Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(85)

When they reached her dorm room, Bryn tried not to eavesdrop on Valmont’s conversation with his father, but it was hard not to. The good news was Valmont laughed a lot as he talked to his parents. The bad news was Bryn hadn’t thought to suggest he call them more often, though it wasn’t like she kept him from using the phone. Maybe he called some nights after she went to sleep. There was no reason he couldn’t call, except he spent all his time with her.

After he hung up, she held out the jeweler’s box. “Want to read the owner’s manual with me?”

“Sure.” He joined her at the library table.

Snapping the box open, Bryn blinked at what lay inside. “That’s not my bracelet.” A platinum cuff bracelet decorated with sapphires winked at her from the blue silk lining.

Valmont pointed at the small envelope tucked into the lid of the box. “Maybe there’s an explanation in the note.”

Bryn retrieved the envelope and upended it, and a thick square of paper fell out. She unfolded it and read aloud. “We changed the exterior to better match current jewelry and to make it look like something a Sinclair might wear.” So her gold bracelet hadn’t been up to Sinclair standards? That was crap. “It will still operate as it did before. To turn on the new safety feature, which keeps the bracelet from activating, press the stones with your left palm. To activate it, wrap your left hand around the bracelet and squeeze.”

Sounded simple enough. Bryn placed the bracelet on her right wrist and waited to see if it would sting her again. Nothing happened. Maybe the bracelet recognized her now. She squeezed it and then she pantomimed holding a sword. Fire and ice shot from her palm. “Thank goodness. I was afraid it wouldn’t work.”

She released the sword, and it vanished. Then she tried the “off switch” by pressing the sapphires with her palm. It worked. After playing with it a few more times, Valmont said, “Do you plan on wearing it all the time?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

“Kind of makes me feel obsolete.”

Seriously? Are male egos so fragile? “Wrong. This is one more weapon in my dragon defense kit. I still need my partner in crime, or whatever you want to call yourself.”

“So you still need me?”

“Of course. Do you think I want to face the Valentine’s Day dance by myself?”

“True. And I’ll be spectacularly handsome in a tuxedo.”

She laughed. “Of course you will.”

…

The day of the dance, Ivy came to Bryn’s room so they could get ready together. Apparently, Ivy had interpreted this to mean she had free rein over Bryn’s hair and makeup.

“Hold still.” Ivy came at Bryn with an eyelash curler.

“Nope.” Bryn batted the metal device away. “I don’t trust those things. They feel like they’re going to pull my eyelashes out by the roots.”

“That’s only if you put mascara on first.” Ivy pointed at the bed. “Sit. Let me have my fun.”

Ivy had put up with a boatload of crap to be her friend. “Fine.”

“Don’t blink.” Ivy captured Bryn’s lashes in the miniature vice and squeezed.

“As soon as you say don’t blink, that’s all I want to do.”

Ivy ignored her. “There. Done.” Ivy released her lashes and applied several coats of mascara.

Normally, Bryn would do all her makeup using Quintessence, but she didn’t want to miss out on this girly bonding ritual, so she allowed Ivy to apply eyeliner way past the corner of her eyes. She could feel the liner swirling toward her hairline.

“Don’t take offense, but what are you doing?”

“I am making you look artistic and mysterious and fabulous.” After drawing on the other side of her face, Ivy sighed in satisfaction. “Valmont won’t know what hit him.”

Bryn jumped up and checked the mirror. Ivy had extended eyeliner in swirling curving lines, which gave Bryn the illusion of a mask and somehow scales. “You should so be a makeup artist.”

Ivy laughed. “That’s one of my options.” She grabbed red liner and started drawing around her own eyes, doodling lines that turned into hearts. “What do you think? Too soft for my tattooed kick-ass chick image?”

“No,” Bryn said. Ivy’s wild hair balanced out the softness of the hearts. “I can’t believe red eyeliner works on you.”

“Any color works if you know how to use it.”

A knock sounded on Bryn’s bedroom door. “Are you ever coming out?” Valmont asked from the other side of the door. “Clint got here fifteen minutes ago.”

Bryn checked her reflection in the mirror. The platinum cuff bracelet matched her outfit perfectly. And somehow the midnight blue dress made her look regal, like she actually was a Blue. That was a weird thought. “I think we’re ready.”

“Yes, we are.” Ivy pointed at the door. “Let me go out first, I want to see Valmont’s reaction.”

Did she look that much different than she normally did? Sure, the fancy eyeliner gave her a mystery woman appeal, but it didn’t change who she was. Still it would be fun to see his reaction.

Bryn followed Ivy into the living room. When Valmont glanced her way, she anticipated a sexy smile, or an appreciative glance. What she got was a wrinkled brow and a look of confusion. Her stomach went cold with disappointment. Well, crap. So much for sexy and mysterious.