by Chris Cannon
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.
“Yes. I’m sure. Do you remember before, when you said even if I have to release you from the bond, you’d still want to be with me?”
“I did say that. But things have changed since then…what’s going on between you and Jaxon…the way you know what the other one is thinking, like you have some sort of connection…I don’t like it.”
“Knowing what he might do and say is strange, but I think it’s more about him being a Blue male rather than him being a male I have some sort of attachment to. I can predict what you’ll say or how Clint and Ivy will react to something. Before, Blues were a mystery, but now I can predict how Rhianna, Jaxon, and even my grandparents will react. It’s not Jaxon specific. It’s more like I understand how Blues think, in general. Does that help?”
“Not really, but this might.” He leaned in and pressed his mouth against hers. He tasted like mint toothpaste, and he smelled like soap and sunshine. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Heat built between them. The sensation of flying flowed through her body and suddenly the dance didn’t seem so important.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The phone rang, startling them both. Bryn answered and had to clear her throat before she could speak. “Hello?”
“Are you guys all right?” Ivy asked.
“Yes.” She grinned at Valmont. “We talked it out.”
“Good. If you’re done talking, get your butt to the dance.” Ivy hung up, making Bryn laugh.
“We’ve been summoned to the ball.”
Valmont shook his head. “What is it with Ivy and dances?”
“I have no idea, but we better go before she comes to find us.”
The teasing smile disappeared from Valmont’s face. “We need to finish this first. You have no idea how terrified I was to tell you how I felt.”
“Now that you know I feel the same way, are we good? Can we go have fun at the dance?”
“We can try.”
Not the reassuring answer she’d hoped for.
Valmont led her down the hall, down the staircase, and out the front door. Music drifted through the air. Happy couples lined the sidewalk as they headed across campus and more ascended the steps outside the dining hall. And all of them, every single couple, were perfect reflections of each other. Dark skin with dark skin, blond with blond, everyone matched up according to Clan. She knew Valmont noticed it, too. “I hate all this color coding.”
He snorted. “Me, too. Let’s go show them you don’t have to be the same to belong together.”
They cleared the doorway, and Ivy appeared at Bryn’s side. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” Bryn said, hoping it was true.
“Good, now look.” Ivy gestured around the room with enthusiasm. “Look at how absolutely magical everything is tonight.”
Red and white hearts decorated the walls and floors like confetti that had been tossed in the air, frozen where it landed, and shellacked into place. “Cool decorations.” Bryn inhaled a familiar Italian spice type scent. “Is that Fonzoli’s food I smell?”
“Indeed it is.” Valmont pointed toward the buffet. “We provided appetizers, lemon ice, and punch.”
“Yum,” Bryn said.
The tables had been pushed aside to make room for dancing. Music from a string quartet filled the air. Slightly out of place were the guards stationed at every entrance and exit. The fact that they wore tuxedoes in an attempt to blend in made them stand out even more.
Valmont pointed at the side doors. “If we’re separated, we’ll meet at those doors. The walkway they lead to is covered, so it will protect us from aerial attacks.”
Bryn nodded in agreement. This is what life had been reduced to—hoping there wouldn’t be an attack during a school function. “Kind of takes some of the fun out of the night, but I can’t argue with your logic.”
Valmont led her out onto the floor and oddly enough, only a few people gave them sideways glances.
“I think people are adjusting to your presence.” Bryn placed one hand on Valmont’s shoulder while he placed his hand on her waist. He clasped her left hand with his right. Soon they were swept along with the tide of the dancers.
“This is nice,” Valmont whispered in her ear. “Normally, I have to be so careful about touching you in public.” He applied pressure to her waist and pulled her closer. “Tonight I don’t have to worry about that.”
Valmont’s arms around her felt right. Bryn allowed all the stress and worry she’d been afflicted with lately to drift away with the music as they danced through several songs.
Ivy and Clint found them after a song ended.
“You’re having fun, aren’t you?” Ivy asked in a know-it-all tone.
“I am.” Bryn laughed. “And now that we’ve danced, I declare it is time to visit the buffet.”
Valmont bowed. “After you.”
In the buffet line, Bryn filled her plate with a little bit of everything, and then she followed her friends to the tables decorated with heart-shaped candles.
“It’s funny. We eat here three times a day,” Ivy said, “but it’s never felt romantic before.”
Clint put his hand over his heart like she’d wounded him. “Do I not sit next to you at every meal staring at you with adoration?”
Ivy laughed. “How could I not notice that?”
They ate and then they danced to a few more songs. All in all it was a nice evening, but Bryn couldn’t relax. “This is fun, but I keep waiting for something bad to happen.”
“I think the trick is to be aware of what is going on around you,” Valmont said, “while you enjoy what you have.”
Why does it sound like he’s talking about more than the dance?
When a song ended, Bryn noticed there seemed to be more guards in the room. “Speaking of being aware of your surroundings, am I imagining it—”
“No.” Valmont straightened and put his hand on his sword. “There are more.”
Bryn spotted Clint and Ivy dancing a dozen feet away. She waited to catch Ivy’s eye and waved her over.
“What’s going on?” Ivy asked.
Valmont pointed at the guards. “Reinforcements have been sent in, but we don’t know why.”
Bryn headed for Miss Enid, who seemed to be chaperoning the dance. “What’s up with the new guards?”
“That is a very good question, Bryn. I have another one I’d like answered. Are they here to keep us in or someone else out?”
“Have you seen anyone leave?” Clint asked.
“No. Let me make a call.” She pulled out her cell and dialed. After putting the phone to her ear, she frowned and dialed again. “That’s strange… I don’t have a signal.”
Valmont’s posture stiffened. “If the cell phones are out, this could be an attack.”
Bryn headed for one of the guards we
aring a tuxedo. “Did you call for reinforcements?”
“No.”
“Were they sent because the campus is under attack?”
The guard looked left and then right before leaning down to speak with Bryn. “There was an incident. It could be nothing. We aren’t taking any chances.”
“Does your cell work?” Valmont asked. “Because Miss Enid’s doesn’t.”
The guard pulled his phone from his inside breast pocket and held it to his ear. His eyes narrowed.
“Damn it,” Valmont said. “We need to find a landline to see if they’re still working.”
The guard put his fingers to his lips and whistled. Students turned to see what was going on. The quartet stopped playing. Bryn’s skin tingled with the need to shift.
“This is only a precaution,” the guard bellowed. “Cell phones are out. Please remain calm while we investigate. Do not leave the building.”
“Have I mentioned that I hate dances?” Bryn said to no one in particular.
“It could just be a cell phone thing,” Ivy said. “I bet that guard will come back and tell us everything is fine.”
“I hope you’re right.” Bryn stared out into the darkness. Was something moving outside the main doors?
The guard came back and spoke to Bryn. “The landline is still functional. We are talking to guards outside who are investigating the situation. Everything is under control.”
“Now what?” Bryn asked Valmont.
Valmont pulled her away from the guard. “Either we listen to the guards and wait here like sitting ducks, or we take the fight to them. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but let’s ask Jaxon what he thinks.”
And the evening kept getting stranger. Clint, Ivy, Bryn, and Valmont crossed the room and headed toward Jaxon.
“We spoke to the guard,” Bryn said, “and—”
“Let me guess,” Jaxon said. “They want us to sit quietly while the adults take care of everything.”
“That plan sucks,” Clint commented.
“Agreed.” Jaxon pointed toward the back of the building. “The safest, most bomb-proof place would probably be downstairs in the kitchen.”
“Unless the building collapses,” Bryn stated the obvious.
“Excuse me.” Rhianna stood and headed for the girls’ restroom.
“Doesn’t that break some form of girl protocol?” Clint asked.
“What do you mean?” Ivy asked.
“I thought girls always had to go to the restroom in pairs,” Clint said, “or small herds.”
“Good point.” Bryn elbowed Jaxon. “Do females in your Clan normally go to the bathroom by themselves?”
“Females in my Clan don’t discuss bodily functions,” Jaxon said.
Bryn rolled her eyes.
“And that’s how Hermione got attacked by a troll,” Valmont said.
“You read Harry Potter?” Bryn couldn’t believe it. “I loved those books.”
“I’ve had a lot of down time lately,” Valmont said, “and Miss Enid recommended them.”
Jaxon frowned. “If you’re done with this ridiculous conversation, can we return to the fact that someone has cut off cell phone access?
Ka-boom. Lightning hit the building, and the power flickered. Ka-boom, ka-boom-boom-boom. The building shook and the power flickered and then blinked out. The only light came from the red and pink heart-shaped candles, which decorated the tables. The effect which moments ago had been romantic was now creepy.
“I don’t suppose there is any chance we’re experiencing an actual thunderstorm.” Clint stood, trying to stare out the windows.
“Zero to none.” Bryn squinted in order to see anything out in the darkness. Lightning flashed and zapped the ground, kicking up chunks of dirt and sod.
“That looked like one of your landings,” Jaxon spoke without looking at her, but Bryn was pretty sure who he meant, and it’s not like she could argue.
“Okay…let’s see what we know: no cell phone access, but the landlines work, the power is out,” Bryn said, “and there are Black dragons attacking the campus but they aren’t attacking us…yet.”
“If they aren’t attacking,” Valmont said, “maybe they are distracting us from something else.”
“Something happening someplace else on campus, or something going on here in this building?” Ivy asked.
The lights flickered back on.
“Okay,” Bryn said. “They turned the lights back on. Does that mean they got what they came for?”
“They must have wanted something from another building,” Valmont said.
A terrible idea settled in Bryn’s mind but that was ridiculous. She didn’t want to alarm Jaxon based on suspicion. “Ivy, let’s go to the restroom.”
“Sure.”
Valmont followed along. When they were far enough away from Jaxon, he said, “You’re worried about Rhianna?”
“I want to make sure she didn’t fall victim to a troll.”
Inside the restroom, there was no sign of Rhianna. “Do you think she went to a different bathroom?” Ivy asked.
“Any luck?” Valmont called through the door.
Bryn pushed it open. “No. Let’s go tell Jaxon and see what he thinks.”
“What do you mean she wasn’t in the restroom?” Jaxon jumped to his feet and then stood on his chair scanning the room. “Damn it.” He hopped down. Frost shot from his nose. “There are other restrooms. Right?”
“Yes, but she walked in that direction.” Bryn frowned. “We can have Clint tell the guards while we search the other bathrooms.”
A guard came toward Jaxon. “Someone called on the landline and asked us to give you this message. Rhianna needs you to bring a waiter named Zane to the library.”
Jaxon paled. “Did you speak to her?”
“No. Is there a problem?”
“Yes.” He explained how Rhianna had gone missing.
The guard frowned. “Why would they want the waiter?”
“Good question.” Jaxon stared at Bryn.
Something in the guard’s jacket beeped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “That’s strange. They appear to be working again.”
“I should probably call my grandfather.”
“No,” Jaxon said. “I’ll call my father. You go find this Zane person and bring him to the front door.”
“I don’t like this,” Valmont said as they headed toward the buffet where a waiter was refilling pitchers of lemonade.
“I don’t like it, either, but since it’s Rhianna, we have to let Jaxon call the shots.”
“Hello,” the waiter gave a friendly smile at their approach, “did you need something?”
Valmont nodded. “Are you Zane, the new waiter my father hired?”
Zane held out his hand. “I am. Nice to meet you,Valmont. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Valmont shook his hand. “This is Bryn, my dragon.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Zane looked at Bryn’s face. “Something tells me this isn’t a social visit.”
Bryn opened her mouth to explain and then paused. “This is going to sound weird no matter how I explain it. Someone took our friend Rhianna, who is also Jaxon Westgate’s girlfriend, to the library. Then they contacted us to say we needed to bring you to the library.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean someone took her? And why would they want me?”
“We’re not sure what’s going on,” Valmont said. “All we know is Rhianna needs your help.
“This is weird,” Zane said, “but I’m in.”
“I’m sure it will get weirder before the night is over,” Bryn said. “Let’s go.”
Jaxon waited for them by the front door. “I called my father. The guards at the library haven’t noticed anything unusual.” He held his hand out to Zane. “I’m Jaxon Westgate. Thank you for agreeing to help.”
Zane shook his hand. “Zane Freeman. Nice to meet you. Now what the hell is going on?”
/> “Good question. Let’s go find out.” Jaxon pushed the door open, and they followed him out into the cool night air. “Bryn you need to fill Zane in.”
Valmont walked on one side of Bryn while Zane walked on the other. “Here’s the abbreviated version. There is a certain kind of magic that responds to the Dragon-Knight bond. Valmont and I were able to open a hidden door when we both touched his sword. I’m guessing that is what these kidnappers are after. They want to make you Rhianna’s knight.”
“How can they do that?” Zane said.
“I imagine they’ll set up a scenario where you rescue her,” Valmont said, “which will activate the dormant spell in your blood.”
“And then what?” Zane asked.
“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?