Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(75)

“If you’re not out of there in five minutes, we’ll open it again,” Bryn said.

“Thank you.” Miss Enid gave a nervous laugh. “This is so exciting.”

They exited the room, and the door disappeared. Then it reappeared as Miss Enid swung the door open.

“I am relieved that worked.” Miss Enid turned to her grandfather. “Mr. Sinclair, I will start cataloging the artifacts, if that’s all right with you.”

“Good idea. I’ll personally escort a guard downstairs to stay with you.” His gaze drifted to Bryn. “It’s past curfew. Stay with me, and I’ll walk you both back to your rooms.”

That was nice of him. When they emerged in the library on the main floor, her grandfather placed a few calls. “And now the fun begins.”

Bryn wasn’t sure why her grandfather looked so pleased with himself until Ferrin emerged from the stairs scowling.

“Explain yourself.” He pointed at Bryn. “Why are you out past curfew?”

Bryn knew she was grinning like a smart-ass but it seemed unavoidable. “Perhaps, you should direct your questions to my grandfather.”

“Is there a problem?” her grandfather managed to sound confused.

A pair of guards entered the front door of the library and walked toward them.

Ferrin growled. “There is plenty of security in the area. Why are your private guards here?”

“It’s difficult to know who to trust in these troubled times,” her grandfather said. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do in the archives.”

“I’m coming with you,” Ferrin stated like he was hoping someone would try to talk him out of it.

“Of course you’re invited to join me.”

Bryn could practically hear Ferrin grinding his teeth in frustration at being relegated as a tag-a-long rather than being the one in charge. She had to clamp down on a giggle.

“Bryn, I’ll ask you to lead us downstairs one more time and then I’ll escort you back to your dorm. “

“Of course.” She did as her grandfather asked, enjoying the look of avarice on Ferrin’s face when he saw what she’d discovered.

“Perhaps you should have your granddaughter bleed on more walls,” Ferrin said. “You never know what else we might find.”

At this rate, she’d be a human pincushion.

Valmont leaned over and whispered to Bryn. “You don’t have to be the only dragon with a knight. Then you wouldn’t be the only one who could open doors.”

Once her grandfather was finished lauding “his discovery” over Ferrin, he walked her back to the Blue dorm.

“We could fly,” Bryn suggested as they walked across campus.

“Nonsense. We want to enter through the front door to see how many students have heard the news.”

“How could anyone have heard about what happened half an hour ago?”

Her grandfather laughed. “Security guards watching the tapes will talk. Students who were in the library will be curious. Wait and see.”

When they entered the Blue dorm, the first floor sitting area was oddly full for a Monday night after curfew. Bryn smiled at everyone who stared at her, just to be perverse.

“Would you like to come up to my room?” she asked when they reached the marble staircase, because truth be told, she wasn’t sure what to do. She would have hugged her grandmother, but that didn’t seem like an option with her grandfather.

“Thank you. Maybe another time. Valmont, I hope you enjoy the sword my granddaughter commissioned for you. Bryn, tell Jaxon I said hello.” Her grandfather chuckled and headed back toward the front door.

“I get the part about saying you gave me the sword, but what was that other bit about?” Valmont asked Bryn as they headed up the stairs.

“I have no idea.”

Jaxon standing outside her door, made her laugh openly. “My grandfather says hello.”

“How nice of him.” Jaxon jerked his thumb toward the door. “May I come in for a bit?”

“My vote is no,” Valmont told Bryn.

“It’s late, Jaxon. What do you want?”

“Don’t play games. You know exactly why I’m here.”

He could believe what he wanted. She unlocked the door. “After you.”

He held his ground. “Ladies first.”

Since when did he put me in that category?

“It’s sort of my job to go first and make sure it’s safe.” Valmont drew his new sword, holding it out so Jaxon was sure to see it.

Jaxon sucked in a breath. “Where did that come from?”

“Early Christmas present.” Valmont entered the room and flipped on the lights. “All clear.”

Bryn and then Jaxon followed. As soon as the door shut, he spoke rapid fire. “Is it true you discovered a secret room in the library?”

“How in the hell did you hear that already?” Bryn sat at the table because she didn’t want Jaxon to get too comfortable on the couch and decide to overstay his welcome, which would end in about thirty seconds.

“One of Rhianna’s friends was in the library and saw your grandfather arrive. She knows the younger cousin of one of the security guards who watched the footage of the cameras in the library. Now, tell me what you found.”