Page 102 of King

King barely looked away from Amara, but when he did, his eyes met Sibyl’s.

“Thank you.” His voice was low, raw with sincerity.

He’d heard whispers of her, of how she’d helped Susan escape when Ryker had been searching for her in the Realm. But something didn’t add up with Sibyl.

“Why stay?” His voice was rough with disbelief. “Why not leave this place?”

Sibyl smiled—a sad, knowing smile. “I have been waiting a long time for the Demon Slayer… Daniel.”

King studied her, hearing the quiet truth in her words.

“I will do anything I can to make sure he is successful. My discomfort is nothing compared to what he can do for the world.” She turned back to Amara, her eyes full of somethingancient and knowing. “She is very special, King. Take care of her.”

Then, without another word, she walked away. King followed her with his gaze before glancing at Daniel, who had been watching Sibyl intently.

Their eyes met for a brief second—then Daniel looked away.

A soft, raspy whisper made King freeze. “King?”

He looked down, and his heart nearly stopped.

Tears streamed down her face as she stared up at him. “You really are alive.”

King swallowed hard. “Thanks to you, I am.”

Then he crushed his lips to hers, pouring everything he couldn’t say into that kiss—his relief, his love, his desperate need to have her safe. He pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, warmth, and presence.

Amara pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning him with worry. “Are you okay? You’re really bloody.”

She reached up, tearing a strip from the hem of her gown, gently wiping a smear of blood from his cheek.

King swallowed hard, his throat was tight. For the first time in a long, long time, he felt the burn of tears. “Yeah.” His voice was thick. “I’m good now.”

Amara smiled faintly, her fingers still resting on his face. “I knew you’d come for me.”

His chest clenched at her words.

Then, her voice dropped to a whisper. “Please take me home. I really don’t like it here.”

She started to turn her head, but before she could see the carnage, the blood, the bodies of the creatures her blood was being infused into King shifted, blocking her view.

Daniel stepped forward, his face softer than before. “Bonnie is going to transport you back now.” He looked at Amara. “It’s not good for humans to stay in the Realm too long.”

Amara let out a weak, wobbly laugh, tears still glistening in her eyes. “I didn’t kill you.”

Daniel smiled. “No, you didn’t.”

Then his gaze flicked to King. “I had some badasses who had my back.”

King gave him a nod before pulling Amara closer, protecting her. Bonnie stepped up, silent. She touched King’s arm. As much as he hated transporting, he was ready to take Amara home where she belonged, and that was all that mattered.

CHAPTER 40

King grunted as he grabbed another broken piece of his kitchen table and hurled it out the back door. Two days. It had been two days since they’d torn his house apart. Now, he and Joey were left to clean up the wreckage. Not that he gave a damn because Amara was home.

When Bonnie had transported them back, she’d promised to go straight to the compound and let Joey know Amara was safe. King hadn’t wasted a second. He’d taken Amara upstairs, straight into the shower, carefully washing the blood from her body. She’d tried to return the favor, but exhaustion had weighed her down, her movements slow and weak. So, he’d done it himself, washing quickly before drying her off and carrying her to bed where he held her the rest of the night.

She had barely woken since. She’d only stirred to eat or use the bathroom, and every time she fell back asleep, it hit King like a gut punch. He wasn’t used to seeing her so still, so quiet. He told himself she just needed time. That she’d been through hell, literally. But the waiting was killing him.

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