Page 57 of The Crownless King
The return fire was then directed at his men, leaving Levi open. Instead of going through the door, he propelled himself from the sunroof, flying towards the other SUV, smoking in the middle of the intersection from its collision with Levi’s armored vehicle. The occupants had their windows down, firing, but Levi was quicker, darting straight for the driver. By the time the male registered Levi’s trajectory and tried to lean out and fire, Levi had already driven his hand into the driver’s chest. Still, the male managed to get one shot off before he crushed his heart, his bullet grazing Levi’s arm. The back passenger tried to exit, but Levi slammed his foot into the door, closing it on the Buru’s leg.
The force of the kick, coupled with the metal of the door, crushed it, and the Buru howled out in pain. The vampire fell on his back in the seat. The Buru in the front passenger seat lifted his gun to fire but was blown back by the sawed-off James fired at him. Levi nodded at his enforcer in gratitude and turned his attention to the back seat and the Buru writhing in pain. Snatching off the destroyed back door, Levi locked eyes with the Buru, his magic immediately ensnaring the vampire.
Heat from the heartstone in his pocket was Levi’s first clue that his power was being amplified just as Amaya hadsuggested. It took less than a second for Levi’s magic to take hold of the other vampire’s mind.
“Quick question. Who’s in charge here?”
The Buru stared at him with glazed eyes and a slacked jaw. “You are,” he answered in a slow cadence.
Levi chuckled. “No doubt. But who sent you here?”
The Buru shook his head, confusion clouding his features. Sucking his teeth, Levi sent two silver bullets into his skull and backed away from the SUV.
“Boss. We got more company!” Lucas called out.
Sebastian finished off the last two Buru and cursed. “I’m not doing this shit all night.”
His best friend went around to the back of their SUV and popped the trunk. When Sebastian lifted, he was balancing a rocket launcher on his shoulder. He fired it at the speeding SUV and they all watched dispassionately as it hits its mark, sending the vehicle flipping as it exploded. Sirens sounded in the night and they all shared a look.
“Into the car, your Highness,” Bas ordered, rushing to put back the launcher.
They rushed into their SUV, and it took some maneuvering, but James sped through the ash of the vampire remains, speeding them away from the scene.
Lucas looked back at the wreckage. “What are the odds that a bunch of Buru attack us as we’re leaving the meeting?”
“It’s definitely not a coincidence,” Levi muttered.
Adrenaline was still pumping in his system, making his heart race, but he frowned. The fight was over and they werewell away. Why, then, was his body still tense? He rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the feeling of impending doom. Levi took deep breaths as Lucas and Bas talked around him. Their voices sounded muffled and a cloudy film of confusion separated him from reality. He had become accustomed to that feeling ever since he’d taken possession of the Akachi. Had Amaya’s shielding worn off?
“Levi.”
Bas’s voice cut through his thoughts and Levi shook his head to focus. Heat filled his body, searing the blood in his system. Sebastian leaned over him, his face swimming in and out of Levi’s vision. He looked down and tried to lift his hand, but nothing happened.
“Your Highness?” Lucas’s tone was sharp. “Speed this shit up, James.”
Levi wanted to tell them that he was fine, but no words left his mouth. He reached for them through the mental link they shared, but even that was hard to grasp. What was happening to him?
‘Levi,’Sebastian called out to his mind.
‘Wrong,’was all Levi could manage.
Their panic rose, feeding his own, and Levi closed his eyes, fighting through the heaviness invading his body.
Sebastian tapped his cheek. “Keep your eyes open, Levi.”
He nodded? Maybe? Everything was swirling around him, his vision swimming, and he was fairly certain keeping his eyes open was going to be impossible. He felt his body lifted, and all around him, loud voices tried to break through the fog overtaking him. Time lost all meaning as Levi fought to holdonto to some semblance of sanity. His vision had gone dark around the edges even as he wrestled to keep his eyes opened.
Chaos seemed to surround him. His body was jostled and more voices joined the others rising and falling around him. Soon, though, one voice stood out, his pulse instantly slowing, a calmness filling him. Next was a scent, one that raised the beast inside of him as hunger gripped his body. Need consumed him, feeding the fire already burning through his system. A moan sounded. Was that him?
“King.”
Levi leaned towards that voice as it cut through the disorientation. Soft hands touched his skin and his muscles tightened. His fangs descended and a ravenous craving seized him. A face, blurred and soft, drifted into his line of sight and Levi whimpered, the hungry sound the only one he could make as his body betrayed him. He fought the paralysis in his limbs to reach for her.
Amaya.
He would know her anywhere across any timeline.
He’d longed for her to touch him with the tenderness she was now displaying. Even through the fogginess, he could see the distress covering her face. Since he couldn’t touch her physically, he reached for her mind, frustrated when even that path was blocked to him.
