Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(90)

“For now let’s focus on finding Rhianna.” Jaxon quickened his pace. “I’m sure they’ll tell us what they want soon enough.”

When they reached the front of the library, everything appeared normal. Then Bryn noticed movement in the shadows.

“They’re with us,” Jaxon said. “Don’t draw attention to them.”

How did he know for sure? Not being the one calling the shots made her twitchy.

Inside the library, the guard who should’ve been stationed at the front door was gone. Did that mean he was in on it, or had he been sent on some sort of fake errand?

“Now what?” Zane asked, scanning the library.

“My guess would be that they’ve taken her to the archives,” Bryn said.

“Where’s Miss Enid?” Valmont asked.

At that moment, Miss Enid appeared from the doorway that led to the entrance of the archives. She glanced at Bryn and her companions but headed over to the front desk where she grabbed a marker, opened a hardcover book, and proceeded to write in it. And that wasn’t normal.

Together, the group approached Miss Enid. “Your presence is requested in the archives,” Miss Enid said.

Bryn could see what the librarian had written in the book in big black letters. Send Help Archives

Was the note meant for her or for whoever was watching the camera feed?

Miss Enid kept a blank expression on her face. “Go on down, Bryn. Your friend is waiting for you.”

Okay…that was weird. Was Miss Enid afraid she was being watched by someone who could see her face, but she trusted whoever was watching the camera feed to read what she’d written in the book?

“There’s a package for Zane by the steps,” Miss Enid called after them.

Bryn led them back to the trap door in the floor, which stood open. A long package wrapped in brown paper lay next to the steps. Zane grabbed it and ripped off the paper, uncovering a sword in a scabbard.

Zane drew the sword. Light glinted off frozen flames etched into the blade. “Looks sharp enough.” He returned the sword to the scabbard and buckled it around his waist.

Jaxon peered down the stairwell. “It’s only big enough for us to go single file. Zane, they asked for you. Why don’t you go first? I’ll follow. Bryn can follow me, and Valmont can keep watch from behind, so no one sneaks up on us.”

Zane drew his sword and headed down the stairs.

Bryn grabbed Jaxon’s shirt so he didn’t follow right away.

“Go slow,” Bryn said as she activated her elemental sword, turning it on quickly and then releasing it to turn it off just as fast so Jaxon would be aware of her weapon. “I don’t want you bumping into Zane. It’s a long way down.”

Jaxon’s eyes went wide, but he nodded. “Good to know.”

Bryn followed behind him. Valmont kept close on her heels and whispered, “You didn’t want Zane to see?”

Bryn glanced back at her knight. “He seems like a good guy, but we don’t really know him.”

Valmont frowned but didn’t comment. When all four of them reached the landing at the base of the stairs, Bryn was surprised to find the two Reds guards bound and gagged. Their eyes were closed, but from the way their chests moved up and down she could tell they were still breathing.

“We’re here,” Jaxon called out. “Let me see Rhianna.”

A man with blond hair and a pale ivory complexion emerged from the room with Rhianna in his arms. She was bound and gagged. Her eyes were shut. A sheen of sweat covered her skin.





Chapter Twenty-Five


“What did you do to her?” Jaxon roared.

“She is merely resting.” The man grinned. “As long as Zane plays his part, we will return her to you unharmed.”

“We only need her to bleed a little,” a man behind him with black hair and golden tan skin said.

If Bryn hadn’t guessed what type of hybrid these two men were at first, her suspicions had been confirmed.

“You’re Blue and Black?” Jaxon blinked like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“What? You thought only the lower classes mingled?” The man holding Rhianna laughed. “You have no idea of the extent of the hybrid population.”

“Let her go,” Bryn said. “Valmont and I can do whatever you need.”

“Actually, little hybrid, you can’t.” The second man stated. “I need a Blue knight to retrieve my treasure. If your friends play nicely, we can all walk away from this unharmed. All I want is what is rightfully mine. Zane, this is where you come in.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“It’s not your turn yet. First I need Bryn and Valmont to open the door to the hidden room.”

There should be a guard stationed in the room. Maybe he could help. “How do you know about the room?” Bryn asked as she moved toward it.

“We have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Did you attack Dragon’s Bluff?” Valmont asked.

“Me, personally? No. Several of my friends gave their lives that night to prove to the Directorate they were no longer in control of this situation.”

Valmont drew his sword but didn’t move toward the door. “What if I show you that you are not in control of this situation?”