Page 61

Carla

A mari helps me off the boat, his hand soft and steady against mine.

The wooden planks of the dock shift slightly as we make our way toward the winding streets of the tourist island.

I walk a few steps ahead, but I can feel his eyes on me, making my skin tingle.

Every few seconds, I glance back, catching that smug grin that tells me exactly what he’s looking at.

“Enjoying the view?” I ask, tugging my dress down self-consciously.

The night has cleared most tourists from the streets, leaving only a few restaurants open, along with the tourist hotel and Midnight Moon nightclub. Their lights spill across the ground, illuminating the almost-empty pathways.

I notice how I’m starting to blend in with the few remaining tourists—women in outfits similar to mine walking arm-in-arm with their dates, some of them glancing my way with approving smiles.

I’ve never experienced this before—the feeling of fitting in, of being just another woman on a night out rather than the feared Spider Queen.

A group of men nearby linger too long, their eyes trailing over me with obvious interest. Before I can react, Amari catches up, sliding his arm around my waist possessively.

His fangs flash briefly as he stares them down, and they immediately back away, recognition dawning in their eyes as they realize what he is.

“Those idiots,” Amari says, taking my hand and pressing his lips against it. “You’ve always had the male gaze, Carla. You just don’t notice because you’re usually in uniform, which makes men hesitant to look your way.”

“Right,” I say, not believing him for a second.

“It’s amazing how clueless you are to your own beauty,” he continues, his golden eyes locked on mine. “It’s so natural to you, you don’t even realize it.”

Heat rises to my cheeks, and I have to look away from the intensity of his gaze. The way he stares at me—like I’m the only woman in the world, like everything else around us has faded away—it’s overwhelming.

Amari smiles, still holding my hand as he guides me through the retail area. We stop in front of one of the restaurants, and I recognize it immediately—the best on the island, a place I’ve walked past countless times but never entered.

The hostess stiffens when she sees us, her eyes shifting nervously between me and Amari. She’s human, one of the employees living in the community apartments, and I’ve seen that look before—the fear, the hesitation. A wave of familiar discomfort settles in my stomach.

Before she can say anything, Damon appears behind her, and her eyes immediately drop to the floor. I’m surprised to see him here, and when I look at Amari, he’s grinning like he’s been keeping a secret.

“I thought you’d be more comfortable with this being a double date,” he says. “Hope you don’t mind.”

I shake my head quickly, relief washing over me. I’ve never been on a real date before, let alone in a fancy restaurant. Having Damon here makes it feel less intimidating.

Amari and Damon greet each other with a strange handshake, gripping each other’s forearms and leaning in for a back pat. It’s a familiar gesture between old friends that speaks volumes about their history.

“Amari,” Damon says, adjusting his suit as he looks me over with an approving smile, “you have quite the woman. She’s lovely.”

The compliment catches me off guard, and I feel my face flush again. Damon walks around Amari and helps me out of my jacket, holding it out to the hostess who takes it reluctantly.

“This way,” Damon says, motioning for us to follow.

Amari takes my hand as we make our way through the restaurant.

The lighting is dim, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Candles flicker on each table, sending soft patterns across the wooden floors.

Large windows line one wall, revealing the lake and bridge beyond, where the water shifts in subtle silver tones.

Selene is already seated at a table, wearing a stunning black dress that hugs her athletic frame perfectly. She stands as we approach, greeting me with a kiss on the cheek and an approving nod.

“You look lovely, Carla,” she says, her voice warm and genuine.

I blush even harder when Amari pulls out my chair for me, waiting until I’m seated before pushing it in and taking his place beside me. A glass of water sits next to my plate, and I grab it immediately, taking a long drink to calm my nerves.

A waiter in a crisp suit approaches with glasses and a bottle of red wine. He pours evenly into each glass, and I stare at mine uncertainly.

“I’ve never had wine before,” I admit to Amari.

He picks up his glass and holds it out to me. “Try mine first.”

I take a sip, the liquid rich and complex on my tongue. It’s bitter, with undertones of dark fruits and something earthy that stays with me after I swallow. My face must show my reaction, because Amari laughs.

“The older the wine, the more bitter the taste,” he explains. “But it’s better this way. You’ll get used to it.” His fingers brush mine as he takes back his glass. “This is the first of many dates to come.”

My stomach flutters at his words, at the promise of a future together.

“How are you adjusting to Wintermoon?” Selene asks Amari, her eyes curious.

“A lot better than I thought I would,” he replies, and I smile at that.

“Have you been able to learn anything with Amari’s intel?” Damon asks, swirling his wine.

Amari grins, holding his glass up. “I plan to meet with you soon to go over the details.”

The waiter returns, and Amari orders steaks for both of us, medium well with broccoli and potatoes. Damon orders the salmon special for himself and Selene. Once the waiter leaves, he places a basket of breadsticks on our table.

I stare at the bread, memories flooding back of my early days with my children—how they brought me bread when I was starving, hiding in a cave. I swallow hard against the sudden lump in my throat and reach for a breadstick.

As I take a bite, I notice the humans at nearby tables watching us from the corners of their eyes, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright disgust. I glare back at them, taking another aggressive bite of my breadstick.

Damon notices and gives me a sympathetic smile.

“We’ve had a breakthrough on why the children won’t lift the veil,” Amari says, and Damon leans forward, interest clear in his expression.

“The children gave us memories of Carla being killed by humans,” Amari explains. “Tabatha, a Blackwood witch, came into the cave to revive her with a magical key that was absorbed by Carla and her children.”

Damon sits back, his face thoughtful. “That’s fascinating.”

“Tabatha also mentioned something about Aya’s curse having a strange effect on limbo,” Amari adds.

Damon’s eyes suddenly light up. “Tabatha was once a guardian for the two realms—the afterlife and the living. She must have known her time on earth was coming to an end, and since she didn’t have children of her own, she chose you to take her place.

” He looks at me with a sense of understanding.

“This is fascinating, but I don’t have the Blackwood journals to fully investigate my theory. ”

“I know who does,” I mutter through my chews, still uncomfortable from the human stares. “Angie.”

“We should all go visit her at the Academy tomorrow night,” Damon suggests, and Amari nods in agreement.

Damon changes the subject, telling us how he met Selene—how he was tasked with collecting the Book of The First to trap dark magic and defeat Aya, but Selene was the assassin who took an oath to protect it.

“I kicked his ass a few times,” Selene admits, taking a sip of her wine.

“A few?” Damon raises a playful eyebrow.

“He enjoyed it,” Selene says, kicking him under the table and flashing a mischievous smile.

“Yes, very much,” Damon agrees, leaning in to kiss her.

I watch them, admiring their love. They’re so different from each other, yet they fight for what they have. I look at Amari, realizing it’s the same for us, and find him already staring at me, his eyes full of emotion.

The waiter returns with our food, placing the steaming plates in front of us. Amari and Damon start eating right away, slicing into their meal with fluid, confident motions.

“Do you need help cutting your steak?” Amari asks, but I shake my head.

“I’m confused,” I say, looking between them. “You eat human food?”

Amari chuckles. “Yes, we can tolerate it, but nothing satisfies us more than the thirst for blood.”

I nod quietly, then watch Selene. She cuts into her salmon with smooth, measured movements, each action calm and graceful. Looking down at my own fork and knife, I realize I have no idea what the proper technique is. I’ve never had to worry about table manners before.

Before I can embarrass myself, Amari reaches over and kisses my cheek, then takes my plate and cuts my steak for me.

I look at him, at how beautiful he is in this moment—sweet and charming, his eyes warm and full of affection.

I’m falling for him more with each passing day, and I don’t need the mate bond to know it. I love him, and it terrifies me.

I lean in and steal a quick kiss before he can pull away. He grins and playfully steals one back, then I start eating, savoring the tender meat.

“What’s your favorite color?” I ask between bites.

“Black,” he answers, looking amused.

“Do you have any hobbies?”

He chuckles. “What is this?”

I shrug. “I’ve been spending so much time with you, but I don’t really know who you are. I want to understand you better. Isn’t that what couples do on dates?”

Amari flashes a smile, glancing at Damon and Selene, who are watching us with obvious amusement.

“I enjoy technology and discovering its evolution,” he says after a moment. “It’s a constant bank of knowledge that I adore. The digital age appeals to me.” His voice softens. “But I’ve developed a new hobby recently—or rather, it’s become more of a craving, an obsession.”

“What’s that?” I ask, curious.