Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
K ing 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 in Life magazine.”
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. “And Life magazine, huh? That’s a big deal.”
Amara shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. “It was just one photo. Right place, right time.”
“Bullshit.” King grinned. “You don’t just accidentally end up in Life magazine. That takes talent.”
She looked down at her cup, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Maybe.”
King watched her for a moment, then softened his tone. “So, what else don’t I know about you?”
Amara exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. “That’s about it.”
“So, you’re just a gamer girl turned photographer who loves her family and is fiercely loyal,” King said, his voice warm. “Oh, and got a picture featured in Life magazine.”
“Pretty much sums me up,” Amara laughed, exactly what King had been going for. “Dull, huh?”
“Far from dull.” His grin softened as he studied her. “Pretty exceptional, actually. What was the picture of, Amara?”
She hesitated momentarily, her gaze unfocused as if she had been pulled back into the memory. “I did some volunteer work after a tornado hit a small town in the area,” she began, her voice quieter. “It was devastating. Homes leveled, families shattered. We went in to help once first responders cleared the area, and of course, I had my camera.”
King leaned in slightly, listening intently.
“I saw an elderly couple standing in front of what used to be their home. It was as if a bomb had gone off...nothing but rubble. But they weren’t crying, they weren’t screaming. They just stood there, facing each other, their foreheads touching, holding on to each other like they were the only thing left standing.” She exhaled.
King remained silent, waiting for her to continue. She was unique in so many ways, but her heart was what drew him to her.
“I snapped the picture. It was a black and white photo because I feel that captures the sorrow more than color ever could.”
King watched as emotions flickered across her face, the weight of that moment still clinging to her. She was beautiful, but more than that, she had a depth to her, an empathy that made his chest tighten.
“Abel and Jackie Abner,” she continued, a small, sad smile on her lips. “They were high school sweethearts, married for fifty-five years. That house was their whole life. It was where they raised their kids and built their memories. And in seconds, it was gone.”
King nodded, feeling the weight of her words. “So, what did you do? Send it to Life magazine, hoping they’d publish it?”
“No.” Amara shook her head. “I posted it on my social media page, hoping to get them some help. To this day, I’m not really sure. I guess someone from Life saw it. I got a call the night I put it up. They wanted to buy the rights to the picture.”
King arched a brow. “You sold it?”
“Yes, but only under one condition...that every cent went to Abel and Jackie. They lost everything. It wasn’t mine to profit from. I would never profit off of someone’s heartbreak.”
King stared at her, admiration swelling in his chest. “You don’t see it, do you?”
She frowned, confused. “See what?”
“You,” he said simply. “You’re not just some photographer. You see people. You capture moments most would overlook. That’s not just talent, Amara—that’s heart.”
Amara looked away, a little flustered, but King wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily.
“So, what happened to them?” he asked. “The couple?”
“They rebuilt,” she said, a soft smile returning. “With the donations, the money from Life , and the kindness of strangers, they got a new home. A smaller one, but it was theirs.”
King nodded slowly. “That’s an incredible story.”
She met his gaze, something unspoken passing between them. “I guess I just believe that even in destruction, there’s still hope.”
King’s jaw tightened slightly. He wasn’t sure if she realized it, but she wasn’t just talking about the Abner’s at that moment. Maybe, in some way, she was talking about herself.
“Have you ever seen The Twilight Zone ?” Amara’s voice pulled King from his thoughts.
“What?” He wasn’t sure he had heard her right.
“The Twilight 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. This is my world. I live, eat, and breathe the Twilight Zone experience. 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.”