Page 147 of Craving Carla

“Majesty, please,” Damon tries again, his voice remarkably steady. “The problem is secure. Just give them time to release our king.”

Anora’s eyes flash dangerously. “Damon, if you don’t want to become dust with these humans, I suggest you get the fuck out of the way.”

Carla starts walking forward, her own magic still pooling from her hands. She looks to her children, scattered throughout the street.

“Children, get out of here,” she commands. “This is between me and Anora.”

They don’t need to be asked twice, scurrying away to hide in their corners and crevices. A grin slips onto my face as I watch them obey her so readily.

“Medina Shadow men,” Carla calls next. “Stand down.”

To my surprise, my soldiers listen, retreating to positions around the perimeter but keeping their distance from the confrontation brewing in the center of the street.

“Ah, you’ve finally lifted your veil,” Anora says, studying Carla with narrowed eyes. “How nice. Didn’t I warn you that it would come to this? That you would have to make a decision?”

“Just calm down, Anora,” Carla says, her voice level despite the magic still emanating from her hands. “I’ll free Amir.”

Anora laughs again, the sound darker than before. “Of course you will, after I kill all of the humans on this island. I’m sick of this shit. I’ve had enough. It’s time for them to learn who they are dealing with.”

“Please, Anora,” Carla says, her voice taking on a pleading edge. “Don’t make me.”

Anora shifts her hands toward a retail store where I know humans are hiding, green and black energy gathering at her fingertips as she prepares to unleash her fury.

In a flash of movement, Carla throws her hands forward. Pink web-like magic shoots from her palms, wrapping around Anora’s wrists. With a sharp downward motion of her hands, Carla slams Anora hard to the ground.

Anora quickly pulls herself to her feet as Carla retracts her magic back into her palms, the pink energy swirling around her fingers like living silk.

“Oh, so this is how it’s going to be,” Anora says, her voice deceptively calm. “That’s fine. I don’t mind beating your ass just to prove a point.”

Magic begins pooling in Anora’s hands again, the green and black energy crackling with barely contained power as she prepares to charge it at Carla.

Carla looks over at me, and I can see the worry in her eyes, but beneath it is something stronger—determination, resolve. She’s not backing down, not this time. Not even against the queen.

I grin at her, trying to communicate without words that I believe in her, that I’ll follow her wherever this path leads, even if it’s into darkness.

“I love you,” she mouths to me, almost as if it’s a goodbye.

But it’s not a goodbye I’ll accept. If she doesn’t survive this, I’m following her. It’s that simple. My life means nothing without her in it.

49

Carla

Ifeel the magic flowing through me, warming my body like liquid fire, sending waves of protection through every inch of my being. This isn’t confidence—this is pure survival instinct kicking in as I stare at Anora, who’s hovering in the air, dark magic pooling in her hands like toxic sludge.

Power hums, making the hair on my arms stand on end. Even the concrete beneath my feet seems to vibrate, responding to the clash of our energies.

My eyes shift to Amari, bloodied but still standing, then back to Anora. The darkness in her eyes terrifies me. I’ve seen her angry before, but this is something else entirely—something primal and untethered. Her eyes aren’t just dark—they’re bottomless pits, like looking into an abyss that could swallow worlds. The dark magic curling around her fingers pulses and writhes, like snakes eager to strike.

Anora laughs, the sound cold and hollow. “I don’t want your man,” she says, pointing a finger directly at me. “Oh no, I want you.”

My stomach drops as her magic swirls darker, green and black tendrils coiling around her fingers.

“I’m curious,” she continues, her voice dripping with venom. “Even in my travels to the future before I got my powers, you didn’t exist. Limbo didn’t exist. I took it all.” Her eyes narrow to slits. “So where the fuck did you come from?”

I take a step forward, my hands raised in what I hope is a calming gesture. “You don’t mean that, Anora. It’s the dark magic talking. Please, please calm down.”

“I’m done calming down for these humans,” she spits. “When are you going to get it?”