Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(77)

“Fine.” Clint shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth.

A roar reverberated through the room. Bryn whipped around to see Jaxon grab a Blue male she didn’t recognize, pin his arm behind his back, and slam him face first into the table.

“If you ever repeat such a stupid rumor again,” sleet shot from Jaxon’s mouth with every word, “I will gut you.”

“I’m sorry.” The boy gave a fake laugh. “It was supposed to be a joke.”

“Not funny.” Jaxon yanked the boy to a standing decision. “Apologize. Now.”

“I’m sorry.” He rubbed his right arm and backed away slowly before turning and running for the door.

“Still wish you could’ve told Jaxon?” Bryn asked.

“On second thought, no,” Clint said.





Chapter Twenty-Two


In Mr. Stanton’s class, everyone gave Jaxon a wide berth. Whether it was his actions or the scowl, which seemed permanently etched on his face, Bryn wasn’t sure. He avoided eye contact with her, which she didn’t really mind.

“Class,” Mr. Stanton spoke from behind his desk, “we are going to practice transferring Quintessence from one plant to another. On a theoretical scale, this mimics how medics heal. Later, if you choose to study Quintessential medicine, you will practice on one another. In my class, you will work with plants. We don’t want anyone to sustain an accidental injury.” He passed out small potted ferns.

Clint and Ivy sat at desks next to Bryn.

“I sucked at this the last time,” Clint said.

“Watch me.” Ivy touched the leaves of her plant. “I’m visualizing drawing the green color from the plant.” The plants leaves darkened and turned brown. Then she touched the other fern. “Now I’m imagining pouring the green into this plant.” The fern perked up, sending fronds out in all directions.

“You’re really good at that.” Bryn held her hand above the plant and concentrated. Nothing happened. She closed her eyes and focused on feeling power flow up from the fronds. When she opened her eyes, the plant hadn’t changed.

“Crap.”

“And you want to become a medic,” Clint teased.

“You try it.” Bryn pointed at his plant.

“Fine.” Clint cracked his knuckles and then touched the leaves of his plant. Lightning crackled from his palm, shattering the clay pot and spilling dirt on the desktop.

“Looks like we both suck at this.” Clint scratched his head. “Now what?”

Ivy held out her hand. “Give me your ferns.”

Clint did as she asked. Ivy drew the life force from the donated plants and infused her fern with Quintessence, almost doubling it in size.

Bryn shoved her plants to Ivy and watched as Ivy transferred the Quintessence and caused the plant fronds to twist and bend so they curled back on themselves creating a heart shaped topiary.

“We should find out if you could help with the decorations for the Valentine’s Day dance,” Clint said.

After class, Bryn and Valmont headed toward the library. “How can I heal a person but not be able to do the stupid plant transfer?”

“You can’t be great at everything. You have your gifts, and Ivy has hers.”

He was right. “That’s a mature way to look at it.”

When they entered the library, a Red guard stopped them. “Miss McKenna, your grandfather would like a word with you. He’s in the archives.”

For a split second, she thought about accepting this directive at face value, but the moment passed. “I don’t mean to be rude, but the last time I blindly followed one of my grandparents’ employees, someone tried to kill me, so could you ask my grandfather to come upstairs?”

“I understand your concern, but I cannot leave my post.” He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and dialed, explaining the situation to the person who answered. Then he passed the phone to Bryn.

“I require your assistance in the archives, Bryn. Bring your knight and that sword you commissioned for him with you.”

“Yes, sir.” She started to pass the phone back to the guard. “I don’t suppose I could keep the phone.”

“No.” The guard plucked the phone from her hand and pocketed it.

“It was worth a shot.” Bryn headed for the front desk.

“How do you know it’s him?” Valmont asked.

“He said something only he would know.”

When they reached the trap door, Valmont frowned. “I’m not sure if I should go first or guard your back.”

His high alert status seemed a bit like overkill. “You can go first. I can roast anyone who sneaks up behind me.”

“I don’t like this.” Valmont held his sword at the ready and descended the staircase. They reached the landing with no issues. A pair of guards stood in front of the open door. They waved Bryn and her knight through.

“There you are.” Her grandfather waved her over to wall where the secret door should have been. “Open the door.”

“How did it end up closed?” Bryn asked.

“The guard inside didn’t come out at his appointed time.”

Crap. That couldn’t be good.

Valmont held out his sword. Bryn gritted her teeth and slid her thumb down the ice-cold blade. Her blood rolled down the sword edge toward the wall and the door became visible.