Page 73 of The Healing Dragon
“At least we know that if the royal bloodline in Paz has magic, it very well means Klause could be there,” I point out.
Santiago clears his throat. “Why don’t we ask your friend to look for him when it returns from checking on Lord Duelo?”
“Good idea,” I say.
Having Calaca look for Klause could lead us to more answers, but I do have my doubts about what it canaccomplish. If Paz allows magic, a creature like Klause who is purposely trying to stay hidden will be impossible to find. But if there is something that can find him, it will be Calaca.
“I think it’s time to go to bed.” I get up and do a long stretch.
Santiago rises too. “Are we picking up where we left off tomorrow?”
“When will you be leaving for Fierno?” I ask Matias.
“Two days.”
“Then we need to make every day count.” Santiago reaches for the books we have already looked at and discarded. “I will put these back. Oh no, don’t worry about it. I insist.”
I roll my eyes at his mocking tone.
“How is rooming with Jesse?” Matias pushes his chair to the table and steps back to walk out of the library.
“What about Jesse?” Santiago asks.
I give him a side eye but don’t answer.
“Do you wish things were different between you two?” Santiago follows us.
Looking back now, I regret many things, but Jesse will always be the biggest one. If I had stayed away when my father ordered me, he would’ve never known me and wouldn’t have been hurt by my betrayal.
The day I left town, I made a promise to never repeat the mistakes of my past. I will never let anyone control me, and I will never betray anyone I love again. I will fight.
My eyes ache, but I fight the urge to rub them. “I love him,” I confess. “I love him enough to want what is best for him, and that isn’t me. Even if I wished for our friendship to be back. It never will, and that is for the best.”
“That is selfless,” Santiago says. A hint of something in his tone.
“Well, I do love surprising people.”
“You never know what the future might have in store for you.” Santiago gestures to the wood walls of the hallways. “I would be careful what I say out in the open like this. The walls talk and the whispers of your love might carry out to him.”
There is no one in sight but us three.
“It’s not a secret,” Matias laughs and I give him a scowl that shuts him up.
“If we are done talking about me, goodnight,” I say and part at the end of the hall to the right.
Matias is staying with Bianca in Brandon’s suite, so I know he needs to go left, and I have no clue where Santiago stays, but he waves bye and returns to the library. His room might be on the other side of the castle with the rest of the staff.
When I finally make it to the room, I stop just before I open the door. My hand holds the handle lightly. I don’t know if I’m hoping I will find Jesse in the shared space or not, but my heartbeat rises at the idea. Not even ten minutes ago, I admitted to my feelings for him. My skin crawls at the thought that he somehow heard. Stupid Santiago, putting ideas in my head about walls whispering.
Nothing is going to happen when I open this door. Then why am I so hesitant to push it open?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JESSE
When Janelle enters the suite, it’s the first time in the past few days that I’m actually working. The list of soldiers who are able to accompany us on the trip is long. I have narrowed my search to a few names. I plan on paying them each a visit tomorrow morning to deliver the news.
“Hey there,” I say, fidgeting with the papers.
