Chapter Fifteen
“Who needs medical attention?” a male voice called out. Bryn waved at the medics streaming into the room. She stepped aside and waited to hear what the man would say.
The medic squatted next to Rhianna and ran his hands over her body. When his hand passed over her waist, he growled. “Her spine is damaged.”
Jaxon seemed to shrink in on himself.
“Can you fix it?” Bryn asked.
The medic sighed. “We can heal it, but damage has already been done.”
Jaxon pushed to his feet. “I’ll make arrangements for a staff of specialists to treat her. Tell no one of her condition.”
The medic nodded and Jaxon left the auditorium.
“Why keep this a secret?” Bryn asked.
The medic ignored her while he healed Rhianna’s pelvis. Once he was done, he spoke with a voice full of pity. “If his father finds out, he’ll void their marriage petition.”
“Bastard.”
The medic didn’t respond. She took his silence as agreement.
“Bryn.” Clint waved from across the room and pointed to the doors leading outside. It must be okay to leave. Should she go with them? What about Zavien? He’d chosen her in a time of crisis, but what did that mean?
At the moment, he was in a heated debate with Nola. Neither of them looked happy. If she walked over to him while he was with Nola, nothing good would happen. Frustrated, she growled and moved to join her friends by the exit. They emerged in the cool evening air, and her breath caught in her throat.
Broken glass from the theater building’s windows glittered in the moonlight, making the sidewalks look like they were covered in diamonds. Splintered trees were ripped from the ground and tossed about like kindling. Reds dressed in military fashion roamed the campus with eyes narrowed and fists clenched, ready for a fight. The enemy seemed to have slipped away like mist.
“One of the medics said the attack was wind, like tornadoes,” Clint said.
“Green dragons attacking the campus?” Ivy said. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Whoever it was, they meant to hurt people.” Smoke shot from Bryn’s nostrils.
They walked toward their dorm in silence. Not telling Clint and Ivy about the incident on the catwalk was making her crazy. But talking about her love life seemed shallow when Rhianna lay injured and the campus was in chaos.
Bryn relaxed when they reached the dorm for about sixty seconds, until she remembered the stairs. Trudging up the stupid stairs to their rooms seemed like too much work after the evening they’d endured, but she didn’t feel like tromping back outside, shifting, and flying up to her terrace, either. “This place needs elevators.”
Wait a minute. “Why hasn’t the campus been made wheelchair-accessible? Isn’t it required by law?”
“Maybe human law,” Clint said. “Here, it’s never been an issue. Medics heal almost all injuries.”
“What about those who can’t be healed?” Images of Rhianna lying twisted on the floor came to mind. “If a student lost a leg, what would happen?”
“I don’t know,” Clint said. “I’ve never seen dragons in wheelchairs unless they were ancient.”
There were two possibilities here. Either medics healed everyone, or those who were injured beyond repair were kept out of what Mrs. Silvertrap, the Proper Decorum teacher, referred to as “polite society.” Given what Bryn knew of the Directorate, she bet on the second theory.
After a nod to her friends, Bryn headed for her room, where she stripped off her clothes and climbed into the shower. Hot water kneaded her tense muscles while she replayed the events of the evening. Who had attacked the campus? Would Rhianna recover? Where did she stand with Zavien? He’d chosen her in a time of crisis. Would he apologize now so they could start over? The memory of his arms around her made her heart hurt. Could they start over after everything he’d done, or rather not done? He hadn’t checked on her after the first attack. He hadn’t tried to apologize. He hadn’t even admitted what he’d done was wrong.
As usual, there were too many questions and not enough answers. When her skin started to prune, she went to bed.
The alarm woke her the next morning in its usual annoying fashion. Bashing it with her Proper Decorum book didn’t bring about the desired results. The alarm survived unscathed. Maybe tonight she’d fly to the top of the dorm and toss it down on the sidewalk to see what would happen.
At breakfast in the dining hall, the only sound was utensils hitting plates. Ivy and Clint greeted her, but they ate in silence. Everyone seemed to be suffering the aftershocks of yesterday’s attack. Once again, not the right time to ask them about Zavien.
She sipped her coffee and checked the other tables in the dining hall. No Rhianna and no Jaxon. Had he taken her to a special hospital? Jaxon would hire the best specialist money could buy. Hopefully that would be enough.
…
In Elemental Science, the Orange dragons had returned to class. Bryn smiled at Octavius. He nodded, but his expression remained grim.
Mr. Stanton stood behind his desk. The dark circles under his eyes proved he hadn’t had a restful evening. “Class, I have a few announcements before we practice our breath weapons. Octavius and Vivian were cleared of all suspicion in regard to the first attack. Since yesterday’s attack came in the form of wind, the Directorate is interviewing any Greens capable of higher-level magic.” He gave a tight smile. “I was questioned last night and cleared of suspicion.”
“Do they have any leads?” Bryn asked.
He shook his head. “They are following all logical paths. In the meantime, more security has been added. The Directorate is doing everything in its power to keep the campus safe. Now, let’s get to work.”
After class, on her walk to the library, Bryn passed several groups of Reds, dressed in military uniforms, continuing the cleanup effort. Bits of glass caught the morning light and sparkled in the grass. It would be weeks before they managed to rid the campus of debris. The blank spaces where majestic trees had once dotted the landscape resembled open graves.
In the library, she headed for her usual spot on the third floor. It was in a back corner where there wasn’t much traffic, so she was surprised to find a notebook on the table. No book bag hung on the chair, so it didn’t seem like the table was occupied. Checking to make sure there was no one in sight, she opened the notebook. On the first page someone had doodled the same drawing over and over again. It looked like a circle around a plus sign. Inside each quarter there was a triangle. Two right side up and two upside-down. One of each triangle had a line through it. She flipped through the pages. There was nothing else in the notebook; no assignments, no names, no more drawings. Weird. If no one came looking for it, she’d drop it off at the front desk on her way out.
Three paragraphs into a five-paragraph essay, Onyx joined her.
“Your protection charm has been restored.” He pulled the key from his pocket and placed it on her textbook. The red and blue stones caught the light and winked at her, like they knew something she didn’t.
“Thank you.” She picked up the key and placed it in her pocket. “Do you have any news on the attacks?”
“No. I believe both of the previous attacks were warnings. They were meant to shake us up with a minimum of damage. I’m afraid the attacks will increase in severity as time goes on.”
That wasn’t reassuring. “What now?”
“The Directorate wants to initiate mandatory curfews for everyone. That will lead to more unrest.”
“I thought creating unrest was the Revisionists’ goal.”
He shook his head. “Not like this. We want change, but attacking our fellow dragons isn’t part of the plan.”
“Is someone trying to start a war?”
“So it would appear.” Onyx stood. “Be careful who you speak to about this matter. The Directorate is interviewing anyone they deem a threat. Even though your grandfather recognized you, you’re still on that list.”
That was a cheery thought.
Bryn made sure to leave time to stop by Miss Enid’s desk on the way out of the library. “Someone left this on a table upstairs.”
Miss Enid opened the notebook and frowned. She ripped the drawing out and then shredded the paper over and over again until it was confetti.
Not the reaction Bryn expected. “What’s wrong?”
Miss Enid leaned in closer. “Did you show this to anyone?”
“No. Why? What does it mean?”
“The four triangles represent earth, water, air, and fire. The circle represents Quintessence.”
“And that’s bad because…”
“A long time ago, it was used as a symbol for rebellion. A group of dragons from different Clans came together and tried to overthrow the Directorate. They failed, but the symbol has cropped up occasionally when there is unrest. The Directorate banned its use.” She tapped her nails on the counter. “The question is, did someone leave this for you as a test, or a message?”
“I don’t know. Either way, I’m going to ignore it.”
In Basic Movement, Jaxon sought Bryn out. “I need to speak with you in private.”
She followed him over to the lockers where the wooden swords were kept.
“Rhianna wants to see you. I’m visiting her after dinner tonight.”
“Is she all right?”
“No.” Jaxon cleared his throat. “The doctors healed her spinal cord, but her right leg will always be weak.”
The tightly controlled pain in his voice brought a lump to Bryn’s throat. “Can she walk?”
“Yes.” He pretended to search for a sword while he spoke. “But she has a limp.”
“Can she fly?”
“The doctors want to continue physical therapy before allowing her to shift.”
Losing the ability to fly would be like losing a limb.
“Meet me outside the dining hall at seven.” Jaxon slammed the locker door and stalked off.
…
At seven, Bryn waited in the appointed spot. Jaxon rounded the corner of a building and came toward her. He made eye contact, but kept walking. She fell into step a few yards behind him. Why was he being so secretive? Whatever. This was for Rhianna, so she played along.
He led her down a side walkway that wound through a garden. Raised flower beds edged in decorative bricks were laid out in a complex geometric pattern. During warmer weather, the garden would be beautiful. Now, the brown clumps of dead vegetation dotting the brick-lined flower beds seemed like a monument to death and decay.
Wrapping her arms around herself to ward off a chill, Bryn jogged to catch up. Jaxon waited for her inside a service entrance.
“Rhianna isn’t supposed to have visitors,” he said.
“Why?”
“The less she’s seen, the less others know of her condition.”
That didn’t sound right. There was something he wasn’t saying. She followed him up a flight of stairs. “Where my parents live, it isn’t uncommon to see people using canes or wheelchairs.”
Jaxon stopped walking. “Humans are more tolerant of imperfection than dragons.”
“What does that mean?”
He turned to face her, his lips set in a grim line. “Dragons who are unable to fly often choose isolation.”
Flames roared in her chest. “They choose it, or it’s forced on them?”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I…I don’t know. Come on. Rhianna is expecting us.”
Damn the Directorate and their intolerant ways. She followed him up two more flights of stairs. They emerged in a darkened hallway. Jaxon opened the second door on the right and she sneaked in.
Rhianna lay in a hospital bed, her normally golden skin pale against the white sheets. “Thank you for coming, Bryn. I need your help.”
Bryn crossed the room, grabbed her hand, and squeezed. “Name it.”
“Jaxon told me how you healed him. I need you to tell me the truth. How badly was I injured?”
“Jaxon didn’t tell you?”
“Of course I told her,” he snapped. “But I don’t know the extent of her residual injuries. The medics healed her as much as possible. You can use your Quintessence to read her. Let us know where we stand.”
“Okay.” Bryn put her hand on Rhianna’s forehead. “I saw the damage to your spinal cord after the accident. Maybe I’ll recognize what’s been healed. I’m not making any promises. Saving Jaxon’s life was the trial run of my powers. Since then, I’ve only healed cuts and scrapes.”
“What?” Jaxon’s eyebrows shot up. “You didn’t know what you were doing? You could’ve killed me.”
“Medic Williams said you’d die if I didn’t try. Besides, it worked. What are you griping about?”
Rhianna giggled.
Bryn stage-whispered, “Your boyfriend is moody.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Her deadpan response made Bryn laugh.
Jaxon played along, huffing out an exaggerated breath. “I knew you were a bad influence.”
The laughter lightened the mood. Bryn closed her eyes. “Here we go.”
She scanned Rhianna’s body and focused on the point where the spine met the tailbone. There were a few dark spots, but the area, which had been severed, appeared to be fused together.
“I’m no expert, but it looks like they reconnected everything. There are a few dark spots. I’d guess those were bruises. Maybe they need time to heal.”
“Try to heal them,” Jaxon said.
“Rhianna, it’s your call. I don’t know if I’d hurt you or help you.”
“Try to heal one bruise,” Rhianna said.
Bryn gathered a small ball of white light and channeled it into one of the dark spots. After a few moments, she stopped. The bruise remained unchanged.
“Feel any different?”
“What you did felt warm, but I don’t think it changed anything.” Rhianna sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. Bryn backed out of the way while Jaxon helped Rhianna stand. Once Rhianna was steady, she took a few steps. Her gait was uneven. The girl who used to glide across the floor now shuffled her right foot.
Bryn dug her nails into her palms, but made sure to keep her voice upbeat. “Better or worse?”
“The same,” Rhianna whispered.
“Maybe you need more time to recover.” Jaxon’s tone was hopeful.
“Take me to the roof.” Rhianna’s voice shook. “I need to know if I can fly.”
Jaxon placed his hands on Rhianna’s shoulders. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“If we take you up there, we’ll be caught for sure,” Bryn said. “Do you want to risk that?”
“I don’t care. What can they do to me that’s worse than this?”
Good point. Should they risk the roof? There had to be another way. “Shift in here,” Bryn said, “and try to move your wings.”
“Is there enough room?” Jaxon asked.
“Let’s see.” Bryn shifted, being careful to keep her wings tucked to her side. Her tail knocked over the plastic trash can with a muffled thump.
Jaxon crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “Must you follow through on every idea that pops into your head?”
“Change back,” Rhianna said. “There isn’t room for both of us in here.”
“I don’t know if this is wise,” Jaxon said. “If you can’t move your wings, what will you do?”
“I need to know.” She moved around him in an awkward fashion.
The air around Rhianna shimmered. The scent of cold metal filled the air. Then Rhianna stood in dragon form.
Both wings were intact, thank God. Bryn held her breath as Rhianna extended her wings. Up they both went, but her right wing stopped a foot below its apex. Frost shot from the Blue dragon’s nostrils.
“It will be all right.” Jaxon moved forward and placed his hand on Rhianna’s flank. “You’ll be able to fly. After some practice I’m sure you’ll be able to gauge how high to lift your left wing.”
Rhianna returned to human form. Tears streamed down her face. “Your father…”
Jaxon wrapped his arms around her and made soothing noises. “Don’t worry about my father. I promise, I will take care of you, no matter what happens.”
Bryn’s face heated. This was a painful, private moment. She shouldn’t be there. Making as little noise as possible, she backed out of the room.
On the walk back to her dorm, she tried to think through the situation. What would happen to Rhianna if the marriage contract ended? Would she consent to be someone’s mistress? Jaxon’s words came back to her and his true meaning hit. If the contract were ended, Jaxon would take care of her, meaning he’d keep her as his mistress. In this twisted world of Directorate-controlled relationships, he was trying to do right by her.
What sucked was, that was probably the best Rhianna could hope for.
“Bryn McKenna?” a masculine voice barked.
She froze midstep and whirled around, ready for a fight. One of the new military guards bore down on her.
For a moment, she considered lying but her coloring gave her away. Squaring her shoulders, she tried to appear calm. “I’m Bryn.”
The guard looked her up and down, taking her measure. She must have passed the test because he gave a curt nod. “There’s a visitor for you at the back gate. The fool claims he’s your knight.”
“Valmont’s at the gate?”
The Red’s eyebrows came together. “He really is your knight?”
“Yes.” The thought of seeing Valmont was like a soothing balm. “Can he visit, or are we on some sort of lockdown?”
“I’ll sign him in.” The guard led her across campus. “He can’t stay long.”
Valmont stood between two auburn-haired guards built like pro wrestlers. While her knight matched their height, they each outweighed him by fifty pounds.
He smiled at her approach, and his single dimple appeared. “Come to save me from military arrest?”
The guards scowled.
“Be nice. They’re doing their job.”
Valmont addressed the guard by her side. “Am I allowed on campus?”
He pointed at a clipboard hanging by the gate. “Sign in. You can stay for twenty minutes. You must sign out when you leave.” He leaned forward so his nose was an inch from Valmont’s. “If you don’t sign out, I’ll have to track you down, and that will annoy me.”
“Understood.” Valmont grabbed the clipboard and signed.
Bryn took his hand and led him back the way she’d come. “This is a nice surprise.”
“I hadn’t heard from you, so I wanted to check in.”
“Things have been crazy around here.” Since it was a nice night, she led him to the steps on the side of the dining hall. “Mind if we sit here?”
“Is there a reason you don’t want to take me to your dorm?”
“No.” She squeezed his hand. “It’s a nice night and I spent all day in classes.”
He released her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice grew thick. “Rhianna isn’t.”
“The sweet blonde from the dance? What happened?”
Bryn leaned into him for comfort and relayed the story of Rhianna’s injuries.
“I thought your medics could heal anything.”
“I guess not.” She blinked to hold back tears. “Now Jaxon’s father could void their marriage contract.”
Valmont’s muscles tensed. “That’s wrong.”
“I agree.” She sniffed. “That’s all the sucky news I have. What’s new with you?”
“I have acquired a roommate.” He chuckled. “My grandfather forgot his wedding anniversary. Until he can figure a way to get back into my grandmother’s good graces, he’s living with me. The man snores like a chain saw.”
“If you want any rest you’ll have to help him apologize.”
“He’s been leaving roses and chocolate on her doorstep every morning for a week.”
“That’s nice.”
“My grandmother doesn’t think so. She gives him the evil eye any time he tries to speak to her. Give me a female’s perspective. What else should he do?”
“I’m not sure.” Then it hit her. “Has he apologized in person, or is he just leaving gifts?”
“I don’t know.”
“Romantic gestures are good,” Bryn said, “but sometimes a girl needs to hear the words.”
“Speaking from personal experience, are we?” He arched a brow.
She gave a small shrug. “Maybe.”
“Has the spiky-haired nitwit apologized?”
“No, but he was next to me when the theater building was attacked. He chose to protect me over Nola.”
Valmont kicked at a pebble on the steps. “Then what happened?”
“Nothing, and it’s driving me crazy. I thought he’d find me and apologize, but he hasn’t.”
“So he’d be upset if you died, but he doesn’t want to be seen with you in public.”
Bryn elbowed Valmont in the ribs. “Don’t spare my feelings.”
“Believe it or not, I’m trying to keep you from being hurt again. Just because he doesn’t want you dead, doesn’t mean he’s boyfriend material. If he came to you right now and apologized, what would you do?”
The question caught her off guard. “I don’t know. If he’d come to me the day after the dance, I would’ve taken him back. He didn’t check on me after the first attack, but he tried to keep me safe during the second one.”
“If you hadn’t been next to him during the second attack, do you think he would’ve checked on you afterward?”
Acid churned in her stomach. “I don’t know.”
“There you are.” The Red dragon with the clipboard stalked toward them.
“Sorry. Has it been twenty minutes?”
“Yes.” The guard thrust the clipboard at Valmont. “Sign and go.”
The knight didn’t seem concerned. He leaned back on his elbows. “You’re early. It’s been fifteen minutes by my watch.”
The Red’s jaw muscle twitched.
This could turn ugly. “Valmont, why don’t I walk you back to the gate?”
“Fine.” Valmont stood and signed the paper on the clipboard. She grabbed her knight’s hand and pulled him along.
“If that guard’s temper is anything like my father’s, you don’t want to mess with him.”
He leaned in and whispered. “It’s my cosmic duty to mess with people. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
“Please don’t bait the guards. They are large and angry.”
“Fine.”
At the gate, he pulled her hand to his lips for a quick kiss. She waved good-bye as he drove off in his red convertible.