Page 47 of The Healing Dragon
The hustle and bustle from the food hall is a welcome sight that allows me to be swallowed by the sea of people picking up breakfast.
Matias saddles up next to me as we make a line for food. His hair is messy and his clothes are wrinkled as if he rolled out of bed only a couple of minutes prior. I didn’t notice it back in my suite.
He gives me a head nod but adds nothing else as we silently pick up our plates. The food is set up in a line that extends from one side of the room to the other. There are usually a variety of options and today is no different.
I put a bit of eggs and toast on my plate before scooping mix fruit and yogurt to the side. Matias watches me carefully and mimics every move until our plates look identical. At thelast stop, I place my plate in front of the beverage stand and take a cup of coffee.
“There you are,” Matias says to the beverage before yawning. “I’m not really a morning person,” he says to me.
I look at the clock on the wall and see that it’s eight. “How did you sleep?”
“Sleeping on an actual bed beats the cells or the outdoor camping.” His smile is easy and honest.
He takes a sip of his coffee cup and looks at the crowd of people sitting in different sections of the food hall.
I stop next to him and ponder where I can go and blend into the wall. My eyes find Jesse, who is sitting at a table towards the end of the hall by the open windows that lead to the gardens. I didn’t hear anyone else moving around the suite when I woke up. I wonder at what time he got up.
A table by the garden windows empties, leaving a spot at the corner of the room. It would be great if it wasn’t because it’s the table next to Jesse’s.
“What are you waiting for?” Matias asks.
“A black hole to swallow me.” I grunt.
“You are dramatic.” He gestures with his chin.
I stop before taking a single step and think of something that should have occurred to me before. I look over at Matias and say, “being associated with me might damage your reputation.”
“My personality will have to make up for that downfall.” He laughs and puts an arm around my shoulders. “Plus, outsiders need to stick together.”
I want to tell him he might not know the people here, but soon enough, he will find his place. Being around me can only hinder his chances, but I can’t help but wish to keep him around. He has offered me kindness from the second he found me in the woods, when he had nothing to gain. I don’tunderstand the warmth he offers me and a selfish part of me wishes to keep it despite the consequences.
As we cross the food hall, many glances follow. As we pass Jesse’s table, I realize he’s sitting with soldiers that must be part of Romans’ guard if their matching badges identify them as head of the Royal Force. Each and every one of them raises their head as we pass by. The point is clear. Not one of them is happy about me being here and their disapproving gazes fixed on me say it.
Jesse, unlike them, doesn’t raise his head in our direction. He doesn’t even look up once. If anything, he makes a point of not looking my way.
I sit across from Matias with my back to the room. Despite how much many people might want me dead they will never act against their King. Brandon Oscuro might have many doubters in his kingdom, but they don’t live in this castle. The people here idolize the Oscuro boys as if they themselves hanged the sun and the stars in the sky.
“Why is your boyfriend looking like he wants to kill us?” Matias looks over my shoulder, then back at me.
I don’t respond. I eat my food and refuse to look up again.
“Matias,” Bianca calls as she approaches the table.
Brandon is close behind her, but doesn’t make it to our table. Instead, he hangs back with the Royal Force soldiers on the table next to ours. I have known Brandon for many years, and although his eyes are not trained on us, it doesn’t mean he isn’t aware of every single move we make.
“You were gone before breakfast.” Bianca takes a seat beside me.
He points down at his plate. “I came to get breakfast.”
Bianca looks from his plate to me, then back. “We usually get breakfast in our suite, Matias. You did not have to fetch your own food.”
“Fetch,” he laughs at the word. “I’d rather come out here and fetch my own food.”
“Matias,” Bianca tries again. The sigh she lets out is full of borrowed patience. “I understand what you went through was hard, but I can’t help you unless you let me.”
She lays her hand gently atop of his.
“Understand?” His tone is harsh. A few people turn in our directions, but Matias doesn’t notice. “You understand nothing because you weren’t there.” He shakes Bianca’s hand off his. “I am glad you weren’t. But because you don’t know what I went through, you cannot tell me how to fix it.”
