Epilogue
The fading rays of the sun reflected off Amaya’s brown skin, enticing Levi forward from his spot below deck.
He’d spent the last twenty minutes watching his mate, fascinated by her mere existence.
A year ago, his mind was lost to the power of the Akachi stone, losing hope every day that he would ever be free of its clutches.
Then along came his queen.
After Sebastian had mated with Raven, Levi had given some thought to mating himself, but it had never seemed plausible. Now, he couldn’t imagine life without her.
This yacht trip was a long overdue mini vacation and they’d spent the last three days floating aimlessly on the Atlantic.
When they weren’t below deck christening every surface of their state room, they were up top, fishing, swimming, lounging and loving on each other.
He’d wanted to take her further, to some place exotic, but his mate had nixed the idea.
Ever present in his mind, she saw his worry for their coven and told him that she would be content staying close.
He promised her a week, and although he knew his desk would be piled high with work when he returned, every hour he spent relaxing with her would be worth it.
The last six months had been hectic. Levi was cleaning house in the Collective and working with the other Bayi coven masters to formulate some type of governance for them.
That was all on top of his regular work.
This getaway was absolutely needed.
Lifting the bucket and fishing gear at his feet, Levi moved onto the deck, towards his baby doll.
He stood over her, his mouth watering at the expanse of skin her orange bikini exposed.
Her mahogany skin was burnished deeper from the last two days she’d spent soaking up the sun.
It made her glow. He smiled at the anklet, the only jewelry she wore.
It was a delicate gold chain, a crown, and the letter L dangling from it.
Stooping, he lifted her leg, placing a kiss on it. Amaya smiled from beneath the hat she had pulled over her face.
“You’re awake.” She pushed the hat aside, her eyes sparkling. “You finna try fishing again? Do you think you’ll finally catch something?”
He laughed at her smart fucking mouth, sitting and draping her legs across his lap. “Hating ass. Don’t ask for none of my fish when I catch it either.”
Her laugh soothed his soul. She leaned forward and cupped his cheeks, kissing him. “Good evening, my love.”
Swiping his tongue between her lips, he pushed inside, deepening their kiss. The sound of an approaching speedboat interrupted them. The enforcers hidden on the boat came out, their eyes trained on the intrusion.
‘Settle,’ he ordered his men.
He knew exactly who was coming to visit. They melted back into the shadows of the approaching night and Levi turned his attention to his queen.
“Cover up, baby doll. We got company.”
She pouted, a sexy moue of her lips before lifting a dress over her head. Magic vibrated through the air, and both their heads raised. Above them, a dragon soared, keeping watch as it had for the past three days they’d been out on the yacht.
“That will never not be amazing,” Amaya whispered.
Levi stood and helped Amaya out of her lounger. They walked aft, awaiting the occupants of the speedboat. Nathanial Latham and his son Khalil tied down their boat and climbed aboard. Levi waited patiently for them to reach the upper deck.
“Your Highness,” Nathanial greeted as they joined them. He nodded to Amaya with a smile. “Queen.”
“What was so urgent it couldn’t wait a few more days?” Levi asked leaning against the railing.
“We didn’t come to interrupt your vacation, but since you’re floating in our territory, I figured we may as well update you. Saves us the trip into Black Hollow, and my wife would like the two of you to have dinner with us before you leave to go back to Georgia,” Nathanial told them.
“We would love to!” Amaya said.
‘Would we?’
She snickered. ‘Yes, King. We can’t fuck nonstop for seven days.’
‘Says who?’
Amaya hit his chest with a soft chuckle.
“Have you cleared the northern borders?” Levi directed to the Lathams.
“Of course,” Khalil scoffed. “We’re working on the western border as well. Lucian let a lot of shit slide that we won’t.”
His answer reassured Levi. “Do you foresee any issues?”
“Not once we knock a few heads off,” Khalil said.
“Son,” Nathanial chided.
“Just saying, Pop,” the mage added with a shrug.
Levi appreciated the way the family operated, so he knew the shit would be taken care of.
“How long will y’all be out here?” Nathanial asked.
“I promised my queen a full week with no work.”
Khalil grinned. “The king is whipped.”
“And is,” Amaya answered with a wide smile.
The four of them laughed before Khalil and his father looked up at the circling dragon. Nathanial tilted his head before nodding.
“Anything I need to know?” Levi squinted at the sky.
“Just my sons switching shifts. Gotta protect the king and queen.” Nathanial dipped his head with a smirk that his queen returned.
‘Quit smiling so fucking hard at this muthafucker,’ Levi grumbled at his mate, showing all thirty-two of her teeth at these charming mages.
Amaya snorted and patted his chest. “Would the two of you like to join us for dinner?”
“I appreciate the offer, your Highness, but my mates are expecting me home. But I look forward to hosting the two of you at our home,” Nathanial said.
‘I’m going to shower. Meet you back up for dinner in a few?’
Levi nodded and kissed her temple, watching her leave. He turned back to the Lathams. “Was there anything else you needed?”
Nathanial shook his head. “Like I said, we were just checking in.”
“I appreciate it,” he said, and meant it.
Dealing with the Lathams was much easier than his experience with Lucian. He escorted the men from the boat and came back up in time to watch the staff set dinner out. His shoulders relaxed as he breathed in the briny scent of the sea. This had been a good idea.
Amaya returning to the deck caught his attention, looking beautiful in a simple, cobalt floral maxi dress.
It whipped around her body with the lazy sea breeze.
He held out his elbow, kissing her forehead as she joined their arms together.
He pulled out her chair, but instead of waiting on her to sit, he sat first and pulled her into his lap.
“I told Tracy that we would bring her out on the yacht the next time we came,” she informed him.
“That should be fun,” he murmured, nuzzling into her neck.
She snorted. “Thank you for allowing her to stay with us.”
“You don’t have to thank me for taking care of your family. What’s important to you, is important to me.”
Even if it meant he had to allow her Uncle Paul to still live in the world.
It was her mother’s plea that had stayed his hand this time.
Amaya had been resigned to her uncle’s fate, but he couldn’t ignore the request from his mother-in-law.
His mate had gone no contact with the male, and as far as Levi knew, the family was keeping him out of trouble.
She kissed him, placing light, teasing pecks all over his face. “Still. Thank you, King.”
She turned as the staff set their plates on the table. He knew from the smirk on her face that she was finna say something smart.
“I know you didn’t catch this one.” She pointed at the grilled fish.
“I got something better you can do with that smart ass mouth,” he grumbled.
Her smile widened and she cupped his cheeks. “You so nasty, King.”
Still, she shuffled from his lap, her knees hitting the deck in front of him a moment later. His chest rumbled in hunger as she freed his dick from his shorts. Levi closed his eyes, ready to savor the warmth of his mate’s mouth.
Through everything they’d been through, he wouldn’t trade a second with Amaya. All the responsibility on his shoulders was a lot, but the ability to take this break…this time with his mate made every sacrifice worth it.
It was good to be king.