Page 11 of The Crownless King
Her body shuddered. “Just do what you need to do.”
Levi closed his eyes as the hoarse timbre of her voice dug deep within him and awoke the beast he spent most of his time suppressing. It was never a good idea to catch the attention of the bloodthirsty creature that inhabited his body.
Especially lately.
Ever since he’d been brought a piece of the Akachi stone, that monster had roamed wild within him, uncontrollable and damn near insatiable. In the months since he’d had it, his baser instincts had been trying to take over, and only by sheer grace had he been able to control himself.
Levi circled her, slightly irritated that she was in the company of some piece of shit who would easily throw her to the wolves. She should be protected…cherished. He’d had every intention on killing the thief, but she…
Leaning over her shoulder, he inhaled her scent at her neck. He wanted her for himself. His gums ached, the desire to taste her throbbing through his body.
“He doesn’t deserve your help, beauty.”
She scoffed. “I’m well aware of that.”
He reached his hand out and trailed it down her arm. She shivered, and the scent that drifted from her was most decidedly not fear.
“Why, then, would you not fight to clear your name in this?”
“Would it matter?” she whispered, and the sadness that wafted from her made his decision for him. She sighed. “It’s done. You or the Buru, the outcome would’ve been the same. Uncle Paul was always gonna be the one who got our family into some shit.”
He hummed and rubbed his cheek against the back of her hair. He didn’t like being compared to the Buru, but he would let it go for now. She had no way of knowing him outside of his reputation and he took great care to make sure his brutality was well-documented and known. The city knew not to fuck with him, and he was on his way to making sure all of the South knew the same.
“It matters to me.”
For her at least. For others, nothing would’ve been able to sway him from killing them. Stealing from him was a crime that he never forgave. This one would be the first exception to that rule.
“What would you do to save the lives of your family, baby doll? Would you give your life to me?”
Her curious gaze rose to meet his as he circled to the front of her body. Anger flashed in her eyes and her magic thrummed against his skin. Fucking delicious. He licked his lips, the need to taste her sending his senses reeling.
“A strong woman like you shouldn’t even be mixed up with a bitch ass like him.”
“Do you plan to taunt me? Just do whatever it is you need to do.”
He smiled at her bravado. “Answer the question, baby doll. Would you give yourself to me to save your family?”
Her breath hitched and the heat of her magic filled the space between them. Tense silence had him on edge as he awaited her answer. A few moments later, her shoulders slumped and her head lowered for the first time since he’d had the bag removed.
“Yes.”
He wanted to shout out in victory, but he restrained himself. Bas would be pissed, but there was no help for it. He would take her any way that he could have her. For a moment, sanity tried to take over and tell him that this was not the way to get what he wanted, but the insatiable beast in him wanted her and that part of him didn’t care that she would have to be coerced to be on board.
He smiled. “Let’s have witnesses to that statement, then, shall we?” he said, stepping back and walking over to his throne.
He used his connection to call back Sebastian. The doors opened and his team entered, dragging her uncle behind them. He waited patiently as Bas kicked Paul in the back of the knees, sending him down to the ground.
“You got your family in some shit, Paul. How does that make you feel?” Levi asked out of curiosity.
“King Levi, if you’ll allow me—”
“I’ve allowed you to live a lot longer than I should’ve. You have your niece to thank for that.” Levi cut him off, irritated that the bitch was finna start begging.
Red was starting to creep back along the edges of his mind, blotting out whatever peace the beauty had brought to him. That infuriated him, feeding that crimson haze.
“You have your stone back. We can call it even and I’ll never bother you again. Please, your Highness,” Paul begged, lowering his body. “Surely there’s something we can work out.”
Levi snorted and his niece let out a disgusted sound.
