Page 2 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

CHAPTER TWO

JESSE

I n for five, hold for five, out for five, repeat.

The five count helps me slow my breathing and settle my heart rate.

This is how I have managed to get my bearings and regain control of my emotions for as long as I can remember.

I’ve never been one to falter in high-pressure situations, but a few months ago, everything changed.

The peaceful halls of the castle became oven walls that cooked up every soul unfortunate enough to come across one of the three dragons.

My life’s been nothing but stress ever since.

Five counts help me stay at the bridge of sanity.

I watch the commotion in the room with little interest. Leaning against this wall in silence has become my routine whenever Brandon calls for leadership meetings.

Advisors argue about potential plans of action, but I have nothing good to add, so all I do is observe.

It has been two months, and we have gotten nowhere closer to finding the Red Book or the traitors that took it with them.

The Duelo family marched against the crown on the bloody night that painted the Black Castle crimson.

Lord Duelo is the leader and coward who sent his own offspring to torment the innocents while he snuck up on my grandfather and stole the Red Book.

The all powerful book that controls all the magic in our kingdom is now in the hands of the rebels.

We lost more than our King and loved ones that night.

He stole our peace and the safety of our home.

Something died inside me that night. I held my grandfather in my arms, unmoving, knowing I could do nothing to stop the third attacker. I knew no matter how much anger ran through my veins I could never be the one to take down Janelle like I did her brother.

The woman I once held as my most esteemed friend is now the enemy. She earned that title in blood. Despite her not leaving with her father and facing her own punishment instead, I could never forgive her participation. I would have done anything for her. I would have sold my own soul for her.

I can still feel the tears running down my face as I looked at my younger brother and begged him to do it for me. To kill Janelle. My weakness was too great to carry out what needed to be done for him, his crown, and our people. I let them down then.

I don't see in his eyes the same hatred I see in the mirror, but I fear it is only a matter of time. It's been months and we are nowhere closer to finding the traitors. It's not long before they will begin looking for the guilt inside our own walls and I, by far, have the most to repent.

“This is absolutely absurd!” Brandon bangs his fists on the table.

A few pieces of paper fly out. His patience has been running thin for too long.

Bianca is still searching for her friend Matias after he never returned from his trip to Fierno.

The trip was supposed to be a quick visit to drop off medicinal plants at a clinic in the City of Sin and pick their remaining personal items from their old home.

We first presumed him lucky to have missed the attack but after days went by and he didn't show Bianca grew concerned.

Despite my brother's pleas she set out to search for Matias multiple times now, returning empty handed and broken hearted every time.

Having her out of sight after the attack makes him irritable.

Which is understandable considering the enemy could very well be hiding in the forest that surrounds us.

“How is it we have gone from one stretch to another and have yet to find a single clue about their whereabouts?” His voice lowers to a seething tone. “Where is Duelo?”

The room is full of advisers and Royal Force leaders.

The always opinionated individuals who usually can’t shut up have nothing to say now.

What an inopportune moment to run out of words.

As if the gray color of the wall has become the most interesting thing, they don't look his way.

Looking at their king with nothing to say is admitting their failure.

They combed through each city in Puerto Quinn and the surrounding land, leaving no rock unturned, yet they found no sign of the Duelo family or their followers.

They were successful in exonerating a significant number of locals in their community.

Not even the most influential families were aware of Duelo’s plans to take over.

He did not trust many people. Including the majority in the city of Ignis.

“They are not in Puerto Quinn. We have checked everywhere.” Damien leans back on his chair. He is the youngest advisor in my brother's cabinet and by far the most sane one. “They must be hiding somewhere else.”

Brandon clears his throat. “I will need you to be more specific. Where?”

Damien's eyes turn my way but he pauses before speaking. His words are carefully picked as he asks in my direction, “What did the vendors in Fierno tell you, exactly?”

His question reminds me that they’re not the only ones who failed my brother in this aspect.

My efforts to infiltrate and search the City of Sin turned unfruitful.

The main center of Fierno is run by what locals call vendors.

The council-like group consists of older local business owners who prioritize one rule above all else. Respecting a deal.

“Their stand stays. As long as no one messes with their business or other’s businesses, you are free to do as you please. Their order keepers decline knowing anything about Duelo or his movement,” I say.

“Their order keepers are only called to neutralize disruptive individuals with lethal force,” My brother, Roman, interjects.

His frown is firmly in place. Even his new relationship with Isabel has done nothing to change that.

“That’s only the case in the main city. The outskirts are a completely different world.” Damien shrugs. “They could be there.”

Four organized crime families run the outskirts of Fierno. They conduct business in the center of Fierno alongside the vendors, but only dictate orders and impose taxes on their corresponding territories. Each person inside this room knows how they function and the perimeter of their territories.

“Each and everyone of those families has a price for information and we paid it to no avail,” I say, pushing off the wall to stand straight. “They know nothing about Duelo that we didn’t tell them ourselves. If they would’ve lied to me about it I would know.” I tap my ear.

My gift to hear lies is the reason I’ve taken a front role in searching for the traitors. I can hear a ringing in my ears that signals when a person has spoken deceitfully or omits parts of the truth.

Brandon has held no reserve to find Duelo. Under any other circumstance we would never pay an informant in Fierno but time is running out along with his patience.

“Perhaps they are working around your gift. Duelo might’ve learned of it and now plans around it,” another advisor says.

There’s only one person who could have relayed that information to him.

“Maybe we need a new strategy.” Roman scratches his head. He shoots me a look that has the hairs on the back of my neck rising. “Perhaps it’s time we go into the mountains again.”

At this, I chuckle. The noise that comes out of me is flat and cynical. The mountains connect us to Fierno. I spent three weeks of my life inside those mountains looking for a trace of the missing traitors. There was nothing to find.

I know I’ve been a hollow of a man these past two months. Losing my grandfather and friends has not been easy. I’ve yet to figure out how to put myself together again. But I do know how to do my job.

“Is there something funny?” Roman asks as he crosses his arms.

He’s ready for a fight, and I have so much pent-up anger inside me I might just give him one.

“It’s a stupid suggestion. We are going in circles. You think I didn’t conduct my search thoroughly enough, brother?” I move away from the wall towards him.

Roman’s eyes narrow, and a glimpse of something dark crosses his face.

“Then why don’t we find someone who can point us directly to the man we have been looking for.

” At the loud silence in the room, he clears his throat, doubling down.

“ An idea I’m sure every person in this room has had, but doesn’t dare say out loud as to not cross the walking dark cloud you’ve become, brother.

” The last word is spit out in a mocking tone.

I admit I have not acted like myself recently. I gaze across the room and see how several people avert their eyes.

“Roman,” Brandon warns.

The big fool doesn’t listen. If anything, his eyes show a flash of something that says he is done playing nice.

“How about we go find the one girl who probably knows exactly where the book is?” Roman asks.

The pounding in my heart is so loud it makes it hard to hear.

I've been avoiding the topic of Janelle for months. I’ve tried to.

The ghost of her haunts me in my sleep and every waking hour.

I can’t eat without wondering if she has food.

I cannot shower without wondering if she has clean water, and sleep avoids me wondering if she is safe at night.

Her memory brings a mixture of worry and guilt.

It’s quickly followed by revulsion at myself.

Despite what she did, I can’t stop caring for her. It will be my downfall.

“What makes you think she knows?” I ask.

I hate how the mention of her existence stabs at my chest and reopens a wound I wish to forget. Her betrayal has tattooed a brand of shame and hurt across my forehead. I see it in the eyes of every person who looks in my direction, including myself in the mirror.

“All she has to do is find her daddy. Duelo Senior will always take back what’s his.”

At the mention of her father getting her back under his control, I sneer.