Page 4 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

CHAPTER THREE

JESSE

I stand up and lean back against a cold stone wall of the temple. I squint my eyes and touch my head. Thankfully, the headache is only a subtle ache now. I’m only a few feet inside the temple, but it feels like miles, as every step I take is shaky and unstable.

Finally, outside the temple, I sit on the steps and lean back.

Rays of sun break through the tree branches, making me flinch at their directness.

I focus on my breathing as I feel my breakfast coming back up.

Something tells me the strength I used to run into the barrier wasn't enough to cause this level of damage. The Fates are teaching me a lesson.

“There you are,” Roman says. He stops when he notices the state I’m in. His eyes move around us as if expecting someone or something to jump out unexpectedly. “Who the hell did that?”

I point behind me with my thumb. “I had a few choice words for them, but they denied me entry.”

His eyes move from the temple to me. “Go on,” he says.

“I tried to barrel my way in. ”

A burst of laughter rings from Roman. “You tried to force your way in?” He bellows louder. “You were looking for a fight, so they beat you black and blue.”

“I look that bad?” I join in laughter at the absurdity of it all.

“Did you get what you were looking for?” Roman looks between me on the floor and the temple.

Slowly I tilt my head back to look at the structure.

I don't think I needed to verbally express to the Fates what I wanted.

The all-knowing creatures surely saw me and my rage coming.

I look at my hands and wonder where the urgency for answers fled.

The simmering anger that pushed me to seek answers is not gone but somehow calmed.

Whether it was the beating that did it or her voice in the edges of my mind, I don't know.

“Something like that,” I say, trying not to laugh.

“You look awful, but maybe this is what you needed to clear your mind.” He looks out into the forest. “You need to realize that this plan has merit. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.

I have two trusted soldiers in mind for the mission.

They will not harm Janelle. They’re willing to help her if required.

We don’t plan to send her to her death.”

“That is exactly what she will walk into if she’s back in her father’s sight,” I say with a lot less determination.

“We don’t know that. After all, it’s her choice.”

That stops me on my tracks because that’s something I can’t deny.

Janelle’s life has been a series of choices made on her behalf.

I’ve spent countless hours listening to her suffering of having no choices.

And here I am like every other man in her life, thinking I know better and choosing for her.

The thought of her seeing me right now cements my decision.

“It’s her choice,” I agree.

“Make sure you visit Amy Bee before going to Brandon,” Roman says, getting to his feet. “Do you need me to help you there? ”

I take a tentative step forward. I’m feeling better, but the tick in Roman’s hands tells me he really wants to help.

“If I want to make it there today, I will require assistance,” I say.

My brother breathes out in relief as he hooks his shoulder under mine and takes on some of my weight.

“Did you get lighter?” he asks.

“Fuck off,” I say.

“Must be your depression diet. Soon enough, you will have the ladies asking for your secret.”

“You know I can hear when you lie to me.” I give him a side eye.

He chuckles. “I know. But what kind of brother would I be if I didn’t tease you?”

“A good brother.” I look to the heavens for help, but find none.

“A good brother lets you waste away only for a little while before making you see reason.”

I say nothing in return because the words are far more truthful than I’m ready to face.

I’ve been inside my head for so long that I failed to see how worried my family is for me.

Thankfully, Roman is good at knowing when to drop a topic.

He changes the conversation to his upcoming plans to move in with Isabel.

“During the tour we had a fall out that really reminded me to pull my head out of my ass and make a move already.” He chuckles to himself. “Who would have thought that this entire time she returned my feelings?”

We all did and I told him as much. Didn’t I?

“Who would have thought?” I remind him and grunt in pain as we keep walking back to the castle.

“I don’t know what I would do if she weren't here after that night. ”

The serenity in his voice tells me he would be a shadow of a man if Isabel would have suffered the same fate as the others.

Sofia. I think of her soft bright smile and innocent eyes.

She was inside the library with a group of fellow students studying for their exams the next day.

They were the last victims Ray took that night.

Isabel would have faced the same fate if it wasn't for her gift.

It kept her and Santiago alive. She was able to block the fire centipede before Bianca took him down.

That was also the last day Isabel was able to keep her gift a secret. Which has been for the best. Her gift is the reason we have a strong shield around the castle now.

“Ready to pass the barrier?” Roman asks as I feel the familiar pressure.

Isabel with the help of Lexi Blue was able to create a strong shield for the entire castle. It covers the structure on all sides until the forest edge. Every person attempting to cross the shield needs to be invited by the King himself. Only those who live in the castle are free to come and go.

“It's good that you have someone to lean on during these times,” I say.

I take a deep breath in relief once we have crossed the shield. It's an odd sensation to walk past it. It feels as if you are entering the current of a river. The pressure against your skin is strong but momentary.

“How often does Isabel need to reinforce the spell?” I ask.

“About once a week,” Roman says. He looks around as if checking the invisible shield. “Technically Lexi Blue is the one who does it by linking her magic to Isabel’s.”

I stop walking because this is news to me. “Lexi can do a spell?”

To our outer shock, Lexi Blue has not been able to successfully perform magic since she was born.

My grandfather took a liking to the sisters from a young age since their mother and father worked with us for generations.

He had professors who taught my brother and I try to work with her but to no avail, all had the same diagnosis.

Her focus was simply not there. Not when she allowed her mind to wonder too much.

“You think they were wrong about her?” I ask.

Roman turns to face me. “I don't know but they have to be. It's possible she is a conduit. She is able to perform magic when linked to someone else’s power.”

I chuckle at the idea.

“What?” Roman asks.

“All that knowledge she has. If all she needed was a magic source to channel, Lexi Blue is going to be unstoppable.”

“Well she better find another magic source because Isabel won't channel her all the time.” He huffs as if any of this it's up to him. “Let's get you to the clinic.”

Despite the events that followed that night, I am glad to see my brother in a solidified relationship. It's as stable and serious as we all knew it would be. It wouldn’t surprise me if Isabel takes on my last name very soon.

“ W ho did you piss off?” Amy Bee asks as we enter the clinic.

She has been running this clinic for years now and despite having plenty of help around her she is always the first face I see when I set foot here. I often wonder if she ever takes days off. I rarely see her anywhere else outside of these walls.

“If we told you, you wouldn’t believe his stupidity,” Roman says as he helps me climb onto an open bed for treatment.

“I’ll be right with you, Jesse.” She takes a bag and begins administering her assessment of my injuries ignoring Roman.

I can see from the corner of my eye how Roman rolls his eyes. He gives me a nod then departs silently. These two have never been able to get along or see eye to eye. It's a little funny to see how much it bothers him. Amy Bee is picky like that about who she fancies and who gets her cold shoulder.

She takes her time going over my injuries and pulling items from various cabinets.

“This will make you feel better.” Amy Bee hands me a cup with boiling water and herbs she picked out. “Let me know if you need me,” she says, then leaves me in the room alone.

I settle back onto the bed and absorb all the information that was shared with me. The cup on my hands cools down enough for me to drink the liquid. I know what is right and despite how hard it might be, cowering down has never been my style.

I find Brandon in his office later that day, with his office door slightly cracked open. This has always been a clear sign that one can simply walk in. As my feet cross the threshold, I wish I would have knocked. Bianca is hunched over by the windows, softly crying in Brandon’s arms.

Her soft sobs gut-punch me, freezing me a few steps into the room.

I don’t have to ask what is wrong. Her childhood friend, Matias, has yet to return from his trip to the City of Sin.

While we searched up and down for the traitors, she sailed on her own mission to find Matias.

Just like our search efforts, she returned home empty-handed.

Unlike our rage and determination that grows after every empty return, her journey brought her back sad and hopeless.

Brandon notices my arrival over her head. His eyes are tired and helpless. An emotion I can relate to all too well. If only I could ease his burdens. I look down at my hands. My clenched fist feels so useless. All of me does nowadays.

The Lord of Wisdom has no clue what to do. What a sick twist of fate .

“Jesse,” Brandon calls my name. “Do you need something?”