Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(91)

“We did not come alone. If we are not seen exiting the library at the appointed time, a contingency of our friends will destroy the dining hall, killing everyone at the dance. Now open the door.”

Bryn could see the internal war that raged in Valmont’s eyes as he joined her at the door. He placed the sword against the stone. She touched it, slicing her finger on it and watched as the drops rolled down the blade, hitting the stone. The door appeared.

Bryn put her hand on the doorknob.

“Tell the guard inside to stand down,” the second man said.

Crap. Bryn pulled the door open. The Red guard looked at her in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Please do as these men say and don’t try to fight.” Bryn stepped into the room.

The man holding Rhianna entered the room and set her down in a chair at the table. “Why don’t you wait outside until we complete our task?”

The guard looked at Jaxon. “What do you want me to do?”

“Wait outside,” Jaxon said. “We’ll take care of this.”

“I don’t like this.” The Red stepped outside, and the second man closed the door so anyone on the outside would be unable to open it.

The man who had been carrying Rhianna pulled a vial of clear liquid from his shirt pocket. “We dosed Rhianna with a slow-acting poison. Left untreated she will die by morning. Zane when you give her this antidote she’ll recover. Since you will have saved her life, you’ll become her knight.”

Jaxon growled. “You better pray she makes a full recovery.”

Zane stalked forward. “Give me that.” He opened the vial and held the contents to Rhianna’s lips, slowly pouring the antidote into her mouth.

“How will we know if she is okay?” Valmont asked.

Rhianna sucked in a breath, and her eyes flew open. She blinked in confusion and then coughed until she doubled over.

Jaxon pushed forward to wrap his arms around Rhianna. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

“What happened?” Rhianna gasped, like she was fighting to catch her breath.

“You were poisoned, on purpose, so Zane would save you and become your knight,” Jaxon said.

Zane kneeled down in front of Rhianna. “I am so sorry they did this to you. Are you all right?”

Rhianna stared at Zane for a moment. “Who are you?”

“I’m your knight.” Zane spoke the words with such sincerity Bryn knew it was true. Forcing Zane to save Rhianna had activated the latent spell in his blood, turning him into her knight.

“Let’s get started.” The first man studied the wall on the right. “It has to be here somewhere.” He went back to the threshold of the room and counted off five paces before staring at the blank wall.

“You.” He pointed at Zane. “Come put your sword point here.” He touched the wall at doorknob height.

“There’s another door?” Bryn asked.

“We are about to find out.” The second man pulled out a pocket knife and cut the restraints on Rhianna’s wrists, then pointed toward Zane. “Touch the sword.”

Rhianna rubbed her wrists and then Jaxon helped her stand.

“I don’t understand.” Rhianna swayed where she stood.

“Your blood will open the door the same way Bryn’s blood opened the box in Mr. Stanton’s room.” Jaxon helped steady her.

“You don’t need to come any closer.” The second man pointed at Jaxon. “She can walk on her own.”

“No,” Jaxon said.

“It’s okay.” Rhianna grabbed the table for support and stood tall. “I can do this.” Slowly, she made her way over to Zane. Never once did she let any discomfort show on her face.

Zane held his hand out to Rhianna. “The sooner we do this, the sooner it’ll be over.”

She reached for his hand and allowed him to place her pointer finger on the edge of the blade. In a quick motion she slid her finger down the blade. The blade glowed blue as red droplets of blood rolled down the blade to the wall. The outline of a wooden door appeared on the stone wall. The second man sucked in a breath and grasped the handle. The door creaked open on ancient hinges. He stuck his head inside, holding a ball of lightning out so he could see.

Light bounced around creating weird shadows. “This is it, cousin.”

“Zane, look at your dragon,” the first man ordered. “To keep anyone from following us, I need her to release you from the bond.”

Rhianna growled. “I should blast you where you stand.”

Bryn edged closer, ready to bring her elemental sword to life.

“Release him.” The man put his hand on the back of Zane’s neck. “Or I fill him with enough lightning to fry him from the inside out.”

“How do I know you won’t kill him, anyway?” Rhianna asked.

“He has what he wanted,” Zane spoke to Rhianna. “Please release me.”

Rhianna frowned. “I release you.”

A shadow passed over Zane and then he looked at the dragon threatening to electrocute him. “It is done. And you can go to hell.” He twisted and swung his sword upward in an arc, slicing into the man’s stomach and up through his rib cage.

Stunned, the man growled and blasted Zane with enough electricity to make his body spasm before he dropped to the floor where he continued to twitch. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room.