Bonfire Night For Flammable Dragons, page 1
Bonfire Night For Flammable Dragons
An Obscure Academy Story
Laura Greenwood
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Author Note
Also by Laura Greenwood
About Laura Greenwood
© 2022 Laura Greenwood
* * *
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the published, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the email address; lauragreenwood@authorlauragreenwood.co.uk.
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Cover by Ravenborn Designs
Bonfire Night For Flammable Dragons is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Blurb
Jazz knows better than to let herself get too close to fire, even if she is a dragon shifter. When she gets assigned to fire duty for Bonfire Night, she knows she has to do something or her secret will be revealed.
* * *
Idris can't stop thinking about the dragon he's been paired with for the bonfire. The only problem is that he seems to have done something to make her want to avoid him, and he's determined to find out what.
* * *
Can he help Jazz stay safe from the flames?
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Bonfire Night For Flammable Dragons is a light-hearted dragon shifter academy m/f romance set at Obscure Academy. It is Jazz and Idris' complete story.
One
Jazz
* * *
I can't believe I'm late to DragonSoc, especially when the last thing the society chairman said last week was that we couldn't be late. Normally, it doesn't matter, but this is the day we're all given our assignments for Bonfire Night and I want to make sure I don't get a bad one.
But Zara has been drilling us hard since we lost out on the first prize in our cheer competition, which means cheer practice runs later than ever. I haven't even had time to change out of my workout gear.
I push through the door, trying to be as quiet as possible, but the problem with trying to sneak up on a room full of dragons is that it's basically impossible. I'm not sure whether we have the same genetics as non-mythical animal shifters, but we have a lot of the same abilities, including better-than-average hearing.
Several of the others glare at me as I take a seat, including Zara, who has somehow gotten here before me and doesn't have a hair out of place.
She must have flown. There's no other way.
"Ah, good, you're here, Jazz," McKenzie says from the front.
If anyone wasn't paying attention to me, then they are now.
"As I was saying before you arrived, you and Idris have been assigned to the fire," she continues without me saying anything.
My eyes widen.
Fire duty is not good news for me. I shouldn't be anywhere near it.
"Is there anything else?" I ask, sounding almost as desperate as I feel.
"No," she responds bluntly. "If you wanted a chance to say what kind of job you wanted, then you should have turned up on time."
Someone laughs further around the room, stoking the fire within me.
I sit down, realising there's no arguing with the woman in charge of organising the bonfire. She's set in her ways, and there's nothing I can do about it. I cross my arms across my chest and try not to worry about it too much. The worst that's going to happen is that I get burned. It's not like I'm going to end up in a situation that could do any permanent damage.
Or at least I don't think so. If I follow all of the safety guidance, then there's a chance it will all turn out well.
McKenzie continues giving out information about who is in charge of what, and I find myself cursing inwardly for not making more dragon friends so that I could have one of them sign me up for something better than fire duty.
Maybe I'll make an effort at the next meeting to get to know some more people.
"All right, that's everything. If you want to split off into groups, we'll get this thing organised," McKenzie says. "It's a big responsibility for us to run this, but I know you won't let me down." The implication that something bad will happen to us if we do hangs in the air, and I try not to think about it too much.
I sigh and lean back in my seat, trying to pluck up the courage to go and talk to the person I have to tend the fire with. Somehow, I need to let him know that I shouldn't be near anything as dangerous as fire without revealing the highly embarrassing fact that I'm flammable. I have to wonder how that's even possible, but I'm too embarrassed to talk to anyone about the problem.
"You're Jazz, right?" a male voice says.
I turn to find a tall blond guy standing next to me who I vaguely recognise as being Idris. We haven't had much to do with one another until now.
"I am." I gesture to the empty seat next to me. "You must be Idris."
He nods and sits down. "I love fire duty," he admits. "It's one of the best parts of any bonfire."
"I like watching the flames." It isn't even a lie. I like watching fire, I just prefer to do it from a distance.
"And the crackle." A satisfied smile spreads over his face at the thought. "And we get a front row seat on Bonfire Night. It's my favourite event of the year, it has been since I was a kid."
"I prefer Christmas," I mutter.
"There isn't as much fire then." He grins.
"True, but I'm not sure why we even still celebrate Bonfire Night. I get that it was a big deal at the time, but it's been over four hundred years since Guy Fawkes tried to blow up parliament. A lot of things have changed since then."
"True, but it hasn't happened since."
"Probably because security is better."
"Ah, so you don't think it's because thousands of effigies are burned every year on the fifth of November?"
"Does anyone really think of them as effigies as a person though?" I ask.
"I don't know whether you're just hating on Bonfire Night in general, or if you're just this kind of person." A small hint of annoyance enters his voice.
I let out a loud sigh. I should have thought about what I was saying before it left my mouth. I know better than this. "I'm sorry, it's been a long day of lectures and cheer practice."
"Ah, you're a cheerleader."
Is it me, or is there a hint of distaste in his voice?
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. It doesn't matter to some people that cheering is a sport, or that it takes a lot of different skills in order to properly pull it off. To them, it's just something people do as a status symbol, not because they love it. I won't bother correcting him. I have better things to do with my time.
Like sleep.
"If that's a problem for you, and you have someone else in mind for fire duty, then I'm happy to swap." I don't add that it would be better for me if he agreed to that. Then I don't have to deal with his judgement, or the fire.
"No, it isn't. I'm sorry, you just don't look like a cheerleader."
I stiffen and raise an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you're not wearing a uniform."
"That's because I came from practice, not performing." I try not to let my frustration through my words.
"Right, that makes sense. I've never thought about it before."
"Mmmhmm." I force a smile to my face.
"Anyway, I need to go meet a friend," he says. "We should exchange numbers so we can plan the fire."
I swipe open my phone and hand it to him so he can put his number in, taking his from him in response. I type out my name and number and hand it back to me.
"Great, I look forward to working with you, Jazz."
"Likewise," I respond, though that's a lie. I'll do anything I can to get out of working with him. Though I suppose that's not to do with Idris himself, he does seem nice enough even with the cheerleader stuff.
Maybe we'll get a chance to work together in the future, there are only so many dragons and I have another three years at Obscure Academy to go. Maybe I'll even have McKenzie's job of assigning everything. That would be the dream, especially as it means I can avoid anything flaming.
Two
Idris
* * *
My phone buzzes, letting me know I've got another message. I grab my phone off my desk and check the message, letting out a small groan of frustration as I read it.
< Jazz tried to get me to swap with her for Bonfire Night. >
I barely even reg
So what can she possibly have against me?
I look out of the library window and think about what to put in a message to her, but then my gaze lands on the sports field.
Why send a message when I can go ask her in person? That seems like it will get me an answer faster, and probably a more honest one given that she won't have time to formulate a clever answer.
I pack up my books and throw my satchel over my shoulder. No one pays me any attention as I leave the library. Which I suppose makes sense. People come and go all the time, and they have no way of knowing there's an angry dragon about to explode amongst them.
At least not yet. They might if my nose starts to leak smoke, but that's only happened once, and I'm more on the annoyed side of angry than anything else right now.
All of that might change when I hear whatever excuses Jazz comes up with.
It only takes me a few minutes to get to the sports field. I've not been here before, preferring to spend my evenings studying rather than playing sports. I need the time to study if I'm ever going to make the grades I need in order to get into the post-grad program I want.
The captain of the cheer squad calls for them to take a break, but it isn't until she turns that I realise I recognise her too. I think her name is Zara, but I've had even less to do with her than I've had to do with Jazz.
I scan the assembled squad for the dark-haired dragon I've been paired with, and am almost relieved when I spot her walking toward me.
"Hey," she says, waving once she's within earshot and acting as if she hasn't been trying to get out of our job for the bonfire.
"What have I ever done to you?" I demand.
She frowns. "What do you mean?" She checks around to make sure none of the others are listening in, but they're too far away.
"You're trying to get out of fire duty," I say. "I've been getting messages all day from dragons telling me that you're trying to swap with them."
"It's not what you think."
"The only possible explanation is that you have something against me. I want to know what it is." I cross my arms across my chest and glare at her.
"Look, it's not you. It's the job," she says. "It's not something I'm going to be very good at."
"You're a dragon," I point out.
"Yes, I'm aware of that," she responds tartly. "Do you think that being a dragon automatically makes me good at dragon-y things?"
"Shouldn't it?"
"Maybe I like swimming."
"Dragons can swim."
"Fine. Maybe I'm scared of heights and hate flying."
Despite how annoyed I am at her, I let out a small laugh. "Are you?"
"No." She softens. "But it's bad to just assume that people are good at things just because of what they are."
"True. You have a point."
"Look, we seem to have gotten off to a bad start. I have twenty minutes before we start practice again, do you want to grab a drink?"
"A drink-drink?" The surprise comes through my tone.
"Definitely not, can you imagine what a disaster it would be if I tried to get to the top of the human pyramid after drinking? That's the fast way into a coma."
"Okay, well a non-alcoholic drink is also good. Want to head to Pixie Cups?"
She nods and gestures for us to make our way towards the coffee shop often frequented by the students at Obscure Academy.
"So you're the top of the pyramid?" I ask as we fall into step beside one another.
Her lips quirk up into a smile. "I'm light to lift and I can fly if they drop me, I'm the perfect choice."
"Are you telling me you're the only flying cheerleader?"
Jazz chuckles. "No. And I'm not the only one who does the stunts either."
"Do you enjoy it?"
"Do you enjoy your hobbies?" she counters.
"I, err, don't really have any," I admit.
"You have to have hobbies. Everyone does."
"Not really. I mostly just study."
"That must be kind of boring," she says. "Maybe you have a hobby without realising it. What do you do for fun?"
"Hmm, I watch some shows."
"Anything good?"
"Dragon Survivor," I admit. "I haven't told anyone that before, it's kind of embarrassing."
"No, it's not. Loads of people love that show, otherwise, they wouldn't have had so many seasons already. What are they on right now? Seven? Eight?"
"Nine."
"Huh, I need to catch up. We've been practising more than normal, that's why I was late to the DragonSoc meeting."
"I didn't realise cheerleading was so intensive."
"How well do you know Zara?"
"The cheer captain?"
She nods. "I'm not sure who knows who in DragonSoc."
"I know of her," I admit. "But she's not someone I've spent a lot of time talking to." Or about.
"She's a great captain," Jazz says.
"But?" It's always possible to hear the but.
She lets out a loud sigh. "I love cheering, I always have, but she's at another level. She lives and breathes the team, and she wants to win the current round of competitions. Considering we only came second in the first round, she's working us extra hard as a result."
"Ah, so she's exactly like every cheer captain in every film ever?"
Jazz lets out an amused snort. "Less of a witch-with-a-b, more of an ice queen," she responds.
"Ah, that's fair." I push open the door to Pixie Cups and hold it open for her. The strong whiff of coffee seeps out of the shop, enticing us to come inside. Between the high-quality coffee and the cheap prices, it's no wonder this has become a student favourite.
"Thanks." She steps through with a smile on her face. "Do you think witches mind that we say witch-with-a-b?" she asks.
"That's a hard one," I respond. "I've never heard any witches complaining about it, but I don't know any of them well enough for them to say anything about it."
"Good point," Jazz responds. "But maybe it's best if I stop using it just in case."
She might have a point about that.
"What do you want to drink?" she asks me.
"Oh, I hadn't thought about that. Maybe just a black coffee?"
"Coming right up," the barista responds from behind the counter. "Do you want anything in it?" She gestures to the list of magical shots on the menu.
"Just coffee, please," I respond.
"I'll have an iced tea with a shot of energy," Jazz says, pulling up the app on her phone so she can pay.
"I can get these," I say.
She shakes her head. "Call it an apology drink for making you think I didn't want to work with you," she says, reminding me of why I came to find her in the first place. "Besides, this way I get the points."
I chuckle. "Ah, so not quite as selfless as you claim."
"I'm not claiming anything." She scans her phone over the card machine and waits for it to beep.
"Okay, that's fair."
The barista sets our drinks down in front of us. "Have a good day," she says cheerfully.
"Thanks." Jazz grabs her iced tea and takes a sip. "Mmm, this is good."
"Did you expect any different?"
"No, this place is always good." I don't risk taking a drink yet, knowing that I'll burn my tongue if I do. With all of the magic available in the shop, it surprises me that nothing exists to keep the drinks at the perfect temperature. Whoever decides to do that, they're going to make a fortune. "How long have you got before practice starts again?" I ask.
Jazz checks the time on her phone and groans. "Five minutes. I swear my calves are still burning from the last move."
We start to walk back to the sports field, and it doesn't escape my notice that she's walking much slower than before, almost as if she's enjoying my company.
