32| The Mind Reader

DEKLAN MARIO

I almost kicked the wooden door down, but I forced myself to hold back as I shoved it open. It banged against the wall with a loud crash. I ground my teeth as I stormed inside, desperate to confirm what Jadrolita had told me.

The woman had burst into the king’s training grounds, where he was busy showing off his archery skills, and told me someone, another me, had come to see Cedar the moment she woke up.

Another Deklan Mario? 

My eyes darted to Cedar first. Relief washed over me to see that she was awake and safe, but then I saw him. My double. Standing beside her with his hand resting lightly on her waist as though he had the right.

My face hardened. I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles ached, probably turning white.

“What is going on here?” Cedar’s confused gaze flicked between us.

Of course she would doubt. How could she know which one of us was real? The one with his hand on her, or me…the one glaring from the doorway, furious and yet helpless to prove myself?

“Who are you?” I snarled, a growl rumbling in my chest.

“I should be asking you the same thing.” The copy beside Cedar snapped back, stepping closer to her, obviously trying to trigger a reckless response from me. It was working.

Jadrolita’s hand pressed against my arm. She must have sensed I was seconds away from transforming and tearing the imposter apart.

“You can’t get into my head,” she spat at him. “I knew you weren’t Deklan the moment I saw you. You are masking your scent, but I can smell the difference. Keep this up and I’ll call the Guardians. You won’t make it out alive.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I–” His voice faltered, and immediately I caught it, the slip in his tone. He coughed, turning his face away.

“Cedar, come to me,” I urged, struggling to keep my temper in check. “You don’t believe him, do you?”

“I don’t know what to believe.” Her voice shook, her eyes wide. “How is this even possible?”

The other me seized her hand. “Come with me. You’re not safe here. You can see that for yourself.”

“This is the safest place she can be!” I thundered, lunging forward, only for Jadrolita to hold me back again.

A heavy silence fell as the three Guardians entered behind me, their presence dominating the room. They immediately surrounded the false Deklan.

“Sammy Porter,” Ursa said, eyes flashing.

It wasn't a guess. They knew. Just as they had known my name and Cedar’s before I spoke it in the cave. The Guardians, like I have come to realize, are not only the strongest and most beautiful ones, they also have this unexplainable dark aura surrounding them. They're as evil as they're indestructible.

“The mind reader,” Vanus drawled, looking bored.

“Sammy?” Cedar gasped as the figure dropped the disguise, knowing that she'd been busted.

“How did you get here?” I demanded, my anger cooling into wary confusion.

“She’s a manipulator,” Baptista said coldly. “It was easy for her to use that little boy. That’s why I never keep failures alive. They repeat mistakes without even knowing.”

“What are you talking about?” Cedar demanded, stepping in front of me, forcing me to hold back.

Sammy cursed under her breath, but her gaze was steady. “Fine. I’m sorry, Deklan…Cedar. But as we speak, Dominus has already taken war to Crystal Moon Pack. I couldn’t stop him alone, not when he threatened to take my son.”

“You thought the best thing to do was take Cedar back to him?” Fury ripped through me. I grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back so she choked against my arm. “I told you! The moment you betray her, you endanger your son!”

“Deklan, that's enough.” Baptista shoved me off her, forcing me to release her.

“You think I wanted this?” Sammy coughed, clutching her throat. “Dominus knew how to control me. He knew I could find her easily. I had no choice. I had to protect my child!”

“You think handing her over ends it?” I shouted back at her. “Look at the war he’s already started. Don’t you see what he's doing?”

“I have my own plans.” Her voice trembled. “But I knew you’d fight me, because Cedar is the only one who can stop him.”

The Guardians exchanged glances. Then Ursa listed a hand and said, “We’ll let this go, for now. Your intentions saved you. But betray us again, and we’ll make you regret it.” The three of them left the room first.

“I’ll be in the next room,” Jadrolita muttered, leaving and closing the door firmly behind her.

Cedar finally broke. “Dominus is a monster. If I could stop him, I would! But I don’t even know what I am. These powers…they terrify me. I could destroy everything I love and wish to protect without knowing!”

“You don’t need your powers.” Sammy’s voice softened as desperation leaked through her words. “Just let him inside your mind. Guide him with your thoughts. Make him believe only what you want him to see. Leave the rest to me.”

“I don’t trust you,” I cut in instantly. “And Cedar isn’t leaving this castle until I know you’re telling the truth.” I gripped Cedar’s trembling hands, forcing her to look at me.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I can’t believe I doubted you, even for a second. I feel like a fool.”

I pulled her into my arms. Relief surged through me, until a mocking voice broke the moment.

“I’ll destroy you for betraying me!” Sammy snarled behind us…this time in Dominus’s voice.

Cedar startled, then laughed through her tears at the absurdity.

“He doesn’t know you can do this,” I said flatly, turning back to her.

“I never had reason to use it before. But I knew Cedar would only trust you… the man who saved her. So I had to.” She dropped the disguise and looked at us both.

“Then tell us your plan,” I said, my voice hard. “Because we’re going back to Crystal Moon before Dominus starts a war no one can stop. His hunger for power seems to be getting out of hand.”