Chapter 41
41
Anora
A mir steals another kiss before letting me go. He grabs my hand, presses his lips to the back of it, and starts leading me down the stairs.
I glance toward Kane, Levi, and Gabriel as they take off, running toward the clearing where the trucks are parked. Families are everywhere, and it feels... lively. It feels real, like I’m part of something new.
Hazel stands nearby with Jacob, Angie, and their kids. I catch her eye and give her a smile. She smiles back—brief, stiff, almost forced.
Amir squeezes my hand gently, snapping me out of my thoughts. “It’s not you, Anora,” he says, soft but certain.
I look up at him, confused, then follow his gaze as it lands on Hazel. She breaks eye contact with him almost immediately, letting out a sharp huff. Angie, too, looks pissed, throwing Amir a glare that makes me shift uncomfortably. What the hell’s going on ?
Amir exhales heavily and lets go of my hand, stepping back. His wings unfold, stretching wide. I freeze, caught up in the sight of him, just like the first time I saw them. He’s so... otherworldly like this. Dangerous. Beautiful. Before I can get too lost in the moment, he grins down at me.
“Would you like to fly with me, Anora?”
I don’t wait for him to ask again. I fling myself into his arms without thinking, laughing as he catches me effortlessly. He chuckles, holding me close, and presses soft kisses against my cheek. Then his wings move, pushing downward, and we’re off the ground. My stomach flips as we rise higher, his wings moving with the ease of someone who’s done this forever.
He turns me in his arms so my back presses to his chest. The view unfolds in front of me—trees stretching endlessly under a bright winter sun. My breath catches as he picks up speed, darting between open gaps in the canopy. Wind rushes against my face, but I don’t feel the cold; his warmth shields me. My hair whips around wildly, and I laugh, the sound bursting out like I can’t contain it.
“Amir!” I yell, gripping his arms. “This feels like a rollercoaster!”
He lets out a low chuckle in response, the vibration against my back making me shiver. For a moment, I think he’s going to slow down, but no—he flies faster, dipping and weaving, testing my nerves in the best way. I spot movement below, branches shaking like something’s running through them. Shifters, probably. I lean my head back against his shoulder, beaming.
“This is incredible,” I tell him. “I love this. I love flying with you.”
“Good,” he says, his voice soft and warm in my ear. He presses a kiss to my temple, and my heart does this stupid little jump it’s not supposed to do.
The forest below us finally starts to break, and a small town comes into view. Amir begins to descend, wings shifting in controlled movements as we lose altitude. I don’t want the ride to end, but my boots hit the snow-covered ground before I can say anything more.
He steps back from me, his wings folding in, and for a moment, he just looks at me. His expression shifts, like there’s something heavy on his mind.
“Anora,” he starts, his voice more serious now, “I need you to know that this isn’t about you. It’s about me.”
I blink, thrown off. “What are you talking about?”
He takes my hand again, but this time his grip feels... different. His lips brush the back of my hand softly, but he doesn’t step away like before.
“The key,” he says finally. “It’s dangerous—too dangerous to give back to Aya. It’s the reason Tami went through so much. Jacob either couldn’t or wouldn’t give it to her. Angie had it hidden, kept away from everyone. My sister, Aya... she can’t use the same spell twice on the older shifters because they’ve already built immunity. But the baby shifters—” He pauses, concern crossing his face. “She can still hurt them. Any of them. Every time.”
His voice drops lower as he admits, “I almost gave Aya the key to save you. I didn’t even think twice. And that... that means I’m not worthy of protecting it. Not when the baby shifters are at risk.”
Frustration bubbles in my chest, and I let out a short, exasperated groan. “Amir, don’t—” I stop myself, shaking my head.
This isn’t over. We’re not done talking about this. But now’s not the time for another argument .
“I can’t wait for all of this to be over,” I say, squeezing Amir’s hand as we walk through the little market. “Then we can just enjoy each other without all this trouble.”
He grins at me, but there’s a tightness in his expression as if my words hit differently for him. I push the thought aside and focus on the scene around me. The market is bustling with activity—families walking together, children laughing, vendors calling out their specials. There are small shops scattered all around us. I catch sight of a bakery with fresh bread stacked neatly in the window, a cozy coffee shop with steam-fogged glass, a little clothing boutique, and even a consignment store tucked in the corner of the street. It’s like there’s a shop for everything.
There’s an ease here, even with all the snow covering the ground, and I can’t help but smile watching the shifters interact with each other. They laugh, they shop, they talk in small groups—it’s nice. It feels... normal. I tighten my grip on Amir’s hand, wanting to stay connected to him through it all.
But then it happens. Slowly at first, like a ripple through the crowd. The laughter quiets. People notice him, one by one, and the atmosphere changes. Shifters—the men especially—immediately drop to their knees, their expressions a mix of fear and submission. I glance up at Amir to see his reaction, and I can tell from the way he stiffens that he’s not pleased with the attention.
“Please,” Amir says, his voice firm but calm. “You do not need to bow before me.”
The men slowly rise, looking unsure. Amir dips his head slightly toward the women, who bow their heads in acknowledgment before quickly walking away. The moment feels a bit awkward. As people return to their shopping, there’s a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. I can sense the curious glances and hear the quiet murmurs following behind us.
Amir sighs, glancing down at me. “Anora, as much as I don’t want to separate from you—hell, I’m loathing the thought—I think I need to step away. They’re uncomfortable with me here, and I understand why.”
His words hit me like a slap. “What?” I blurt, stopping dead in my tracks.
He looks tired, pulling his hand away from mine. “They fear me. I’ve given them everything they need to thrive, Anora, but they know I could just as easily take it away. That kind of power... it makes people cautious. They don’t trust it. They don’t trust me.”
I glare at him and snatch his hand back before he can take another step. “I’m not doing this,” I say firmly. “I’m standing with you through all of it—the good, the bad, and the ugly. You don’t get to push me away. But if that’s really what you want, Amir?—”
He cuts me off, gripping my chin and crashing his lips against mine. The kiss is so sudden, so overwhelming, that my thoughts instantly scatter. All I feel is him—his demanding mouth, his tongue claiming mine, the way his hold pulls me close and holds me steady. A soft moan slips from me without permission, and I feel his smirk against my lips as he pulls back. I’m dazed, breathless, and there’s a look in his eye that’s almost predatory.
His gaze drops to my claim mark, and a low growl rumbles from his chest. I shiver as he leans into my neck, his breath hot against my skin. “I want to play a game,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.
“A game?” I echo, still recovering from the kiss. I don’t trust myself to say more .
His lips brush against my ear, and his tone shifts, teasing and playful. “It’s a new game. And a new game needs a fitting name. Let’s call it... Mercy. ”
I stare at him, confused. “What?—”
He cuts me off with a grin, pressing his thumb and index finger together like he’s about to snap them. “How many times can I make you come before you scream the safe word... Mercy?”
Oh, my god. My cheeks burn instantly. “Amir!” I blurt, but his laugh only deepens my embarrassment. He straightens up, brushing stray hair from my face. The heat between us doesn’t fade, though. Not even a little.
“Come on, angel,” he says, holding his hand out to me. His wings fold neatly into his back, disappearing entirely as he starts toward the market again. He glances over his shoulder when he realizes I’m still standing frozen in place. “You must show me where you want to start first.”
I gulp, my legs finally catching up to my thoughts as I take his hand and lead him toward a small clothing store.
“Why is Angie giving you dirty looks?” I ask as we step toward the entrance.
Amir smirks at me, holding the door open. I step inside, noticing some of the shifters bow their heads the moment they see him. I’m used to it now, but still—I hadn’t realized how deeply ingrained this reaction must be. Amir isn’t just respected here. He’s feared. And maybe a little distrusted, too. That much is obvious.
He follows me to one of the racks, his presence almost a shadow over my shoulder. “You really want to know?” he asks, looking amused now.
I glance up at him with a playful smirk. “I’m not going anywhere, so yeah—let’s hear it. ”
He crosses his arms, looking every bit the regal being he is as he leans slightly against the rack. “Mother Fate never creates just one of anything. There are always two or more.”
“Go on,” I prompt, raising an eyebrow.
“Angie,” he says, his voice measured now, “is a Blackwood witch. Her family comes from an extremely old and powerful bloodline. Mother Fate created them to replace us if we ever failed in our mission—to keep balance on Earth.”
The words hit heavier than I expected. I process them for a second before teasing, “So... Angie’s more powerful than you?”
His lip twitches, amused. “Alone? We’re equally powerful. But with her coven—her children—she becomes unstoppable.”
“Does it bother you?” I ask, tilting my head. “That Fate made a backup plan?”
Amir shrugs, completely unfazed. “Not in the slightest. It’s the circle of life.”
He raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for my reaction. I roll my eyes and blush, trying to focus on the clothes in front of me.
“Like I told you before,” he continues, keeping his voice even, “Angie almost handled the situation with Aya on her own. She warned me... if I don’t take care of it, she’ll do it herself. And she’s not wrong to feel that way.”
He pauses for a moment, his brows lowering. “Aya hasn’t done any good for the supernatural community. The problem is, no one understands dark magic the way I do. It’s not what it seems. It’s lethal. Dangerous. It lies, Anora. It corrupts everything it touches. Aya doesn’t know what she’s doing...”
He trails off, his gaze shifting around the store. I follow his eyes and notice the shifters glancing our way, clearly listening in on our conversation. Amir’s posture changes as his shoulders tighten slightly. I place my hand on his chest reassuringly.
“Let’s finish this conversation later,” I say quietly. “Back at the cabin.”
He nods, but the gravity of his words remains between us. He exhales, running a hand over his chest before locking his intense gaze onto me.
“Anora,” he says slowly, his tone shifting. “I’ve been selfish during my reign as king. I see that now—now that I have you. I’ll do what must be done if it’s necessary. Aya’s already tried to hurt you once.” His voice sharpens, and I spot a flicker of something wild in his expression. “If it happens again, I won’t be able to stop the beasts.”
I turn toward him, gripping the waistband of his pants and yanking him close in a bold, sudden move. He raises a brow at me, a grin tugging at his lips.
“I can’t wait until I get my powers, Amir,” I say, standing on my toes so I’m almost level with him. I press my lips close to his, teasing him. “Then we’re going to play the Mercy game... my way.”
His breath hitches, and I feel the heat rolling off him as he groans, “Goddamn, Anora.”
Before he can say more, I capture his lips in a kiss, the heat between us rising fast. He doesn’t deny me, not even for a second. His hands tangle in my hair as he deepens the kiss, making me shiver until I can barely think.
I pull back before things can get carried away, grinning like I have the upper hand. I grab a couple of shirts off the rack and start toward the back of the store, trying to focus. Amir steps to the side, still watching me like I just set him on fire.
The sound of the bell above the door pulls my attention, and I glance up to see Olivia and Tami walk in, both with baby wraps strapped around their chests.
Finally. A distraction.
I smile at them, relieved to push thoughts of Aya out of my mind for a while.