Page 54 of The Fifth Soul

“I don’t know what you two are up to, and I don’t want to know. But let me say two things. You are playing with fire and the dragon. You will get burned while he walks away in the smoke.” She clears her throat. “And don’t fall asleep on duty again.”

I nod.

CHAPTER 19

BRANDON

Iopen my eyes and rub the sleep from them. A crick in my neck makes me wince. The sun high in the sky tells me I ‘ve been sleeping for longer than I planned. The red sandstone formations outside my car window tell me we’re almost at our destination.

I often forget how beautiful this piece of the world is when I’m gone for too long. The sun bathes the stone in light, illuminating the orange and red tones only ever seen here. The deep green of the few pine trees adds a stunning contrast to the scenery. If I lowered the windows, I would smell the rocks’ heat and the sky’s freshness. The smell is unique in this corner of the world.

I stretch as much as the car allows me. Each joint and muscle protests at the movement. Sleeping in the car is awful. But it’s not like I have many choices. I think of the night prior and how I had brown hair tickling my nose. A half smile sneaks on my face. The best sleep I’ve had in a long time.

“Are you okay?” My grandfather asks across from me.

His questioning eyes are finding my smug smile disturbing, no doubt. I shrug one shoulder and give him a look. My voice feels too raw to tell him I’m fine.

The third stop on the trip is a long-awaited one. The Duelo family has been closely aligned with ours for many generations. Any outsider looking in would say we are closest. Compared to our friendships with other royal families, it might appear so. But that’s all it is. Appearances. The truth couldn’t be further from the truth. I trust all Duelos as far as I can throw them.

The Duelo family only cares to look close to us for power. Knowledge is power, and that family has gone through extensive routes to appear always in the know.

But can anyone blame them? Being next to the chosen ones, yet never picked to lead, should get dull after a couple of centuries.

The castle comes into view as the car speeds through the empty streets. We have never been made a spectacle while arriving here. The streets are empty because everyone is already at the Colosseum for tonight’s events.

Like our ancestors, the Duelo family hosts events for thousands to watch from spectator seats. Of all the royal families, theirs is the best at keeping traditions alive and sticking to cultural practices.

A fact that must keep Jesse up at night. After all, one of the cultural practices is soulmate ties. One day, Janelle, his best friend, will introduce to us all the person her soul will be tied to.

They open the wood and dark metal gates to the castle for the approaching cars. One by one, we stop lining the circle driveway.

I let out a small sigh, finally stretching my legs. The heat of the desert feels like a weighted blanket on my skin. I can feel it consume and cover every inch of me. I shake a few more kinks as everyone else joins us.

The greeters of the castle approach my grandfather and start the welcome speeches to the crowd. As expected, everyone is waiting at the Colosseum to begin the festivities. Unlike the past two royal houses, they host this fest for our entire travel party and the entire city.

I spot Luisa off to the side of the stairs landing. As always, her short black bob is perfectly in place. Despite her small figure, there’s always been something strong inside her. Something that makes people look twice. It made me look more than that. It may be the way she carries herself. Or it’s just the way the Duelo family makes them.

Cousin to the Duelo family, Luisa has always been around. It wasn’t until our late teens that I saw more than Janelle’s sidekick. Our relationship was aloof at its best. It ended promptly after they announced her soulmate tie. This is the first time I’ve seen her since she shared the news with me. Not all soulmate ties end in romantic relationships, but her finger’s gold band tells me hers did, and I am happy for her.

Our eyes lock as the entourage continues to climb up the stairs toward the Colosseum.

“Focus,” Alejandra admonishes me. She looks at her watch and then back to the castle. “Do you carry a torch for her or something?”

“My heart will forever bleed at the sight of what could have been.” I touch my chest and look pained for effect.

Alejandra rolls her eyes but says nothing else. She knows I’m not carrying a torch for Luisa. As a matter of fact, I haven’t thought of her in a while. Looking back at her reminds me of how much my life has changed over the past few years. The days when my fingers would run through her hair were so much different from today.

“This place is amazing,” Bianca notes while taking in the massive structure.

I didn’t see her approach us. We are some of the last few left at the bottom of the stairs.

“You are sneaky. Like a cat,” I say to her.

Her face stays focused on the view, but her nose scrunches at the comparison, making me smile.

Alejandra snickers to herself. “Looks like Roman and you have something in common, after all.” She’s referring to my brother’s most hated nickname.

Bianca finally looks our way. “You mean to tell me that the hulk of a man is light on his feet?”

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