Page 24 of Loving Amari

“Damon. Selene.” I nod to each of them.

Damon drops the books on my desk. Then he crosses to Selene. His hand goes to her belly before he kisses her.

I watch them, unable to look away. Even with everything they’ve been through, they still find time for each other. Still find moments to connect. To touch. To remind each other why they’re fighting.

When was the last time Carla and I had that? When was the last time we just existed together without the weight of the world pressing down on us?

Three days. She was gone three days, and I felt like I was dying.

I force my attention to the books, breaking the spiral of my thoughts. “What’s all this?”

“Found as much documented information about limbo as I could.” Damon’s face is grim. “But not much on Nathaniel. And there’s something I haven’t told you about.”

My eyebrows rise. “Oh really...”

Before he can continue, Amir and Anora are suddenly there, standing in the center of the room.

Damon and I bow. Even I tip my head in acknowledgment, respecting the vampire who rules over us all.

Except Selene. She stands straight as an arrow, hand still on her blade.

Amir looks at her, recognition flickering across his features. He bows his head first. She returns the gesture.

“I’m not keen on leaving Solomon alone for long, especially with him being a target.”

Kade and Leah teleport into the room, a black mystical cloud of smoke fading around them. Kade runs to Amir like a child, her face lighting up in pure joy. She plants a kiss on his cheek, standing on her toes to reach him.

His face transforms. The king disappears, replaced by a father. Softens in a way I rarely see. “Hey, we don’t try to get together as much as we used to. I miss you.”

“Well, you know Wintermoon. Always keeps me on my toes.” Kade grins up at him.

Amir places his hand over her head, rubbing it the way a father would with his child. His fingers are gentle, affectionate. Because that’s who she is to him. The sight warms something in me. This king who carries so much weight, the fate of all supernatural kind on his shoulders, still finding joy in these small moments. Still being a father.

I want that with Carla. Want moments of peace between the chaos.

Leah glances around the room, her eyes scanning each face. “Where’s Angie?”

A portal opens before anyone can answer. Blue and gold hues spill into my office. Inside, I glimpse their cabin at House of Zorah. Warm wood. Soft fabrics. A fire burning in the hearth. Jacob walks through first, his bare feet silent on my floor. Then Angie follows, her magic crackling around her fingertips. The portal snaps shut behind them.

They’re both wearing matching flannel pajamas. Red and black plaid. Domestic. Normal. Like they weren’t just pulled from their evening routine to deal with the end of the world.

“I’m here, so what’s the issue?” Angie’s voice is sharp with irritation.

Moria suddenly drops from the vent above, her legs extended like spears, ready to attack. She lands between Angie and everyone else. Her body coils, preparing to strike.

Angie hisses at her, baring her teeth. Moria hisses back, her mandibles clicking.

I look down at my daughter, exasperation mixing with affection. “Moria honey, this is not the time to get into it with Angie.”

Another hiss. Sharper this time. More insistent. Her legs scrape against my floor.

“Moria, I’m not going to ask you again.” I put authority in my voice.

She skitters off, disappearing back into the vents with a disgruntled chittering sound. But then the wall shudders. The pictures hanging there rattle. Tofi squeezes through the doorway in her larger form, her massive body barely fitting. She brushes against supernaturals who quickly step aside. She doesn’t care who she bumps into or how uncomfortable she makes them. She just needs to get close to me.

One of her bristly legs brushes against Angie’s bare arm.

“Goddamn it!” Angie jerks back like she’s been burned, glaring at Tofi with pure hatred.