Bridges Burned (Entangled Teen) (Going Down in Flames) by Chris Cannon Page B

believe.”
    Which meant he could be anywhere. “I’ll ask him another time.”
    “Thank you,” Rhianna said.
    “For what?”
    “You came to me rather than searching him out on your own. We just quashed those strange rumors about you two, and I’d hate for them to start again.”
    “How can people be so stupid?” Bryn plopped down in Jaxon’s seat. “I’d never sneak around with Jaxon for two reasons: one, because I like you, and two, because he annoys the hell out of me on a regular basis.”
    Rhianna covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled. “I envy your ability to say what you’re feeling.”
    “You should try it sometime.”
    “This is a frightening development.” Jaxon came toward them carrying a thick leather-bound book.
    “Afraid I’ll be a bad influence?” Bryn asked.
    “Yes. If you could remove yourself from my seat and stay away from my future wife, I’d appreciate it.”
    Bryn leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “Now I’ll have to become best friends with Rhianna to spite you.”
    Jaxon waved her away from his chair. “Go corrupt someone else. We have homework to finish.”
    “She wanted to ask you a question.” Rhianna stood. “I’ll visit with Miss Enid and give you two a moment.”
    “You can stay,” Bryn said.
    “Thank you, but I’d like people to witness that I trust you together.” Rhianna walked toward Miss Enid’s desk.
    Bryn told him about the missing blueprints and Nola’s habit of checking them out. “Patrons aren’t allowed to take blueprints out of the library. Someone did and there’s no record of the transaction. Miss Enid believes only a Directorate member could pull that off.”
    Jaxon frowned. “The Directorate is…political. Another Blue might try to outmaneuver my father in a business deal, but a plot to kill my father’s family must’ve come from outside the Clan.”
    “That doesn’t narrow the field much.” There had to be a clue they were missing. “If Alec had succeeded, if he’d killed us, who would’ve benefited?”
    Jaxon leaned against the table and stared off into space. “I’m not sure. Alec was probably in league with the group that’s been burning down Directorate members’ houses for the past six months.”
    “We still don’t know who the arsonists are.” Time to drop the problem in his lap. “Why don’t you think about it and let me know if you come up with anything.”
    …
    Dry leaves crunched under Bryn’s feet on the walk back to her dorm. Normally she liked fall. Tonight, the dried brown leaves littering the ground seemed discarded and sad. The overcast autumn sky didn’t improve her mood. Happy couples walking by holding hands made her heart ache.
    It was Saturday. What was she supposed to do tonight? Ivy and Clint had invited her to join them in Dragon’s Bluff for dinner. As great as they were about having her around as a third wheel, they deserved some time alone, so she had declined.
    A chilly breeze brushed against her neck. Goose bumps broke out on her arms. She needed a scarf. Maybe she should learn how to knit and make her own scarf. Since she was destined to be alone, she might as well start a solitary hobby.
    Stupid Zavien.
    She kicked a rock and watched it skip across the sidewalk. Her future would consist of knitting and adopting a bunch of cats. Life with cats wouldn’t be bad. Maybe she’d knit clothes for the cats and start an upscale cat boutique. Women like Lillith would pay big bucks to outfit their pets in the latest fashion. There, she had a plan.
    The sidewalk pitched.
    What the hell? Heart racing, Bryn fought to maintain her footing. Zigzag cracks appeared in the cement. A fissure ripped open beneath her feet. Acting on instinct, she shifted to dragon form and took to the air.
    Where she’d stood moments before, there was now a gaping trench. What was going on?
    A rumbling roar filled the air. Grassy areas rolled and heaved. Trees toppled or sank into fissures. Sidewalks