Page 79 of Craving Carla

“Yara and Kofi are family now,” Anora explains with a wicked grin. “Let’s just say they’ve grown on me.”

“We’ve had quite a few human intruders on the land,” Amir adds, stepping forward. “Yara and Kofi have proven to be worthy guardians. They have adopted Solomon as one of their own, sworn to protect him until their deaths.”

“Yara, Kofi, come see your mother,” Anora calls.

My eyes widen with delight when the enormous spiders join us, magically appearing from the smallest spaces in the study. Their bodies are massive, each standing nearly four feet tall with legs spanning wider than a carriage wheel. One has a shiny black body with yellow markings down its back, while the other has a deep brown body with white spots near its eyes.

Carla runs across the study and throws her arms around each of them, kissing and greeting them with the unbridled joy of a mother reunited with her children.

“We not only have humans as our enemy,” Amir explains, “but also those stuck in limbo. At first, I didn’t understand why Mother Fate created them, but when they caught the first spirit trying to intrude upon our son, we understood. These creatures are the balance of the supernatural and paranormal realms. They give us an even playing field, just as they help humans with overpopulation of certain insects.”

Amir grins at me. “I know why you’re here.”

Carla finishes greeting Kofi and Yara, then returns to my side, taking my hand. “Come, let me introduce you to them,” she says, but Amir holds up his hand.

“What an interesting pairing. The Spider Queen with the legendary Amari Al-Baqar.” Amir’s eyes flash with amusement. “Tell me, Amari, does your fated mate know just exactly what atrocities you’re capable of?”

I look down at Carla, smiling when she clutches my arm protectively.

“Something tells me, she’d love you regardless,” Amir adds with a knowing look.

“This is not why we’re here,” I nearly growl.

Amir chuckles and looks to Anora. He teleports to her side and takes Solomon from her arms. He leans in and kisses both his son and Anora. “Anora, my love. I’d like to have a private discussion with Amari. Please take Carla with you.”

Carla clutches me harder, and Amir raises an eyebrow. I sigh, softening my expression as I look at her.

“Go, baby. Go get acquainted with your cousin,” I urge.

Anora nods to Amir and starts for the door, stopping and waiting for Carla. Carla looks up at Amir, still hesitant.

“Before I go, I want to ask you something,” she says. Amir smiles, waiting. “Amari’s heart beats for me, but I don’t have the fated scent. I don’t understand what that means.”

Amir steps closer to her and leans in, inhaling deeply. He grins as he opens his eyes. “Who told you that, Carla? I can smell the fated scent on you the same as I could with you being a Blackwood witch. Your scent is masked, and I know exactly why. Yara and Kofi have explained the reasoning, and I would have to agree that was—and still is—necessary.” He studies her for a moment. “Tell me, Carla, have you told Amari exactly what you’ve been through during your time in the shadows? Was it just my sister Aya you were hiding from?”

Carla looks up at me nervously, biting her lip. “I’ve been trying to forget that.”

I furrow my brow, confused by this exchange.

“Carla, you cannot heal until you release the pain you’re holding onto. And your children won’t let you go until you do,” Amir says gently. “Now, I’ll leave that discussion between you, Amari, and your newly joined families. I need to speak with Amari... alone.”

Carla bites her lip and nods, releasing her hold on me. She starts toward the door where Anora waits with Solomon, but stops, turns around, and runs back to me. She plants a gentlekiss on my lips that leaves me smiling. She’s finally opening up to me, and I know Amir’s confirmation is the doorway to that. But now I’m curious about what she’s hiding. What horrors did she face in the shadows?

Carla turns away and follows Anora out of the study. Now that Amir and I are alone, it’s time to get down to business. I look over at Yara and Kofi, who seem to be standing guard, protecting Amir.

He smiles at me, then begins circling me like a predator sizing up its prey.

“You’ve quite the background over the centuries,” he says, his voice full of authority. I glare at him, careful with my reactions. I know Amir could kill me with the simple snap of his fingers, so I need to approach with caution.

“Your works are impressive,” he continues. “You’ve taken what’s left of your fallen civilization and turned it into a new empire, the Medina Shadow Coven.”

He completes another circle around me. “Your efforts to neutralize the rise of white supremacy are quite remarkable. The way you’ve built your coven and corporation, winning the loyalty of humans and building your own formidable army. I always saw the potential in you, even when Damon first turned you.”

I clear my throat and adjust my suit as Amir circles me one last time, then stops in front of me. “I just can’t keep standing idle, watching my people suffer.”

Amir chuckles at that. “You don’t know the first thing about suffering.”

He walks over to the fireplace, the flames flickering across the room. “I’ve watched civilizations rise and fall for thousands of years. I told you more than once about meddling in human affairs. ‘To interfere with human affairs is to bind yourself to human suffering.’”

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