Page 40 of Tortured Royals

My stomach churns. Even now I can feel them—my crows spread throughout the city. It wouldn’t take much for me to connect with each of them and find out what they know, but I shudder, remembering what happened to the birds in Toralyn. Logically, I know Princess Mirelle isn’t here, and that I don’t have to worry about her fire harming them, but I still can’t bring myself to command them. Not yet.

I clear my throat. “We need to find out what’s happening in the city,” I say aloud, ignoring Shade’s question. “When I left, there was already evidence that at least one of the demon clans has been working with the witches, and we need to find out who else is involved and what the plans are. Clearly the witches have their hands in a lot of pies, and we need to figure out how this all pieces together before it’s too late.”

“And why aren’t we headin’ to the castle?” Nate asks, popping another mushroom into his mouth and moaning.

“Yes, would the king not be expecting you, my mate?” Mason asks.

“I’m sure he is,” I say slowly. “But the thing is…” I go on to tell them all about the secret vault. I don’t explain how to access it, but I tell them all about the forbidden door and the power I can sense on the other side. I also tell them about how Dante was attacked when he was disguised as Kai. “So you see, I’m not willing to risk taking any of you to the castle just yet. At least, not until we’ve bonded.” I pause. “That is…if everyone’s interested in bonding?” I’m not sure why I feel so hesitant to ask. All of my mates have now shown that they’re committed to me, but it’s one thing to share our bodies, and it’s another thing entirely to bond yourself to others for eternity.

Everyone’s silent for a moment, and it’s not until Mason reaches out, linking his fingers with mine, that I realize how tense I am. Lifting my hand, Mason kisses my fingers, and I let out a long breath.

“I want nothing more than to seal the bond between us, my mate,” Mason murmurs, and my heart pounds.

Dante’s tail tightens on my leg. “Of course, princess. How could I want anything else?”

Nate grins at me and winks. “Let’s do this.”

Prince Callan nods his head. “Anything for my Ahalian Touizda. If she’ll have me.”

I peer at Alaric last, and he stares back at me, his grey eyes unreadable. “What do you think, assassin? Want to bond with the enemy?”

He sets down the fork he had been gripping tightly. “You were never my enemy, Blake. I see that now.” His voice is gruff and raw, and bumps prickle over my skin.

“Well, damn,”Shade says, hopping from one foot to the other.“Do you guys need a minute?”

“It’s settled then,” Dante says. “We’re finally all agreed that we’ll bond.”

My heart races even faster as my mates all keep their attention on me. I’m not sure why I’m nervous about this. Finding my mates and bonding has been my goal since Dad announced his retirement. I need the power boost if I’m going to be able to keep the demons in line, let alone keep on top of this witch problem, but it suddenly all feels like too much pressure.

I swallow thickly. “Looks like it.”

Chapter

Fifteen

~ Princess Blake ~

Prince Callan, Mason, Alaric, and Nate clear the table, and Dante leads me over to one of the couches, pulling me down beside him. When they’re done, the others join us, sitting around the common room.

Shade finishes preening her feathers, and she pulls her beak out from beneath her wing.“Okay, well I think that’s my cue to give you guys some space. I’m going to get some fresh air for a bit. Have fun, girl, and try not to destroy the house.”

“Why would I destroy the house?”

“Uh, no reason other than you have five mates who finally want to bond with you, one of whom is a literal giant.”She chuckles.“Let me know when it’s safe to return.”

“Will do.”

She leaves through a small high up window, and the moment she’s gone, I turn back to my mates. They’re all staring at me intently, and I squirm at the attention.

“Soooo, bonding huh?” I say awkwardly, because honestly, I feel out of my depth right now. I can face off demon bugs and witches, but bonding with five fated mates? Yeah, I wasn’t ever prepared for that.

Dante chuckles, and his tail curls possessively around my leg.

“Fated mate bonds are rare for my kind,” Mason says. “What exactly does bonding involve?”

“From what I hear, a demon has to bed all of her mates at the same time,” I reply.

“They all have to be touching,” Dante adds.

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