Page 83 of The Crownless King
“There is no danger from my mating. If anything, the danger is right in this house. Should I tell the women in this family that you’ve been allowing them to go mad instead of letting them find their balance with a Bayi mate?”
“What?” Angelica asked, stepping forward.
Amaya turned to the group that was gathering to see her put down. “Mating with King Levi has balanced my power and is keeping the chaos from overtaking my mind. My mother, who was unable to form complete thoughts last month, has met her mate, and just his presence in her life has helped her make almost a full recovery.”
“Is this true?” Tracy asked, staring at their grandfather.
Grumblings started throughout the crowd.
“Silence!” Bradford shouted. “That is impossible, Amaya, and I will not allow you to spread those types of lies.”
“The only ones lying are seated here, looking down their noses at me. Tell them how you sacrifice the women to gain power. You willingly send them to work in the sacred garden, knowing the outcome.”
“Take her to the attic,” her great-aunt ordered.
Bronx drew his gun. “Touch her and see what happens.”
“My mate will come for me,” Amaya warned them.
Her grandfather smiled. “There are ways in which we can sever the connection between the two of you.”
“I would love to see you try.” She drew her magic around her, waiting on them to make a move.
In preparation for her departure, Anita had sat her down over several days and taught her how to better use her power in defense of herself. Between Levi and her mother, Amaya was confident.
Bradford nodded behind her and three Chawi men attacked Bronx. He didn’t hesitate to fire and the gunshot sent the room into pandemonium. Screams sounded and someone grabbed at Amaya in the chaos. Power surged in her and she funneled it at the hands touching her. Using the skills she’d been practicing, she focused on the mist of their power surrounding them and dispersed it, until not even a speck flowed around them. Their body dropped to the floor unconscious. The spell wouldn’t last long, but they needn’t know it. Bronx let off another shot and it cleared the space around them.
Since they were still surrounded, Amaya threw up a shield around them both. Her family beat at the shield she’d erected with their power, her grandfather’s muffled voice shouting orders. She didn’t know how long her shield would hold. It wasn’t like the members of her family weren’t powerful in their own right.
One of her cousins got closer to the shield, his magic making a dent in it. Amaya dug into her pockets and pulled out the heartstone she carried on herself, directing it at him. Using her connection with Levi, she used their bond to amplify herown magic. With that boost, she snatched her cousin’s power from him, shoving it into her stone. He dropped to his knees a bewildered look on his face. The stolen power swirled within her heartstone.
Bradford held his hand up and the attacks on them ceased. “What did you do to them?”
She held up the heartstone. “If you want their power back, you’ll let us leave.”
Searching the table where they sat for the easiest target, Amaya reached out again, aiming for the person with the lightest mist, and the least amount of power. Her great uncle gasped and leaned forward on the table, his face ashen as she snatched his power and funneled it into her stone.
Bradford turned to his brother in concern before whipping back to Amaya. “You have betrayed this family.”
“It’s you who have betrayed the women in this family. Let me go.” Unable to maintain the shielding, she let it drop.
No one approached her, the swinging pendulum in her hand stalling their attack. She nudged Bronx toward the door. The crowd parted around them, no one wanting to be next in line to have their power stolen. Little did they know, Amaya had expended all the magic she could at this point. They would be screwed if the family renewed their attack. She didn’t breathe easier until they were walking down the stairs of the front entrance. Her hands trembled with the effort to keep the magic she’d stolen contained, so she released it back to its owners.
“Amaya, wait!” Tracy called out, rushing down the stairs.
Amaya paused, anxious to see what her cousin would say. Tracy clutched her purse in her hand as she joined her at the SUV.
“I’m going with you. I swear I didn’t know about any of what they were planning. Grandfather asked to talk to you—just talk.”
Amaya searched her cousin’s eyes and found them shining with the truth. She nodded her head, already formulating how she would ask her mate to take in her cousin. No sooner than she’d opened the door to the truck, an explosion rocked the night. Heart stuck in her throat, she searched until she spotted her mate walking through the blown-up front gates. His men, clad in balaclavas, followed behind him, their pace unhurried, their guns lifted, pointed towards the main house.
Behind them, black SUVs slow-rolled up the driveway. Amaya raced to him, jumping into his arms. Levi lifted her as though she weighed nothing, swinging her away from the eyes that watched them from the front porch.
He cupped her cheek, anger making his eyes red. “Are you okay, beloved?”
She nodded. “Mom?”
“Richard confirmed that they were fine and the men they sent to my compound have met their ancestors.” His tone was furious.
