Madeline’s POV
“I can’t answer that,” Oliver sighed, shaking his head at Dimitri.
I could feel anger rising inside my mate and I did my best to stop it.
“What can you answer, Oliver?” Dimitri asked angrily. “We don’t know anything about her powers!”
Oliver looked at me and nodded.
“We know what’s written in the books,” Oliver said. “I wasn’t able to find anything about our issue, my King. I can’t tell you why she could hear Kendrick’s thoughts.”
I shivered when I remembered it. I really didn’t want to hear something like that again.
“How is that possible, Oliver?” Dimitri asked, narrowing his eyes. “You are a healer, aren’t you? You need to find a solution.”
Oliver opened his mouth to speak, but I interrupted him.
“It’s okay, Oliver,” I said, giving him a small smile. “You did your best. Thank you for trying.”
“Madeline…,” Dimitri said but stopped talking when I gave him a stern look.
“There aren’t many books left from the Kingdoms, Dimitri,” I said. “You know that. Oliver did his best.”
Dimitri raised an eyebrow at me. I could see that he wasn’t happy with me. I didn’t care. Oliver did his best. The powers I had were unusual. We couldn’t expect Oliver to have all the answers.
“So what are we supposed to do?” Mike asked and I could hear worry in his voice.
“We are supposed to take care of her and make sure that she is safe,” Oliver said, drawing my attention back to him.
He looked from Mike to me.
“You need to let us know about any changes you notice,” he said. “You need to let us know if you can hear Kendrick’s thoughts while you are with Dimitri.”
“You need to let us know what he thinks,” Will added. “There has to be a reason why you could hear his and Janet’s thoughts. It wasn’t a coincidence.”
I nodded and looked back at Dimitri. He was glaring at everyone and he looked like he was going to explode. It was getting harder and harder for me to control his anger.
“I know you want answers immediately, but it just can’t be done,” I said as I reached out and took his hand in mine. “The powers I have are complicated. We need time to figure them out.”
Dimitri tightened his jaw and took a deep breath.
“I want you safe,” he said. “I want to know exactly what you can do and I want to know exactly what it all means so I can protect you.”
I smiled and caressed his cheek.
“You already did,” I said softly. “I have more security than any other person alive. I would be surprised if someone managed to hurt me.”
I chuckled and Dimitri growled.
“Try not to worry so much, my love,” I said softly. “I am safe. Nothing is going to happen to me.”
Dimitri pulled me closer and kissed my temple.
“If you would be willing to leave her…,” Oliver spoke, but Dimitri’s loud growl interrupted him.
“No!” Dimitri yelled and I felt anger boiling inside him. “I am not leaving her!”
He wrapped his arms around me and I felt him shaking.
“You didn’t let me finish, Alpha,” Oliver said calmly. “Your Beta and Mike would be with her. If you are not there, maybe she could figure out who is trying to take your throne.”
Dimitri took a deep breath and released it slowly.
“I am not risking anything,” he said. “I will find out who the bastard is, but I won’t put my mate in danger to do it.”
“She wouldn’t be in danger, Alpha,” Oliver said. “Your Beta and her father…”
“Would be there, yes,” Dimitri interrupted him. “I trust them both, but it’s not just about that. It’s not easy for Maddie to read minds. It’s exhausting and her head starts hurting. I don’t want her in pain. I will find another way.”
I smiled and caressed his cheek. I loved him with my entire heart. Dimitri looked at me and leaned in to place a soft kiss on my cheek.
“I am not using her for this,” he said, stroking my hair gently. “I will find another way.”
I cupped his cheek and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
“I am willing to help, Dimitri,” I said. “If I can find something and it can help avoid…”
“No,” he said sternly. “What if they figure out what you can do? What if they somehow find out who you are? I don’t want you exposed. I don’t want them to know. They can’t fucking know.”
I glanced at Will.
Can you help me? I mind-linked him.
He sighed and furrowed his brows.
I agree with him, Maddie. He said. But…
He stopped talking and took a deep breath.
“Lunch with the Lunas,” Will said, making Dimitri look at him. “Ali and Ellie will be there with her. Maybe one of the Lunas knows something.”
Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?
“I didn’t say she could go to that,” Dimitri said, growling quietly.
I sighed and made him look back at me.
“We are in the middle of a very important event,” I said. “You can’t keep me away from everything, Dimitri. It’s going to look suspicious.”
Dimitri tightened his jaw.
“She is right, Dimitri,” Will said. “I understand that you want to keep her safe, but you can’t lock her up and keep her away from everything and everyone. She is a Queen. She has duties. It will look suspicious if she doesn’t fulfill them.”
I could feel fear rising in Dimitri. I placed my hand on his back and rubbed it gently.
Nothing will happen to me. I mind-linked him. I am safe, my love. You are keeping me safe.
He looked at me and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Fine,” he mumbled. “She can go to lunch with the Lunas.”
I gave him a small smile and he leaned his forehead against mine.
“Will you be okay with so many people around you, Mads?” Mike asked, making me look at him. “Will you be able to handle it?”
Dimitri’s head fell on my shoulder and I placed a hand on his head, holding him close. I gave a small smile to Mike.
“I will be okay,” I said. “I found a way to keep their thoughts away. At least for a little while.”
Mike’s eyes widened a little. “How?”
“It’s hard for me to explain,” I said. “I’m trying to imagine a wall around my mind. It helps.”
Mike smiled at me.
“That’s great, Maddie,” Oliver said. “You need to make sure that you are okay. You can’t let it overwhelm you.”
I gave him a small nod.
“Ali and Ellie will make sure that everything is okay,” Will said. “I will tell them what to do if…”
‘Maddie?’ Skye called me and I stopped listening to Will. ‘I want to shift tonight.’
My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure if I was…
‘You are ready,’ Skye said sternly. ‘You have to stop denying who you are, Madeline. You have to stop pushing me away.’
I gulped and tried to take a deep breath.
I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be ready.
