Page 39 of Loving Amari

Angie looks up at her, tears threatening to spill. “We’ve never been close. I know I haven’t been the best cousin.”

“It’s okay,” Carla says simply, wrapping an arm around Angie’s shoulders.

I look at Carla, just marveling at her. Showing grace when she doesn’t have to. It’s impressive. My woman is magnificent, a goddess walking among mortals.

“Let’s focus on what we can do now and leave that stuff in the past,” Carla continues, her voice gentle but steady.

“You’re not the only one who covets a life outside this power.” She looks at me then, and I see everything in her eyes—dreams of quiet mornings, peaceful nights, a life without constant supernatural threats.

I smile at her. We share a knowing look that speaks volumes. I know exactly what she’s trying to say. She wants a life with me, just her and our children, without the burden of limbo. But she’s forever tied to it. Limbo is part of her now, woven into her very essence.

I look away from her, breaking the contact, and go back to focusing on what info Angie’s found on Henry and Nathaniel.

“Let’s focus on Nathaniel right now,” I say, my voice taking on the commanding. “He appears to be a much bigger threat.”

“I agree,” Angie says as she lets Carla keep her arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. The cousins look more like sisters in this moment of shared burden.

“In Moorish culture,” I begin, pacing slowly around the table, “the men operate under a certain code. Loyalty, ethics—it’s how we were able to build such a strong and powerful nation that lasted centuries.”

I pause at one of the open books, seeing illustrations of Moorish architecture, mathematical equations, astronomical charts. My people’s legacy reduced to pages in dusty tomes. “But it was always greed that seemed to get the best of us. The lust for more power, domination.”

“That’s Nathaniel.” My voice hardens. “We need to beat him at his own game. He’s calculating.” I look at both women, my eyes flashing. “And while I’m impressed with his efforts, I’m not putting up with his shit. Nathaniel isn’t taking Wintermoon from me. Not my woman or my children.”

Carla gives me a smirk, that same expression that first captivated me over a year ago.

I start to pace around the table again, my mind working through strategies like a chess master planning moves ahead. “Aya said he’s weakest when he’s not in limbo. So, we need to coax him out.”

“What I don’t understand is why Solomon,” Angie says, her brow furrowed in thought. “There’s also Aaron and Seth. They both have the Blackwood bloodline. Nathaniel never even attempted.”

I chuckle at that, the sound dark and knowing. “You really think he’s going to fuck around and find out with House of Zorah? Those shifters would find a way to tear his soul to shreds.”

Angie grins slightly, a spark of her usual fire returning. “Well, you’ve got a point there.”

“Aaron—he’s too in touch with his magic. Even I noticed that. His awareness is like a constant beacon. It would require Nathaniel to do more work to overcome his defenses. Not to mention, Aaron’s close with Amir.” I shake my head, continuing my analysis. “So Solomon is his best option for possession. The blood of a Blackwood who was born of dark magic, and the father of shifters and vampires. The damage Nathaniel could do if he took over Solomon’s body...”

Solomon’s power combined with Nathaniel’s cunning and centuries of rage would be catastrophic.

Carla sucks in a sharp breath. “He’s my cousin. I have to find a way to protect him.”

I look at her with a wink, trying to lighten the moment. “Oh, we will.”

I pull out my phone and start texting Bobby, my fingers flying over the screen with vampire speed.

“Nathaniel likes doors,” I say as I type, already formulating plans with my tech genius.

I look up at both women. “What if we found a way to construct a door he couldn’t get out of?”

Angie pulls back from Carla slightly, interest sparking in her eyes. “A contraption?”

I nod to her. “Exactly. Think about it—every time we’ve encountered him, he’s used doors. Portals. Gateways. It’s his preferred method of travel between realms. What if we use that against him?”

“I’ll go through the books,” Angie says, already moving back to the texts.

“While you’re doing that, I’ll work up an alarm system for the academy that can detect Nathaniel’s energy. We already have a sample.” I put my phone away after sending the last messageto Bobby, my mind racing with possibilities. “Nathaniel was stupid enough to merge with the boy—probably testing out his possession abilities. He left traces of his magical signature. He knows he only gets one shot with Solomon, so he has to make it count.”

I move to another section of the table, examining more books. “We need to think like him. He’s been planning this for centuries, trapped in limbo, building his power. Every move is calculated.”

Carla walks over to me and grabs my arm. Her touch grounds me, pulls me from my strategic planning.