MAX
It tooka second for his words to sink in. “You read my thoughts?” When Axel nodded, I grabbed him in a hug and lifted him clear off the ground. “Fucking finally!” I laughed in disbelief. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you to say that.”
Rys had been about to get in the car; he leant on the open door. “What did you see, Axel?”
“I’m not sure. Bits and pieces. It was when we were walking in to see Zane, so I wasn’t exactly concentrating.”
I set him down and gave him some space. “Can you make any sense of it? Because I can’t help you out. Alpha’s orders.” I mimed zipping my lips.
Axel scrunched his nose, thinking.
Come on, Axel.
I wanted to grab him and give him a little shake, so I crossed my arms to keep my hands to myself. “Well?” I asked when he still hadn’t said anything.
“Is Jake’s dad in trouble?” he asked. “Because I got flashes of him covered in blood. And Xen was there. But we’d have heard if anything had happened to your alpha, so I’m guessing John had a fight with someone else.” He hesitated. “Did he kill someone?”
I wanted desperately to answer, to fill in the gaps, but the words stuck in my throat. “Can’t.” I gritted out.
“Okay, okay.” Axel closed his eyes, frowning.
I wished Jake was here. I wished I could tell him what was happening, because we were so close to someone finding out what was going on. Most of all I just wanted to feel his arms wrapped tight around me because I needed something to stop me from screaming with frustration.
Axel’s eyes snapped open. “Are you and Jake together?”
Excitement zipped through me. “We were.”
“But not now?” Rys asked, walking around the car to stand next to Axel. I shook my head. “Why?”
“Bec—” Again, Xen’s orders stole my voice.
“I’m sorry,” Axel whispered, expression pained. “It’s all I’ve got. If we were through the gateway, it’d be so easy for me to read every thought in your head, but here…” He held out his hands. “I can’t control when it happens.” His eyes suddenly lit up. “Talis.”
“What about him?”
“My magic has always worked better around him. I see his thoughts more than anyone else’s. It’s a long shot, but maybe if you’re with him and if we get as close to the gateway as we can without going through, maybe I can see more of yours.”
I grinned, hope unfurling inside me with growing intensity. “Can I bring Jake and his dad? Because it’s John’s mind that holds all the answers.” I was pushing my luck, but I had to try. “I know I’m asking a lot from you because they’d need to know about your magic, but you can trust them, Axel. I promise.”
Axel glanced at Rys.
“It’s your call,” Rys said. “If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”
“You don’t,” I agreed.
“But you need help, right?”
I sighed, guilt flooding me at Axel’s torn expression. “I do, but we can find another way. It’s okay, Axel.” I gripped his shoulder, hoping he knew I meant every word. As much as I wanted his help, it had to be his decision. “I need to get back,” I said, walking backwards. “Please don’t tell anyone what you saw in my head. Well, anyone apart from Mase and Talis.” I didn’t want to be the reason they kept secrets either.
I’d taken two steps before Axel called after me.
“Do you trust them?” he asked softly, voice barely carrying.
I turned and met his gaze. “I do.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I walked back over to him.
