Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
BIANCA
T he journey back to the tour passes quickly, yet I dread every second. We have so much information to share, but I don’t think I’m ready to go back yet.
I touch the emerald in my hands, and a sliver of guilt weighs on my heart. Delaying our return will also delay Matias’s return, and I can’t believe the thought crossed my mind. Brandon explained earlier that Matias’s spell needed a few more items. Jesse and Alejandra were instructed to find them at the next stop. For all I know, they have them. Within the next two weeks, I’ll have my friend back; I’ll be able to talk to him again.
We’ve been gone for one day, which wasn’t long, but we missed the first day of meetings and ceremonies. By the time we enter the City of Nahla, it’s late in the night. We can’t see much of the city as we skip the route that would take us through downtown.
Once we reach the gates of the castle, we exit the car and proceed to sneak in. Having a break during the car ride allows me to turn my gift back on without trouble. Thankfully, Brandon has been here before and is quick to guide us to the wing of the castle his stuff must be in. He stops walking when we reach the back window of the second floor.
“What?” I look over his shoulder, but all I see is an empty parking lot. “There’s nothing there.”
“Exactly,” he says, gesturing at the lot. “The cars are gone. They must have left for some reason.”
“Where do you think they went?” I step back.
Brandon simply shrugs. We walk past a few guards checking perimeters, but no one stands outside the suite doors. The loud chatter from guards walking the halls is unusual. If anything, they are talking louder and freer than they would if they knew a royal was nearby. This little detail confirms everyone must be gone for some event.
The suite is identical to the others we have stopped at in the other royal houses. The floor-to-ceiling aquarium in the sitting area is the one thing that sets it apart.
“Is that normal?” I ask. Hundreds of fish of all colors and sizes swim on the wall. I can’t help but think of Mel’s office and the fish in his jar. I tap the glass with my finger and watch as they completely ignore me.
Small, yet unmistakable items around the suite reassure me we are in the right place. Isabel’s journal with white embroidery is on the dining table next to twenty books that must belong to Lexi Blue. Jesse’s boots are thrown off to the side of the door. Half a dozen snack wrappers overflow the trash bin, which is new, but must certainly be an indication of Roman’s presence.
“How are you feeling?” Brandon asks as he pulls me into his arms. I don’t answer him; instead, I choose to make whatever time we have left together worthwhile before everyone else shows up. I pull him down to me, and we meet in the middle for a kiss. “Come on.” He pulls my hands and walks back, leading us to his room. He opens the double doors and walks backward into the room.
“Ew.” A voice grunts in the dark. “Please stop.”
“Surprise!” An urgent shout echoes in the room, making me jump away from Brandon.
“I told you guys this was a bad idea,” the unmistakable voice of Alejandra says.
“No, it’s not,” Isabel responds. “Help me, Lexi Blue.”
That is when I spot the group at the bedroom’s far end, gathered next to the only window in the room. The dim candlelight above a cake flickers on. It slightly illuminates the faces of Jesse, Roman, Isabel, Alejandra, and Lexi Blue. A mixture of emotions shows on their faces before they begin singing Happy Birthday.
I turn to Brandon, ready to scold him for not telling me about his birthday. I find him looking at me like I hang the sky, the moon, and every star. Then, he sings too.
It’s my birthday, and I forgot. With so much happening, I can’t believe I forgot. I’ve never forgotten.
The group pushes closer to me as the song concludes, and they shove the cake right to my face as it ends. It’s time for me to make a wish. I look at the flame above the candle, how it flows and burns so smoothly. It dances as I conclude another year on this earth. The dance is mocking, as it reminds me of how little I know about the world. Tears fall down my face. I think of every candle I’ve made a wish upon. Every time I blew the flames that burned for another birthday, my only true friend held it.
Isabel lowers the cake after I stare at it. She doesn’t wait for me to tell her what is wrong. She gives me a gentle smile, like she already knows.
“Would you rather we do this part when the tour is done?”
I wipe my eyes, feeling silly. Matias might have missed this birthday, but he will never miss another one. I’ll have him back with me in two weeks’ time.
“Of course not,” I say. I reach under the cake and take it into my own hands. I bring it close to my face and blow out the candles with one wish. For the Fates to pave the way for me to stay.
“Alright.” Jesse claps his hands. “Time for gifts.”
“Gifts?” I look between them.
Someone turns on the light in the room, and I can see all the boxes gathered around them. We all move out of Brandon’s room into the shared area outside. I open gifts as I listen to Isabel’s retelling of events. They planned on surprising me in the shared area, but they ran late, and when they heard the door being opened, they rushed to the room to assemble the candles on the cake.
I find very thoughtful and useful items in the gift boxes. A book with a cheat sheet of spells from Lexi Blue. From Isabel, a journal that only opens at my touch and a matching pen from Roman. A pair of heated socks from Jesse makes me laugh so hard that tears stream down my face.
“What?” Jesse asks between cake bites. “What?”
“I think she’s laughing at how bad it is,” Alejandra informs him with an equally confused expression.
“I was thinking ahead.” Jesse points at the socks on my lap. “You’ll need them tonight.”
“What is happening tonight?” I wipe my cheeks.
“A mission, but we will talk about it once you are done opening your gifts.” Jesse prompts me to open the last box.
The last and most intriguing is a gold necklace with a hollow pennant. I find Alejandra in the crowd. I don’t have to say a word. She nods in confirmation. I pull the emerald out of my pocket. A clap on the side of the pennant opens the circle. Inside, the stone fits perfectly and locks in place safely .
“Thank you,” I say sincerely.
“Yeah, that’s cool. Don’t mention it.” Alejandra looks incredibly uncomfortable with my appreciation.
I have to keep myself from laughing because I don’t want her to get even redder.
“Thank you all.” I look at everyone in the room.
“Yeah, you are not so bad I guess,” Roman says under his breath.
“How did you guys know it was her birthday?” Brandon asks the group between cake bites.
He has been a bit quiet since we arrived. At first, I figured he wanted to allow the group to do whatever they had planned. Now, I realize he’s the only one who didn’t get me a gift. I don’t mind at all, but from his expression, I can tell he’s trying not to let it bother him.
“I made her fill out a form like all other guards in the force.” Alejandra shrugs, like it should be obvious I wouldn’t get any special treatment. “I knew her birthday would land while we were on tour. I mentioned it to Isabel, and the rest is history.”
Brandon’s eyes narrow on the sweet, innocent face of Isabel. “You didn’t think to mention it to me?”
She tightly clasps her hands together in her lap. Despite her confident stance, her cheeks flush at the question.
“What?” Roman interrupts. “Is she required to update you on every guard’s upcoming birthday or just the ones you tonsil fight with?”
Now, my face is heating at the comment. If I ever wondered if everyone else in the room knew before today, the lack of surprise in their expressions confirms it. Roman might have only said something to get Brandon off Isabel’s back, but it still feels like a low blow. I'm well aware that all I am to Brandon is that.
“Exactly,” Brandon says to Isabel. His words are polite, but the sharpness in his tone is anything but. “Please make sure to add everyone who tonsil fights with my brother to that list. You might need more paper.”
No sooner has the words left his lips before Roman charges. He jumps over the table and tackles Brandon’s chair to the floor in the blink of an eye. The speed of the immense man would impress me if it wasn’t because, in another blink, they’re throwing blow after blow at each other. My eyes dart from brother to brother as the fight moves from surface-to-surface. The entire scene is comical. The two wrestle on the floor, surrounded by people holding plates of cake.
Jesse eats his cake slowly. His eyes focused on the entertainment, but no trace of concern marks his face. Alejandra, on the other hand, looks beyond amused. This is one of the few times I’ve ever seen that expression on her face. She leans toward Jesse and says something in his ear. He nods and shakes her hand with a slight smirk.
“Did you two just bet on who will win?” Isabel gasps. Her outrage is visible, her fingers covering her face. Now, her hands fall to her sides into clenched fists. Her cake is the only one deserted on the table.
I feel bad. I can almost see her heart beating out of her chest. She probably feels guilty about causing a scene. I don’t think it’s her fault, but I doubt my words would change anything.
“They are blowing steam, sweetheart.” Jesse tries to assure her. His tone is mocking more than anything, so I’m not surprised when he adds, “I bet on Roman, if it makes you feel better.”
It doesn’t. She gets up in a huff and walks out of the room. Without looking back, she hurries her steps and disappears behind her bedroom door. She doesn’t even slam the door. It shuts quietly with a gentle click. Lexi Blue looks at the fighting fools before walking after her sister. Not much shows on her face, but it never does. At least she takes her cake with her.
“Go rest,” Alejandra instructs me. “Your room is there.” She points at a door inside the suite. “We’ll go looking for information tomorrow night.”
I touch the necklace holding the emerald on my neck. I’m almost there. Matias will be back with me soon. I don’t plan on losing the safety I’ve found here for us. The individual attempting to dismantle the Red Book is in open rebellion against Brandon's leadership, even if he refuses to acknowledge it. Whatever this rebel group is plotting, I will do everything in my power to stop it. I won’t let anyone jeopardize Matias’s safety again.