Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(76)

For once, she liked being the person in-the-know. Since arriving in the dragon world, she’d constantly been one step behind. “Something about the magic of the knight-dragon bond allowed us to discover a hidden room containing old books and scrolls.”

“What about your bond allowed you to do that?”

“I’m not sure you should share this information with everyone,” Valmont said. “It could be used against you or another dragon and knight.”

She hadn’t thought of that.

“I am not everyone,” Jaxon said. “I’m…I won’t say your future husband because God forbid that comes to pass, but I am the person who pulled you off a rather pointy javelin, so make with the details, now.”

When he put it that way…she told him about finding the door, how they opened it, and what was in the room. And suddenly she was exhausted. “You have ten minutes to ask questions before I literally fall asleep sitting up.”

In a surprise move, Jaxon reached for her hand, which was resting on the table. “Show me.”

She turned her hand palm up so he could see the fine red lines that marked where she’d bled on Valmont’s sword.

He pointed at Valmont. “That’s why you don’t want everyone to know. They could snatch a dragon and knight and bleed the dragon dry, hunting for hidden doors.”

Valmont nodded. “We need to keep this information a secret.”

“Secrets have a way of coming out. We need to lay a false trail.” Jaxon sat back and ran his hand through his hair. “Something close to the truth would be best.” He stared up at the ceiling for a moment. “I know. Let’s say both dragon and knight had to touch the sword for it to work like a key.”

“Technically, that’s true,” Bryn said. “So it won’t be hard to remember.” She needed to include Valmont in this decision because it wasn’t all about her. “What do you think, Valmont?”

“I hate that he thought of it, but I like it.” He gestured toward the door. “Now that we have our stories straight, it’s time for you to leave so Bryn and I can to go to bed.”

Well, that sounded sort of wrong. Jaxon glared at Valmont as he let himself out. Was it because he’d been dismissed or was it because of the way Valmont had made it sound like they were going to bed together?

“Are you all right?” her knight asked.

“Tired, but good.” Bryn stood and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “It was an eventful day.”

“That it was.”

She looked up at him. “Are you okay?”

“I love my new sword, but I definitely do not like making you bleed.”

And that’s when she realized something. “I didn’t heal myself after the cuts.” She showed him her hand with the barely visible lines. “Do you think that’s part of the magic?”

“I don’t know. Blood-magic is messed up.”

“Is that a real term?” Bryn asked. “Or are you improvising?”

“I’ve never heard it before, but it seems to fit. Now, enough big thoughts for the day. Come here.” He tugged her toward the couch. “I’m not ready to let you go.” He lay down, and she followed suit, using his chest as a pillow.

“My dragon,” he murmured as he kissed the top of her head.

“My knight,” she replied as she yawned.

…

At breakfast the next morning, Bryn noticed a certain trend. “And everyone is back to staring again. Lovely.”

“It’s your fault. You’re the one who keeps doing weird things,” Clint teased. “Finding secret doorways. Consorting with Directorate member’s sons.”

“What?” Valmont sloshed coffee over the rim of his cup.

Ivy chuckled. “There’s a rumor Jaxon was seen leaving Bryn’s room late last night.”

“So.” Bryn didn’t get it. “It’s not like I was alone with him. Valmont was there.”

“Yeah,” Clint snorted. “People are talking about it that way, too.”

“Stop it.” Ivy smacked Clint on the arm.

“What?” Clint rolled his eyes. “Number one, they need to know. Number two, it’s ridiculous to think of those three together.”

“Three? Oh, hell no.” Valmont pushed away from the table.

And that’s when Bryn got it. “Why…” Words failed her, but the look of utter disgust on Valmont’s face made this seem oddly funny. If she laughed, he would not be pleased. She played it off as being mad. “Why would people think something so stupid?”

“Students are bored. Rumors are fun.” Clint shrugged.

“Fun?” Valmont grabbed a butter packet and whizzed it at Clint’s head.

“Hey.” Clint ducked allowing the butter packet to sail over his shoulder onto the floor. “Don’t fling dairy products at the messenger.”

“You’re enjoying this too much,” Bryn shot back.

“I can’t help it.” Clint’s grinned. “I’m dying to ask Jaxon if he’s heard the rumors.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Bryn warned. “There’s enough strange crap going on without you adding to the situation.”