That night after dinner, Bryn went to speak with Medic Williams in the infirmary.
The Medic looked up from the file she was reading. “Bryn, are you injured?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you about something and I didn’t want to do it in front of the class.”
“Okay.” She closed the file and placed it on a stack to her right. “Have a seat.”
Bryn sat in the hard-plastic chair in front of Medic William’s desk. Hopefully she wasn’t about to make a mistake. Maybe she should hedge her bets a little bit. “This is going to sound weird, and it’s probably all in my head.” And then she launched into the story about Zavien’s forearms and Clint’s dragon-pire theory.
“That is odd.” She tapped her nails on the desktop. “Janelle is inexperienced, but that was also a low-level injury. Before we decide a dangerous cult is back on campus, I’ll have a talk with her.”
“I’m beginning to understand how those conspiracy theorists feel,” Bryn said. “I feel like I’m overreacting all the time but if I don’t say something I’m afraid it could lead to disaster.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I think we all feel that way after the attack on campus. Dragons I’d known my whole life had been Rebels, and I never had a clue that they were anything but what they said they were. Feel free to bring your suspicions to me. I’m always willing to listen.”
“Thank you. Hopefully, I won’t have to take you up on that offer.”
Later that night, Bryn tossed and turned. Her mind wouldn’t stop spinning speculations about possible spies. Was Janelle part of a cult? Did Silver dragon-pires even exist? Why couldn’t she stop focusing on all this weird crap and fall asleep? At least tomorrow was Friday. Not that she had any special plans, but two days spent either hanging out with Clint and Ivy or hiding in her room reading books, eating pizza, and avoiding the world in general, sounded fabulous.
…
In Quintessential Medicine the next day, before class started, Janelle was too quiet. Bryn got a funny feeling in her stomach. Had Janelle heard that Zavien had come to Bryn or that she’d spoken to Medic Williams? It’s not like Bryn had ratted her out. If Clint hadn’t put the idea of Quintessence sucking dragon-pires into her head, she wouldn’t have gone to Medic Williams. Should she bring it up?
“Class, we are low on volunteers for healing at the moment, so we are going to read over some interesting case studies.”
Bryn doubted the interesting part. She leaned toward Janelle. “I was hoping this class would be mostly hands on.”
Janelle nodded. “Me, too.”
Medic Williams passed out bound copies of case files. “The names and other personal information have been redacted. Focus on how the Medics diagnosed the patients rather than the actual treatment. Not every injury is clear-cut. You need to be part detective to be a good Medic.”
Bryn read the first few lines. A female dragon had been admitted to the clinic with a strange rash. Not exactly a page turner.
Janelle scooted her desk closer to Bryn’s. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” Please don’t let this be awkward.
“Why did Zavien have you look at his arms yesterday?”
And it’s awkward. How could she say this without putting Janelle’s efforts down? “One of his arms felt a little weaker,” Bryn said, not specifying which one.
“Crap,” Janelle said. “I screwed up. Didn’t I?”
“No.” Bryn stalled for time. “I think you stopped just short of putting on the finishing touches. The skin was healed, but he needed a little bit more of a boost, if that makes sense.”
“Medic Williams’s watching made me nervous,” Janelle said. “I guess I stopped when the cuts were healed and didn’t think to finish up.”
“No big deal,” Bryn said. “We are here to learn.”
“As a Green, there’s pressure to always do the best job possible. Sometimes I get distracted. I’m not the perfectionist most of my fellow Greens are.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Bryn said.
Someone shushed Bryn. She rolled her eyes. “Speaking of perfectionists,” she whispered, which made Janelle smile. Bryn went back to reading her case study. Thank goodness Janelle hadn’t been offended.
In Basic Movement, Bryn ran on a treadmill next to Ivy while Clint used a stair climber.
“What are we doing tonight?” Ivy asked.
“What are our options?” Bryn asked.
Ivy reduced the speed on her treadmill to a slow jog. “We can go to dinner in Dragon’s Bluff or eat pizza in your room and play cards.”
“Are you still carrying around a deck of cards at all times?” Bryn asked Clint.
“Yes. I think of them as my good luck charm,” he said. “Plus I rock at building card houses.”
When they’d been trapped under the library, the hallways had seemed like a never-ending maze. Clint had left a card at every turning point in numerical order so they would know where they’d already been. Ever since then he’d carried a deck, just in case.
“I used to build those with my dad,” Bryn said. And then another memory hit her. “I wonder if Valmont’s dad went through with his plan to create those pizza-shaped decks of cards he told Valmont about.”
“If you’re talking about him, does that mean you’re ready to go to Fonzoli’s?” Ivy asked.
Was she ready to go visit Valmont’s family restaurant? Dragon’s Bluff wasn’t very big. She’d bump into him eventually. Maybe it was better if she did it on her own terms. “I might be willing to give it a shot.”
“Cool,” Clint said. “I’ve been craving Fonzoli’s pizza, but I didn’t want to mention it.”
“And if it’s too weird we can order carryout and come back to campus,” Ivy said.
Bryn nodded. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need to take that route.
They took one of the sanctioned SUVs into Dragon’s Bluff that evening and had the driver drop them off down the street from Fonzoli’s. Bryn inhaled the garlic and Italian-seasonings scent drifting through the air. “That smells amazing.”
“It does,” Ivy said.
Even though her mouth was watering, she wasn’t quite sure about this. She wouldn’t just be facing Valmont. His entire family had disapproved of their relationship…especially his grandmother. “If it’s super awkward we can leave, right?”
“Yes,” Ivy said. “If it’s too much you can say you’re running to All That Sparkles to pick something up, and I’ll have them change our order to go.”
“Okay.” She could do this. Clint walked into the restaurant in front of them. Bryn trailed behind Ivy. The hostess smiled at them like they were just another set of customers. Bryn scanned the room for Valmont but didn’t see him…thank goodness.
The hostess seated them up front near the window. “Megan will be with you in just a moment.”
Holy crap. Bryn hadn’t even thought about Megan, the cute young waitress who’d had a crush on Valmont…the human girl who could give him the simple, uncomplicated life that he wanted…that he deserved. Maybe coming here was a mistake.
Megan approached with a smile on her face. The smile slipped a bit when she saw Bryn. “Welcome back to Fonzoli’s. Are you ready to order, or would you like me to bring your drinks while you look over the menu?”
“Clint and I want to split a large sausage pizza,” Ivy said.
“I’ll have two pepperoni calzones,” Bryn said, like the situation wasn’t all sorts of awkward.
Megan stared at Bryn for a moment.
“Something you want to say?” Bryn asked.
Megan frowned. “Honestly, I’m stuck between wanting to yell at you and wanting to thank you.”
And that’s when she understood. The spicy scent which had made her hungry moments before now made her slightly nauseous. “You got your wish. You’re with Valmont now.”
Megan nodded.
Bryn’s pulse spiked. “Is he here?”
“Yes, but he’s not waiting tables anymore. He’s cooking.” Megan glanced around. “I hope…you’re not here to try and take him back, are you?”
Bryn shook her head no. “I’m just here for the food.” And to rip the bandage off an emotional wound.
Megan gave a nervous laugh. “Good. Should I tell him you’re here?”
He’d probably hear it from one of the other waitstaff, even if Megan didn’t say anything. “Tell him I said hello. He doesn’t need to come out and see me…I know he’s busy.”
“Okay.” Megan bit her lip. “Maybe the next time you come in it won’t be so awkward. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Megan walked away. Bryn noticed the hostess and another waiter watching her. She gave a tight smile and turned back to Clint and Ivy. “Well, that was fun.”
“At least it’s over,” Ivy said.
“Or not,” Clint pointed to someone headed their way.
Valmont’s grandmother, the evil woman who had told her she never should have been involved with Valmont in the first place, came to their table and sat next to Bryn. What was she going to do—ban Bryn from the restaurant?
“I never liked you,” his grandmother said.
“Yes, you made that perfectly clear,” said Bryn.
The woman narrowed her eyes. “But I wanted to thank you for doing the right thing. Valmont is better off with Megan. She makes him happy.” And with that she stood and walked back toward the kitchen.
Bryn wanted to slump down in her seat. This was emotionally exhausting, but since she was part Blue she sat straight in her chair and acted like none of this bothered her. “I may never eat Italian again,” she told Clint and Ivy.
“At least the drama is over,” Ivy said.
“Unless Valmont comes out to say hello,” Clint said.
Bryn froze. “He’s not. Is he?”
“No.” Clint said. “But I’ll keep my eyes open for any more chaos that might be headed your way.”
After Megan brought their food, Bryn was able to relax. She was on her last bite of calzone when Jaxon walked in the door and headed straight for her.
“What’s wrong?” Bryn asked.
“My mother asked me to find you and bring you to Westgate Estate,” he said, sounding less than enthusiastic.
“Why?”
“Asher made his appearance early this morning,” Jaxon said. “And she knew you’d want to meet him.”
Happiness bubbled up inside of Bryn. “That’s so exciting.”
“If you say so. Let’s go.”
“I have to pay.” Bryn glanced around for Megan.
“We’ll take care of the bill,” Clint said. “Next time you can buy.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Bryn followed Jaxon out the front door.
A low-slung black sports car that looked like it was made from liquid metal sat parked right in front of the entrance to the restaurant. Jaxon pushed his key fob and the car’s lights blinked. He opened the door for Bryn and she climbed in.
As she buckled her seat belt, he climbed in behind the steering wheel and took off.
“Is this your Christmas present…the Bugatti something?”
“Bugatti Veyron,” he said. “And yes, it is.”
“It’s amazing,” Bryn said. And she meant it. The car looked like a work of art.
“Thank you.” He shifted gears and headed down the main road before taking a sharp right into the forest. He picked up speed, flying down the winding roads.
“Aren’t you afraid something might run out in front of you?” Bryn asked.
“No.” He pressed the accelerator and the engine growled.
“Not too chatty today, are you?” she asked.
He didn’t bother answering. Bryn watched the forest whiz by as Jaxon drove down roads which barely seemed wide enough for the car. “Are these real roads?” Bryn asked.
“Of course.”
Ten minutes later Jaxon pulled up to Westgate Estate. The wrought iron gates sported giant Ws, which Bryn found ridiculous. From past experience, she knew it only became worse in the house. The foyer floor was inlaid with a gold W, which was probably made of real gold. Even the silverware was monogrammed. Her grandmother had once informed Bryn that she would receive a set of monogrammed silver as a wedding present. That was one present Bryn might accidentally shove in a drawer and forget about.
Rather than pulling to the front of the mansion, Jaxon drove around the side to an enormous garage, which looked like it could hold a dozen cars. Several SUVs sat at the far end of the structure. Jaxon parked in one of the open spots and turned off the ignition. Bryn reached for the door handle to let herself out.
“Wait,” Jaxon said.
Was this one of those stupid moments where she was supposed to let someone else, like a member of the Westgate staff, open the door for her? She didn’t see anyone outside the car. She glanced at Jaxon for a clue. He stared at his key fob like he was searching for something.
“Jaxon?”
He sighed. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to act.”
And she was lost. “What are you talking about?”
“As a Westgate and a Blue, I’ve been raised to behave in the appropriate manner for all circumstances, but no one prepared me for this. How am I supposed to act around Asher?”
Okay, how should she handle this? “Don’t get mad because I’m not making fun of you, I’m trying to help.”
He nodded like he understood.
“Normal, and by that, I mean non-Blue individuals, are usually happy about having another family member. How do you feel about having a baby brother?”
“I’m not sure. I’m happy for my mother, but I’m worried about my relationship with my father.”
Where was a psychology book when she needed one? “I’m an only child so I don’t have any actual experience with this, but I’ve seen how proud your father is of you. That won’t change just because he has another son.”
“I suppose not…so I’ll pretend I’m happy and go from there?”
A strange thought occurred to Bryn. “Do you spend most of your time pretending?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” he asked like he actually meant it.
“No,” Bryn answered.
“If there’s one thing I learned from my relationship with Rhianna, it’s that real feelings will only cause you pain. Pretending is a much better choice. We should go.” He reached for his door handle and exited the vehicle.
Bryn was caught between wanting to hug him or yell at him. Maybe both. What did he plan to do? Keep a layer of ice between himself and the rest of the world…between him and her? Forever? Not that she expected him to fall in love with her…that was ridiculous…but she at least needed the warmth of friendship, of a good strong ally that she could depend on…hell, she’d settle for someone she could have a dinner conversation with.
Maybe they needed to discuss some ground rules for their current and future relationship. His personality had already been molded by Ferrin and polite dragon society. Maybe she could help Asher become a more normal, happier, healthier person…sort of balance out the strange proper Blue teachings with normal feelings. She opened her car door and caught up with Jaxon.