Page 159 of Craving Carla
“I’m sorry,” he says, looking genuinely contrite.
I huff in frustration. “We are fated mates, Amari. I should know when you’re struggling with something. This bothers me.”
“What can I do to fix this?” he asks earnestly. “I don’t like my queen unhappy.”
I glance at the men and say loudly enough for them to hear, “I hope you end up in limbo so Vertro can feed on your souls.” They struggle harder against their restraints, eyes wide with terror.
“Does the king know about this?” I ask, turning back to Amari.
“Yes,” he admits. “I mentioned my struggles, and this was the solution—so long as I keep it under the radar.”
“So everyone knows but me,” I say, huffing again.
Amari’s lips form a perfect pout that would look ridiculous on anyone else but somehow works on him.
“You are making up for this,” I tell him firmly.
“I will do anything,” he promises.
“Good. I’ll see you after your meal.”
I kiss him again, and he responds with all the love and devotion that has defined our relationship this past year. His lips move against mine with familiar passion, his hands cradling my face as if I’m something precious, something irreplaceable. I can taste his hunger—not just for blood, but for me, always for me.
When I pull away, his golden eyes are darker, watching me with steady intent.
“Later, Bobby,” I say, and he gives me the Black Panther salute before bowing his head respectfully.
I blow a kiss at Tofi, who taps her feet excitedly, sending images spelling out “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, baby,” I respond, then turn and walk out of the office.
The doors slam shut behind me, and I grin wickedly when I hear the men’s screams until they abruptly stop. I look up at the large foyer and the beautiful stained-glass ceiling of our castle. It’s reminiscent of Amari’s life in Granada—he wanted a design that would keep a piece of himself alive in our home.
I release my magic, letting pink threads spill from my fingertips to form a suspended web bed in the air. I rise to it and settle in, listening to the sounds of Medina Shadow men playing with Kemnebi and Moria—the thud of a bouncing ball and bursts of laughter.
I have a happy home—the home I always dreamed of. I think about when I first arrived at Wintermoon, how much I struggled, how Amir saw me for who I was: just another supernatural looking for sanctuary. He gave me that, along with a job at the sheriff’s station. It was a beginning, but this—this is where I was always meant to be.
Sadness fills me as I think of Verde and Petra, mourning for my fallen children. But it was their death that brought me Amari, this magnificent, beautiful, charming, arrogant assholeof a vampire who lives to serve me. I realize that I haven’t been serving him in return, and that’s about to change. I should have known he was struggling, but I’ve been too busy with limbo and training Vertro.
The doors to the office open, and Amari walks into the middle of the foyer, looking up to see me in my web bed. I send down a magical thread, wrapping it around him and pulling him up to join me. He moves next to me, pulling me close against his side.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” I ask, reaching into his suit jacket to pull out his handkerchief. I use it to clean the small traces of blood from the corners of his mouth.
“I’m sorry for hiding it from you,” he says, his expression solemn.
I shake my head and caress his face. “I love you, Amari. More than you understand.”
“My beautiful queen—” he begins, but I stop him before he can pull me into a kiss.
“Yes, queen, but fated mate first,” I remind him. “Stop putting my status before our mate bond.”
“It won’t happen again,” he promises.
“It better not,” I say, finally allowing him to kiss me.
“I love you too,” he murmurs against my lips, his hand moving to my breast as he deepens the kiss.
Amari breaks away, moving his lips down to my neck, planting gentle kisses that make me shiver. I wrap my arms around him, savoring the feeling of his beating heart against my body. I look up at the crystal glass window above us, smiling wickedly. I love how much Amari yearns for me, loves me, craves me.
It’s a love I want to last forever, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it does—no matter what battles lie ahead, no matter what sacrifices Fate demands of me.
Because this—this man, these children, this home—is worth fighting for.
This is my happily ever after, bathed in shadow and light.
The End
For now…
