Page 77 of Tortured Royals

In no time at all, Nate is returning with Scarlett and her three protective demon mates—Tanner, Zachary, and Ezra, the leaders of the Nightfire clan. I’m not surprised Ivar didn’tinvolve the Nightfire clan in his schemes. Scarlett is a truth teller, and she wouldn’t have been an asset to keep around.

I eye where Shade is perched on Zachary’s head, standing in his red hair.

“What are you doing?”I ask her.

“Hitching a ride?”she replies innocently.

“I think what my mate means, is why are you on the demon’s head?”Mason says.

Shade flutters her wings.“Oh, that. I’m, you know, asserting my dominance.”

“What dominance?”Nate says with wry amusement.

Shade lets out an exasperated sigh.“The point is, I brought them here. Ta-da!”She flies from Zachary’s head, and I can see the relief in his eyes as she comes to land on my shoulder.

Her gaze sweeps the room, and she makes a noise in my head.“Looks like you guys have been busy redecorating.”

Before I can respond, Scarlett steps forward meekly and bows her head, lifting a fist to her chest. “Princess. I am at your service.”

From the grave expressions of her mates, it’s obvious they’re unhappy that I’ve summoned her, and I can respect that. They crowd close to their mate, looking like they’re ready to fight anyone to protect her. It makes me like them just a little bit more than I already did.

“Thank you for coming. I wouldn’t have asked if the situation wasn’t critical.” I gesture with my head toward Ivar. “We need you to get information out of him.”

Scarlett’s gaze goes to Ivar, and he finally starts to struggle. Prince Callan’s air power keeps the clan leader pressed against the wall, and Alaric lifts a dagger to Ivar’s throat.

“She’s only just learned of her power,” Tanner interjects, his voice gruff. “You can’t expect her to?—”

“If there was another option, I would have used it,” I interrupt. “I get it. You’re worried about your mate. But if we don’t find out the information we need, you can say goodbye to Seral and everyone in it. The witches are coming, and this…traitorknows more than he’s willing to share.”

At the mention of the witches, Scarlett trembles, and Tanner’s brows form a hard line.

“We don’t have time to waste, and Scarlett’s the only one who can help us extract the truth from him,” I add.

“You think the witches are going to wage war on us?” Scarlett asks.

“It’s only a question of ‘when’,” Dante says, coming back into view beside me.

Fear touches Scarlett’s eyes. “Do you think this is part of what my brother, Jace, was involved in?”

I think of her sadistic brother who betrayed her and who’s currently rotting in the dungeons under the palace. He’s still alive, not that Scarlett asked. She takes a deep breath like she’s gathering her strength. “All right. Let’s see what Ivar has to say.”

She positions herself in front of the Fallon Blade clan leader, with only a couple paces between them.

“How does this work?” Prince Callan asks.

“Tell me it hurts,” Alaric growls.

Scarlett ignores them and holds out her right hand. Closing her eyes, she concentrates and a kernel of light forms on her palm.

“We’re right here, Scarlett,” Zachary says to her, staying by her side.

Opening her eyes, Scarlett directs her magic forward, and a thread reaches out from her palm, the tendril curling around Ivar’s waist and tying them together.

“This won’t help you,” Ivar snarls, struggling against my mates.

“Ask your questions,” Scarlett says, her voice slightly warped as gold shines in her eyes.

I pin Ivar with my gaze. “Tell us the witches’ plans? How large are their forces?”

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