Page 5 of Tortured Royals

I think on this, but I can feel Dad’s eyes on me.

“So, is he one of yours, too?” the king asks with amusement, distracting me as he scrutinizes Prince Callan.

I don’t answer, mostly because I’m not sure what to say. Despite everything, Prince Callan still doesn’t believe we can be mates.

The prince dips his head, and I wait for his answer, but he ignores Dad’s question entirely. “I appreciate your assistance here, King Dalton,” he says instead.

Dad merely looks intrigued by his change in subject. “Of course. And I trust you’ll pass this on to your queen.”

Prince Callan wipes the blood from his swords and sheathes them. “It will be recorded that you aided in the battle for this township.”

Dad hums his approval, and he turns his attention from Prince Callan to where the others have formed up behind me. “Four mates, daughter? I had suspected you may have more than the common number for a demon, but it looks as though you’ll have your hands full.”

Shade snickers in my mind.“He means hands, and mouth, and…”

“It’s a surprise for all of us,” I say with a tight smile, cutting Shade off. Listening to that while having a conversation with my dad is just plain wrong. I don’t correct Dad and explain that I actually havefivemates. Alaric is nowhere to be seen, but given his hatred for demons, I’m not surprised.

King Dalton nods, looking to where Nate now stands naked, back in his non-shifted form. “Yes, these are some very interesting matches that will undoubtedly lead to…interesting times.”

I’m not sure ‘interesting’ is the word I’d use, but I’m just glad he doesn’t seem to disapprove of my mates from the other realms.

“However, I am confused that you have not yet bonded, my daughter. These are trying times, and you need all your power.”

And of course he had to ask.I groan internally. “Not bonded? What makes you think that?” I reply casually, hoping Dad will drop it.

The demon king’s eyes sparkle with mischief, his gaze roving over my reddening cheeks. He points a long finger at my archangel. “Because if you were bonded, our princely friend over here wouldn’t be standing apart from you like he’s not sure what to do with himself. That is not how a bonded mate would act. Not when their female is so close.”

Nate stifles his grin, and Prince Callan scowls, looking supremely uncomfortable.

Shade, of course, cackles in my head.“Oh, I have missed our demon daddy. Why don’t you tell him about Alaric? That asshole could use a chewing out, too.”

Despite the fact Prince Callan and Alaric are still my reluctant mates, I suddenly feel the need to defend them. I mean, they didjust fight by my sideandsaved my dad.“Firstly, don’t call him that because I don’t need that in my head right now,”I tell Shade,“and secondly, something tells me now isn’t the right time to explain that I also have a Drozac assassin as one of my mates.”

“What’s wrong with demon daddy?”Shade counters.“I’ve always told you I think King Dalton is?—”

“Nope,”I cut her off before she can explain further, and I give Dad a tight smile. “It’s complicated. This isn’t something any of us expected.”

“It never is,” King Dalton replies, his eyes getting a faraway look, and I get the feeling he’s thinking about mom—his bonded angel mate. The thought makes me squirm. Despite all his talk about how mates are supposed to act toward one another, my parents were mated and mom still dumped me as a baby and left my dad. The idea of any of my mates one day leaving me makes my stomach churn.

“I suppose I should thank you for your efforts,” King Dalton says, staring at Mason. “You saved my life, and I’m in your debt.”

My centaur mate smiles. “No thanks necessary, your highness. I would do anything to protect my mate.” He pauses, wrapping his arm around me. “And of course, her family.”

Nate groans and mutters under his breath. “Kiss ass.”

I smirk, glad that at least one of my mates won’t embarrass me in front of my father.

King Dalton’s lips quirk up. “As it should be. Nevertheless, you have my gratitude.”

I’m busy thinking about Mason’s hand on me when Theon stumbles forward, moving to Prince Callan’s side. His wounded wing is now half healed and still slowly regenerating. I’m glad the healer will make it, but seeing his wounds is enough to pull my thoughts back to the witches, because that’s what’s important right now.

“Do we know what the situation is back in Seral?” I ask Dad, drawing the conversation away from bonding and my mates.

King Dalton frowns. “Peace between the clan leaders has been fragile since I mentioned my retirement, but there had been no more signs of the witches before I left. That was days ago, and I cannot be sure how General Josek has fared in my absence.”

My mood sours when I think of the unhinged demon general currently in control of the demon realm. Only Lady Fate knows what the male has been up to while on a witch hunt.

Nate looks over his shoulder, and a moment later, Sebastian and eleven other demons march closer to us. “Our king!” Sebastian barks when he draws close, slamming his fist to his chest and falling to one knee. The other demons do the same, and King Dalton arches a brow at me.

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