Page 45 of Tortured Royals

I rub my temples. I had wanted us to stay away from the castle and the dark power there until we were bonded and at our strongest, but… “Despite our power, even now my absence from the castle can work to our advantage,” I say. “If this meeting is about the Seral throne, it could be worth finding out what’s happening between the clans now while they still don’t realize I’ve returned.”

“I’ll go to my clan house without mentioning anything about you, princess,” Dante says. “I’ll find out the information from Luna and Noah, and I’ll attend the meeting. It’s our best way of gaining inside information.”

I purse my lips. It would be the easiest way for us to find out the information, but my stomach roils at the idea of my mate walking into danger without me. “If it’s simply a meeting between the clan leaders it should be relatively safe, but demons have a habit of getting stabby when tempers flare, and I imagine things will be tense when discussing a new ruler for Seral. Unless of course, the meeting is to discuss the witches…which brings a whole new set of challenges.”

“I can go with him,” Mason volunteers. “To protect our bond brother.”

Dante rests his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Thank you, but you’re not a demon. There will be too many questions.”

“There would have been demons who saw us together in the Perstalian ruins,” Prince Callan points out. “They’ll remember Dante was with the princess, and may have even pieced together that you’re mates,”

I pace, thinking about this. “Okay, then what if we’re all disguised?”

My demon mate frowns. “What?”

“What if we’re all disguised as demons with different faces,” I explain, and my gaze collides with Dante’s. “Can you get word to Luna?”

Chapter

Sixteen

~ Dante ~

The little crow chats constantly in my head as she flies back to Blake’s house in the forest, with Luna and Noah following her in Noah’s car. It’s strange listening to the bird who has zero filter, but I feel honored I’m able to share this with Blake. I’d always suspected the princess could speak to the birds rather than simply command them, but I hadn’t expected the crow to be such a mouthy little thing.

It’s not long before Noah’s car pulls up out the front of the house. The rumbling of the engine shuts off, and there’s a knock at the door. Mason answers it, and Shade flies into the sitting room, perching on Blake’s shoulder.

Noah and Luna stride into the room, the pair of them wary. Luna’s auburn hair is a mess, and she looks as though she hasn’t slept in days. Noah doesn’t look much better with ruffled hair and a weary expression. They both keep their gazes trained on Blake, not having spotted me yet as Alaric is somewhat blocking my view.

“Thanks for coming,” Blake says with a smile.“And thanks for fetching them,”she says to Shade.

“Don’t mention it,”the bird replies.

“Of course, your highness,” Luna says, placing her fist to her chest and bowing low before she straightens. I think of the message Shade had delivered to them. The small piece of rolled up parchment had simply said they were to be escorted to the princess immediately. It hadn’t said anything about me.

I step out from behind the giant, and my friends immediately spot me.

Luna lets out a noise of surprise. “You asshole!” she blurts, momentarily forgetting about Blake. Launching at me, she crushes me in a hug.

“We thought you were fucking dead,” Noah says, whacking me hard on the back.

Then, remembering where they are, they both stare uncertainly at Blake.

Noah clears his throat like he’s about to apologize, but my mate grins. “It’s all right.” Her tone is casual, but her gaze lingers on Luna for a little too long, and my pants tighten at the possessiveness in my mate’s eyes.

Getting the hint, Luna takes a step back. “Hold on,” my friend says slowly, clearly picking up on the power coming from us. Her eyes snap wider. “You’re bonded?”

I smirk, and despite the fact I’m happy to see my friends, a part of me wishes I was alone with my mate and my bond brothers. If only so we could make Blake scream again.

“Sure are,” Nate says, baring his teeth in a smile that isn’t exactly friendly.

Luna is still gaping, and it takes her a moment to digest the news. She stares at Blake, and then the five of us. “Wait…you’reallbonded? Damn, the power coming from you is making meshiver.” She makes a show of looking at the goosebumps on her arm.

“Guess it’s a good thing Dante likes to share,” Noah jokes, and my tail flicks out, lashing his leg.

He curses, and his face pales when he stares at Blake again. He dips his head. “Sorry, your highness.”

My mate raises a brow, her eyes dancing with amusement.“Please tell me these are two of the few demons you haven’t slept with.”She says it casually in my mind, though from the tightness of her body, I’m guessing this is affecting her more than she’s letting on.

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