Chapter Fifteen
An hour later, Bryn’s grandmother arrived. She wasn’t alone. Her driver walked behind her, carrying a large picnic hamper, which he set on Bryn’s library table before exiting the room.
Bryn smiled and hugged her grandmother. “Thanks for coming over.”
“It’s always nice to see you.” Her grandmother opened the hamper and pulled out china plates and real silverware. “Valmont, why don’t you help me set the table.”
“Sure.” He made fast work of the place settings and then cut and divvied out slices of pie to three of the plates. On the fourth plate he set an entire pie. “Bryn, can you guess which spot is yours?”
They all laughed. Due to the fact that Bryn used Quintessence to color her hair and do her makeup every day, she burned more than the average amount of calories, which meant she ate more food than most dragons. Valmont removed the whole pie and put a generous slice in Bryn’s spot instead.
They all sat and Ivy recounted her story, in between bites of pie.
“What do you think?” Bryn asked.
Her grandmother laid her fork on the edge of her pie plate. “Let’s start with the easiest solutions first. Do you think Clint feels guilty he’s the reason you were in trouble and maybe that’s why he’s acting strangely?”
Ivy shook her head. “Clint is…affectionate.” She grinned. “If he’s within touching distance, he’s holding my hand or touching my hair or something. This morning he didn’t touch me except to kiss me good-bye on the cheek, and even that didn’t feel right.”
“Perhaps he was sedated,” her grandmother suggested. “If he was uncooperative when they questioned him, they could have medicated him in some way.”
“You saying that like it’s a normal occurrence concerns me,” Bryn said.
“In the past, when witnesses have been uncooperative, medics were called in to help with the situation. While it’s not common, it’s not unheard of.”
“But we weren’t questioned,” Ivy said, “except for in Ferrin’s office.”
Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
What was her grandmother getting at? “Do you think maybe they questioned Clint, but not Ivy?”
“Ferrin would be more likely to question a male’s allegiance or to think he might be the one behind some sort of espionage.”
That was an interesting bit of information to file away for later.
Ivy stood. “If he was drugged, it would have to wear off eventually. Right? I’m going to check on him.” She wrapped a slice of pie in a napkin. “I’ll take him dessert as an excuse to go see him, which is stupid, because I shouldn’t need an excuse to visit my boyfriend.”
“Your young man may be keeping you at arm’s length due to some threat made by Ferrin. If that is the case, he should be willing to tell you behind closed doors.”
“Is there any way someone could impersonate Clint, act like a spy, and look exactly like him in an effort to gain information?” Valmont asked.
“None that I know of,” her grandmother said, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not a possibility.”
“So not the comforting advice I’d hoped you’d all give me,” Ivy said.
“Call me later.” Bryn stood and walked her friend to the terrace window, letting her out and then locking the window again.
Bryn’s grandmother sat sipping coffee she’d brought from Suzettes. “Bryn, I know you probably realize this, but it is of the utmost importance that you are never caught out after curfew. Ferrin would use your arrest to shame your grandfather. The political ramifications would be terrible, and the damage it would do to your standing in our family would be irreconcilable.”
“I understand.” Bryn used her fork to swirl cherry pie goo around on her plate.
“Something else is troubling you,” her grandmother said.
“How did you know?” Bryn asked.
Her grandmother pointed at the four pieces of pie left on the table. “If you were feeling yourself, there would be nothing left but crumbs.”
Valmont chuckled.
Bryn snatched another piece of pie and took a bite. “There is something else, but it’s a suspicion…nothing concrete.” She ducked her head. “I think there might be other, peaceful hybrids at school.”
“Why, exactly, do you believe this?” Her grandmother’s tone was calm but wary.
“It makes sense. If there are crazy hybrids out there attacking the Directorate, then we know there are other hybrids and not all of them have to be violent. Right? My parents weren’t crazy. I have a temper, but I’m not violent, and I don’t have the desire to physically attack the Directorate. I’d be happy to argue a few points with them, but I don’t have the desire to kill anyone because of politics.”
“I suppose there is the chance other non-violent hybrids exist, but you shouldn’t go looking for them. If you found them, you’d be duty-bound to turn them over to your grandfather, and I doubt he’d be inclined to believe they were innocent in the attacks.”
“You’re right.” Bryn finished off her pie. “It would make more sense not to look for anyone, because finding them would only cause more problems.”
Her grandmother reached over and touched Bryn’s arm. “I’m glad you called me. Whenever you have questions, I will always try to help. I may not give you the answers you want, but I can help you avoid conflict with your grandfather.”
Feeling the need to lighten the moment, Bryn said, “Plus, you bring pie.”
Her grandmother laughed. “Yes, I do. Now I better go.”
After a quick hug, Bryn let her grandmother out into the hall and locked the door behind her.
“So what do you think is going on?” Valmont asked.
“I have no idea.” The phone rang, and Bryn grabbed it.
“It’s me,” Ivy’s voice came through the phone sounding happier than she’d been earlier. “Clint says thanks for the pie.”
“Is he acting more normal?” Bryn asked.
“He said he didn’t get much sleep last night because Ferrin questioned him and gave him something to drink that made him fuzzy-headed.”
“So my grandmother was right? Does Clint remember what he told them?”
“Ferrin asked about the attack on Dragon’s Bluff and about who you’re friends with. Then the asshat talked about what a shame it would be if he had to void our marriage contract.”
Fire banked in Bryn’s gut. “What?”
Ivy growled. “That’s why Clint was acting so weird today. He was worried they might be keeping tabs on us.”
“What about the not touching you part?” Because that still seemed weird.
“Apparently, Ferrin lectured him on proper behavior in public,” Ivy said, “and the Directorate frowns on public displays of affection.”
Seriously? “Is Clint acting normal now?”
“Mostly,” Ivy sighed. “I think they threatened him with more than he’s admitting, because he’s acting like he’s afraid to tell me too much.”
Bryn heard a voice in the background. “Hold on. He wants to talk to you.”
“I know there’s something not right with me today,” Clint spoke in a low, even tone. “It feels like I’m sleepwalking and looking over my shoulder at the same time. All the smart-ass comments that normally play on a loop in my head are gone. Whatever was in that crap they gave me to drink…it has to wear off, right?”
“Yes.” God, she hoped so. “Do you want to go see a medic? Or I could try to scan you with Quintessence.”
“No.” Clint yawned. “I’m exhausted. All I want to do is sleep. If I’m still not myself tomorrow, maybe then you can scan me.”