Page 9 of Craving Carla

“How can I help Wintermoon?” I ask. “I’ve heard the place has become a fortress with the Ash Clan. I don’t see how I’d be necessary.”

His green eyes brighten with something like excitement. “You’re an innovator, Amari. You always have been. With this tech firm you’ve built over the centuries, you have something in your arsenal that can help us.”

“Having more problems with radical humans?”

He nods. “We had someone maintaining security over our borders—better than any security we’ve ever had—but radicals have found a way to overpower our current system.”

I sit on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb my resting friend. “Let’s start by discussing the security you have in place. Maybe I can improve what you already have.”

“We’ve pulled that security for good reason. I need a new system entirely, and I know you can help with that.”

I lean back slightly, studying my sire. There’s something he’s not telling me, some piece of information he’s holding back. It’s there in the way his eyes keep drifting to my little friend, in the subtle shift of his scent.

“I suppose my visit to Wintermoon will happen sooner than anticipated.”

“I’ll arrange something on King Amir’s Island,” Damon offers.

I hold up a hand. “That won’t be necessary. I own property throughout Michigan. I’ll stay close by, but outside the border.”

Damon’s eyes narrow. “Still have an aversion to the Master Vampire Coven?”

I laugh. “Old habit. Help me refresh my memory—didn’t King Amir have to execute the leaders of his coven for corruption? Something that keeps happening?”

“We’re working on that,” Damon says through gritted teeth.

“I’m sure you are.”

The Master Coven is a cesspool, and we both know it. I’ll never understand why King Amir refuses to clean house completely. They have no ambition beyond blood and sex, no purpose beyond their own pleasure.

“At least stay on the Community Lands,” Damon presses. “It would offend King Amir if you declined his hospitality. It’ll be unusual having a vampire of your status not on the royal island, but there are other vampires who live on the community lands and aren’t part of the King’s coven. We don’t force membership.”

“Oh, I’m sure they have their reasons.”

My sarcasm isn’t lost on him. He rolls his eyes.

“I’ll give you a week,” I concede. “Just to assess your borders and see how I can help. But I’m not staying in that cage. I’m not interested in being a zoo exhibit for humans to gawk at.”

“Wintermoon isn’t a zoo, Amari. I wish you wouldn’t see it that way.”

My little friend sends me images suddenly—Damon leaving, the door closing, blessed silence returning. He’s tired of company.

“I’ll be there in a couple of days,” I tell Damon.

He flips his coin again, opening his palm to let it land. Heads, as always. He closes his fist around it, the gesture as familiar as his breathing.

“Good. Make sure you announce yourself to the King first. And...” He pauses, looking between me and my little friend with an expression I can’t quite read. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet. I really think you’ll like her.”

I don’t respond. Whatever cryptic bullshit that was supposed to be. He knows I’m tired of meaningless flings, but tell that to my dick. It doesn’t give a shit about my emotional exhaustion or my search for something real. If he’s offering good pussy and something nice to feed on, fine. But I’m not expecting anything more than another empty encounter.

“You really need to give your little friend a name,” he says.

I shrug. I’ve tried countless names over the centuries. He responds to nothing but “little friend.” I think he adopted it from my constant greeting years ago.

Damon bows his head to me, and I do the same. “I must be on my way. The sun is rising. See you soon, brother.”

With that, he flashes away, disappearing with vampire speed, leaving only the faint scent of Rome behind.

I lie down beside my friend, staring at the ceiling. I caught something during Damon’s visit—his heartbeat.