Page 74 of The Crownless King
“Long enough to know that in her current state, I can’t claim her.”
Amaya put her hand over her thumping heart, hurting for her mother. Levi held his hand out for hers and she clasped it quickly, using his strength as her comfort.
“What has changed?” Sebastian asked.
“I can feel a difference in her. The king has claimed his mate, and even though the city is holding its breath to see what happens, it’s the first sign of hope that the Bayi can come out of the shadows and claim the mates the Collective has kept from us. Change is moving through the city with your mating. Even my power has increased.”
Levi shared a grim look with Sebastian and Amaya knew the two of them were talking.
“You cannot take her from here,” Levi finally said aloud.
Richard growled and her mother whimpered. “She is—”
Levi held up his hand. “I’m not denying your call to your mate. I’m saying to you that my queen won’t allow her mother from underneath her watchful eye.”
Amaya’s eyes widened. Levi was allowing this to happen?‘What are you doing?’
‘Securing another powerful vampire to my coven,’her mate answered matter-of-factly.
Aloud, Levi eyed Richard. “I can feel your power. You are clearly the master of another coven and it can’t be in my city.”
“My coven has set up an hour west of here.”
Amaya hid her surprise. An hour! The male had been traveling hours to be in her mother’s presence. Mated to Levi, she well understood the compulsion, but she would be lying if she denied how hurt she would be if her mother moved out of the city.
‘Not if, baby doll. When. I have a feeling this male won’t be put off your mother. You’ll need to eventually loosen your hold over Anita,’Levi warned her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and lowered her head. According to those journals, her mother would be healed with the mating. She would never deny Anita that. The chance to have her mother whole, no matter how far away, would be better than close and on borrowed time.
“If you swear loyalty to the Cauly Coven, then I will allow you to see Anita,” Levi bargained with Richard.
Richard narrowed his eyes. “And if I go through you?”
Levi chuckled. “You’re welcome to try, OG.”
The last thing Amaya wanted was a bloodbath. ‘It’s fine, King. I want my mother happy.’
“I’m not opposed to an alliance with you, but I’ll need to run it by my coven,” Richard finally conceded. “But that ain’t got shit to do with me seeing my mate. I’m doing that regardless.”
Levi shrugged, knowing the older vampire had called his bluff. “Fair.” He turned in his chair and lowered his voice. “Ms. Anita, are you okay allowing this male access to you?”
Anita nodded, excitement shining in her eyes. It had been years since Amaya had last seen her mother as animated. She took a shuddering breath, knowing that this was outside of her control.
“You are welcome here to see her until we’re comfortable that Ms. Anita can consent to leave with you,” Levi told Richard, his voice hard and implacable.
“I agree to that,” Richard said immediately.
Levi nodded and Anita rushed from around the throne straight to Richard. Tears pooled in Amaya’s eyes as she observed the tender way in which the male handled her mother. Richard cupped her cheek, speaking to Anita softly. The two of them left the room and the remaining occupants seemed to exhale at the same time.
“Holy cow,” Raven whispered. “That was intense.”
Sebastian moved towards them around the throne. “Chances are he won’t be the only Bayi stepping up and claiming their mate.”
Levi wiped a hand down his face. “The Collective finna lose their shit.”
“And possibly take it out on you,” Raven said solemnly. “What are we going to do?”
“If that’s the case, then they’ll push more people into Levi’s arms,” Amaya told them. “If there was a choice between having your mate or not, I know what I would choose.”
