Page 43 of King

“TheTwilight Zone,” she repeated, still staring out into the hallway before finally turning to look at him. “Have you ever seen it?”

King frowned slightly but nodded. “Yeah, I have.”

She let out a small, breathy laugh and shook her head. “I feel like I’m living in one of the episodes.” Her voice was quieter now. “Like... is this really happening? I mean, a guy with white swirling eyes that glow tells me I may be a weapon against him and that he’s the Demon Slayer. I don’t even know what that is. I have humans, vampires, and God only knows what else after me. It’s insane, or maybe I’m going insane.”

King observed her carefully, noticing the slight tremor in her hands as she held her coffee cup. Without thinking, he knelt before her, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. Daniel had been right. The gold in her iris was fading, changing into her own color.

“Listen to me,” he said, his voice steady as he reached out and took her free hand. His grip was firm yet gentle, grounding her. He wanted to be as honest as possible without causing her to spiral.

“I know it feels like everything is unraveling. Like you woke up in a different world, and nothing makes sense anymore.” He exhaled, searching for the right words. “But you’re not alone in this. Thisismy world. I live, eat, and breathe theTwilight Zoneexperience. I got you, Amara. I will help you through this, as will every single Warrior in that room.”

“That would’ve been the perfect moment for you to say…Welcome to my world,” she teased after a long pause, her voice soft yet steady.

King huffed out a small laugh, shaking his head. “Believe me, I thought about it,” he admitted with a solemn nod. “But I went with the heroic theme instead to impress you.”

Amara chuckled, the tension in her shoulders easing just a fraction. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze still locked onto his. “I’m glad I met you, King.”

His smirk softened into something more genuine, more real. “Me too, Amara,” he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand. “Me too.”

CHAPTER 21

Joey’s surgery lasted about two hours, followed by another hour in recovery. Now, he was back inside his own room with only her and King. They were waiting for his dinner since he had been given the green light to eat something light.

Slade assured them the procedure had gone exceptionally well, though she found it odd that the surgeon hadn’t spoken to them personally. Still, she trusted Slade’s word. Joey, still groggy from the anesthesia, was hilarious. His usual humor elevated to an entirely new level. She laughed at first, but her smile faded as her thoughts took a darker turn.

Watching him and King talk, she wasn’t really listening. Her mind spiraled into fears she couldn’t shake. At first, she had only been afraid of losing Joey as she watched him lay in the hospital bed. But now, a new fear gripped her heart. Was she the real danger to Joey? By staying close to him, was she putting him at risk? The thought made her physically nauseous.

“What am I going to do now that my dad is dead?” Joey’s question pulled her from her thoughts. Looking up, she saw him watching her, his gaze steady but filled with uncertainty.

“I’m waiting for the funeral home director to call me back,” Amara replied, then frowned when Joey shook his head. “What?”

“I mean, what is going to happen to me?” His gaze shifted away for a second before locking back onto hers. “I’m not eighteen. Will I have to go into foster care?”

“Joey,” Amara sighed, stunned he would even think that. “Do you really think I would allow you to go into foster care?”

“Listen, I’m not dumb,” Joey replied, shrugging. “I mean, why would you want to be saddled with a kid? Plus, you travel so much, and I’d get in the way. I know after Mom left, Dad couldn’t do a lot of stuff because of me. I just don’t want to do that to you.”

Amara’s heart sank. She loved her brother, but hearing Joey question his own worth shattered her. She knew where it came from...Lee. His father had made Joey feel like a burden more times than she could count. She had witnessed it and stepped in when she could, but the damage had already been done. Joey had learned to believe he was in the way, an inconvenience, and now, even in the wake of his father’s death, that belief still lingered.

She reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. “You’re my family. That means you stay with me, no matter what.” Amara smiled at him. “And if I need to travel for work, we will do it when you’re out of school...together.”

Joey studied her for a long moment as if searching for any hint of hesitation. Finally, he nodded, but the doubt in his eyes didn’t entirely fade. That broke her heart even more. She would prove to him that he wasn’t unwanted, that he wasn’t an obligation. He was her nephew, and she would fight for him, no matter what it took.

“Do you know what happened to your dad?” King asked, breaking the silence. “I talked to a few of your friends, and they said you were afraid of something.”

Amara’s chest tightened with unease. She wasn’t sure Joey was ready for this conversation, not yet. The boy had just come out of surgery, his mind still foggy, his emotions raw. But King, ever the protector, didn’t hesitate. He was steady and patient. She knew what he was doing. He needed answers. They all did.

She wanted to stop him, to tell him it was too soon, that Joey needed rest, not an interrogation. But before she could say anything, Joey spoke.

“I knew something was wrong,” he admitted quietly, his fingers gripping the blanket. “Dad was acting weird. More paranoid than usual.” Joey swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. “I asked him what was wrong. He wouldn’t tell me what, though. Told me to mind my business and stay out of his.”

Amara’s stomach twisted. She had known Lee wasn’t the best father, but this? This was something else entirely. She exchanged a glance with King, who remained unreadable, but she could see the tension in his jaw.

Joey exhaled shakily. “The night he died, he got a call. I didn’t hear everything, just bits and pieces. He was yelling, saying he didn’t know where you were and that he was trying to find out.They weren’t giving him enough time or something like that.” His voice wavered, and he shook his head. “I don’t know who he was talking to, but he sounded scared. I’ve never heard my dad scared like that.”

A chill crawled down Amara’s spine. “He said my name?”

“No,” Joey glanced at her. “He said, my sister.”

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