I slip out of the dining room quietly catching my father's disapproving frown, but he doesn't stop me. I hear him asking Boomer and Boz about the trip behind me effectively keeping them from noticing me follow Brady down the hall as he leads Bella away supporting her weight. Maybe Daddy feels something is off too because this definitely feels wrong. Something is really wrong between them they are too close even if they met right after Brady left, I can't believe he would be so enthralled with her so quickly. Unless maybe that is the secret that he is enthralled, it happened before with those mermaids, then again that kind of thing would only happen here in the Ikechukwu Islands where magic still flows. But I don't believe for a second that they are platonic Brady is not capable of a platonic friendship with a girl. He used to hit on anything with even mildly good looks and this girl with her stupid black hair... that so happens to match Brady's... is just pretty enough there is no way Brady wouldn't have hit on her.
"NO! NO! I WON'T!" I hear Bella shout and the panic in it almost sends me running to protect her.
I slip closer to see what is happening and see Brady standing by her door obviously surprised while Bella is leaning heavily on her hand which grips the hallway wall across from him. She is in obvious panic, but I can't see anything that would have caused it. She shakes her head and staggers her hands grasping frantically. At this moment I can't even find it in me to hate her and I want to rush over and help but I force myself to stay still in the shadows.
As soon as she starts to stagger Brady rushes her grabbing for her, but she shoves him turning her body towards him and fighting to push his hands away. I don't understand a moment ago at the table she was practically hanging off of him flaunting how tightly he had her held in his arms and now that they are alone, she is pushing him away?
"Bella!" Brady's voice surprises me, I don't remember Brady sounding strong and masculine like that. When did he learn to make his voice stern and commanding? Has he changed so much while he has been gone? Is it possible she is afraid of him? She pushes against him again and I hear her thud against the wall with a quiet whimper. Her whimper is so soft and so broken I once again barely restrain myself from rushing down the hallway to protect her. How weak is this girl though that just her body weight and gravity pulling her into a wall would elicit such a pitiful noise. Why does such a noise elicit such a protective response in me? Is it Brady she needs protecting from?
"Bella" Brady's voice comes again interrupting my thoughts, but his voice has changed and it's once again a voice I have never heard him use. It is gentle and almost fragile. He has lowered himself to her eyelevel and is reaching for her hands slowly giving her time to pull away. Even once he has her hands, he moves slowly pulling her away from the wall and back to her feet where he slowly wraps her in his arms once more. I find myself annoyed watching him gently care for her and whisper her name so softly. I don't recognize this, Brady. I don't like him at all. I watch him pull her towards the room I prepared for her as he murmuring soft nothings in her ear. I sneak closer so I can hear him after they enter her room.
"Bella," his voice coos as he directs her actions, "This way Bella, just a little farther. It's okay... You just need to sleep, and then everything will be okay. No one knows Kongkea even exists. We're protected by ocean and magic here. Shhh it's okay. You just need sleep. Four days is too long even for you. I should have figured out you hadn't slept sooner. It's okay. Shh time to rest now."
His words make no sense to me, but his tone makes me angry. Who is this girl and why does she make him behave this way? I watch him as he props her up between himself and the wall while he pulls back the covers for her and their casual intimacy irks me. He turns her guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed while he kneels to removes her shoes. Brady is too lazy to take off his own shoes when he sleeps yet here, he is kneeling before her to remover hers. He carefully leans her over lifting her legs up till she is curled on her side then covers her with the blankets. I step back as he stands debating walking back down the hallway but choose to stand my ground as he turns off the dim light and closes the door behind him. I don't know what to say to him.
"Hey! Whatcha doing down here?" Brady flippantly asks me with a smile when his eyes land on me.
"That was weird." I blurt taking another step back down the hallway a little off kilter from Brady's abrupt change in demeanor.
"Well Ya, well she hasn't slept in like four days, so it is not a big surprise that she was acting a little erratic." Brady snaps at me and again his quick shift in demeanor throws me.
"I... I'm sorry Brady," I stumble over my words, "I didn't know" Even to me my excuse sounds weak.
"No... No, I'm sorry Mykayla," Brady says softening again, "I shouldn't have come after you like that, I guess I got used to it being just us you know. And what just happened with her... it actually kinda scared me, and then you were there and being kinda mean..." he takes a step back away from me shaking his head, "No. Those are excuses. I mean I'm sorry. Can we go back to everyone else and finish catching up, maybe forget this happened?" he gives me that lopsided grin he always used to that he always seemed to use to get out of trouble no matter how many times I told him it didn't work...
"Let's do that." I sigh managing to give him smile I don't truly feel but for some reason wanting to give this boy what he asks for.
The walk back to the table is awkward. All I can think about is how un-Brady-like it was for him to apologize and admit wrongdoing... but that smile was a hundred percent my Brady. I don't understand what is happening at all. At the table a debate seems to be occurring as we walk up.
"Brady! You're back! Tell Mason we should get a relaxing beach weekend before we begin training on Monday as a reward for finding and returning with you so quickly!" Boomer implores.
"Boys the challenge is fast approaching you need to focus. There will be time for relaxing later," Daddy reasons.
"But Mason," Boz steps in now, "That's what you said every time we went into a fight! The time still hasn't been right to relax yet. Besides you said yourself you didn't expect us back for at least another week so even if we take off two days, we will still be ahead of your expectations by FIVE WHOLE DAYS."
I still can't believe how competent the kings get at reasoning and math when it comes to slacking off. Just the other day I tried to help Boz with his math homework and he couldn't figure out seven minus two equals five but now here he can figure it out if it means skimping on training for two days.
"But boys..."
"Mason come on," Brady breaks in and for some reason it surprises me he so quickly joined into their shenanigans once again, "part of why Boomer and I worked together so well when we were saving the Island was because we knew each other so well... so giving me a day to get to know my new brother and reconnect with Boomer is basically like training."
I have to admit that Brady's logic makes a disturbing amount of sense. Back then those first few years he and Boomer were kings it did always seem to be their bond that saved the day from whatever mess they got us into...
"Brady..." Daddy starts but I know even the kings have to be able to see him wavering
"One day? Please Mason we can start training on Sunday if we can go to the beach tomorrow." Brady offers and again I am surprised since when does he offer compromises.
"Brady!" Boomer exclaims sounding annoyed but before he can continue with whatever he was going to say Daddy cuts him off.
"Deal. You can have your little beach day tomorrow." Daddy concedes, "I suppose I can even promise to make Sunday a half day of light training so you can both sleep in and hangout in the evening."
I stare at Daddy, since when does HE compromise either. He has always pushed the kings hard, and I have always been there backing him up and tempering his pressure when the kings were about to fold under it but this time... Daddy compromised and eased off on the pressure just when the kings were giving in... what is happening. Boomer and Boz looked just as shocked. Boomer glancing between Brady and Daddy as though trying to work out if this was a set up while Boz looks between all three of them as though he is trying to work out if this is normal.
"Okay sounds good!" Brady seems unphased by all this. "Bella will probably wanna join in on training if that's cool, she likes learning stuff..."
Something about his sentence doesn't sound quite right but it trails off into silence anyway as the rest of us struggle to comprehend what just happened. Daddy breaks the silence.
"Well don't you kids stay up too late. I am going to turn in now it's already past my bedtime."
I glance at the clock surprised to find it is already almost seven pm.
"Yeah, Yeah, old man. Go to bed already grandpa" Boomer makes fun of Daddy as usual for how early he goes to bed. I scowl at him and think for just a split second I see the same expression on Brady's face but when I look back, he's laughing along with Boomer and Boz.
"It's too early for bed, why don't we move to the throne room and play a game," Boz suggests