Chapter 123. Not Participating

Dimitri’s POV

“I won’t be participating in the tournament,” Ellie said, making us all look at her.

“Why?” Will asked her, furrowing his eyebrows.

Ellie sighed and looked at Maddie.

“Because I can’t distract myself with it,” she said. “Maddie needs to be protected. She needs me.”

“Ellie, no,” Maddie said as she stood up and approached the couch.

She sat down next to Ellie and took Ellie’s hand in hers.

“You have to participate, Ellie,” Maddie said softly. “You’ve been preparing for it for a long time. I will be okay. Dimitri and Will won’t let anything happen to me.”

She was right about that. I was going to destroy anyone who even thought about hurting her. Nothing was going to happen to Maddie.

“No, Maddie,” Ellie said sternly. “I am not participating. If something happened while I was in the game, I would never forgive myself.”

Maddie wanted to protest, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Madeline