you think?”

When Valmont reached them, he jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the jousting platforms. “Any chance I can face off with Jaxon?”

Clint laughed. “I’d pay to see that.”

“That’s probably not a good idea.” In fact, Bryn knew it was a terrible idea. “Jaxon has been working his butt off to prove he’s the alpha of the Blues, so people will leave Rhianna alone.”

“You’re right,” Valmont said. “When I beat him, it would cause problems for Rhianna, and I like her.”

“I am secure in my masculinity and therefore have nothing to prove.” Clint put his arm around Ivy’s shoulders. “But I think a lot of the other males are wondering how strong your knight is. You better pick an activity he and you can do alone, before someone challenges him.”

Valmont winked at her. “We could finish what we started in the library.”

“And what did you start it the library?” Ivy asked in far too cheery a tone.

Bryn whacked Valmont on the arm. “Knock it off.”

Mrs. Anderson waved at Bryn from across the room and pointed at Valmont, then gestured they should come see her.

“Maybe she has something planned for you two,” Ivy said.

Valmont grabbed Bryn’s hand, and they walked over to investigate the situation.

“I heard you two fought together in Dragon’s Bluff,” Mrs. Anderson said.

Valmont’s grip on her hand tightened. “We did.”

“Flying with a knight on your back had to feel different than flying by yourself. I think you two should practice aerial maneuvers.”

And Mrs. Anderson was her new favorite teacher. There was only one problem. “We’d need a saddle and a place to practice.”

“Follow me.”

They wandered to the lockers on the far wall where different sports equipment was stored. Mrs. Anderson unlocked one of the larger lockers and stepped back. Saddles and lances rested inside, encased in what looked like giant Ziplock bags.

Valmont opened one of the bags and pulled out a saddle. The saddle at her grandparents’ house had been made of highly polished tooled leather. This scuffed leather saddle was purely utilitarian.

Next he grabbed a lance, testing its balance in his hand. “Too bad there isn’t someone to joust with.”

“With the way things are going, I fear that won’t be a problem for long,” Mrs. Anderson said. “Leave the lance, and follow me.”