The Beast Tamer's Awakening: Amaya and the White Tiger King-Chapter 14: THE SHADOW PRIESTESS MOVES

The first thing Amaya felt when she opened her eyes was warmth.

Not the gentle warmth of morning light.

This warmth was alive.

Protective.

Wild.

Her gaze fluttered open, and she recognized it instantly.

Leo.

He was sitting beside her, one knee drawn up, elbow resting casually on it, but there was nothing casual about the way he watched the entrance of the Lunar Sanctuary. Every muscle in his body was coiled and alert, tail flicking in precise, rhythmic movements.

Like a predator waiting for the slightest reason to strike.

But Amaya noticed something else.

He was exhausted.

Not physically — his body looked steady and powerful as always — but his eyes...

Soft shadows sat beneath them, faint but there.

His breathing was slow, deliberate, controlled.

He hadn’t slept.

Not even a moment.

She sat up quietly, not wanting to startle him.

But Leo’s ears twitched, and his gaze snapped to her instantly.

"You’re awake," he said, voice low.

She nodded. "You didn’t sleep."

Leo didn’t deny it.

Instead, he rose to his feet smoothly in one motion, a ripple of power through his form. "Your energy stabilized a few hours ago. I waited for you to wake naturally."

She studied him.

"Leo... I’m fine. You could have rested."

He looked at her with a hint of irritation — not at her, but at the suggestion.

"Amaya, if anything happened while I slept—"

She smiled softly. "Nothing did."

Leo blinked, startled by the simplicity of her reassurance.

Then, slowly, he looked away.

"...I didn’t want to look away from you."

Her heart skipped.

Before she could respond, a low hum vibrated through the Sanctuary — the Moonwell reacting.

Leo’s expression sharpened.

"Your power is changing again," he murmured.

The shimmering water glowed brighter, casting silver light across Amaya’s skin. She inhaled sharply as the glow curled around her like soft tendrils.

It didn’t hurt.

But it felt... old.

Ancient.

Like something deep inside her was being called.

"What’s happening?" she whispered.

Leo stepped behind her, steadying her shoulders from instinct.

"The Moonwell responds only to bloodlines with lunar affinity," he murmured. "Our kind. Beastlords. And..."

He hesitated.

"Beast Tamer royalty."

Amaya’s breath caught.

"So it’s reacting to me because—"

"Because you’re awakening," Leo finished quietly.

A ripple of energy spread from the Moonwell, drifting toward the Sanctuary’s arched ceiling before dissipating into the air.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

"That signal... someone might sense it."

"Someone like the Shadow Priestess?" Amaya asked.

Leo’s fingers tightened slightly on her shoulders—a silent confirmation.

She swallowed.

"What do we do?"

Leo lowered his head toward her, his warm breath brushing her ear as he answered.

"We leave. Immediately."

She blinked. "Where?"

His tail flicked, restless.

"To my kingdom."

Amaya stiffened. "Your... kingdom?"

He nodded once.

"My territory covers the entire northern range. It’s fortified. Guarded. No enemy enters without losing a limb."

"Leo—"

He turned her gently to face him. His eyes were intent, serious, glowing faintly gold.

"You’re not safe in the Sanctuary anymore. The Moonwell’s reaction will spread through the mana streams... the Priestess has seekers who can trace it. She will know the Awakening has started."

Amaya swallowed.

"So she’ll come for me."

Leo didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

Instead, he wrapped his tail around her waist in a protective coil — a gesture so instinctual she felt his whole temperament shift, growing sharper, more territorial.

She had seen him protective before.

But this...

This was different.

"Leo?" she whispered. "Are you okay?"

"No," he said bluntly. "Because I should have taken you to my territory from the moment you arrived in this world."

He cupped her cheek gently.

"We stay there. Under my protection. Under my laws. Under my roof."

Her cheeks heated.

"That sounds like... a lot."

"Good," Leo replied simply. "You need a lot."

He sounded frighteningly close to pulling her against him, but—

A sudden crack of thunder split the Sanctuary air.

Amaya jolted.

"What was that?!"

Leo’s expression darkened.

He moved in front of her instantly, posture tense.

"They’re here."

Her heart lurched.

"Who?"

Leo’s ears flattened.

"Shadow beasts."

He reached for her hand.

"Stay behind me."

But when Amaya looked at the Moonwell, her breath stopped.

The silver water had turned black.

Completely.

Like ink swallowing the light.

Leo hissed, fur bristling under his skin. "Damn it... the Priestess corrupted the Well remotely."

"How? She’s nowhere near—"

"She doesn’t need to be near. The Moonwell is connected to the leyline that runs under this forest. If she tainted even one segment..."

Dark smoke drifted from the surface of the corrupted water.

Shapes moved inside.

Twisted, clawed, feral.

The first shadow beast pulled itself out, dripping corruption.

Amaya staggered back. "That thing—"

"Is a Scout Class Shade," Leo finished, placing a hand in front of her. "Weak alone. Deadly in packs."

"Packs?!"

And then —

More claws emerged.

More black limbs.

More hollow, glowing purple eyes.

Four...

Seven...

Nine...

Leo’s voice dropped to a cold snarl.

"She sent a hunting party."

Amaya’s heart hammered.

"What do they want?!"

Leo tightened his grip on her hand.

"You."

One of the beasts lunged.

Leo pulled Amaya behind him and slashed his claw through the air.

White, blazing energy exploded outward, ripping the beast in half.

Its corpse dissolved into black mist.

But the others didn’t retreat.

They circled.

Stalking.

Hissing.

Leo stepped forward, tail uncurling from Amaya as he lowered into a feral stance.

"Amaya," he said sharply. "Listen to me. If anything goes wrong — run north. My kingdom is in that direction. Don’t look back."

Her chest tightened.

"What about you?!"

He didn’t answer.

Instead, Leo’s voice shifted — deeper, resonant, filled with command.

"Close your eyes."

She hesitated.

"Leo—"

"Amaya," he growled softly. "Close them."

She obeyed.

And the moment her eyes shut—

The Sanctuary exploded with light.

A roar tore through the chamber.

Not just a sound.

A force.

A shockwave.

Leo’s White Tiger aura ripped through the air in a blinding flash of silver and gold. Stone cracked beneath his feet. The beasts screeched in agony as the light burned their shadows away. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Amaya’s breath caught even with her eyes closed.

Power radiated from him like a storm.

He wasn’t holding back.

Not even slightly.

When the roar faded, Amaya slowly opened her eyes.

Nearly every beast was gone.

Only three remained, trembling, backing away from Leo with fearful shrieks.

Leo stepped forward.

He didn’t speak.

Didn’t warn.

He simply vanished.

Faster than eyes could follow.

A flash of white.

A ripple of air.

Three heads hit the ground before the bodies realized they’d been struck.

The Sanctuary fell silent.

Amaya stared at Leo, chest rising and falling in disbelief.

He turned toward her slowly.

His stripes glowed faintly through his skin.

His pupils were narrow, predatory slits.

The beast inside him was still awake.

Still watching.

Still wanting.

"Leo...?"

He inhaled, chest expanding, then exhaled shakily as his eyes slowly softened back to normal.

He approached her.

"Are you hurt?"

She nodded no.

Leo scanned her anyway — eyes trailing from her head to her toes, checking for wounds, corruption, tremors, anything.

Then he pulled her into his arms without warning.

Amaya gasped, face pressed against his chest.

His tail wrapped around her waist instantly, pulling her closer.

"Leo—!"

"You scared me," he said quietly.

Her eyes widened.

He buried his face in her hair, breath uneven.

"You looked afraid. I never want to see you afraid again."

Her hands tightened around his shirt.

"...I wasn’t afraid of them," she whispered. "I was afraid of losing you."

Leo stiffened — as if struck.

Then slowly...

his arms tightened.

"Amaya," he breathed, voice rough. "Don’t say things like that unless you mean them."

"I do."

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Electric.

Leo pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes burning gold.

"We’re leaving now," he said. "Before the Priestess sends something worse."

She nodded.

"What about the Moonwell?"

"It’s corrupted. Useless until purified. My kingdom has stronger barriers — and healers who can stabilize your awakening."

Amaya swallowed.

"Leo... what happens when I fully awaken?"

He brushed a thumb over her cheek.

"Your power will either bloom..."

He paused.

"...or devour you."

Her breath caught.

Leo leaned his forehead against hers.

"I won’t let it devour you."

She closed her eyes.

"Then don’t leave me."

His breath trembled.

"I won’t."

He lifted her gently, easily, into his arms.

Amaya’s cheeks burned. "Leo— I can walk!"

"I know," he said, shifting her securely against his chest. "But I’m not letting you touch corrupted ground. Or risk fainting again. Or fall. Or trip. Or breathe wrong."

She stared at him. "That’s... excessive."

"That’s love," Leo said before he realized what he’d said.

They both froze.

Amaya’s pulse thundered.

Leo cleared his throat — ears twitching faintly — and corrected himself.

"That’s instinct."

Amaya smiled softly.

"Sure."

He shot her a glare that held no real heat.

Then he carried her toward the Sanctuary entrance.

But before they could leave—

A dark, echoing whisper filled the chamber.

"Found you."

Leo froze.

Amaya’s heart dropped.

From the corrupted Moonwell, a shape emerged.

Not a beast.

Not a scout.

A woman.

Tall.

Mist-like.

Eyes glowing violet.

Her voice was anyone’s nightmare.

The Shadow Priestess herself.

But only a projection — a spirit form.

She smiled.

"Well done, White Tiger King. I didn’t expect you to break my scouts so easily."

Leo growled, tail snapping violently behind him.

"Come any closer," he warned, "and I’ll tear your spirit in two."

"Oh?" she purred. "Feisty."

Her eyes slid to Amaya.

And her smile stretched.

"So the little heir has awakened enough to shine. Wonderful. The seal will break sooner now."

Amaya trembled. "What seal?!"

The Priestess smirked.

"You’ll learn soon, child. When your power consumes everything around you."

Leo took a step forward, fury radiating off him.

"Your words mean nothing. You won’t touch her."

"Oh, I won’t need to touch her."

Her voice deepened.

"I only need her heart to break."

Leo’s roar shook the Sanctuary.

But the projection dissolved into black smoke.

Gone.

Amaya stared at the empty air, shaking.

Leo clutched her tighter.

"She’s trying to scare you," he murmured lowly. "Don’t listen."

Amaya buried her face in his chest.

"Leo... I’m scared."

He lowered his chin to her hair, wrapping her protectively.

"Then I’ll hold you until you aren’t."

His heart pounded hard — steady, strong, constant.

"Leo?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"...Please don’t disappear again."

His grip tightened.

"I swear. Even if death drags its claws through the earth... I will never leave your side."

He shifted her weight and sprinted from the Sanctuary.

The forest parted for him.

The moon followed them.

The shadows fled.

And far behind...

The corrupted Moonwell pulsed once.

Twice.

Then a faint, ancient heartbeat echoed beneath the earth.

Something sealed...

was waking up.

To be continued...

END OF Chapter 14