Page 78 of Tortured Royals

Ivar sneers. “Fuck you.”

Scarlett sends out another burst of power, and the golden thread around the demon’s waist shines brighter. His words die off as he makes a choking, gasping sound. His face goes red, his eyes bulging, and his next words come out in a rush. “I don’t know their full numbers. Maybe hundreds? Maybe thousands? They wanted the demons to bolster their ranks and aid in the attack.”

“What weapons do they have?” Prince Callan asks. “Your warehouse. Are there more like it in Seral?”

Ivar lets out a strangled laugh and shakes his head like he’s trying to release Scarlett’s hold on him, but the thread around his waist remains tight, the bands of light holding steadfast.

He lets out a choked sound, like his next words are being ripped from his throat. “Those weapons were gifts given to me in good faith. To arm the demons when the time came. None of those were meant for the witches. They’re not what you need to worry about.”

“So whatdowe need to worry about?”

Ivar shakes his head again. “The questions you aren’t asking.”

What?

“He’s useless,” Alaric growls. “The witches wouldn’t have divulged all their plans to him. They would have known he might get compromised. Let me end him.”

“Not yet,” I say.

I give Scarlett a look and she nods her head, sending another burst of magic through to Ivar.

Ivar grits his teeth, seething at the strength of her influence.

“You must know something,” I say. “What is the power in the castle? You must have been curious why they want it so badly.”

He clenches his teeth, but he can’t stop the words from spilling free. “All I know is that the power isn’t awhat,it’s awho.And now that the witches know where the vault is, there’s no stopping them.”

My brows slam down. “What?”

“Exactly what I said,” Ivar grits out. “The power isn’t an object. It’s some kind of sentient—” Ivar doesn’t finish. His eyes flash green, and Scarlett whimpers, her face contorting with pain.

“Let him go!” Tanner shouts at Scarlett, and she releases her power, sagging into his arms as Ivar’s lips curve into an unnatural smile.

Prince Callan and Alaric keep their hold on Ivar, but Prince Callan curses, as Ivar’s head moves, his gaze taking in the destruction around us.

Except, even before Ivar speaks next, I know it’s not really the Fallon Blade demon before us anymore.

I think of Ivar’s last words and the vault. Of the door that never opens. Except…except when the king went to visit.

“I had a feeling you would stop him,” a deep feminine voice comes from between Ivar’s lips. Instantly, I recognize the voice of the witch we’d encountered in the warehouse.

Mason, Dante, and Nate grip their weapons tighter, scanning the room for any signs of a portal.

“And yet, you still ordered him to take out the clan leaders,” I point out.

“It’s better if the demons are fighting each other. Then we don’t have to worry about them fighting us,” the witch muses.

My brow creases. “Except your plan has failed. The demons will rally against you, and we’ll defeat you like the last time you were here.”

“Is that so?” Ivar’s smile is a creepy slash across his face. “You truly have no idea, do you half-breed?”

I purse my lips. “Then how about you enlighten me?”

“They’ll reveal themselves soon enough. For now, I had to make sure this spineless weasel didn’t divulge too much. I must say, I don’t remember there being a truth-teller in these lands.”

Scarlett shies away, and her mates stand in front of her.

“They? Who are you talking about?” I insist.

---