Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(64)

“Can I keep the note?” Garret asked Bryn.

“Sure.”

For the rest of the day, Bryn felt like she had to keep looking over her shoulder. Nothing strange happened. No bogeymen leapt out at her from dark corners. She almost wished someone would come at her. Her nervous system was on high alert, her muscles felt twitchy, and she was ready to fight.

When Ivy grabbed her arm and said, “Look,” Valmont drew his sword and Bryn produced a ball of fire in her hand.

It took Bryn a few seconds to realize Ivy was pointing at a poster for the upcoming Valentine’s Day dance.

Ivy pointed at the fireball in Bryn’s hand. “Overreact much?”

“Not funny.” Bryn closed her fist, extinguishing the flames. Valmont re-sheathed his sword.

“Sorry, I didn’t meant to startle you,” Ivy clasped her hands together, “but it’s a dance.”

Ivy said this like Bryn would say, “It’s a bottomless cup of coffee,” or “It’s a pie the size of a Mack truck’s tire.”

“A dance… Yippee,” Clint deadpanned.

“Do not rain on my I-love-dances parade. It’s a small price to pay for being my boyfriend.”

Clint laughed. “You’re right.”

A nervous feeling settled in Bryn’s middle. It felt like goldfish were swimming around inside her stomach. “Dances have never been very good for me.”

“What are you talking about? I rescued you at the last dance.” Valmont didn’t sound pleased.

“Hello? Christmas Ball…death and destruction…ring a bell?”

Valmont ducked his head. “I thought you were talking about—”

“I wasn’t,” Bryn cut him off. Even though she had been thinking of Zavien a little bit. “So, will you fulfill your knightly duties by escorting me to the terrifying Valentine’s Day dance?”

He pretended to think about it and then gave a wicked grin. “Can I pick out your dress?”

“You can help.”

Harmony restored, they continued walking back to Clint and Ivy’s dorm. When they reached the sidewalk outside the building, harmony was shot straight to hell at the sight of Zavien walking hand in hand with Nola.

For a moment, both groups of people froze.

“Nice night for a walk, isn’t it?” Valmont said.

Zavien opened his mouth, but nothing came out, like he was an actor who had forgotten his line. He cleared his throat. “It is.”

“We haven’t seen either of you around the theater during the rebuilding,” Ivy said.

Nola shook her head. “I don’t want to see it before it’s complete. It’s too distressing.”

Okay, time to jump in and say something since everyone else was talking. “My grandmother’s designs are beautiful. I think you’ll love the theater when it’s done.”

“I’m sure we will.” Zavien tugged on Nola’s hand. “We need to go. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Bryn and her friends echoed.

Talking to Zavien when she’d been concerned for Clint and Ivy’s welfare was one thing. Making small talk with him and Nola was too freaking weird.

Bryn squeezed Valmont’s hand. “That wasn’t too awkward, was it?”

“I no longer want to run him through with my sword.” Valmont grinned. “Jaxon, however, is another story.”

Everyone laughed. Bryn felt like some sort of emotional slate had been wiped clean. Truth be told, she’d done all she could to avoid bumping into Zavien and Nola since they’d returned from Christmas break. It’s not like she wanted to go on a double date with them, but knowing she didn’t have to avoid them anymore was a relief.

…

Bryn sat on Ivy’s couch with Valmont and looked around. It was weird how the room seemed cramped to her now. Good lord, she would not turn into an uppity Blue. She’d loved these rooms when she lived here. They might be half the size of her dorm, but they were fine.

“Bryn?” Valmont poked her on the thigh.

“What?” She blinked. “Sorry lost in thought.”

“About?” he prompted.

“I was trying to figure out how we were going to shop for dresses for the Valentine’s dance when we can’t leave campus.”

“That’s what I said while you were in La La Land.” Ivy laughed.

Now she really did take a moment to think about it. “I hate that my first thought is that a group of students going to Dragon’s Bluff would be a target.”

Valmont frowned. “Didn’t Jaxon say something like that once before?”

“He did. I can’t help but think having a dance makes a great target, too. Help me. There’s something wrong with my brain. My Blue DNA won’t let me have fun anymore.”

“You’ve been through some rough stuff,” Clint said. “That’s bound to leave anyone a bit jaded.”

“Listen up,” Ivy said. “The dance will be fun. Shopping for dresses will be fun. I expect you all to get with the program.”

“You’re right,” Bryn said. “But before we go running to my grandmother about shopping, let’s see if someone else steps up to solve this problem. I don’t want to wave my grandmother card around the same way Jaxon waves his my-father-is-speaker-for-the-Directorate flag in everyone’s faces.”