Page 86 of The Crownless King
“That’s what she has me for.” Levi captured her eyes and his magic invaded the female’s mind. Her mouth went slack, her eyes staring blankly ahead as he exerted his will over her. “Take yourself to my compound and wait for me there.”
Her glazed eyes blinked and she turned and walked away, heading straight for the exit. She didn’t even bother to drop the empty tray in her hand. He turned to his mate and Amaya watched the woman until the door closed. Leaning down, Levi kissed the frown lines on her forehead.
“My lil rider,” he murmured.
Amaya scoffed and hit his arm. “I’m queen now. And people gon’ feel me behind you.”
A happy chuckle was his answer to that. He guided them back into the ballroom and they mingled. Every now and again, his eyes drifted to the male the server had pointed out. Levi wanted to see if he could tell who the male was associated with. Unfortunately, due to the setting, it was impossible to tell. The male was concealing his magic and didn’t spend excessive time with one group over the other. He did as everyone else was doing at the event, securing contacts and rubbing shoulders with the city’s powerful members.
Amaya’s hand skimmed his chest. “How long will we have to be here?”
He checked his watch and realized they’d been here an hour. “You ready to go?”
“I don’t like the way these people talk to you,” she murmured, her arms going around his waist. “And I’m sick of them staring.”
He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Have you seen yourself in this dress? Of course, they’re staring.”
“King,” she said shyly, a smile curling her lips.
“We can go if you’re ready.” He pulled her into his erection. “I been ready to get you out of this dress.”
She giggled softly. “You so mannish.”
Levi looked up and nodded at his men. They formed a circle around him and he clasped his hand with Amaya’s. He passed Lucian on the way to the door.
“You’ve brought your mate out. Bold,” Lucian commented.
Anger clouded his vision for a moment until Amaya gripped his hand, the cool touch of her magic clearing the murderous thoughts from his mind.
“Lucian, I feel like you threatening my mate, and I would rethink that decision,” he said after he’d corralled his temper.
Lucian smiled. “The Buru have been overrunning the city. What good are you to the Collective if you can’t even do the job assigned to you?”
Levi pulled Amaya behind him and stepped to Lucian. “I don’t work for the Collective. Go ahead and say what your scary ass is tap dancing around.”
Like the coward Levi knew he was, Lucian backed down. “You’ve missed the last two meetings. I think at the next one, I’ll make a motion for you to be expelled.”
“That don’t mean shit to me.” Levi jumped at Lucian and snickered when he flinched. “Bitch ass. I’ll be seeing you around,” he promised the border mage.
He guided Amaya around the cowering councilman to their waiting SUV. She clutched his hand tight, not releasing it until he helped her into the back seat. Sebastian slipped off his mask the moment the SUV pulled out and turned to Levi.
“He all but admitted to allowing the Buru past his borders.”
Levi nodded. “Yeah, but he won’t say that shit out loud.”
“Isn’t that some type of dereliction of duty?” Amaya asked.
“Only if we can prove it,” Levi answered.
He leaned his head back onto the seat, his mind spinning. Proving that Lucian was allowing the Buru into the South would go a long way to getting him replaced on the Collective. But would that be enough to keep his mate safe from their retaliation?
Chapter thirty-two
Two weeks.
That’s how long Levi had been on the edge. The governor’s ball had been two weeks ago, and despite Lucian’s fake ass bravery, the Collective had made no moves against Levi or Amaya. He’d had her schedule moved to the evenings so that he would be able to get to her faster if something went down. Plus, it settled him to know she would be in his arms safely when he slept.
It was probably the only reason why his nerves weren’t completely frazzled.
