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Her children begin to swirl around her, moving in a pattern similar to when they cast the veil over her that first night in the forest. A pink web-like energy funnel begins to form around her, lifting her feet from the ground.

“I’ve given up my life, my freedom to the shadows because the world won’t accept me,” she continues, her eyes transforming from their usual enchanting green to a brilliant, glowing pink. “But now you want to take the one good thing that’s come to me besides my children?”

The web of energy surrounding her intensifies, becoming so bright it hurts to look at directly.

“FUCK THAT.”

The energy explodes outward in a blinding flash. When my vision clears, Carla stands there—still Carla, but somehow more. She drops to her knees, then slowly rises to her feet, facing the monster that’s now advancing on her.

I push myself up further, ignoring the searing pain in my chest. The wound is already beginning to heal, but too slowly—I need to get to her.

“You are not taking my home from me,” Carla says, her voice resonating with power. “You are not taking my children. You are not taking my family. And you are NOT. TAKING. MY. MAN.”

She raises her hand, and pink silk webs shoot from her fingertips, wrapping around the giant spider, stopping it in its tracks. The webs grow thicker with each passing second, until the creature collapses to the ground, completely restrained.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Carla says, approaching the immobilized beast. “There’s purpose for you... in limbo.”

She places her free palm toward the ground, and pink energy shoots downward, creating a glowing circle around the giant spider. The ground within the circle seems to dissolve, revealing a swirling vortex beneath.

Carla reaches the creature, pressing her palm against its massive head. It struggles against her touch, but the restraints hold firm.

“Man may have made you,” she says, her voice almost gentle now, “but you were made of my blood, my children’s blood. Therefore, you are mine.”

The creature begins to glow from where Carla’s palm connects with it, the pink energy spreading throughout its body. Gradually, it stops struggling, going limp beneath her touch.

“Mommy will be there later to talk to you,” she murmurs, leaning in to place a kiss on its head. “You’re safe now, but this realm is not your home.”

When she steps back, the creature sinks into the portal, which slowly closes behind it, the ground reforming as if nothing had happened.

I stare at her, awestruck, as magic continues to spill from her hands like liquid silk. She turns to look at me, her eyes still glowing pink, her power radiating from her in waves.

Tofi limps toward her, and Carla immediately drops to her knees, welcoming her child. Tofi leans into her, and Carla smiles, placing her hand over Tofi’s broken leg. I watch in amazement as her magic repairs it, the limb straightening and healing before my eyes.

“Oh no,” Carla says, petting Tofi while giving me a stern look. “Daddy is in big trouble. ‘Die for who?’”

I pull myself to my feet, still struggling with the pain—though it’s mending more quickly now.

“That’s right,” I say, my voice rough but determined. “I will die for you and our children.”

She glares at me, then turns her attention back to her magic, directing it toward my men who are still trapped in webbing. One by one, they’re freed, the magical silk dissolving at her command.

Before she can approach the cocoon holding Amir and Kade, a figure appears in the street—Anora, her blue gown flowing around her as she surveys the chaos with widening eyes.

Damon finally steps out from his cover, approaching me with a pained expression. He grabs my hand, pulling me onto the sidewalk. I want to resist, to go to Carla, but I’m still too weak, my body still knitting itself back together.

I watch as Anora slowly approaches the cocoon. Her brown eyes suddenly turn black as night, green and black magic pooling from her fingers as she examines the web structure. She stops, looking at it for a long moment, then turns to Carla, her expression venomous.

“What is all this?” Anora demands, pointing to the web. “My man better not be in there.”

Damon holds up his hand, silently telling me to stay put, then steps forward, adjusting his suit with effortless nonchalance.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty,” he says smoothly, “we are working to get them out.”

“Them?” Anora’s voice rises an octave. “Amir isn’t in there alone?”

She begins to levitate, her feet lifting several inches off the ground as her power surges.

“I keep trying with these humans,” she seethes, her magic swirling more violently around her hands. “But they try harder to take what I love most away from me.”

She gives a dark laugh, the sound unsettling even after centuries of encountering powerful beings.

“I’m done playing nice with them,” she continues. “No more treaties. No more peaceful meetings listening to these humans throw slurs at us. They really believe we are beneath them.” Her laughter cuts off abruptly. “Not today. Not anymore. Today, I’m going to show them who. The. Fuck. I. Am.”

“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.