Page 69 of Loving Amari

Amari chuckles. “Alright, alright.”

He just keeps looking into the sky, staring at the stars above the forest canopy.

“Tell me how you mind-fucked Alexis tonight,” he says with a grin.

I giggle. “Gladly.”

I tell him everything. About materializing in front of her. About the vision of her death. About the look of terror on her face when she realized I could see her everywhere, always. About how satisfying it was to watch her try to maintain her composure while fear ate at her from the inside.

“That’s my woman,” Amari says with pride. “Terrifying corporate executives from another realm.”

“Someone’s got to keep them in check. I wish I could have seen her face.”I tell him.

“I miss you,” he says simply. “Every second of every day.”

“I miss you too. I miss your touch. Your smell. The way you adjust your suit when you’re nervous. The way you look at me like I’m the only person in the world.”

“You are the only person in my world, Carla. You and our children.”

We fall into comfortable silence. I watch him stare at the stars, his chest rising and falling with unnecessary breaths.

“I should go,” I finally say. “You need rest.”

“Five more minutes.”

“Amari...”

“Please, baby. Just five more minutes of your voice.”

I smile, even though he can’t see it.“Fine. Five more minutes.”

I tell him about limbo. About how Verto keeps bringing me souls to judge. About how Nathaniel is running, hiding, terrified Verto. About how I’ve been organizing the chaos, bringing order to the void. About how I think of him constantly, about how the separation is the hardest thing I’ve ever endured.

And he listens to every word like it’s the most important thing he’s ever heard.

Because to him, it probably is.

“Time’s up,”I whisper.

“I know.” His voice is heavy with resignation. “Tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow night. Same time. I’ll be here.”

“I love you, Carla Blackwood.”

“I love you too, Amari Al-Baqar. Forever.”

I fade from his side, returning fully to my throne in limbo. Verto shifts in his web above me.

I close my eyes and let the loneliness of limbo wash over me. But it’s more bearable now. Because I have something to hold onto. Someone waiting for me. A love that transcends realms and time itself.

And that’s enough to keep me going.

23

CARLA

Two months later.