Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(42)

Bryn felt like she was falling down a well. “I’m not sure I can.”

Her grandmother glanced toward Valmont. “In a way, it will be a good thing. If the bond is heightening your emotions, after you break the bond, they will go away. If it’s not the bond keeping you two together, you’ll know that, too.”

Bryn’s field of vision seemed to narrow. She clutched her paper cup of punch so tightly it crumpled. Lukewarm punch spilled over her fingers and dripped onto the carpet.

Valmont was by her side in an instant with his arm around her shoulders. “What’s wrong? Do we need a medic?”

“No.” Bryn leaned into his warmth. What she needed was a miracle.

“What were you discussing?” Valmont’s tone toward her grandmother was respectful, but wary.

“Her impending marriage and what it will mean for the two of you,” her grandmother said.

“I don’t understand. Did you tell her about the turkey baster plan?” Valmont asked.

Bryn choked back a laugh. “Of course not.”

Her grandmother crossed her arms over her chest and waited. “What on earth is he talking about?”

“Don’t,” Bryn warned Valmont. There was no way her grandmother would find the scenario appropriate or funny.

“Fine.” He cleared his throat. “You can tell her when you’re ready.”

Like she’d ever be ready to share that information with her grandmother. “Can we talk about something that doesn’t include Jaxon?”

“Of course.” Her grandmother seemed intrigued but didn’t push the issue. “There is a Valentine’s Day party coming up. Since your petition has not yet been approved, you may attend the dance with whomever you wish. Once the petition is approved, that will be another story.”

“But Jaxon said people date even after their petitions are approved.”

“People might, but Sinclairs do not.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to point out she was a McKenna, not a Sinclair, but that would hurt her grandmother’s feelings, so she bit back the words and went with something less inflammatory. “This is something Jaxon and I should probably discuss before it happens.” They had discussed it, sort of. The memory of Valmont kissing her and declaring he wouldn’t give her up made her cheeks color, but it also made her sad. He hadn’t kissed her like that since before she’d been ill, and she wasn’t sure he planned to do it again.

“That would be a wise move. You wouldn’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”

She didn’t want to start off on any foot with Jaxon.

“Mrs. Sinclair,” Valmont’s voice was pitched low, like he was trying to keep his emotions in check. “I care a great deal for Bryn. Whatever happens between her and Jaxon, my feelings will not change. I will uphold my oath until the grave. Nothing can change that.”

Bryn leaned into him, loving the reassurance of his arm wrapped around her. She wanted to tell him not to worry, that they were a package deal, but if she followed her grandmother’s way of thinking, she would have to set him free from the bond before her marriage. Her heart hurt just thinking about it.

“I have faith in you, young man. I’m sure you’ll do what’s best for my granddaughter.”





Chapter Thirteen


After her grandmother left, Valmont wrapped his arms around Bryn and kissed the top of her head. The gesture should have been reassuring. What did he mean by it? Big brothers kissed their little sisters on top of the head. While it was affectionate, it didn’t seem like something a boyfriend would do to his girlfriend. Then again, she didn’t have much experience with the whole boyfriend scenario, so what did she know?

On the walk back to the dorm, Valmont kept his arm around her shoulders. “What did your grandmother say to upset you?”

Bryn glanced around. Other students walked on the sidewalk a few feet away from them. God forbid they overhear anything. “Let’s wait to talk until we’re back in my room.”

“Is it that bad?” he asked.

“It’s not good.”

In her head, she’d always thought that even if she had to marry Jaxon, she’d still have her knight. She hadn’t realized she’d be required to release him before the wedding ceremony. Not that she couldn’t still have a relationship with Valmont, but would he want one?

This whole arranged marriage thing was all so backward and archaic. Why couldn’t Jaxon just marry Rhianna? They wanted to be together. An odd thought invaded her brain. If she were injured, or less than perfect, Jaxon would have to find someone else to marry. A limp would almost be worth not having to spend the rest of her life in a sham marriage. But that would not be honorable or loyal, and she cared about those things now, damn it. She was stuck like a fly in a web.

Once they reached the privacy of her dorm room, Valmont said, “What’s wrong?”

A mild headache beat in Bryn’s temples. “My grandmother shared something with me that sucks, big time.”

Valmont pointed at the couch. “Step into my office.”

She plopped down on the couch, where he joined her. “Whatever it is,” he said, “we’ll deal with it together.”

How would they deal with it? As a couple? As best friends? There were too many balls in the air right now and she was sure they were all going to come crashing down on her head at any moment. What she needed was some reassurance about his feelings. “I’ll tell you, if you kiss me.”