Page 63

Amari

“ T ouch her, and it will be the last thing you do.”

My voice rings out through the restaurant, cold and commanding. The human’s fist stops mid-air, just inches from Carla’s face. I adjust my suit jacket, eyes locked on my mate as I move toward them with calm, purposeful steps.

“Are you okay?” I ask, positioning myself between her and the asshole who dared to threaten her.

She huffs, refusing to meet my eyes. “I’m just trying to get my jacket so I can get out of here.”

Her tone hits hard—hurt, betrayal, anger. This isn’t what I wanted for our first date. Allison just had to show up, right when I was finally starting to make progress with my mate.

Goddammit!

The large man shoves his way into my space, his alcohol-soaked breath hitting my face as he snarls, “Back off, you filthy dead vampire. You and your kind need to be wiped off the planet.”

I look back at Carla, confusion knitting my brow. “Why are you allowing radicals on the island?”

Damon approaches, Selene moving like a shadow at his side. “The stupid non-discrimination policy applies to us too,” he explains with a grimace.

I roll my eyes. Behind me, Carla slips past to grab her jacket from the coat rack, sliding her arms into the sleeves. When I catch her gaze, she’s glaring daggers at me.

“Stand down,” Damon says, laying a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll handle this.”

I remain unmoving, my eyes tracking the man’s every breath. “He called my fated mate a bitch. I’m not leaving without something.” I bare my fangs slightly. “His head, perhaps?”

Damon groans.

The man pushes against my chest, a futile gesture that wouldn’t move me if I were made of paper.

“Hey!” Carla shouts, her voice cracking with unexpected protectiveness.

I chuckle as I step back, allowing the illusion that his force affected me. The man’s size matches my height—he’d be a worthy opponent if I were human.

But I’m not.

He throws a wild punch, which I dodge with minimal effort.

I decide to play along, launching a quick three-punch combo—jab to disorient, cross to stagger, uppercut to lift him off his feet.

My fist connects with his jaw, then his midsection, and finally under his chin with barely restrained force.

I grab his neck, lifting him until his feet dangle above the floor.

Looking to Carla, I smile, flashing my fangs like a predator showing off his kill. Surprisingly, she doesn’t flinch or try to stop me. Does she enjoy this? Does she want me to kill in her honor? I’d gladly do it without question.

I punch him so hard he flies backward through the restaurant window, glass shattering in a crystalline explosion as his body lands on the street.

Damon turns to Carla. “Tell Amari to stop.”

“Why?” she asks, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

I laugh at that, leaping through the broken window and landing perfectly on my feet. I grab the man by his shirt, lifting his glass-covered, blood-streaked face to mine.

“I haven’t had a warm meal in a couple of days,” I say, fangs extending to their full length as I prepare to feed.

Carla pushes through the restaurant door, followed by the man’s wife and teenage daughter. She looks at Damon, then back to me.

“Put him down,” she says, her voice firm but not angry.

With that command, I release him, letting him crumple to the ground. I look down at him, wincing in pain at my feet.

“This isn’t over,” I warn. “You call my woman a bitch, you will see me again.”

“I’ll deal with this,” Damon says, stepping forward.

A black mystical cloud suddenly materializes beside us, Kade appearing as the smoke dissipates. She bends down and picks up the heavy man effortlessly.

“These damn radicals keep showing up here,” she hisses, her blue eyes flashing with annoyance.

“Why do we have to put up with them on our land!” I roar, my patience shattered.

Kade grins. “Our land? I thought this was a gilded cage to you.”

I snap my mouth shut, her words hitting their mark. Before I can respond, I feel Carla’s hand wrap around mine.

“Let’s go,” she says quietly.

Allison steps out of the restaurant, irritation etched across her face as she approaches.

“You’re an asshole,” she spits at me.

I just grin.

She turns to Carla. “Good luck with that one. He can’t even get his dick up. Worthless.” She stalks off toward the tourist hotel.

Carla pulls away, heading toward the ferry docks. I watch her retreating form, her shoulders tense and hunched.

“Go after her,” Damon says. “Don’t let her walk alone. Selene and I will deal with this.”

I take off, using my vampire speed to catch up with Carla in seconds. She throws her hands up when she sees me.

“I can’t catch a break when it comes to going out on a date,” she says, her y voice thick with unshed tears.

“I didn’t think I’d run into her again,” I say lamely.

Carla stops walking, her mouth falling open. “I don’t know why I fell for it.”

I narrow my eyes. “Fell for what?”

“This,” she says, gesturing between us, then at her dress. Tears well in her eyes. “I’m so desperate to feel something I’ll fall for anything.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Raincheck?” Her voice cracks on the word. “You’ve said that to her. You’re using the same lines on me that you use with other women.”

I take a step back, stung by the accusation. “That is not true.”

“I can’t do this.” She wraps her arms around herself. “I’m already falling deep, and it’s going to destroy me—utterly destroy me if you break my heart.” She swallows hard. “You can stay at the patrol cabin, and I’m going back to mine?—”

Before she can finish, I’m in front of her, gripping the back of her neck firmly. “No, Carla. No, you are not separating from me.”

Her eyes go wide, words dying on her lips.

“I met Allison my first night on Wintermoon,” I explain, not loosening my grip. “I had intended on fucking her because it was bothering me how much you were on my mind.” I don’t flinch from the truth. “She sucked my dick.”

Carla starts slapping at me, trying to get free, but I tighten my grip, refusing to release her.

“I couldn’t get aroused,” I continue. “My body had already surrendered to you, Carla. There was no going back. I fed on Allison, made sure she was properly taken care of, then spent the rest of the night watching you sleep from the forest, bonding with our children.”

I pull her closer, my grip on her neck tightening to the point where I know it’s painful. She winces but doesn’t resist. I grin at that. She seems to like it when I’m dominant with her. Interesting.

“There will be no separating,” I tell her. “If you want to go back to your cabin, then I will follow you.”

Carla swallows quietly. I release my grip on her neck, and her hand comes around to rub it. She tugs at her dress, pulling it down, then kicks off her heels, bending to pick them up. She brushes some curls from her face and snarls at me.

“Fine. But you’re sleeping on the fucking couch tonight.”

I laugh, watching the sway of her ass as she stalks off. I adjust my suit, relief washing through me. Fine, I’ll take the couch for a night.

Carla reaches the docks, and I catch up, helping her into the boat. I climb in after her, grinning as she sits at the edge, looking away from me. She can be upset—she has every right to be. But separating? I’m never going to allow that.

I untie the boat from the dock and start the engine.

Before I can pull away, I notice Moria and Kemnebi climbing aboard.

Moria immediately runs to Carla, climbing into her arms and resting close.

Carla thinks Moria is just hugging her, but I understand now.

Moria is protecting her heart. Most likely from me.

Kemnebi, of course, sends me images calling me a whore again. I roll my eyes at him.

“You’re really enjoying my torture, aren’t you, Kemnebi?” I mutter.

He hisses in response.

I pull the boat from the dock and head back to Wintermoon. Kemnebi climbs up on the dashboard, staying close to me.

“Why did you do that?” I ask him. “I’m so pissed at you.”

He sends images spelling out “sorry.”

I groan and pet him, chuckling despite myself. I love my little friend too much to stay angry, no matter how badly he pisses me off.

“I messed up, little friend,” I tell him. “Who knew I would find her like this? I feel like I should have waited—all of this could have been avoided.”

Kemnebi whimpers.

“I’m not angry at you for being honest,” I assure him, steering the boat through the dark water. “I love Carla. I love her hard. I’m staying on Wintermoon—I’m not going anywhere without her. She might hate me, but she’s stuck with me.”

Kemnebi sends images of Carla kissing me, holding me, loving me. Then he spells out the word “love.”

“I think I was close,” I sigh, “but now I’m back to the drawing board. All because I had no self-control with my dick.”

We reach the docks. I turn off the engine and secure the boat, groaning when I see Carla practically climbing out on her own before I can help her. She walks down the dock, pulling down the dress that’s riding up her ass with each step.

I leap out of the boat, Kemnebi crawling out behind me. I’ll drop to my knees and grovel, hold her all night—whatever it takes. I catch up and grab her arm. Moria climbs down as I pull Carla close.

“Stop,” I tell her.

She starts crying, the tears I’ve been expecting finally breaking free. “I am humiliated. Right in the middle of our first date.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, meaning it. “I’m so sorry.”

She tries to pull away, but I pull her into my arms, ignoring her struggle. I look up with a smile when I notice who’s arriving at the bridge. Carla pulls away and looks back, confused by the convoy of cars suddenly entering Wintermoon.

Four vehicles roll onto the island, and then we hear it—the marching. It’s the Medina coven. Two hundred men, vampires with the strength of an army of thousands, carefully picked, trained, and pledged to my service. One of the SUVs stops in front of us, a trailer connected to the back.

Carla pulls away from me, staring at the marching men. “What the hell is going on?”

I step toward her. “They’re here early. Come meet your new family.”

She narrows her eyes, but before she can respond, Bobby climbs out of the SUV and approaches, bowing before us.

“My queen,” he says to Carla, who winces at the title.

He turns to me, bowing again. “My lord, it is done.” He steps back and gestures toward the trailer.

I take Carla’s hand. She looks down at our joined fingers, then turns her attention to Moria and Kemnebi, who are suddenly tapping their legs hard against the ground.

Bobby gives Kemnebi a Black Panther salute with his fist. “Nice mate, little friend. She’s pretty.”

Kemnebi approaches Bobby, brushing his legs against his feet—probably thanking him.

“What is going on?” Carla asks, her voice small.

“I’m staying permanently on Wintermoon,” I explain, “and my coven is arriving. They will set up camp on the community lands and start breaking ground on our new home.”

Her eyes widen.

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing it gently. “This might not be the best timing, but when is the timing ever right when it comes to us?”

She frowns.

“Switch vehicles and meet with me in the morning,” I tell Bobby. We exchange key fobs, and Bobby walks to my SUV, getting in.

“I’ll introduce you to the coven later,” I tell Carla, leading her toward the large trailer.

She immediately gasps and covers her mouth when she sees one of her children’s legs hanging out from under the tarp. She falls to her knees, breaking into full sobs, looking up at me with beautiful green eyes glossed with tears.

I smile, unable to hide my satisfaction. “See? I told you I would get them for you. And I didn’t need to fuck Alexis to do it.”

She wails, the sound breaking my heart. I sigh and lock my arms under hers, pulling her to her feet. I walk her to the passenger seat of the SUV, opening the door and helping her inside.

I look to Moria and Kemnebi. “Go round up the children. It’s time to put your brother and sister to rest.”

Kemnebi flashes images spelling out “Good Vampire.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. “That means a lot coming from you.”

I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine, pulling away. Carla is still crying beside me. After the ceremony, I’ll give her a bath and put her to bed. I’ll start the courting process all over again in the morning.

I grab her hand as I drive. “Now you can know they are resting as they should.”

She looks at me and tries to speak, but it comes out as a gurgle.

“No, don’t speak,” I tell her. “Just rest.”

She slumps back in her seat and looks out the window as I drive us back to the patrol cabin. The night’s darkness matches her mood, but I can feel the first threads of healing beginning to weave through the pain.

Verde and Petra are coming home. And soon, if I have anything to say about it, the veil will be lifted from my mate, and she’ll feel the bond that ties us together for eternity.

Until then, I’ll wait. I’ve existed for over a thousand years—patience is something I’ve learned well.

For Carla, I would wait a thousand more.