The Tiger Prince's Witch
Chapter 45 - Dungeon Visit

"Are you ready to go have a talk with Jarek?" Randal asked Kamryn and Anna.

"Yes, but let's put our crowns away first," Kamryn stated, and Anna nodded. She wasn't used to wearing a crown, and it felt awkward on her head. After someone came and took the crowns, they headed to the dungeons. The other leaders and their mates also insisted on going for two reasons. They wanted to see what Jarek had to say, and they were still mesmerized by the young royals, especially Anna, who was particularly enchanting.

It was quite a crowd walking to the dungeons, and everyone was still in their tuxedos and gowns. Jarek was trying to yell in anger, but the spell Anna had put on him was still in effect. When they got to the silver cell, she snapped her fingers so he could talk.

"You little bitch don't ever do that to me again. Who do you think you are to place a spell on a king? Just wait until I get out of here." Jarek was furious. He only saw Anna and ignored everyone else. He was a king. Why did they think they could throw him in the dungeons?

Legend started growling, hearing Jarek talk to their mate that way. At that point, the lycan noticed all the others, and his confidence subsided slightly. He failed to realize that Anna was the one he should be most fearful of. She stared at him with her grey eyes blazing.

"What were your plans with the trio? I have ways of making you talk. If you want to do this the easy way, I suggest you tell us what we want to know." She wasn't speaking loudly, but everyone could hear her. "Why...why should I answer to you? You're nothing but a little witch." Jarek heard the growls from the others, and he tried to stay firm. When Anna smiled at him slightly, he felt a chill run down his spine.

"I warned you, and now that you've made your choice, you'll be in pain." As she raised her hands, Jarek closed his eyes waiting.

"No, wait, I'll tell you what you want to know. Just please don't hurt me." He said with his eyes still tightly shut, expecting the pain to start.

"Answer my question. What were your plans with the trio?" Anna asked almost sweetly, but everyone could hear the threat in her voice. The other leaders were silent, watching the interaction. Being in such a cramped place made Anna's energy come off in waves, and all were affected by it. Even Kamryn, who had let her take the lead, couldn't take his eyes off his mate. He had to admit sometimes she even scared him.

"I told you earlier that I wanted to kill you all so I could be the rightful king of all shifters. What else do you want?" Jarek said in anger. He wanted to get home. They had no right to keep him locked up. "You told us that, but what else were you going to do after you took over. I know that wasn't your whole plan." Anna said through narrowed eyes. Jarek's eyes widened in surprise. How did she know? "I...I was going to finish what my ancestors started and kill werecats of all kinds. There is no rightful place for them here. They need to be eliminated." Once again, Jarek heard the angry growls of the cats. "What were your plans for Elsie?" Anna asked. As angry as she was about her cousin, she didn't want her to be tortured or killed.

"The trio wanted her because they thought they could find her magic and use it to eliminate all the Spirit Energy witches. They weren't successful despite hours of trying to draw it out of her. She's still at my palace. When you let me go, I'll send her here. How about a trade me for her?" Jarek proposed, thinking he had found an ace in the hole. However, Anna gave him a small grin before turning toward Kamryn. *"Can you teleport to the lycan palace and get Elsie?"* She asked through mindlink.

*"Yes. I'll take your dad with me."* He responded, and Anna nodded. Kamryn walked out and took Stanley with him. He thought it would be easier to find Elsie with her uncle than by himself. Once they were gone, Anna turned back toward a confused Jarek.

"I don't think you understand. You're the one who is no longer king, and you will not be leaving. You attempted to kill all of us here and eliminate the werecats. King Randal, remind me what the punishment is for attempted murder and the attempted elimination of a species?" Anna asked, looking toward the king, who in turn smirked at Jarek.

"Death," He stated simply. Anna nodded and returned her gaze to the lycan, who looked pale as reality sat in.

"You can't do that. I have Elsie. If you ever want to see her again, you have to let me go," Jarek spoke in almost a whisper. Right after he finished speaking, Kamryn, Stanley, and a confused Elsie walked into the dungeons. Jarek's eyes got huge seeing the witch with them. His palace was hours away from the tiger palace. How did they get her within a few minutes?

"It looks like Elsie is already here. So you have nothing left to bargain with. Kamryn, I'm glad you made it back. We were just discussing Jarek's punishment." Anna leaned into Kamryn's arms as he kissed her forehead. He had something to share with her about what he and Stanely found at the lycan palace, but he wanted to do that in private.

"We can kill him or let him rot. As long as he never leaves this cell alive, I don't care. We went to your palace Jarek and got Elsie. I won't discuss what we found there right now, but from what we saw, you don't deserve anything less than rotting in hell." Kamryn spoke with ice in his voice. Anna glanced at him, but he shook his head, letting her know he would tell her later.

"You had no right going into my palace uninvited." Jarek started shaking with the realization he wasn't going to be able to get out of this. He had nothing left to offer.

"We had no right? Yet you brought three witches here to kill us. Anna, sweetheart, what do you want to do with him? I'm tired of spending time with the dog." Kamryn kissed the top of her head while she stared at Jarek.

"Let's leave him here for now. We can decide when he dies later. We have bigger, more important fish to fry." Anna turned to walk out, pulling Kamryn with her. Jarek watched in disbelief as everyone left and turned out the lights leaving him in the dark. He sat in the corner on the floor. Why did he have to get involved with the trio? They had convinced him that he was the rightful king of everyone. He'd always had a good relationship with the tigers, but it looked like that was over. He thought about what Kamryn had seen at his palace and knew he probably got the wrong idea. Jarek wasn't a monster, not like they thought. He put his head in his hands and cried for the first time in years.

As the group went outside, they walked slowly back toward the palace. It had been a long tiring day for everyone. The other leaders and their mates decided to stay at the palace for the night and leave in the morning. Lynn had rooms prepped for them before the rest of the group went to the conference room.

"I think that was the most action-packed crowning in history," Randal said as everyone took a seat. Patrice walked in a few minutes later after taking Elsie to one of the cells in the palace where Melita was also still locked up. "How is she?" Anna asked her mom.

"She's confused, but she seems unharmed. I'll let you decide what you want to do with her." Patrice replied, looking between Anna and Kamryn.

"Son, what did you and Stanely find when you went to Jarek's palace?" Lynn asked, already dreading the answer. She knew it had to be bad from the look on both of their faces. Kamryn looked toward Stanley, who nodded for him to tell them what they saw.

"We found Elsie in his dungeons, but that wasn't all. He had werecats of different species in multiple stages of decay. It looks like he'd been torturing them for a while."