Going Down In Flames: Bridges Burned Part 16

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."

d.a.m.n 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 sc.r.a.pes."

"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. "s.h.i.+ft in here," Bryn said, "and try to move your wings."

"Is there enough room?" Jaxon asked.

"Let's see." Bryn s.h.i.+fted, being careful to keep her wings tucked to her side. Her tail knocked over the plastic trash can with a m.u.f.fled 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 fas.h.i.+on.

The air around Rhianna s.h.i.+mmered. The scent of cold metal filled the air. Then Rhianna stood in dragon form.

Both wings were intact, thank G.o.d. 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 relations.h.i.+ps, 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 pa.s.sed 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 cla.s.ses."

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."