Page 30 of The Crownless King

Raven nodded. “My mate built it. Some of the enforcers live in the cabins that are scattered around the grounds instead of the big house.”

Raven walked with them, pointing out the other parts of the compound and explaining how Levi and his coven had expelled the Buru vampires who had set up the place. She even explained how the staff had come with the house, seemingly under some kind of spell that tied them to the place. No one had been able to break that spell.

“How is it being back on a compound?” Amaya remembered that Raven had vowed never to go back to her family’s compound. They had bonded over it.

“I thought it would feel suffocating, but Bas is good about taking me out. It keeps me from feeling trapped.”

“Tell me about it,” Amaya muttered.

Raven gave her a sympathetic nod. “I can’t believe you were impulsive enough to make a deal with a Bayi vampire,” her friend gently chided.

“Trust me, Raven, I’m understanding my foolish decision.”

“Are you getting along any better with Levi?”

She gave her friend a droll look and Raven chuckled.

“The only person I know more stubborn than you is him,” she told her. “He’s a sweet man under all that power.”

“He should rid himself of the Akachi before it’s too late,” her mother spoke.

“I’ve warned him,” Raven said.

“How long has he had it?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s going on eight months.”

Amaya frowned. That was long.

“Is your room comfortable, Ms. Anita?”

Her mother nodded. “Very comfortable, and you know, I never thought I would feel so safe in a house full of vampires. This is the safest I’ve ever felt since I left my family’s compound.”

Raven rubbed her mother’s arm.

“It’s a beautiful night. There’s not a lot of people watching to do here, though,” her mother said offhand.

Amaya chuckled. “That’s for sure. You were liable to see all kinds of things in our old neighborhood.”

“I can feel him on the edges of the compound, but now that we’re not at the house, he doesn’t come close,” Anita said, sighing.

Amaya frowned and looked at her mother. “Who are you talking about, mom?”

“It’s a beautiful night,” her mother said instead. “Perhaps he’ll come see me.”

Her heart pounded. “Mom.”

Anita turned to her and her eyes were clouded. “Amaya, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

Her shoulders slumped and Amaya gave Raven a regretful look. “I should take her back inside.”

“Can we sit out here?” her mother asked, surprising her. “Maybe in the front,” Anita said softly.

“Okay, mom. Rain check on tea?” Amaya asked.

“Of course. Good night, Ms. Anita.” Raven wrapped her mother in a gentle hug.

Her mother smiled with no recognition in her gaze. Amaya turned and walked her back around the house to the front. She was surprised to see a hanging swing on the front porch. Had it been there before? Guiding her mother gently into it, Amaya sat beside her. They sat in silence until her mother sighed.