Page 22 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JESSE
B randon paces the length of his office wall.
He stops to look outside the window, then turns to face me.
From my angle by the door, I can see the back garden through the window.
Bianca and Matias are sitting on a bench a few feet from each other, speaking.
They might not be aware of it, but there are a few guards monitoring them from a distance.
It’s evident from the glances my brother throws at the window that he is who instructed the guards to be present.
My brother is not a trusting guy, but I am certain he thinks of Bianca as a capable woman.
She has taken care of herself for a while all on her own, but Matias is a blind spot.
A blind spot that my brother has less influence on than he likes.
Bianca has a love and kinship to him that resembles the one my brothers and I have for one another.
Brandon doesn’t trust Matias right now and neither do I. Not after I heard the lies in his words. I’m not sure what secrets he is keeping, but I plan on finding out.
The light of the setting sun illuminates the burgundy tone of the room.
I take a break from looking out of the window and look at my surroundings.
I used to come to this office and sit around with Grandfather as he worked in silence.
This used to be his office, and I loved the way silence never felt lonely here.
I’m glad to see Brandon more settled. After all, the last time I saw him here, he still acted like the office was borrowed.
How different my life feels in just a matter of days since I was last here.
“What did they do to him?” Brandon finally asks me. He stops pacing and sits behind his desk. “I want to know everything. From the second you found her to the second you both abandoned your mission.”
The harsh tone of his words strikes me with accusation.
His problem is with the scene happening out in the gardens, not with me.
My brother fears what he cannot control.
That happens to be Matias at this moment.
He has not just an unexplainable power but a Calaca at his beck and call.
Most importantly, he has influence over Bianca.
My brother must be out of his mind worrying she might not stay behind if he leaves.
I try to keep my attitude from slipping into my words. “That was never a conscious decision until we were surrounded and staying alive became the priority.”
He fixes his gaze on me, as if he has finally recognized me. “Jesse, I am sorry.”
The words ring true.
A knock at the door stops his next sentence. Roman doesn’t wait for permission before opening and closing the door. I’m glad certain things have not changed between us as titles and responsibilities have shifted with Brandon’s crown.
“What have I missed?” He asks.
“Nothing yet,” Brandon says and gestures for me to go on.
I look at both my brothers. What I am about to say will forever change our lives.
The people they were as they entered this room will not be the same when they leave.
I wish I could keep them here a while longer but there is no stopping time.
Regardless, nothing has been simple or peaceful since the tour started.
At least for me. The excitement I once felt at the prospect of visiting Janelle in her hometown during the tour feels so far away now.
Nothing could have prepared me for the events that would unfold.
“War is coming,” I say. “Not just from the rebel group. I personally witnessed Lord Duelo meet with forest creatures.”
“Did you recognize any of them?” Brandon crosses his arms.
“None of them were leaders that have peace treaties with grandpa.” I look up to the ceiling.
I recall the moment in the forest. They looked desperate for the opportunity to finally decide something for themselves.
“If anything, they seem to be outcasts and power-hungry individuals.”
“What exactly did Duelo promise them?” Brandon states his question with care.
I can see the wheels turning in his head. He is already laying out the field and working through the possibilities. The situation is playing as a game of chess in his mind. Although pieces are not always predictable, he can map out the next moves, ready for anything.
“To uncap their magic,” I say and pause before adding, “I am not sure if he truly thinks he can do it or if he is trying to use them to his benefit. He wants them to fight us as his personal army.”
How and if that is even a possibility is something I don’t think anyone in his room knows.
I heard the uncertainty in Lord Duelo’s own voice.
When he spoke I didn't hear a clear ringing in my ears but I heard something.
There was definitely doubt. He wishes to believe what he says, that is for certain .
“Is that true?” Roman looks between Brandon and I. “Does the book cap their magic as well as ours?”
“I don’t know if it even does it for us. They have been trying with Matias,” I say.
“They attempted to uncap his magic?” Brandon freezes in place and looks at me for confirmation. At a nod of my head, his eyes move back to the garden. “Is he?”
I first shake my head but since Brandon isn’t looking in my directions, I follow it with, “No. I don’t think his magic was uncapped, but the book did something to him.”
“What did it do?” Roman asks.
“Matias can awaken the dead, and control them. They don’t lose their magic. He essentially has access to a dead army,” I tell them recalling our exit from the hideout.
“I need to sit down,” Roman says and takes the first chair he finds.
“You watched him do this?” Brandon asks. He is leaning against his desk, and I wonder if he also needs something to lean on. “With your own eyes?”
“He is the reason we are here. Janelle and I were completely outnumbered. Almost without meaning to, he raised dead soldiers and had them fight their own friends for us.”
“He is new to this magic?” My oldest brother asks.
“That’s what it looked like,” I confirm.
“I am not sure if this is good news or bad,” Brandon says.
Brandon’s eyes move to the window and, not finding Bianca on the garden bench, searches for her. A knock at the front door has us all turning towards the sound. After a second, the door opens and Bianca walks inside. The utter relief clear in my brother doesn’t go unnoticed by Roman and me.
Bianca makes a beeline for me. Her arms wrap around me tightly. I have never noticed how thin her arms have gotten. This only makes me realize she has lost a lot of weight in the past few months. While I was inside my head dealing with my demons, my friend was struggling with her own worries.
“Thank you for bringing him back to me.” Her words are tired yet eternally grateful.
The tears in the rim of her eyes carry the appreciation I truly don’t deserve. After all, I was more than ready to leave him behind.
“Did he tell you what the book did for him?” Brandon asks, breaking the moment between us.
“No, we spoke of other stuff.” She wipes her face and tries to collect herself.
“What else could have possibly been more important than knowing what they actually accomplish?”
“Brandon!” Bianca barks with a lot more energy than she seemed to have a second ago. “He didn’t want to talk about it. It’s too soon. He needs a day. Can you give him at least that much?”
“Do we have it?” he asks her. “Because Jesse witnessed Lord Duelo gain allies in the forest to come and fight the castle again. So far, all we know is that he can rise and control the dead. That is no simple power to control and manipulate. If the book gave him that much, it must have told him how and where to use it.”
“He can do what?” her eyes widened trying to compute what Brandon just said.
“He didn’t tell you anything.” Brandon shakes his head.
“I haven’t seen him in forever. He asked for space to talk about what happened later on. I agreed. We mostly caught up on what he had missed and the attack on the castle.”
“Interesting.” Roman stands up. “I’m going to make sure Isabel is back to our quarters.”
I look at my older brother with surprise. “You two moved in together?” I ask .
Have I been gone for that long? The last time I was here, he was still convincing her to take baby steps. Her attention has been divided on taking on new tasks around the castle. It didn’t seem like he would get his way anytime soon.
I am happy for my brother. I am glad his love is returned at last. All the pining he did for years was not in vain. I once hoped the Fates would bless me in the same way, but I think they have done me a favor by not fulfilling my wishes. Perhaps it’s time to move on.