Page 41 of King

Her world was unraveling, and she had a feeling that by the time this was over, nothing would ever be the same. The foundation of everything she thought she knew about herself and the blood in her veins was cracking beneath her feet. The weight of Daniel’s words settled deep in her chest, an unspoken warning of a storm she wasn’t prepared for.

But as she looked at King, feeling the warmth of his presence beside her, she realized something else. No matter how much chaos came their way, she wasn’t facing it alone.

CHAPTER 20

King stood with Duncan and Daniel, watching Amara talk with the Mates, who were eager to meet her and offer their comfort and support. King was damn proud of his brothers and their Mates.

“Sloan is making calls to ensure this stays within the hospital's walls,” Duncan informed them, then looked at Daniel. “How are they going to try to use her, Daniel? What are we up against?”

“They can try all they want,” King growled, ready to jump out of his skin in rage, but managed to keep his shit together.

Daniel looked at King for a long moment; a grin tipped his lips before looking at Duncan. “Let me worry about the Realm,” Daniel replied, then glanced at his phone. “You guys worry about the bastards on this side coming for her. Listen, tell Mom I’ll see her tomorrow. I have something I need to take care of.”

As much as he liked and respected Daniel, King wanted to strangle the shit out of him. He said shit without finishing and just disappeared, leaving them standing there scratching their asses, trying to figure out what in the hell he was saying.

“You get used to it.” Duncan chuckled at King’s glare at Daniel’s retreating back.

“Really?” King cocked his eyebrow, looking at Duncan, not believing that for a minute.

Duncan chuckled, shaking his head. “No, not really.”

King snorted as Duncan walked away. His eyes found Amara, who gave him a pleading look as she stood amongst the Mates and Warriors.

Pushing himself off the wall, he headed her way. Reaching out his hand, she took it. “Come on. You need to drink something.” He said when a few of the Mates glared at him. “I’ll bring her back.”

“Well, you better,” Nicole huffed, crossing her arms. “Did you know she’s a photographer? She’s been to Africa. One of her pictures was published inLifemagazine.”

King’s eyes widened as he turned to Amara. “No, I didn’t know that.” His frown deepened as realization hit him. He didn’t know much about this woman at all, yet he would lay his fucking life down for her without hesitation.

“Well, hurry up because I want to hear more about her travels,” Tessa added, her excitement evident. “I’ve always wanted to go to Africa.”

“Honey, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, as long as it’s not somewhere with shit that can eat you,” Jared muttered, making a few of them chuckle as King and Amara stepped toward the door.

King held it open, following her into the hallway. Without thinking, he took her hand, his grip firm yet comforting as they walked. “I can’t go far.”

“We aren’t,” King reassured her, leading her into the family waiting room. “There’s coffee, and I can see down the hall from here. If Sloan shows up, I’ll know. Do you like coffee?”

“Not really, but I’ll take a cup.” Amara yawned, her gaze locked on the doorway. “How long do you think it will take? I didn’t even ask. I should have asked.”

“He didn’t say,” King replied, pouring her a cup. “Do you want sugar?”

“No, black is fine,” she murmured, taking a sip. “Thank you.”

King nodded, leaning against the wall where he could still keep an eye on the hallway. He could tell her mind was spiraling, trapped in worry about Joey, the surgery, and everything they’d just learned. He wanted to pull her away from that, even if only for a moment.

“So, who exactly are you, Amara Tarvin?” King asked, watching as the question caught her off guard.

She blinked, momentarily stunned. “Huh?”

“I realized that I don’t really know you.” King gave her a small smile, shrugging. “So, you’re a photographer?”

Amara hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. It started as a hobby, but it turned into something more.” She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes flickering with memories. “I’ve traveled a lot...Africa, South America, and parts of Europe. Photography lets me capture the world the way I see it.”

King leaned in slightly, intrigued. “And how do you see it?”

She tilted her head, studying him. “Raw. Beautiful. Brutal. Honest. The world doesn’t hide anything...it just is. People, on the other hand…” she trailed off, shaking her head with a frown. “People are complicated.”

King smirked. “That’s an understatement.” He crossed his arms, his gaze steady on her. “AndLifemagazine, huh? That’s a big deal.”

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