40: Ada's POV

Hearing Nik’s voice in my mind was one thing. Hearing all three of them was another. Could they hear me? I couldn’t tell since I wasn’t fully in touch with Sahara, so maybe my thoughts were all just open to anyone who was nearby. The more likely option was that I could hear them but they couldn’t hear me. *Technically* as Alpha Princes of the Kingdom, there was a distinct possibility that they could mind link every single wolf from any pack. I wasn’t entirely positive how that worked, but I’d bet money on that being what was happening. 

Admittedly, I was a bit too scared to try and respond back mentally. Instead, I spent the next several hours in my quarters. My feet ached from the amount of pacing I’d been doing over the last few days, but it didn’t stop me from continuing with the pattern. Little scuff marks were starting to appear on the floor where my usual walking pattern was, so I did my best to walk in other areas. I wasn’t very interested in wearing a hole through the floor. 

I didn’t change out of the warrior-esque outfit that Gwyn had dressed me in. Something told me I would need it. While I paced, I didn’t try and reach out to the princes, but I *did* continue trying to reach Sahara. If someone was trying to frame me, to say that I was participating in treason, I would really need her. Maybe talking to one of the princes about my weak link with her… maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.

If they could help me learn how to protect myself, why wouldn’t I take advantage of that?

Currently, I was sure some of the problem was that my thoughts were all over the place. I wasn’t making any sense to my own mind, so how on earth would I make sense to Sahara? If my thoughts were an open book, then the princes were probably having one hell of a laugh ab—

I froze. I’d heard all three of them. They could maybe hear me. I knew from experience with my father and watching other visiting alphas through the year that communication through mind link could be images as well as words. Did that mean… Oh, moon goddess. Could they see my dreams? Or what about when one of them was fucking me and my mind was completely open? Could they see?

A laugh flittered into my mind. I didn’t recognize it at first and swallowed when I recognized it as Phoenix, *Oh, yes. We can see. We all rather enjoy it.*

Crimson heat crept up my face. My hands splayed over my face as I let out a strangled cry, practically stamping my feet in embarrassment. With conscious effort, I sent out, *What all have you seen?*

*Every bit of last night for starters,* Phoenix quipped quickly, *It all depends on who is open to it and if you’re sending it out. I’ve definitely seen some very entertaining dreams for sure.*

Before I could respond, there was a tug on the back of my mind. Nik’s voice, softer than Phoenix’s had been, tickled at a nerve, *This chain is just you and me. If you ever want to share a private thought, do it here,* he waited a beat, *And *I* haven’t seen anything. Or shared. I figured you’d want those thoughts to be private.*

I mentally caressed the invisible string connecting me directly to Nik, *Thank you. Do they all have individual lines?*

*No,* the word was firm, almost sharp, *At least not to my knowledge.*

*I suppose that is the point,* I sighed externally, and swapped to the shared bond, *When will you all be here?*

“Now,” Darius growled, leading the three of them through the painting that had swung open, “Are you alright?” His eyes scoured over my body, darkening as they saw the fading bruises on my neck, “I’m sorry, I did-“

I held up a hand, cutting him off. He recoiled as if I’d slapped him and blinked. Phoenix snickered, playing a laugh off as a cough. Nik shook his head, a cool smile on his face. My voice was surprisingly even, “What’s going to happen?”

“My father is convinced you are a part of the rebellion growing on your father’s territory,” Nik tugged on one of his sleeves, straightening a crease in his black suit, “He’s certain that your abuse was a carefully calculated facade and that you are an enemy,” he leveled his cold gaze on me and no spark of warmth entered them, “We have this one chance to prove to him you are our ally.”

This was not the same man who had come by to check on me this morning, that joked with Gwyn. Or the same man that held me as I cried and kissed me passionately a mere day earlier. *This* was the Midnight Prince— ruthless, calculating, cunning. His eyes were devoid of emotion, his lips a straight line. Nik’s jaw was set, a muscle ticking in the upper corner. The shadows surrounding him seemed to cower, shaking with fear. 

Darius glanced at Nik, sighing heavily, “That bad?”

Nik sauntered over to the small hearth that had a blazing fire in it, his back to us, “He *will* kill her if we don’t succeed.” 

I swore I heard his voice crack just a little bit. But when he turned to face us, there was zero evidence of any emotion other than unfiltered and raw rage. My knees shook slightly at the sight of him, but I swallowed, “Why are you so convinced I’m not a part of this? A spy?”

Darius and Phoenix exchanged a look before leveling their gaze on Nik. So it wasn’t either of them that had been convinced first, but Nik that had done the convincing. Nikolai shrugged, “Shadows whisper, Ada. They are not easily fooled. And they have never had an unkind word to say about you.”

My heart thudded as I looked into his black eyes. With the flickering light of the fire behind him, he looked almost otherworldly— and familiar. A faint memory from my childhood flickered before my eyes. A man, with blonde hair and shadows swirling. One with a kind smile who hugged me tenderly. I couldn’t quite recall his name. But I knew the last time I had seen him, because much like Nik was now… he’d been surrounded by flame. 

Maybe there was no correlation between him and Nik. But I needed to know. Because if there was I might know *why* someone was framing me.

I sucked in a breath and glanced at Darius and Phoenix. They both had their eyes locked on Nik and barely seemed to register my presence. There was something being exchanged amongst the three of them that I was not privy to. Some unspoken warning from the pair to Nik. Nik’s body stiffened, a faint growl escaping from him. 

“Leave us,” I whispered without pausing to think about it, then stepped between where Darius and Phoenix were poised and where Nik was, “Leave us.”  Hurt flickered in Nik’s eyes when a look of triumph crossed Darius’ face. I crossed my arms over my chest and turned on my heel to lock eyes with Darius, “*Leave us.*”

His eyes widened but it was Phoenix who stammered, “Ada, I—I— don’t think you understand.”

“You do not dismiss me,” Darius snapped, taking a step toward me, “Especially not with—“

“Leave,” I bared my teeth, feeling my fingers extend into claws once more, “I need a moment with Nik. Please.”

Darius’s eyes flickered to the claws again, eyes flashing a bright silver, “Do not make me remind you that you are to act as surrogate to all *three* of us.”

“Do not make me remind *you* that it was *you* I spent last night with,” I spat back, giving him a small shove, “Now take your jealousy elsewhere and give me a moment with Nikolai.”

Phoenix stepped toward Darius, grabbing his elbow, “He can help her more than us right now,” his voice was low enough that I had to concentrate to hear his words, “We will go with them tomorrow. Give them tonight.”

Darius stared me down for another thirty seconds. Then, with a huff, he glared at Nik. Some unspoken threat passed again. Phoenix pulled him away, giving me a small nod as he backed toward the painting and passages. I waited and watched until the painting clicked shut quietly behind them. And they left me alone with the Midnight Prince of other people’s nightmares.

I turned on my heel, crossing my arms over my chest, “This needs to be an exchange of information. You answer my question and I answer whatever question you have in response. Can you do that, spymaster?”