Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
BIANCA
I walk into my room in Brandon’s suite, almost out of breath. Santiago sent me to get another handful of books for Matias. The two have become fast friends in the few days he’s been back. I would have expected Sofia to bond with him faster, but she’s been studying for her teaching exam so much they’ve hardly talked.
I’m relieved he’s taken to reading and learning spells from the safety of the library after Roman put him back in the infirmary after just one evening with him.
Being inside Brandon’s suite without him, Isabel, or Lexi Blue feels odd, but Roman refuses to find me other accommodations. His smirk after telling me Brandon wouldn’t like that roused some questioning looks from Matias. Instead of explaining myself, I dropped it. Once Brandon returns, Matias and I can relocate. We’ve shared space all our lives, but I’m sure a room with two beds isn’t too much to ask for.
I spot the lunch cart in the corner of the room. By the amount of food missing, Matias already got to it. His appetite is one thing he didn’t have trouble easing back into, and I’m glad about it.
Not having so many people around while I showed him around has also been great. I get to experience it all over again for the first time as well.
“I have something for you,” I singsong.
Matias is lying in bed with an ice bag over his head.
“What the hell happened?” I drop the books at the bedside and rush to his side. I take the ice pack from his hand and inspect the new bump. I scowl over my shoulder at Roman.
He at least has the decency to look sheepish. “On the bright side, he is getting better at it. He’s almost as good as you.”
I don’t let the compliment distract me. “His bump is so big it could be mistaken for a second head.” I point at it.
Matias pushes my hand down. “I lasted an entire training session this time. I’m getting better at it.” The hopeful expression on his face only makes me want to punch Roman harder.
He knows how excited Matias is to get any type of training. I didn’t think any of it would be a bad idea until I realized Matias was not the same as before he lost his soul. No one knew what we would face when he came back. His body is still his, looks like his, and feels like his, according to him, but his movements are oddly different. Everything is oddly different. This is Matias, but it’s not. Something changed. His coordination has been the biggest sign of this shift.
I’ve been on countless missions with him, and have never doubted that he could do anything. I now fear he can’t climb the same wall we used to enter the castle that first day. The part that kills me is how hard he is on himself. Weakness is deadly where we come from. Despite us not being there anymore, it’s hard to decode the feeling away.
“You need to give it time,” I say to him and myself.
“I am,” he says between clenched teeth. “I’m trying. ”
I cup his cheek. “I know you are.”
He moves his face back, making my hand drop. “I’ve been thinking. I want to go back to Fierno.”
“What?” I take a step back.
“To get the rest of our things.” He looks down at his hands. “Amy Bee also said we can take a couple of medicinal plants to LeeAnn back at the clinic.”
His ever-loving heart is always thinking of others. I’m almost ashamed to admit LeeAnn hasn’t crossed my mind in a while. Not until I saw her, but I was so focused on what we were doing.
Roman looks between us. “Well, I guess you two should talk.” He gives me a small smile. “Let me know if you need me.”
Matias gives him a nod. “I like the guy.” He points over his shoulder at the now-closed door.
“Matias,” I say. “I can’t go yet. I promised someone I would wait here for them.”
The smile in his eyes drops, confusion transforms into disbelief. “You got a keeper?”
His taunt is mocking. I don’t even think about it, I smack the back of his head in reaction. I feel bad instantly, since the front of his head has a large bump already.
“The Crown Prince?” He looks into my eyes. There is no judgment there. Just confusion about all that he has missed so far. “You promised him you wouldn’t leave?”
I nod. “It’s a couple more days.”
“When he returns, Bianca, can you assure me he’ll let you go?”
I bristle at the comment because I don’t need to ask for permission to go anywhere; I’m not a prisoner.
His eyes take in the bristle of my shoulders. He raises both hands in surrender. “I’m sorry about that.” He points around us. “It’s just obvious that he must like you if he has you staying in his personal suite.”
“I’m not the only person who stays here,” I say, trying to excuse my place here.
“What’s he like?”
The question is genuine. It’s also the first time he’s asked. I’ve gone over my entire mission and the different places we have visited over the tour. Still, other than asking for names and further details about interactions with different members, Matias never asked, especially about Brandon.
“He doesn’t assume to have power over me.” For some reason, I feel like I need to defend Brandon.
“Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. We need to go back and gather the last of our things. I don’t want to step on any toes, including and most importantly, the man who has promised us a safe haven.”
“You’re not going without me, and that is the end of the story.” I cross my arms and scowl at him, done with this conversation.
M ovement outside the bedroom door wakes me from my sleep. I get up to check on my own, leaving a snoring Matias alone. I crack the door open a bit and watch as Isabel, Lexi Blue, Alejandra, Santiago, Jesse, and Brandon quietly move about the dim room.
Their whispering can only be to not wake Matias and me. It’s endearing. The click of the door closing behind me gets everyone’s attention.
The beaming smile on Brandon’s face at spotting me makes my heart skip a beat. Losing all composure and remaining senses, I rush to his side, almost breaking into a sprint. He moves at the same time, meeting me halfway. His arms open and I don’t hesitate to jump into his arms. The warm, comforting feeling of him all over me feels like home—more home than anywhere I had ever been before.
“What the fuck?” Santiago mutters at full volume.
“Let’s meet up tomorrow morning,” Jesse says, while ushering everyone to an end.
“Great idea.” Isabel waves goodnight, and Lexi Blue follows to their room without hustle.
Santiago’s shocked expression doesn’t change as Jesse guides him out of the room. Before they can get to the door, Sofia walks inside. Her hands are full of snacks from the kitchen, including some wedding cookies. She stops at the commotion, but when her eyes land on me in Brandon’s arms, her mouth falls open. Jesse quickly pushes her out of the room too, taking her snacks with him.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow morning,” Brandon calls over his shoulder as he walks us to his room. “We need to talk,” he says to me.
“Are you about to tell me how much you missed me?”
His eyes take me in, and I know the answer to my question. “That should be a given.” His smile is all I ever missed. “But I actually want to tell you about a letter I received from Mel.”
“Mel,” I repeat. All my humor is gone.
Brandon updates me on all that’s happened since I left. The action plans his grandfather has set in motion. He’s taking a head-on approach to the problem. We’ll investigate every royal house moving forward, no pretenses to keep animosity.
“Will they react negatively to any suspicion?” I ask him.
He looks up at the ceiling. “I’m not sure, it’s possible.”
“Are you afraid of retaliation for your position?”
It will test the relationships among the royal families when inquiries begin .
“I don’t fear for my crown. I’m afraid others around me will be caught in the crossfire. But I fear something else even more.”
I can sense more than see the tension in this body.
“What do you fear most?”
The question is simple, yet impossibly hard.
“To do it alone.” His eyes stare off at the ceiling like they cannot bear my reaction.
“Brandon.” His name falls softly off my lips.
He turns in my direction. “Many things will change when the crown sits on my head.” His hands cup my cheeks gently. “I want you there, Bianca. Right there with me. It’s an impossible thing to ask, but I need you to understand the implications. Do not promise me what you cannot guarantee.”
I cover his hand on my cheek with my own. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right there.”
“We don’t need to rush any of this. We can take the time we need.”
I don’t have any plans on leaving the Black Castle. This is the safe haven Matias and I never dreamed of. Getting a small taste of the possibility of what might be is enough for me. Like I’ve said before, no one will take it from me without a fight. The people that walk these halls have grown on me. If there is anything I can do to keep them safe, I will.
C oronation day starts early. Introductions with Matias are first on the agenda before setting out for the day. My plan after that consists of finding Santiago and staying out of anyone’s way.
I find the door to our room locked when I first try the handle.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re nervous?” Brandon’s teasing smile is firmly in place.
I don’t answer him as I knock on the door once again. Having him meet Matias nearly kept me up at night, amongst other things that were mentioned yesterday. After the fourth knock, I realize something’s off. Matias is a heavy sleeper, but not this heavy. A knot grows in my belly.
“Maybe we should let him sleep longer?” Brandon asks, but his tone is concerned. He must have noticed the stiffness on my shoulders.
“Matias,” I call out.
No answer again.
I take a step back, and Brandon follows my lead. He doesn’t ask me what I intend to do; he moves out of my way. One kick to the door, and it flies open. An empty bedroom is all we see. My eyes instantly zero in on the piece of paper waiting on the nightstand. My hands have a slight tremor as I grab hold of it. I know what I will find before my eyes run over the shitty handwriting.
Brandon moves behind me. “What is it?”
His arms encircle my waist and collarbone, pulling me back to his chest. I don’t know how he knows how much I need that. I let him hold me as I repeatedly read the words.
That fool, stupid fool. I curse him twice, then close my eyes and say a small prayer to the Fates to please keep him safe. Safe enough to return to me so I can kill him with my own hands.
“He’s gone to Fierno to pick up our things and will be back in five days.” The words come out slowly between my clenched teeth.
Brandon’s arms loosen as he stretches to look down at the paper. “It doesn’t take five days to go and come back from The City of Sin.”
“I am going to kill that boy,” I say with a scowl .
I didn’t account for him not to listen. He’s always made plans with me. Why would things be different now? But they are. They’re very different. I’m not the same person I once was, and I was a fool to think Matias is.
He hasn’t been the same since he woke up. A deep fear in my chest is that he remembers his time in the book. He assured me he didn’t, but it would explain everything. Every agonizing moment must have left scars on his soul he doesn’t know how to live with. Gabriel said the soul can recall what the mind forgets.
A knock at the door takes my attention. Alejandra, Isabel, and Lexi Blue stand in the doorway. Balloons and gift boxes in their hands.
Alejandra enters the room and takes in the scene. It’s easy to conclude what happened. Brandon is hugging me while I hold a white letter. The room is empty of a special guest, and I’m certain I look capable of murder.
“He left,” Jesse says from the doorway. I didn’t see him standing behind the girls. He is also holding not one but two boxes in his hands. “This one is from Roman.” They all move inside the room and place the boxes on the bed.
“What’s this about?” I ask.
“A surprise,” Lexi Blue says, as if not obvious.
“Will he be back?” Isabel’s expression is tentative.
“Yes,” Brandon says with confidence. “In five days, he’s due to return.” His smile is meant to be reassuring. Under his breath, he adds, “After that, I’ll drag him here myself.”