Page 40 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

JANELLE

“ W here are you going so early?” Jesse asks in a groggy voice.

This man can wake up at the entrance of a fly. I’m making a conscious effort to be quiet and even took extra precautions when getting out of bed.

“The clinic,” I say, pulling pants on and throwing a shirt over my head.

A groan comes from him before he tosses the sheets aside and sits up.

“Fine, but you owe me.”

“No,” I say slowly. “You don’t need to come.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why wouldn’t I go where you go?”

Ridiculous, right?

“I will be leaving today.” He pulls me to stand between his open legs. “I just got you and I’m leaving. It feels wrong.”

It truly does, but I’m glad for the space. I need to think, and being around Jesse makes it hard. My thoughts get cloudy and hazy. It’s hard to have a straight thought around this man .

“You will be back soon enough.” I lean down and kiss the tip of his nose.

There are only a few people already waiting for me at the clinic. As always, Pad sends breakfast and Jesse makes quick work on scarfing down a big portion of it. Amy Bee gives him a scowl when she realizes the food is almost gone. Jesse can’t do anything but smile at her sheepishly.

“I was hoping that would save me from making a trip down to the dining hall.”

Amy Bee has the best disapproving scowl I have ever seen. I have the urge to apologize and it's not even directed at me.

“Sorry,” Jesse says, but from the gratified expression on his face, I know he is not.

Amy Bee knows it too. The forced, pleasant expression on her face looks ready to snap.

“If you’ll be here every morning, I’ll tell Pad to send more over from now on.”

I have the urge to tell her no, but Jesse beats me to it.

“Once we are back from the trip.” He confirms with a nod.

“Speaking of the trip.” Amy Bee moves to a side closet and pulls a bag. She hands it to me. “I heard Isabel was looking for this.”

I open the bag and find a set of first aid kit items.

“It wouldn’t hurt.” Amy Bee smiles.

I don’t mention the fact she could give her this herself. Being their messenger is feeling like a part of the job.

“I’ll deliver,” I assure her.

I heal the few people in the clinic and, just as quickly, I’m on my way to the nursery.

“You don’t need to walk me there,” I say.

I’m holding Jesse’s hand in mine and the action feels so natural. We cross paths with a few guards, but none of them spare us anything more than a nod .

The smell of dirt at the start of my day has grown on me. I associate it with peace and quiet. It doesn’t feel that way when I spot Alejandra at the entrance of the nursery. She’s in conversation with Isabel but it ceases when I’m spotted. I try to let go of Jesse’s hand, but he doesn’t let me.

Alejandra looks between us with a blanked expression. “Your presence is required at the King’s office,” she says in my direction.

“For what reason?” Jesse asks, but Alejandra just shrugs.

“You both will find out sooner the faster you make it there.”

I expect her to go on her way after that, but she accompanies us to Brandon’s office.

When we reach the hallway that leads to his office, we hear a trail of voices coming from behind his closed door.

The echoes of arguments carry through the open space.

I can’t make out the words and voices. However, they all sound familiar.

When we stand just outside the doors, the words finally become more clear.

“Well, isn’t that na?ve!” someone shouts from inside. “The choice to hold back will only cause further distress on their people.”

“There is no reason to get loud,” Brandon says. His tone is not angry, but drained.

“Don’t you look at me that way. Before you were King, I changed your diapers!” That is the unmistakable voice of Dorty.

The young woman is a daughter of a royal house. Her family resides in Petra, better known as the City of Stone. They were the second stop in Brandon’s tour earlier this year. I don’t know her as much as I know of her. The few and far interactions we had were always in passing .

Alejandra opens the double wood doors and Jesse and I follow her inside.

Brandon frowns at Dorty. “So you say, but you aren’t that much older. I always doubted your claims.”

“The woman of the hour,” Bianca says with a tight smile.

I look around me and see a large party of what I can only call royal offsprings standing there.

I’ve met every single one of them multiple times growing up, but despite their faces being familiar, I never did much socializing past pleasantries.

The Oscuro brothers are far closer to them, as they often gather in groups during events.

“Well, at least she looks good,” James says.

That comment earns him an elbow to the rib by his oldest brother, Jill. The brothers belong to the Aether family from Helios. Their city is the farthest one from the Black Castle and the border. I know only one thing about the brothers and that’s that the brothers are trouble.

“James is second in line for the Aether title. Let him at least try his luck for the Duelo royal line.” Sabrina fans herself from a couch across the room. “Or has Jesse finally gotten himself out of the friend zone?” She searches my face for two blinks before laughing. “I guess not.”

She’s the only daughter of the Hue family.

Her family resides in Gallalo, known as the City of Light.

Their home was the first stop on the royal tour due to its distance to the Black Castle.

Sabrina’s attitude has always been as sharp as her tongue, yet she has always been good at staying under the radar.

I stared at the faces in the group. “What is this about?”

“The news of your return to the Black Castle has made its way through Puerto Quinn.” Brandon walks to his desk and takes a seat. “There’s outrage about the way your treatment here is being described. ”

“Outrage is one way of saying it. They are rioting for her return,” Jill adds in with a smirk on his face. “The city of Ignis takes the mistreatment of their royal family seriously.”

“Rioting?” I ask, looking at Brandon.

“Your father was not a Duelo by blood. The city of Ignis has denied him altogether. They deny his claims and his title in relation to their city. They have declared you their only living representative.”

Brandon has chosen the words thoughtfully.

A subtle reminder to everyone in this room.

Regardless of relations and social power, that is all our royal titles carry.

No one would dare say it out loud, but our social influence in our cities is far more dangerous than Brandon would like to admit.

My father didn’t turn on Brandon with the backing of Ignis because he knew they would never follow him.

They never truly accepted him, regardless of how much he tried.

My father married to become a Duelo. The city would never see him and one born a Duelo as equals.

They all awaited the day one of my brothers would take over and rule.

The day never came to pass, and it was all because of him.

I can only guess how they all took that.

“You are the only living Duelo and they want you back,” Jill says.

“My mother is still alive.”

I don’t know why I say it, but I can’t help it. Ruling was never part of my path. I never truly dreamed of something farther than my freedom.

Sabrina laughs from her place on the couch. “She might as well be dead for all they care.”

“They’re not quiet about it. Riots, protest, you name it. They’re not happy with the decision for the crown to punish you.” Dorty reaches for me and places a hand on mine. “They want you to be forgiven. To them, punishing you is punishing them for something neither of you could have helped. ”

“Why would Ignis want me as their representative after everything?” I ask.

“You are royal, Janelle.” Dorty’s expression is serious and as sincere as I’ve ever seen it.

“You have a name to live up to and the majority in this room can attest that it comes with a lot of sacrifice. We’ve watched you be molded into your father’s puppet.

How could any of us blame you for performing? ”

“It happened to you, but it could’ve just as easily happened to us,” James says.

“We have failed you.” Dorty drops her hand from mine. “As a matter of fact, any of us could have ended up in your position.”

“Ignis deserves better than me. I’m not worthy anymore. I don’t think I ever was.” Looking down at the floor, I gulp. “Perhaps it is time for another family to take over the royal title.”

“Being perfect isn’t what makes someone worthy of a title,” Sabrina says.

“We cannot return her to Ignis just yet.” Brandon leans over the table.

Dorty turns to Brandon and stares him down. “Don’t you get sassy with me, King Oscuro. You cannot deny we’re saying anything but the truth.”

Brandon shakes his head. “The Duelo house is in shambles. They want her back, but she is not ready to take on her duties as the head of that family while her father is not found. There’s too much room for him to sneak his way back.”

“Give her to us. We will give her refuge.” James nods at his brother for support.

“I think we have heard enough from your mouth.” Jesse scowls at the youngest Aether brother.

James’s lips spread to a wicked smile, delighted to have gotten on Jesse’s nerves.

“Thank you,” I say, out of words .

“Well, that‘s far more than I expected from her.” Dorty points in my direction. “She has been reformed.”

I step forward and look between Jesse and Brandon. Roman has now joined the impromptu meeting but is standing lazily by the door. There is zero concern in his expression. The tilt of his lip might indicate a level of amusement at the scene.

“I’m not done here. I appreciate all of you,” I say as I turn about the room, making eye contact with every visitor who has traveled this far for me.

“I wish to stay and finish what I’ve started.

This way I will earn my magic and my title back.

I want to bring honor back to my royal name.

That would be the only right way I can accept my title. ”

“Novel,” Jill says, and nods. He has always been short of temper and valued self-sufficiency the most.

“Now if you don’t mind,” Brandon opens his office door. “You’re all welcome to stay, but we will depart soon for a pre-planned trip.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Dorty says, leading the way out. “We have plans anyway.”

“Yeah,” James says with a smirk. He stops before Jesse and extends his hand. “No hard feelings?”

Jesse takes his hand and shakes it with a scowl firmly in place.

I try to catch his eyes after James steps aside, but he doesn’t meet my eye. I can’t help but feel like Jesse is upset at me for something.

“Janelle?” Brandon is still holding the office door, and I take it as my cue to leave.

“I will get back to my duties.” I incline my head and turn to exit.

“They’re right.” I stop and turn back to Brandon. “Your rightful place is something I can’t deny you. The Fates decided your title and birthright. ”

I want to convey my doubts about the Fates and what they have in store for me. It’s understandable that I feel this way considering the challenges I faced as a child. But I say no such thing. Instead, I incline my head and retire back to my daily duties.

Trying to understand what has already been written by the stars is pointless. All the pieces haven't been played yet, and until then, making assumptions will only lead to questions.