by Chris Cannon
“Like my father has nothing better to do.” He stood and gestured for her to lead the way. “Let’s get this over with. I have an essay to write for Elemental Science.”
“Essay? What essay?” Had her mind drifted in class and she’d missed an assignment?
“If you read your syllabus, you’d know we have an essay on the multifunctional uses of our breath weapons due next Thursday.”
“Don’t scare me like that.” She whacked him on the arm in the same manner she’d smack Clint.
His entire body stiffened. Eyes narrowed, frost shot from his nose. “Did you just hit me?”
A month ago, this display of temper would’ve had her preparing for battle. Now, her first instinct was to laugh. She pretended to cough until she was under control.
“Sorry. Would you prefer I not do that?”
“Yes.”
“Duly noted. Now, can we go figure out what happened to Analise?”
Bryn showed him the page with Analise’s name crossed out. “According to the date their petition was denied, both she and Alec would’ve been twenty-four. If she finished her bachelor’s degree, she could’ve died any time in the last three years.”
Jaxon shook his head. “The girl who took her place graduated two years ago. Therefore, Analise must’ve died two years ago.”
“What is the average dragon’s life span?”
Jaxon glanced at her over the top of his book. “How can you not know that…oh wait…I forgot…you were raised by wolves.”
She flipped him off.
He snorted and turned his attention back to medical records book. “Most dragons live to be eighty or ninety. It’s rare for someone to die earlier unless they live a dangerous lifestyle.”
“Does mistress fall under that heading?”
“No, though there are occasional accidents.” He turned a few more pages. “I think I found something. Analise was admitted to the hospital shortly after graduation.” He continued reading. “All mistresses are admitted to the hospital around the same time.” His brow crinkled. “What type of medic is an OBG?”
An uneasy feeling crawled up Bryn’s spine. “That’s a gynecologist.”
Jaxon grimaced and dropped the book.
“Very mature.” Bryn grabbed the book and tried to decipher the medical notes. “All of the girls saw the same medic for the same procedure, something called Ovex.” She raised a brow at him. “Since you weren’t raised by wolves, do you know what that is?”
“Easy enough to find out. You keep digging for information, and I’ll go use a computer.”
“One of us should’ve brought a laptop.” Bryn flipped more pages as she scanned for Analise’s name. All she found was a notation that she had canceled her three-month post-procedure checkup, but would call to reschedule. The second appointment was never mentioned.
She continued to scan the medical records hoping to find another mention of Analise.
Jaxon returned, tight-lipped and narrow-eyed. He threw himself into the chair opposite Bryn and rammed his hands through his hair.
Rather than prod him for information, she waited. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “Ovex is a procedure where a doctor inserts material into a woman’s fallopian tubes. Within three months, scarring occurs, which blocks the tubes.”
“Why would they…oh my God. Those bastards sterilize their mistresses.” Heat flared in her gut. “Did you know about—”
“No,” Jaxon cut her off. “I had no idea. I mean…I knew mistresses didn’t have children, but I thought it was something they had agreed to.”
Smoke shot from her nostrils. “Damn Directorate. What gives them the right?”
He shook his head. “I always believed… I never thought…”
Analise missing her three-month checkup took on a whole new meaning. “What if Analise had gotten pregnant?”
Jaxon’s head whipped up. “Impossible. She had the procedure.”
“She never went back for the checkup. What if someone helped her reverse the operation?”
His golden complexion paled. “If she had deceived her benefactor and conceived a child… I’d like to say the Directorate would never take a woman’s life. But if a woman showed up at my father’s door with a bastard child, the shame alone would be enough for him to take extreme measures.”
All the air left her lungs. “And you’re okay with that?”
“No.” He looked down at his fists, clenched on the table. “But there are some acts of betrayal which are unforgivable.”
“Are you listening to yourself? The poor woman probably wanted a child. They shouldn’t have killed her for that.”
Jaxon met her gaze. “They’re the Directorate. They can do what they want. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
This was insane. “They can’t be all powerful. There has to be some system of checks and balances.”
“Do you think your grandfather allows someone to tell him what to do? Do you think it’s a coincidence that your father’s entire family died in a car crash weeks after he ran off with your mother?”
Chapter Seventeen
The room spun. Her father’s family was dead? She hadn’t found any record of a McKenna at school, but her dad had been an only child, as were his parents. It made sense that there weren’t any cousins wandering around campus. But dead?
Jaxon leaned toward her. “You didn’t know?”
She shook her head and tried to think. Was it possible? Could her grandfather do such a thing? She remembered the man’s ice-cold stare and shivered.
Jaxon leaned back in his chair. “Which means your father doesn’t know.”
Son of a bitch. Bryn slumped in her chair as the weight of this new knowledge settled on her chest like a hungry vulture. “What am I supposed to say, ‘Merry Christmas, Dad. By the way, did you know your whole family is dead? Oh, and Mom’s dad probably killed them. Pass the eggnog.’”
“Perhaps you should wait to make this announcement until after you open your presents.”
Smoke shot from her nostrils. Grabbing the nearest object, she winged her notebook at his head.
He snatched it out of the air before it could make contact. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”
“Bad idea.” She shot out of her seat. Needing a moment alone, she stalked down the closest aisle.
When she was twenty feet away, she heard the door to the stairs bang open.
“Jaxon Westgate?” a masculine voice asked.
Bryn crept closer so she could peer through the stacks. Two men in dark suits flanked Jaxon. Neither appeared friendly.
Jaxon straightened in his seat and raised a brow at the newcomers. “Hello, gentlemen. Can I help you?”
“Were you working on the computers downstairs a few moments ago?”
“What business is it of yours?”
“Your inquiry triggered an internal alarm.” The two men sat on either side of Jaxon, boxing him in. “Why were you looking up information on a certain medical procedure?”
Playing it cool, Jaxon shrugged. “I heard a rumor, and I was curious.”
“The Directorate suggests you stop poking around.”
With feline grace, Jaxon stood and looked at the two men like they were dirt. “And you represent the Directorate? I find that hard to believe. Do you know who my father is?”
“Of course we do. He’ll learn of this situation in his morning report. If you insist on continuing this investigation, something could happen to your friend Rhianna. That would be a shame.”
“She’s not my friend, she’s my intended.”
“Not anymore she’s not.” The man smiled like he relished delivering the news. “Your father voided the contract after discovering her…disability. He contacted her parents, and they’ve agreed it would be in her best interest to seek a benefactor.”
Jaxon cleared his throat. “I’ll discuss this with my father. In the meantime, I forbid you to speak to anyone about this matter. Do you understand?”
/>
“Who are you to give us orders?”
“I’m a Westgate.” Jaxon emphasized each syllable of his last name. “Unless you want the Directorate to seize your family holdings for the good of the Clan, you will keep your mouths shut.” His pronouncement was met by silence, as the two men appeared to reevaluate their authority.
How had Jaxon taken control of the conversation? Impressed despite herself, she watched him stalk away.
Wait a minute. He was leaving her with the suits.
The men stared down at the table. One spotted her book bag.
Crap.
He picked up the bag, flipped it open, and pulled out a notebook. A quick check on her latest assignment and he frowned.
“We know you’re here, Miss McKenna.”
Not like she could argue with him. If she wanted her book bag back she had to come out.
A hand touched her shoulder. Heart racing, she wheeled around. Zavien stood behind her. “Wait here. I’ll take care of this.”
Where the hell had he come from? Was he here by coincidence, or had he been spying on her?
Zavien walked out to meet the men, like nothing was wrong. “Gentlemen, I’m grateful you found my book bag.”
“Your book bag?” The larger of the two men laughed. “You expect us to believe this is yours?”
“Yes.” The tone of Zavien’s voice changed into something more commanding. “Jaxon acted alone. No one else was here. Do you understand?”
The two men blinked.
Wait a minute. Zavien was pushing them, like he’d hypnotized her when they’d first met. She really needed to learn how to do that.
Zavien grabbed her book bag, tossed it down a nearby aisle, and then turned back to the men. In a normal tone of voice, he said, “Excuse me. I was looking for Jaxon Westgate and his friend Quentin. Have you seen either of them?”
The men looked at the table. “Jaxon was here.”
“Was he with a friend?”
“No. He was alone.”
Zavien nodded. “Thanks, I’ll have to catch up with him later.”
The two men headed toward the stairs.
Bryn retrieved her book bag and joined Zavien where he was flipping through the books open on the table. She wanted to say something…but what?
“Thanks for helping.”
“What were you and Jaxon looking for?”
“We were trying to figure out why Alec wanted to kill us.”
He closed the books and started returning them to the shelves. “He loved Analise. Losing her drove him over the edge.”
“Wait. Do you mean the marriage petition being denied or after the Directorate had her killed?”
Zavien frowned. “What are you talking about?”
She recapped her and Jaxon’s discovery. “If we knew where the obituaries were kept, we could find out for sure.”
Zavien stalked down an aisle to a shelf full of books with silver bindings. “I researched an artist’s death once. The records are here.” He pulled volumes off the shelf and thumbed through them until he found the one he wanted. “It says here she died in a car accident.”
“Seems to be a lot of that going around. I don’t suppose it says if the accident was Directorate-sanctioned.”
Zavien shook his head and reshelved the books. “Do not go down this path.”
“Don’t you want to know?”
“Even if you find out someone had her killed, it won’t bring her back. It will just land you in trouble. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t been here to push those guards?”
Time for the gloves to come off. “Sorry you don’t approve. Since you ran out on me, I had to improvise.”
His friendly facade cracked. “I didn’t run out on you. You broke our deal.”
“What deal?”
“I told you our relationship had to stay secret.”
“Wrong.” Smoke shot from her nostrils. “You told me you’d fight to change the law so we could be together. Then you walked away from me.”
“I didn’t walk away from you when the theater building was attacked.” His expression softened. He reached out and brushed his fingertips down her cheek, staring into her eyes.
Bryn sighed. Memories of his arms around her and his mouth pressed against hers rose up and made it hard to think. Damn it, how could he still have this effect on her?
He moved closer. “I chose you that night.”
“Yes. You did.” Angry tears filled her eyes. “Then you proceeded to ignore me, again. My God, it’s like you have a split personality.”
“Do you have any idea how my actions hurt Nola? I wanted to find you afterward, but Nola warned me away. What was I supposed to do?”
“Stop whining and act like a man.” Jaxon’s voice came from behind them.
Zavien whirled around. “Don’t lecture me about acting like a man. You ran off and left Bryn with those Directorate lackeys.”
Jaxon made eye contact with Bryn. “Sorry. I thought they would follow me out.”
“They saw my book bag.”
“How’d you leave things with them?” Jaxon asked.
“I took care of it,” Zavien said. “I pushed them into thinking you were alone.”
“And why were you here in this secluded area of the library in the first place?” Jaxon asked.
“Good question.” Bryn crossed her arms and waited.
“Onyx asked me to meet him here.” Zavien frowned. “But he didn’t show up.”
The small part of her heart that had held out hope he’d been following her so he could talk to her, crumbled into dust. “So, you were here on business and just happened to run into me.” She took a deep breath. “If you’d never run into me would you have ever come to talk to me?”
“I—” His gaze shot to Jaxon. “Do you mind?”
Jaxon retreated a dozen feet back to the table, where he packed up his things.
Zavien sighed. “I care about you, but right now, things are complicated.”
Wow. He was doing great until the “but.” “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m beholden to Nola and her family. It means I can’t necessarily do what I want. It means I—”
“Sorry I’m late.” Onyx strode down the aisle with a determined look on his face. “Bryn, will you excuse us? Zavien and I have business to attend to.”
Bryn grabbed Zavien’s arm. “Finish what you were going to say.”
“We don’t have time for this. Zavien, come with me.” Onyx turned back the way he’d come.
“I have to go.” Zavien pulled away from her.
“Seriously?” He was going to leave her hanging like this, again?
He hurried after Onyx without looking back. She stood there, dumbfounded.
Chapter Eighteen
On the walk back to her dorm, she tried to make sense of the information she’d gained. Alec had wanted to end both the Westgate and Sinclair lines by murdering Jaxon, Lillith, and her in order to steal Ferrin’s and her grandfather’s future—just like they’d stolen his future with Analise, first by denying the marriage petition, and then by arranging her death in a car accident. That was one mystery solved.
Then there was the revelation about her dad’s parents’ suspicious deaths right after he ran off with her mom. The scariest part was, she could imagine her grandfather orchestrating the whole thing as revenge. What was she supposed to do with that information? As usual, she was left with more questions than answers. Funny how Zavien was the least of her concerns right now.
Could she do anything to help Rhianna? Who would Jaxon be paired with now that Rhianna was undesirable?
The last question brought her to a screeching halt. She prayed that her grandmother and Lillith wouldn’t have any influence over who Jaxon would be paired with.
“There you are.” Ivy’s voice brought her out of her nightmare haze.
“Hi, guys.”
Clint and Ivy walked toward her hand in hand.
“Where’ve yo
u been?” Clint asked.
She should keep them out of the loop, but she wasn’t that strong. “I asked Jaxon to help me investigate some Directorate business.”
Ivy opened her mouth to speak.
“The reason I didn’t ask you guys was because I knew it could land us in trouble. And it did. Two of the Directorate’s goons showed up to threaten us.”
Clint’s brows drew together. “Threatened how?”
“They tried to intimidate Jaxon, but he went all Westgate on them.”
Ivy snorted. “You mean he went all superior and obnoxious?”
“It was kind of funny.” Bryn shoved her hands in her pockets. “And then it wasn’t.” She told them about Zavien showing up and his stupid claim that she’d broken their deal. “He griped about how much trouble he was in with Nola.”
“He needs to grow a pair,” Clint said.
“Jaxon said the same thing. In a more upper-class way, of course.”
“And?” Ivy asked.
“Zavien said he cares about me, but things are complicated. Like I don’t know that already. Idiot. He didn’t even stay, he just ran off with Onyx.” She kicked at a rock on the sidewalk. “So here I am, pissed off at Zavien, and the Directorate, and pretty much any male who isn’t Clint or Jaxon.” She knew what she needed to do. “It’s time for me to focus on something else. If Zavien wants to talk to me, he can come find me. I’m done with all this drama.”
Clint scratched his chin. “Speaking of moving on to something new, you don’t think your grandmother will—”
“Don’t say it.” Bryn clapped her hands over her ears.
Ivy laughed. “Come on. It’s almost curfew.”
After parting ways with her friends, Bryn paced her dorm room. Before tonight, she hadn’t loved the idea that the Directorate kept watch over everyone. But now, it was super creepy.
…
News of Rhianna’s change in station spread across campus by dinner the next day. Jaxon growled, literally, at anyone who mentioned it. Outside the dining hall, she witnessed him arguing with another Blue.
“If you ever refer to Rhianna as ‘damaged’ again, I’ll make sure your marriage contract is denied.”
“You don’t have that kind of power,” the other Blue shot back.