Page 88 of The Fifth Soul

“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.

Coronation 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.

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