Crypts and Crimes (Trixie Towers #3) - Scarlett Dawn Page 0,73

the water, not one expression on her face except for those tears of torment. Her breathing remained the same even as more pain shed from her eyes.

The last of the caster guards slipped into the tree.

Only then did Kera move. She turned and watched the tree. Her arms crossed, a satisfied smile on her face as the willow…began to cry.

It cried blood.

Blood poured from the leaves down onto the ground. It cried so much lifeblood that it saturated the grass and the dirt, flowing down the wet ground right into the edge of the swamp…the dark water running red.

Dead casters in purple were randomly being thrown out of the tree in all directions, some high, some low, their bodies thudding down onto the ground heartlessly.

Queen Mikko sucked in a sharp, brutal breath, her shoulders beginning to quiver. “The crime has been committed. That is all I need to see.” She started rocking back and forth in the water, her head tipping back to stare at the leaves above us. She choked on a sob, lifting the back of her muddy hand to her mouth, her tears a falling force of despair. She rasped, “King Athon, kill the innkeeper, please.”

Out of the corner of my eye, the innkeeper dropped to her knees, grabbing her neck as blood poured out of her mouth—it was not a quick and easy death, the shifter king taking his time with her.

Kera jumped back from the woman, her eyes large in fear.

Queen Mikko tilted her head back down, her brown, swirling mist eyes staring right at her sister. She hiccupped through her words. “King Traevon, you’re soul-mated. I need you to go into that wicked place…and kill all of them. Then burn that fucking tree down.”

“With pleasure,” Father stated too calmly, standing to his full height and walking through the water and reeds.

“Wait,” I demanded harshly. “Are you sure that is safe, my king?”

Kera snapped her head in his direction, seeing him now.

King Traevon didn’t stop moving, his face forward on his goal. “I am bonded, my heir. I’ll be able to enter without their power working on me—you won’t be queen anytime soon. Have no worries on that.”

I stared at the back of his head. He hadn’t said daughter when he truly might not survive. He and I had come to a standoff.

Possibly, King Athon had ruined us. In just two days.

The Queen of Casters stated, “Everyone else, grab the bodies and pull them away from the tree. I would suggest you hurry. King Traevon won’t take long.”

Queen Mikko stood out of the water, and her brown mist eyes started swirling faster. Then the worst happened. The mist curled out of her eyes, growing and expanding as she whispered so quietly that no one could hear her.

I swiftly moved back, my gaze wide in horror.

The Queen of Casters was using her royal charmpower.

The brown mist disappeared…and reappeared right in front of Kera’s face, seeping into her eyes. The caster queen walked through the muck. She stated softly, “If you will excuse me, I have something I must do.”

My nostrils flared as I sucked in a deep, calming breath. I stood to do as I must—more dead bodies in another kingdom. I waded through the swamp with the four rulers, toward the lifeless bodies, my traveling bag heavy against my leg.

King Traevon marched straight at the bloody tree.

Queen Mikko ambled toward her sister.

I swallowed as Father disappeared inside the trunk, his steps not faltering once toward his destination, not frightened of what he would encounter, completely trusting in his abilities.

Instantly, heat blazed from the tree, rolling in waves.

The three rulers and I hurried our steps.

Queen Alora finally spoke, quickly ordering, “King Athon, take the ones closest to the tree. King Elon and I will take the middle ground. Princess Trixie, you’ll handle those farthest away from the tree.” Intelligently, she ordered it by body strength.

My eyes swiftly scanned the blood-drenched terrain.

I had six to move so they could be buried properly. I halted in front of my first target, gagging down the bile that rose in the back of my throat. The caster guard’s flesh was sunken down to the bone—his life sucked right out of him. I grabbed his ankles and quickly moved, grunting hard with the effort to keep my footing on the crimson mud.

I glanced to the side while I moved body after body.

Kera stood in place and blankly stared off into nothing.

Queen Mikko sat cross-legged in front of her sister, staring down