Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(55)

When they returned to the table, Adam sat whispering to Eve.

Bryn set the plates in the middle of the table and passed out napkins and forks. “Everything all right?”

Adam picked up a mini quiche and studied it. “Everything is fine.”

Valmont arrived, passed out drinks, and shuffled the food on the four plates until each one held the same assortment. “Snacks are served.” He sat and sipped his lemonade.

“He’s handy to have around,” Eve said.

Adam popped the quiche in his mouth, chewed, and seemed to think about something. “I don’t know what that was, but I want more.” He glanced at the buffet table. “Do you think anyone would notice if we took the whole tray?”

“Bryn, I believe we’ve found you a kindred spirit.” Valmont clapped Adam on the back.

“He lives for food,” Eve confirmed. “And he loves to cook, which works out great since I screw up scrambled eggs.”

Valmont tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “How can you mess up scrambled eggs?”

Eve popped a crab puff into her mouth and shrugged.

This would be nice if Bryn could relax. It felt like she was waiting for a secret message or clandestine information. It didn’t help that Clint and Ivy were seated a few tables away, staring intently like they were trying to read everyone’s lips.

“You could invite your friends to join us,” Eve said. “It’s not like we’re divulging deep dark secrets.”

“No secrets?” Bryn said, playing it off as a joke. “That’s disappointing.”

“Not much to tell,” Adam said. “We grew up with a small group of Reds…exactly like us. Sparks is a tiny farm town with a main street, a few stores, and a couple dozen houses. There isn’t even a McDonald’s.”

“Is it like Dragon’s Bluff where everyone knows everything about everyone?” Valmont asked.

“Yes, and we’re all related in one way or another, so you have to check lineage before you ask someone on a date.” Adam playfully tugged on Eve’s ponytail. “I had my parent’s check Eve’s lineage when we were five.”

Bryn grinned and shook her head. “I can’t imagine living someplace that close-knit. My parents and I were pretty much on our own.” The familiar ache flared up in her chest. How different would her life have been if her parents had sought out a small off-the-map town with other dragons?

“Sorry about your parents,” Eve said.

Bryn nodded. “Thanks.” What else should she ask them? “Do you think you’ll move away from your town when you graduate?”

“No,” Eve said. “It’s home.”

“Are there other small towns with populations like yours?” She hoped they understood that she meant other hybrid towns.

Adam nodded. “There are several remote towns where everyone is related. I know of a few who live in the Green dorm and a few who live in the Black dorm.”

Which meant there were towns for hybrid Green and hybrid Black Dragons. “I’d love to visit one of those towns, to see what they’re like.”

“I wouldn’t try it without an invitation,” Eve said. “Small communities like ours are sometimes suspicious of outsiders. Given who your grandfather is, I’m not sure you’d be welcomed.”

At least now she knew there were other groups of good hybrids out there. “Thanks for talking to me about this.”

“We needed someone to know that we aren’t all bad, and you were the only dragon likely to believe us. Not to be rude,” he stood, “but we should be going.”

They said their good-byes and left.

“That was interesting.” Valmont leaned back in his seat. “Do we have to paint more, or can we be done?” He gave her puppy dog eyes.

She laughed. “We can be done.” Bryn waved Clint and Ivy over. “I’m going to say good-bye to my grandmother, and then we can go back to my room.”

As she worked her way across the room, Bryn saw her grandmother arch a brow at whatever one of the women told her. Then she spotted Bryn and smiled. It was a genuine, warm smile, one she wouldn’t have thought her grandmother capable of when they’d first met.

“Are you finished painting?” her grandmother asked.

“Yes. I wanted to give you a hug and say good-bye before I went back to my room.”

The other women stiffened a bit, because public displays of affection weren’t a Blue characteristic, which was too bad. Without seeming the least bit affected by her friends’ reactions, Bryn’s grandmother gave her a hug and even kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t forget about Lillith’s baby shower this Sunday.”

This was news to her. Not that she didn’t want to go ’cause she did. “Did my invitation go missing in the mail?” She was joking, sort of.

“No. You were included in the invitation, which came to our house. I thought Jaxon would have told you.”

Bryn snorted. “He’s a guy. I don’t think baby showers are on his radar. But that doesn’t matter. The shower should be fun.”

An evil grin lit her grandmother’s face. “As payback for his lack of manners, the next time you see Jaxon, tell him he’s required to attend the shower, and it’s at Suzette’s.”