Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(93)

Speaking of friends. “Since I’m not hearing any loud explosions, can I assume the dance was not attacked?”

“We found traces of a few small groups of the enemy across campus, but they appear to be gone now.”

“Except for the traitors living among us,” Valmont said. “Someone at the dance must have watched and waited for Rhianna to go someplace by herself so they could kidnap her.”

“That is a disturbing thought.” Her grandfather steepled his fingers under his chin. “Do you think they targeted her in particular, or do you think they would have kidnapped any Blue they had access to?”

Bryn rubbed her temples trying to make her brain process all this bizarre information. “They must have known we were close to Rhianna and that we’d understand why they wanted someone from Dragon’s Bluff. They mentioned Zane by name.”

“I mean no disrespect toward the young man in question, but do you think he could have been a willing participant in tonight’s treachery?”

“At first, that thought went through my head, too.” And it made her feel like crap. “But he didn’t seem to know about the blood magic. And he’d never met Rhianna.”

“Valmont, how well did you know him?” her grandfather asked.

“Not at all. He started working at Fonzoli’s after I moved here. My father told me good things about him over the phone. He’s a new hire.”

“So you didn’t know him.” Her grandfather mused. “It wouldn’t do to start asking questions right after his death. In a few days, maybe you could ask your parents how his family is doing.”

“I hate doubting him,” Valmont said. “I’d rather do it now, so I know the truth.”

Her grandfather pointed toward a phone on a side table. “As you wish.”

Valmont dialed, and Bryn listened to his end of the conversation. When he got off the phone, he was shaking. “My father was surprised I’d heard of Zane’s death so quickly since they only found his body half an hour ago.”

“What?” That didn’t make any sense.

“Zane was scheduled to work tonight. He loaded up the catering truck at the restaurant and left on schedule. Somewhere between Dragon’s Bluff and the school, someone must have hijacked the truck. They found the real Zane dead in a ditch with a bullet in the back of his head.”

Bryn’s brain spun in circles trying to put the information together. “So that wasn’t Zane who became Rhianna’s knight and gave up his life for her?”

“No.” Valmont paced the office. “Who kills a man so he can impersonate him and then gets himself killed? Who does that?”

“Someone who is insane or desperate,” her grandfather stated in a cold tone.

“Will there be an autopsy to identify the body?” Bryn asked. “Because how can we be sure he wasn’t a dragon? He said he became Rhianna’s knight, but we don’t know if that’s true.”

“If he wasn’t a knight, I don’t think the blood magic would have worked,” Valmont said.

“Right.” She hadn’t thought about that.

“We won’t solve any more mysteries tonight.” Her grandfather stood. “Before you return to your dorm, I do have one bit of good news. The Directorate agreed to appoint you and Jaxon as Student Directorate Council.”

“What does that mean?” Bryn asked.

“Students can come to you with concerns. If their concerns are valid, you can contact me or Ferrin to discuss the issue. That way the students have a more direct line of communication to the Directorate which should help eliminate some of the unrest on campus.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

He escorted them to the door of his office. “Both of you performed admirably this evening under difficult circumstances. Bryn, I know your grandmother would prefer it if you weren’t in the thick of battle, if at all possible.” He sounded like he was sort of making a joke.

“I try to stay out of the chaos, but weird stuff seems to happen around me.”

“I am aware of that.” Her grandfather put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed like he was giving her a sideways hug. She smiled up at him. He grinned and then pulled her into a real hug. She couldn’t believe it. She hugged him back and then stepped away.

“Don’t tell anyone I did that,” her grandfather joked. “It would ruin my image.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Bryn and Valmont headed down the stairs and walked across campus holding hands. Guards lined the sidewalks checking out everyone who passed, which was kind of nice.

When she reached her room, she called Clint and Ivy to check on them. Her friends were worried about her, but they were fine. Exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave.

“Go change into your pajamas,” Valmont said. “We’re camping out on the couch.”

Dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt, she joined Valmont on the couch. In the back of her head, she thought about suggesting they sleep in her bed. It would be more comfortable, and they’d slept there before when she’d been sick, so it wasn’t a big deal. But tonight after everything they’d gone through, it might be easier to stick with something close to normal. Not that her life was ever normal. Despite all the tragedy tonight, the one good thing to come of this mess was she’d become closer to her grandfather.