Page 67 of Tortured Royals

As I enter the last corridor that leads to the king’s bedchamber, I spot a familiar physician. I keep close behind him, and when the guards open the doors, letting the physician into the king’s room, I hop in after him and duck to the side of the dresser.

It’s still daylight outside and I half expect the king to be sleeping, but he’s sitting at his desk with a pile of paperwork. Thankfully, he’s fully clothed unlike the last time I was here, and he looks up, his brows furrowing when he sees the physician.

“Is it that time already, Farrex?” King Dalton asks gruffly. Dark circles line his eyes, and he leans back in his chair, his movements stiff. Tilting his head, he peers out the window to where the sun is just starting to lower in the sky.

“You should have been resting, your highness,” the physician says, moving to the table on one side of the room and placing his case on it.

“Resting?” King Dalton laughs. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The physician’s case clicks as he unlocks it, and it swings open. “As you wish, sire.” He pulls out a large vial filled with white liquid, and King Dalton stands, taking off his shirt.

I have to contain my squawk when I see the demon king’s chest. Long black lines cross the span of his torso, winding as they climb over his skin like the twisted branches of an ancient tree. Beneath the lines, is that same red rash Blake and I had witnessed before when we’d accidentally walked in on the king.

Holy hell what is that?I’m tempted to tell Blake, but I decide to wait until I know more.

Instead, I keep silent, watching as the physician smears the white substance all over the king’s marks. When the king’s entire chest is practically covered in white, the physician packs the vial back in his case. King Dalton shrugs his shirt on again, but now that I know to look for it, I notice the end of a black tendril still exposed on his neck above his collar.Crap on a cracker, this is bad.

The king dismisses the physician, and the doctor leaves as quickly as he came. The moment he’s gone and the doors close again, the demon king lets out a heavy sigh.

“You can come out now,” he rumbles.

I stiffen.Wait. Me? What? But I?—?

“It’s about time you turned up. I was starting to worry,” King Dalton says, and his gaze goes to where I’m still hiding beside the dresser.Crap.

Sheepishly, I move out from the cover of the furniture, and the demon king watches me intently as I hop across the floor. Then I flap my wings, flying into the air and landing on his desk. His papers scatter, and I curse again internally, but the king doesn’t look bothered.

His gaze drops to the tiny parchment tied to my leg, and he carefully removes it, stretching it open. His eyes skim over the message, and I study the older demon. He’s always looked handsome and formidable, but now his eyes are sunken, and his skin is a paler shade than usual. My stomach tightens.

“Ah, so my daughter has finally bonded,” King Dalton says with approval. “That’s good. Very good.”

Wait, out of Blake’s whole message, that’s the first thing he focuses on? I would have thought the news of the witches and an impending war in his kingdom would be what drew his attention first. In that moment, I wish I could talk to him, but of course, all I can do is stare.

“It looks like I’ll see another war before I’m done,” King Dalton says wearily. “Ivar has always wished for more power. I’m happy for my daughter to do as she sees fit to cleanse us of his influence. In the meantime, I will start gathering our forces and reach out to the other realms.”

Before I’m done.His words echo in my head.I’ve never been close to the demon king, but my heart still feels heavy hearing those words. Even though King Dalton had already told Blake he was dying, it hadn’t felt real. Not until now. And I know even though Blake tries to hide it, his death will hit her hard.

The demon king stares at me fondly, as though I’m an old friend rather than his daughter’s pet, as he has so affectionately called me in the past.

“Don’t worry, I’ll sort this mess before I go, little one,” he tells me. “We made a promise, and I won’t leave our daughter while there are enemies circling.”

I cock my head to the side, wishing I could ask more, but the king turns, striding toward the window. He releases the latch and pushes it open. “Go now, crow,” he says, staring at me expectantly. “Take care of my daughter.” It’s a clear command, and I launch into the air. As I exit the window, the king starts coughing, but I don’t look back as I head for Dante’s clan house.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

~ Princess Blake ~

Ibreathe in the scent of apricots as I stride past rows of fruit trees. It feels like an age since I was last here, reminding Dante about clan law.

Soon after arriving at the house in the forest, Shade left for the castle, and we spent the next short while filling in Noah and Luna on what had happened with Ivar. When we had them up to speed, I created a portal that opened up in the Coilan clan garden.

Dante walks beside me, and the others follow as we enter through the back door of the Coilan clan house. Thankfully, like he said, the mansion is mostly quiet, and Dante leads us to one of the more private sitting rooms on the second floor.

I drop onto a settee near the window, and Prince Callan takes the position on my right. Mason sits on my left, and he lifts my legs onto his lap. Stretching out, I lean against my archangel, and Mason massages the pads of my feet. Tipping my head back, I close my eyes and let out a contented hum. I’dalways heard that having fated mates was bliss, but honestly, I’d thought everyone must be exaggerating. Turns out, I was wrong. Normally, in this type of situation I’d be wound tight, busy strategizing my next move, but Mason’s fingers are pure magic. For just a moment, I let myself enjoy it. I focus on his touch, forgetting about all our problems.

“Feel good?” he murmurs.

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