Title: Trial by Fire (Going Down in Flames, #3)
Author: Chris Cannon
About Trial by Fire (Going Down in Flames, #3):
Bryn’s hopes for a peaceful new semester at school go up
in smoke when someone tries to kill her—again.
She’s not sure which is scarier, facing the radicals who want to sacrifice her
for their cause, or her impending nightmare-of-a-Directorate-arranged marriage
to her nemesis, Jaxon.
The one bright spot in her life is Valmont, her smoking-hot
knight who is assigned to watch over her twenty-four hours a day. Is what she
feels for him real, or just a side effect of the dragon-knight bond? At this
point, stopping the impending civil war might be easier than figuring out her
love life.
Author Bio:
Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband
and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes,
Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German
Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after
work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing
paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.
Bonus Excerpt!
Classes
the next day were oddly normal. If you didn’t count the guards posted at the
front door of every building and the undercurrent of animosity toward the
injured students who’d returned to school.
“Is it
me,” Clint said as they walked across campus to the dining hall for lunch, “or
do the guards seem a little tense?”
“They’re
supposed to be on guard,” Bryn said. “It’s part of the job description.”
“On
guard is one thing,” Clint said. “I sneezed when I walked out of the restroom,
and the guard in the hall shifted and growled at me…because I sneezed.”
He emphasized that last part like she might not have gotten it the first time.
“The
solution is simple,” Ivy said. “Stop sneezing.”
“I’ll
get right on that.” Clint slowed as they reached the steps to the dining hall.
“In my head, I thought, ‘wouldn’t a pizza from Fonzoli’s be good right now.’
Then I remembered about the attack on Dragon’s Bluff. Every time, it’s like a
smack in the face.”
“I
know what you mean.” The attack on Dragon’s Bluff had come in the form of fire.
Bryn and many other Blue dragons had tried to beat back the fire by combatting
the flames with ice. Still, damage had been done. None of the attacks made
sense. If the enemy wanted to overthrow the Directorate, then they should
attack the Directorate, not everyone else. Bryn trudged up the steps and nodded
at the Red guard who opened the door for her.
Ironically
enough, the buffet was loaded with Italian food. Bryn inhaled. “Hey...that smells
like Fonzoli’s.”
“It
should, since a Fonzoli made it.”
Bryn
whirled around. Valmont Fonzoli, her knight—a human who’d been bound to her
when a dormant spell in his blood had been activated by an act of chivalry—stood
there smiling, wearing a pair of dark jeans and a white shirt with Fonzoli’s
Catering stitched across the pocket.
She
dropped her book bag and threw her arms around him in a hug. He laughed,
wrapped his arms around her waist, and picked her up off the floor.
There
was that happy warmth again, which she associated with him. He set her down.
“And here I thought you might not be happy to see me.”
“What?
I’m always happy to see you.”
“As
heartwarming as this is, you’re blocking the line for food.” Jaxon's voice came
from the small crowd gathered behind them.
Reluctantly,
Bryn released Valmont and grabbed her book bag. “Can you stay and eat lunch
with us?”
“Planned
on it.” Valmont gave a small bow. “After you.”
A part
of her brain knew the joy she felt when she was with Valmont was a side effect
of the Knight-Dragon bond but who cared? He made her happy. She made him happy.
It was a win-win situation.
Waking the Bear by Kerry Adrienne
