Going Down in Flames (Entangled Teen)

by Chris Cannon

  “She brought me a legends book. The Directorate wanted to ban them because they’re about dragons who were free to live life as they chose.”

  “Miss Enid is a troublemaker?”

  “You’ve no idea.”

  On the way back to her room, he said, “I thought I was leaving you in the care of a well-mannered bookworm. Maybe I should read one of those books.”

  “No.” The idea of Zavien reading one of the romantic scenes caused her panic.

  “Why can’t I read them?” He opened the door with the key and allowed her to enter first.

  “The books make me happy.” She placed the sodas on the table. “If you read them, you’d make fun of them, and then I’d have to hurt you.”

  The book she’d been reading sat on the couch. The cover depicted a woman with auburn hair pointing a sword at a dark-haired man. The woman’s dress showed a deep V of cleavage, and the man didn’t appear to own a shirt. Bryn was thankful they weren’t in the middle of a passionate embrace.

  She eased around the table, intent on retrieving the book and hiding it in her room. Zavien blocked her way, nabbed the book, and checked out the cover.

  He groaned. “What are you reading?”

  In a quick move, she snatched it from his hands. “It’s a respectable library book.”

  He attempted to grab it.

  She dodged and turned her back to him. He tried to reach around her, which resulted in his body pressing against hers from shoulder to thigh. Her heart rate kicked up a notch.

  “What’re you trying to hide?” His longer reach almost allowed him to pull the book from her grasp.

  The sensation of his warm breath on her ear combined with his chest brushing against her back made it hard to answer. “It’s about rival dragons falling in love and ending a war.”

  “Why are they half naked?”

  “It takes place in a desert,” she lied.

  He leaned right and peered at the book. “Isn’t that a forest behind them?”

  She shuffled left and managed to put the coffee table between them. “They travel.”

  Zavien drew himself up in a haughty pose. “You realize now I must read the book. It’s a matter of honor.”

  “You won’t like it.” She hid the book behind her back. “It’s about falling in love and romantic stuff.”

  He stepped on the coffee table, walked over it, and landed inches in front of her. Staring straight into her eyes, he said, “I don’t mind a little romance.”

  Holy crap. Bryn sucked in a breath as her nerve endings went on high alert. Electricity thrummed through her veins and seemed to charge the air between them.

  Zavien’s eyes darkened. His breathing became audible. Ever so slowly, he leaned in, closing the distance between them.

  Knock, knock.

  Zavien jerked away from her like he’d burned his hand on a hot stove.

  Flustered, she retreated to her bedroom, leaving him to answer the door. Had he almost kissed her, or was it wishful thinking? Why did he run when someone knocked? Was he ashamed to be seen with her?

  She growled in frustration. So many questions and no answers.

  Clint’s and Ivy’s voices drifted in from the other room. If only they’d arrived a few minutes later. Her shoulders slumped. There was nothing she could do about it now. Maybe she’d tell Ivy about this later and get another female’s perspective.

  Returning to the living room, she plastered a smile on her face and tried to make it look like her world hadn’t turned upside down.

  “Hi, guys. How were classes?”

  “I’m glad it’s Friday.” Seated on the couch, Ivy opened a take-out box and squeezed ketchup onto her fries.

  “I’m ready to go camping,” Clint said.

  Bryn sat on the floor and bit into her sandwich. A piece of tomato made a break for it and landed in her lap.

  Acting like nothing had changed between them, Zavien passed her a stack of napkins. Maybe she’d imagined the whole thing. If someone wrote a book about her life, it would be titled Desperate and Delusional.

  “Why are you frowning?” Ivy asked.

  The truth wasn’t an option, so she improvised. “I’m wondering what Zavien has planned for the camping trip. I keep imagining bears eating our tent.”

  Zavien rolled his eyes. “You’re thinking like a human. If a bear came after you, you could shift and eat him.”

  “I don’t think I’d want to eat a bear.” Clint made a face like he’d eaten something rotten. “I bet the fur is hard to get out of your teeth.”

  Bryn laughed, even though she was focused on Zavien’s first comment. She had been thinking like a human. How odd to realize she no longer fell in that category.

  “You don’t have to worry about bears on our first trip. We aren’t going that deep into the forest. The campground is an easy twenty-minute hike from the school. Once everyone knows where it is, we can fly there to save time.”

  “Define campground.” Please let him mention indoor plumbing. Squatting behind a bush sounded like a life experience she could do without. With her luck, she’d squat in a clump of poison ivy.

  “This is the civilized campground. We have a bathhouse with showers and restrooms. Later, we’ll hike into the bluffs and rough it.”

  “If roughing it involves a scenario without toilet paper, you can count me out,” Ivy said.

  “I’m sure there will be toilet paper,” Clint said, “but there may be a tree rather than a toilet.”

  “I don’t find that comforting.” Ivy grabbed another ketchup packet off the table.

  Bryn watched Zavien. He interacted with her and the others in the same manner he always had. There were no sidelong glances or discreet looks of longing. Not on his part at least. Damn it. Maybe she had imagined the whole thing.

  Before long, Ivy and Clint finished their sandwiches and left for class. Bryn waited to see if Zavien would bring up “the moment”. Instead, he rifled through his book bag.

  She needed a safe topic to start him talking. “When is your next class?”

  “Soon, but don’t worry about it. I’ll wait for Miss Enid.”

  “I don’t want you to be late.”

  He grinned, and her heart fluttered. “It’s for a good cause, but I should study while I wait.”

  After picking up the trash, Bryn sat on the couch and yawned.

  “Go back to bed if you want.” Zavien turned a page in his notebook.

  She tried not to feel as if she’d been dismissed. Closing her eyes, she made herself comfortable on the couch.

  Miss Enid returned a few minutes later. She wasn’t alone.

  “You should’ve called me,” Valmont said.

  Bryn blinked. Valmont stood in the doorway wearing a pair of faded jeans and a white, button-down shirt. He gave off an air of strength she associated with men in uniform.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I’m here to protect you.”

  Zavien bristled. “We have everything under control.”

  “While Miss Enid is a fine librarian and a fierce dragon, I doubt she has the killer instinct you need.” Valmont stepped into the room. Hanging at his side was a sword. Light glinted off the edge of the weapon.

  “You’re human.” Zavien’s tone was dismissive. “How could you protect her?”

  In one swift motion, the knight had the sword point at Zavien’s throat. “Unless you’d like a more thorough demonstration, I imagine you can work out the rest.”

  “Valmont, put that away,” Bryn said.

  “Just making a point.” Valmont grinned, and his single dimple made an appearance.

  It took effort not to grin back. Hands on her hips, she forced a scowl. “I appreciate your concern, but Zavien is right. We’re dealing with dragons. I don’t want you hurt.”

  “What if I join Miss Enid while she sits with you? I promise not to do anything courageous unless absolutely necessary.”

  Miss Enid moved toward the co
uch. “Zavien, shouldn’t you be on your way to class?”

  Zavien placed his hands on Bryn’s shoulders. “I don’t care if you have a delusional knight by your side. Stay in your room. I’ll be back after class.”

  “I promise to stay put.”

  Valmont settled himself on the opposite end of the couch from Miss Enid. His long legs stretched out to the side of the coffee table. The sword must’ve been secured to his thigh because it didn’t move away from his body.

  Bryn sat on the carpet. Instead of pondering her imaginary love life, she focused on distracting herself. “Where’d the sword come from?”

  “Everyone in Dragon’s Bluff receives a sword for their sixteenth birthday. It’s a symbolic gesture toward the past. Most of us still train as a way to stay in shape. If the need ever arises, we’re ready.”

  “No offense, but how can a human fight a dragon? When I’m in human form, I feel vulnerable around unfamiliar dragons.”

  He cracked his knuckles. “Time for a brief history lesson. In the past, humans and dragons formed alliances to keep peace between the races. A small dragon Clan would claim the territory of an entire village and the surrounding woodland. The people would keep the dragons’ secret, and the dragons would protect the people from other marauding beasts. When it came time to do battle, the knights of the village fought the opposing dragons’ knights. Some rode dragons into battle. Others fought on horseback.

  “Wanting their knights to be as strong as possible, dragons used magic to imbue the villagers with extra strength. The knights were taught how to fight against dragons. Both the lessons and the strength were passed down through generations. Everyone in Dragon’s Bluff has been taught the secrets of fighting a dragon. One thrust of a sword can kill a dragon if you know where to aim.”

  Bryn grimaced. “Death isn’t my favorite topic right now.”

  “Understandable,” he said. “Be assured I can hold my own in a fair fight.”

  That made her feel a little better. “And you’re okay with being my knight?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “It just kind of happened. You didn’t wake up that morning and say, I think I’ll defend a girl from her idiot friend and become her knight.”

  “True.” Valmont moved his hand to rest on the handle of his sword. “But this feels right. I can’t explain it, but I’ve always felt a bit restless. Now I feel like I know my true purpose.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked.

  “For not resenting me.”

  “I could never resent you.” Valmont grinned. “Your idiot friend, I have no trouble resenting.”

  Bryn laughed and then yawned. She stretched and lay back on the carpet, closing her eyes. Being here, with Valmont nearby, felt peaceful.

  “Why don’t you take a nap?” Miss Enid suggested.

  “All right.”

  Quiet voices continued for a while.

  “You can’t sleep on the floor,” Valmont said.

  The combination of too much food and fatigue settled over her. She didn’t have the strength to open her eyes, much less get up and walk to the other room. “I’m comfortable.”

  “You leave me no choice.” Strong arms lifted her from the carpet, and it didn’t occur to her to object. She laid her head against his chest. He smelled of soap, leather, and sunshine.

  After he placed her on the bed, he brushed stray strands of hair from her face and draped a cover over her body. She rolled to the side and snuggled against her pillow.

  As she slept, she dreamed of a man with spiked hair and dark eyes. Occasionally, his image would shift to short dark hair and blues eyes. A single dimple would grace his cheek.

  What seemed like moments later, the door opened. Miss Enid called out, “Bryn, it’s dinnertime. Valmont volunteered to bring us food. What do you want?”

  “Too tired,” she mumbled.

  The door closed.

  …

  Raised voices disturbed her. She floated on the edge of sleep while she tried to ignore them. Medic Williams might have healed her body with Quintessence, but mentally, she still felt exhausted.

  The door creaked open. “Bryn, you best come out here before Valmont and Zavien come to blows.”

  That bit of news had her sitting upright. “What?”

  “There’s too much testosterone in one small room.” Miss Enid winked at her. “Come see if you can help.”

  In the living room, Zavien stood by the door. His hands were clenched into fists as if he were having a hard time controlling his lightning. Bryn felt the hair on her arms stand up with static electricity. Yep. He was definitely close to blasting Valmont.

  Stretched out on the couch like he was about to take an afternoon nap, Valmont was the picture of innocence. The devilish gleam in his eye told another story.

  “That’s out of the question,” Zavien roared.

  “Let’s ask her.” Valmont’s single dimple appeared. Whatever was going on, he was enjoying himself immensely.

  It was hard not to return his smile. “Ask me what?”

  “Zavien mentioned Clint planned to stay the night on your couch. I volunteered to stay instead because I don’t have homework.”

  Sounded good to her. Maybe Valmont could give her some insight into the male mind. “Why is that a bad idea?”

  “I don’t think he likes me.” Valmont sat up and gave a cheeky grin. “Not sure what his problem is.”

  Lip curled up in a snarl, Zavien said, “I don’t care about you one way or another. I don’t think you can protect Bryn.”

  “But Clint could?” Valmont placed his finger on his chin like he was in deep thought. “Is that because he has a girlfriend?”

  “What does Ivy have to do with this?” Bryn asked.

  “I trust Clint to be alone with you.” Zavien pointed his finger at Valmont. “I don’t trust him.”

  The corners of her mouth turned up of their own accord. “You’re afraid to leave Valmont alone with me because he’s single?”

  The knight wiggled his eyebrows. “I am rather irresistible.”

  The anger on Zavien’s face told her he didn’t think this was funny. She tried not to laugh. An odd-sounding snort came out of her mouth.

  Miss Enid chuckled.

  Bryn gave in and laughed. She wanted to whoop with joy and jump up and down. Zavien was jealous of Valmont. It felt like a victory. She wasn’t crazy. He did have feelings for her.

  But one look at Zavien told her what he felt right now was rage.

  Time for damage control.

  “Don’t be angry.” She approached him and touched his chest. The warmth of his skin seeped through his shirt. “I trust him. You should trust him, too.”

  His mood didn’t change. “Do you have any idea the strings I’ve pulled to spend all this time with you?”

  “I know what you’ve done for me. I’m grateful. If I could choose anyone to stay the night with me, it would be you.”

  Good God. Did that just come out of her mouth?

  Zavien didn’t seem to pick up on the soul-baring nature of her statement. His posture stayed rigid. “I don’t want him here.”

  “What do you want?” There. She’d flat out asked him.

  His heart beat a staccato rhythm under her fingertips. “Will you send him away?”

  Frustration welled up inside Bryn. “I don’t want to talk about him. I want to talk about you.”

  He blinked in confusion. “What do you want to know?”

  Time to ask the million-dollar question. No matter the pain it caused, she needed to know. “Who is your intended?”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Wrong. “It matters if you plan to spend the rest of your life with her.”

  “She’s a friend.” He didn’t meet her gaze.

  Bryn heard a door close. Miss Enid and Valmont had retreated into the bedroom to give them privacy.

  She inched closer. Electricity
sparked between them, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “I need to know.”

  He took a deep breath and met her gaze. “My intended is Nola.”

  No. Freaking. Way.

  Nola? His intended was Nola? How in the hell was she supposed to compete against the dark-haired Barbie? She couldn’t. Dropping her hand from his chest, she backed up a step.

  Zavien closed the distance between them. “I swear. She’s a friend.”

  Wanting to believe, she placed her hand over his heart and searched his eyes for the truth. “If she’s a friend, then what am I?”

  He skimmed his fingers along her jaw and down her neck. Warmth radiated from his touch. He settled his hand at the base of her skull, leaned close, and whispered, “You are temptation.”

  She held her breath as he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. Time seemed to stand still. His mouth moved against hers. Melting against him, she fisted her hands in his shirt and tried to pull him closer. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her body flush against his.

  Too soon, he pulled away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I’m not sorry you did.” She traced her fingertips along his jaw. For so long, she’d been unsure of his feelings. Now she knew.

  He pressed her palm to his lips and warmth flowed up her arm.

  “We can’t behave this way in public. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  A picture of Nola flashed in her mind, making her grind her teeth. Perfect hair. Perfect face. Perfect body.

  “Nola’s your friend? You swear you aren’t involved?”

  “We don’t have anything in common. She’s a violinist. I appreciate her skill, but classical music puts me to sleep.”

  “But she’s beautiful.”

  “True, but she doesn’t like my tattoos or my hair.”

  This news made her smile. “How could she not like your hair?”

  He shrugged. “To each his own. I like girls who curse and have striped hair.”

  “Lucky for me.” There was another question she needed to ask. “Do people believe you and Nola are dating?”

  “Nola and I agreed we could see other people if we’re discreet. She’s made it clear we’re friends until we finish our degrees.”

  It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her head. She took a shaky breath. “And after that?”