Page 81 of Craving Carla

Anora grabs my hand and pulls me over to the bed, sitting down and patting the space beside her. I join her, the mattress dipping slightly under our combined weight.

“I’m sorry for avoiding you,” I say, looking down at my hands. “I’m just tired of all the rejection. I thought you were going to return Yara and Kofi.”

Anora gently rubs my back, her touch comforting. “It’s okay. I understand why you stayed away.”

I glance toward the crib where Solomon sleeps peacefully. “I’m happy I have Amari. He’s amazing, but also maddening. Hehas a thirst not just for blood but for women.” I sigh, picking at a loose thread on my jeans. “And he hates Wintermoon.”

“Does that bother you? His hatred of Wintermoon?”

“Wintermoon is more of a home for me than he’ll ever understand.” I look up at her, needing her to grasp what this place means to me. “Before this, I had nothing but shadows and fear.”

“How do the children feel about him?” Anora asks, tilting her head.

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “They love him. They’re already calling him Daddy.”

Anora laughs, the sound light and musical. “That’s a good sign. It pleases me to know that you’re happy.” She squeezes my hand. “If anyone deserves to wake up every day with a smile, it’s you.”

“It’s happening really fast,” I admit.

Anora smiles knowingly. “That’s usually how it goes. When you find your fated mate, it kind of slams into you.”

“What do you think Amir’s doing to Amari?” I ask, suddenly worried.

Anora shrugs, unconcerned. “Probably not much. He knows how special this moment is for you. He’s not going to ruin it.”

I look down at my hands again. “I kind of already did that myself.”

Anora laughs and stands from the bed, shaking her head. “I highly doubt that. I saw the way Amari looked at you.” She crosses her arms, her expression softening. “Just by looking at him, it’s obvious the man is clearly enamored with you. He’s already lost in the mate bond.”

I stand and approach her, my stomach knotting with anxiety. “That’s great and all, but I can’t do much if I can’t feel the mate bond myself. I’m kind of stuck.”

“Your children love you deeply,” Anora says. “Maybe it would help if you reached out to them about lifting the veil.” She studies my face. “It really looks like you don’t mind them cloaking you.”

I run a hand through my curls, considering her words. “I guess I never really minded it. They’ve always been there for me, my children, always a comfort whenever I felt alone, always protecting me when I didn’t know I needed them.”

“It sounds like you lean on your children a little more than you should, and now they’ve come to expect it.” Anora’s voice is gentle but pointed.

“What are you saying?”

“Your worries are simple,” Anora says, her expression turning serious.

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I’m learning a lot about this new power.” She flicks her wrist, holding up her hand. The tips of her fingers start to turn black, including her nails, then a green firelight appears at her fingertips. “It’s dark magic, in its truest form.”

I take a step back, watching the flames dance across her skin.

“You may be the guardian, but I am the bomb,” she says, her voice low.

“What is Fate up to?” I whisper, more to myself than to her. “Why did she make us this way?”

Anora flicks her wrist again and the flames disappear. She shrugs, but her expression remains troubled. “I think about it every day. This is why Amir, and I cannot leave this palace.” She sighs, hanging her head. “Amir finds it to be a prison at times, but if something happens to him...” Her voice breaks. “I won’t be able to stop the darkness that’s creeping out of me, no matter how hard I try.”

I step forward and place my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

Anora leans into me, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into an embrace. Her body feels small against mine, fragile despite the tremendous power she carries.

“See, your problems are minimal compared to mine,” she says quietly.