Chapter 52
Rylee
“So, all you have to do is slip into his mind,” I say at the tail end of my rant.
I started relaying the information I learned immediately when Kal opened the door for me.
“He’ll be distracted because of the events of Voting Day.
” It will be an all-day affair, packed with food and drink and dancing, all while the RAC and kings deliberate and hash out who they will be voting for.
“Darling,” Pierce says to me with a shake of his head. “Baydel and the other kings have blocked me out since they learned of my powers. I’ve tried many times to penetrate his mind. He always senses me coming and reinforces his mental shields.”
My shoulders sink, the hope disintegrating inside me. “He’s at the heart of this,” I say. “He always has been.” I just didn’t know the why behind it. Or the endgame. I still don’t.
In the beginning, sure, the motivation pointed toward him remaining in power. But now that his son is mated? He doesn’t stand a chance. Well, that he knows of. So what’s his goal now?
“We don’t doubt you,” Kal says. “But I’ve seen it in real time, love. Baydel always blocks him.”
“He’s on guard whenever he’s around,” Axl adds.
My eyes widen. “He’s always on guard when you’re around,” I repeat, standing from where I’d settled on Kal’s couch in the sitting area. “Because he knows how powerful you are. And since the Athanry, he’s been playing mostly nice because he fully believes you’ve all come into your full powers.”
“Correct,” Pierce affirms, but it almost sounds like a question.
“He wouldn’t be on guard for a nobody,” I say, my heart racing. “For someone who doesn’t have power like yours.”
Pierce’s lips part, as if he wants to argue. “Going into his mind is dangerous.”
“Everything we do is dangerous,” I counter. “Everything since the Choosing has been a risk. And I’m perfectly fine continuing to take those risks. Especially if it earns us answers. An edge. Peace.”
Kal shifts on the chair, shaking his head. “I don’t like the idea.”
I know he doesn’t. He never likes anything that puts me in harm’s way.
“She can handle it.” Axl nods to me.
“Of course she can,” Pierce adds.
“I know she can handle it,” Kal says. “I just said I don’t like it.”
I laugh softly, reaching for Kal’s hand. He takes mine in his, squeezing it. And as I look at the three of them, concerned gazes and curious intrigue, I wish so badly for Jax to be here.
If he were, he’d be encouraging me to break into his father’s mind and leave it in ribbons behind me. But he’s not here. And the longer I go without hearing from him, the more nervous I grow.
“He won’t expect Rylee,” Pierce finally says. “He’ll never see her coming.”
“He’s still one of the most powerful people in Lumathyst,” Kal counters.
I press my lips together, hating that they should be the most powerful, but aren’t, because they gave it all to me.
Gave me all their powers, which I’ve worked hard to give back permanently but still haven’t figured out yet.
“Hedge the bet, then,” Axl says with a shrug like it’s obvious. Ever the Player looking at all the angles.
“How so?” Pierce asks.
Axl points to me. “I’m sure Ivy has something in her greenhouse. Something easily poured into a drink to loosen him up. Get his defenses down. We could use Tox if need be.”
I cringe at the thought. “I’m not comfortable with that,” I say. “I know he deserves it, but the idea of doing that . . . it goes against everything I stand for.”
“You’ll be slipping into his mind,” Pierce says gently. “The lines of consent will be crossed.”
Oil, thick and grimy, sludges through my veins.
“He shows no regard for consent on a daily basis,” Pierce continues. “And you’re within your rights to look into his mind. Especially when we have a lead that says he’s at the head of all this.”
“What if he’s not?” I ask, perching on the armrest of Kal’s chair. “What if I’m wrong? What if Erin is leading me in the wrong direction?”
“If he’s not,” Axl offers, “then back out and don’t go in there again.”
“Set those boundaries,” Kal says. “So you can live with them.”
I blow out a breath. “This was easier when I thought you’d be doing it,” I admit, looking to Pierce. “A coward’s admission, but still.”
“Not cowardly,” Pierce says. “Courageous. And moral. Baydel has never given you any reason to care for his feelings or well-being, and yet here you are, worried about crossing lines. Especially when he gave you no such regard after the Choosing.”
The memory of his power sliding over me, of what he tried to do to me and what he tried to force me to do to him, makes me flinch.
“If I could spare you from this,” Pierce says, “from seeing what actually is going on in his mind, I would.” He shakes his head.
“But if I could’ve done it successfully, I would’ve already.
You’re our only shot at this, but if you choose not to do it, we’re with you. Either way. We face today together.”
“As Legends,” I say after a slow breath. “As mates.”
They nod, and I focus on Pierce.
“Do you think I can do this?”
“Without a doubt,” he says. “But I admit I’m afraid of what you’ll see.”
I swallow hard. “And if I see nothing indicating he’s anything other than a narcissistic prick?”
“Then you leave his mind, return to us, and we continue along the path we’ve been set upon.”
“Okay,” I say. “I can do this . . . but can we do a practice session first?”
Pierce nods. Already the power that had partly remained with him is pulsing back down the bond, filling me up so much it’s hard to breathe around.
“You can use my mind for practice any time you want,” Axl says, that playful smile on his face.
“And mine,” Kal offers sincerely.
“You already know the access you have to mine,” Pierce says.
I smile at all of them, my heart racing against my chest. I’m really going to do this. I’m going to go into Baydel’s mind and hope to survive it.
And my mates are here, encouraging me, willing to let me slip into their consciousness, the most intimate parts of them laid bare for me.
“Okay,” I say again, confidence building with their support. “Let’s do this.”