Page 31 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

“Nice pep talk,” Santiago murmurs behind me.

I’m being realistic and I need Matias to be it, too. There’s no time to waste.

Matias finally nods and closes his eyes. I know the second he hears the voice on his head as his whole body flinches.

“What does it say?” I ask after a minute.

Matias’s eyes finally open and look around. He takes in his surroundings before looking down at his hands, then body. The slow inspection is odd at best. The stiff action makes me take a step back.

“Sire,” Calaca drops to its knees.

It tricked him. Somehow, it knew that talking to the book would allow it to take over. What we are looking at is no longer Matias.

I stretch my right arm out beside me and call for my snake. The power I used to feel coursing through my veins and fingertips is gone.

Matias places a hand on Calaca's head, petting it lightly before turning to us. I continue to step back until my body hits Santiago’s. His hands go back to my shoulders, and this time I don’t push them away .

I look at the hollow eyes that minutes ago held so much fear and concern.

“You are not Matias.” My voice carries disbelief.

“I am not.” The words are delivered expressionless. “I will return his body to him after I deliver my message.” He taps his ears and adds, “listen.”

It takes a step closer to us and we take a step back. Our eyes trained on it.

“What do you want?” I ask.

“Return me to The Red Book to be whole again. I will leave the body only once I’m reunited with my other half.”

“Yeah, you think we haven’t tried to get the book back,” Santiago says in a dry tone.

“Try harder!” it yells. “Speak to your King and tell him what I said. I will no longer allow the boy to keep me a secret. If he doesn’t, then I will and this time I won't let the boy return.”

Santiago and I nod in answer to the request. Matias’s head inclines just before his body drops.

A coughing fit follows until his breathing finally settles.

I rush after him and kneel. I look for his pulse and breathe out in relief when I find it.

He stirs and I rise. As Matias comes back to consciousness, I look up at the heavens and thank the Fates.

“What happened?” Matias asks.

I give him my hand and help him rise to his feet. “We can confirm the book is the one talking to you in your head. Part of the Red Book is in you.”

“Did it say it wants to be reunited with the rest of the Red Book?”

I nod.

He rubs his head. “It told me that much before everything went fuzzy. ”

“We can’t keep this from them.” Santiago gestures back to the castle. “We have to tell Brandon now.”

“Why?” Matias’s question is confused and filled with apprehension.

“The book plans to tell them if you don’t,” I say.

There is no way around this.

“What if they lock me up?” Matias asks, nearly shaking.

“Why would they do that?” Santiago looks at me as if I can explain the odd question.

“I have that thing living inside me. Its magic can manifest in me and I don't know how to control it.” There’s a pitch of terror deep in his voice. “I can be considered a threat.”

Despite that being the truth, I doubt it will take that little for Matias to become a threat to Brandon Oscuro.

The King of Puerto Quinn might be the only person who has close to uncapped magic.

But trying to explain that to Matias might not be the best thing.

He is being irrational, and using logic won’t make him understand.

“Matias.” I take his hand in mine. “No one is going to lock you up again.” The tremble of his hands doesn’t stop but his hold tightens on me and I feel the urge to make it go away. “I won’t allow it,” I vow.

“I won’t allow it,” Calaca vows.

I look at the creature. Its expression is as neutral as ever but there is an assurance in there that tells me it means it.

“I got you out once. I will get you out again,” I finish.

The sincerity must convey in my tone as Matias finally nods. A little of the panic leaves his body.

Santiago clears his throat. “What will it be, then?”

“I will tell them,” Matias says.

Calaca moves to Matias and inclines its head.

“Now that you know it’s not really me, will you be going?” Matias asks .

Calaca slowly shakes its head. “You still have my services. Sire finds you trustworthy enough to protect it inside you. I will do everything in my power to protect you.”

Well, at least that stays. The need to find the Red Book only continues to grow. The stakes get higher and higher. My conversation with Jesse last night comes to mind. It serves as a reminder that I still got a job to do. If I want to see my magic back, I need to find the Red Book.

I gesture to Calaca and wait for it to turn in my direction. “Are you aware of my father’s whereabouts?” I ask.

Calaca shakes its head. “I’ve been guarding the castle. I never left the forest.”

I clear my throat. “Can you find him?”

“I can’t leave my sire unguarded.” The cloth covering its skeleton sways in the wind.

Matias makes eye contact with me and nods in understanding. “I will be safe in the Black Castle. Lord Duelo is my biggest threat.”

Calaca stares at Matias but after a beat it nods in understanding. “I will find him and report back.”

We stare as it walks into the woods. Once a few feet inside the heavy brush, it looks back. As if carried by the wind, Calaca melts into the greenery of the forest.