Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(86)

“What do you think?” Bryn hoped to prod him into giving her a compliment or at least force him to say something to explain the strange expression on his face.

“Your dress is nice.” Valmont’s tone was wooden.

“Nice?” Bryn’s tone rose a bit too high.

Valmont shot a glance toward Clint and Ivy. “Would you wait in the hall for a moment?”

“Sure.” Clint grabbed Ivy’s hand and pulled her to the door. The couple whispered to each other on their way out.

Bryn’s irritation rose.

He cleared his throat. “Remember what we discussed. No matter what I say, I’m still your knight.”

Unless what he said really pissed her off and she cremated him. “Still my knight. Got it. Go on.”

He walked over and sat on the couch leaning back to stare up at the ceiling. “There’s no easy way to explain this. You look ethereal, amazing, other-worldly.”

“And those are compliments, so why do you look like you’re about to go before a firing squad?”

He sat up and waved his hand toward her. “Those are good things, or they would be if I was in the same species. Tonight, well, you’ve never looked more desirable and you’ve never looked less human.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a dragon.”

“I know that. Most of the time you look like a girl and act like a kick-ass dragon. Tonight you look like you’re someone I don’t belong with.”

What in the holy hell was he talking about? She pointed at him, “Knight” and pointed at herself, “Dragon. I thought you had figured that out by now.”

He stood, shaking his head. “Forget I said anything. Let’s go to the dance.”

“Forget? Just like that?” Frost shot from her nose. “This was supposed to be a fun romantic night. But Ivy gets a little fancy with eyeliner and you freak out and tell me I don’t look like your girl anymore and now you tell me to forget it?” Her voice grew louder with every word. “How in the hell am I supposed to do that?”

The door popped open. Ivy stuck her head in. “It’s almost time. We should go.”

“Stupid freaking dances.” Bryn stomped out the door and down the hall, not caring if Valmont followed or not, though it wasn’t like he actually had a choice to follow her, even if he didn’t want to. He was still her knight and bound to protect her from whatever weirdness was headed her way.

Ivy fell in step with her while Clint drifted back to walk next to Valmont. “What did he say?” Ivy asked.

Smoke shot from Bryn’s nostrils. “Apparently, I look like someone else tonight, someone he doesn’t belong with.”

“That’s not what I said,” Valmont objected from behind her.

Bryn stopped and pivoted around to face him. “Really?”

Valmont opened his mouth and then paused. “Okay. Maybe I said it, but I didn’t mean it how you’re taking it.”

Clint scratched his head. “Try again, dude.”

Valmont sighed. “You want to know what my problem is? Tonight, dressed up all fancy like this, you look like you belong with Jaxon.”

Fire roared in Bryn’s gut. Sparks shot from her nostrils. “Now is not the time for you to develop an inferiority complex.”

“We’ll see you at the dance.” Clint grabbed Ivy’s hand and tugged her down the hall toward the staircase.

“It’s makeup, you moron,” Ivy shouted back toward them as Clint tugged her forward.

“What she said,” Bryn spat.

Valmont’s posture stiffened and then he headed back toward her room. “How about we finish this discussion in private?”

She followed him back into her room, slammed the door, and waited for him to explain why he was acting so strangely.

Valmont rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m trying to think of a way to say this so you’ll understand. It’s just that…being human doesn’t make me inferior.”

“I never said it did. You’re the one with the problem.”

He nodded. “You’re right. I do have a problem. I’m in love with someone from another species.”

Bryn sucked in a breath to retort, and then her brain registered what he’d said, “You’re in love with me?”

“Of course I am,” Valmont spoke in a quiet tone.

And they’d reached the relationship blast zone. Either she said it back to him or she blew his heart to smithereens. How did she feel about him? She cared about him and trusted him and needed him in her life. It felt like he was a part of her. She couldn’t imagine a time where he wouldn’t be there by her side, helping her face the world.

All of this led her to one conclusion.

Moving in close, she kissed him on the cheek and told him the truth. “I love you, too.”

He exhaled what sounded like a sigh of relief and then turned to stare into her eyes. “You’re my world. And the idea of you marrying Jaxon feels like acid on my soul.”

“I’m not thrilled about it, either, but as long as you and I are still together, being legally tied to someone else doesn’t have to change anything.”

“You’re sure about that?” There was doubt shining in his eyes.

The truth was, she didn’t know for certain. She wanted what she felt right now to be real.