Calm down

Calm down
I ordered our drinks and turned my attention back to Amara . I had barely reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear when someone grabbed my hand in mid-air and pressed it against soft lips.
"Arthur !" A familiar voice caressed my name, and I gritted my teeth as I turned left.
Carmelia " . It was good to see you. "But it wasn't. It never was."
He stood beside me and ran his fingers across the lapel of my jacket as if he were smoothing my clothes. His touch was possessive and unwanted.
"I missed you," she purred, and Amara backed up a step. Carmelia leaned forward, her lips almost brushing my ear as she spoke. "I'm still waiting for my proposal, Arturo." She stuck out her tongue and stroked it along my skin. "You know I am meant to be your queen."
I closed my eyes briefly so Carmelia wouldn't sense my irritation. I had always been a gold digger, desperate for my family's money and prestige, desperate to be my queen. But I met none of the criteria to allow me to secure my place on the throne, and there was nothing captivating about me.
My gaze slid to Amara , attracting Carmelia's attention as well . Her eyes widened, her nostrils dilated and she took a step toward my companion. Carmelia opened her mouth , preparing to growl , but I turned her around before she could bare her fangs .
" Calm down " I growled. Then I looked at Amara . " Wait for me here and don't move . I had to contain Carmelia's threat before it got out of control."
Amara half-opened her lips, but I turned, grabbing Carmelia's arm with my hand as I led her across the room. I looked at Amara , and she was sipping her drink, her gaze fixed on the room. There was no one else around, though, which was good.

"What are you doing, Arturo ?" Carmelia turned away from me.
" Arturo " I stressed my name. I didn't deserve Arturo's intimacy ." You have to control yourself. Amara doesn't know what we are, and I need to keep it that way for now. " I kept my tone low, with urgency. I didn't want to waste too much time talking to Carmelia , but I needed her to understand.
She folded her arms and tapped her foot. "Oh yeah?"
"Yes " I hissed." And if you don't comply, I'll take away everything you care about, including access to vampire high society."
I controlled myself, trying to look bored as I spoke to him. If he knew how important this was to me, he would have treated me badly out of pure spite.
"All right. " But she agreed too easily, the shrug was too simple as her eyes flashed with a familiar malice.
Fuck. He had to keep an eye on her. Carmelia was dangerous on a mission, especially when she thought she'd been screwed. Damn it. I clenched my fist. I didn't have time to restrain Carmelia like I needed to. I had to get back to Leia.
"Just behave " I said hoarsely before returning to where I had left Amara .
I walked towards her, but she was gone. I got to the bar and looked around, but she wasn't around. I walked around the room and then out into the garden, where some couples were chatting, but she wasn't there either.
This was all too familiar. I should have noticed the pattern earlier: I took Amara with me, left her alone, and she wasn't there when I returned. Perfect.
Fuck. I rubbed the back of my neck with the palm of my hand as I spun around, looking for the hint of vibrant green that would tell me I had located my partner. But he was nowhere to be found.
Fear was a slow, creeping tingle running through my body, and I inhaled slowly. I wasn't used to being afraid. I was never afraid of anything. I would protect what belonged to me, but being territorial was different from being afraid.
And I didn't know what to do with that.
I straightened up and pushed aside the uncomfortable fear. Amara was mine, someone else had her, and I was going to find her. Then I would deal with whoever had dared to throw such a direct challenge at me. Another surge of anger heated my blood.
I took a deep breath, hoping to clear my head and be able to think. I punched the arm of as many of the guests as I could, snapping them out of their conversations because my need was greater and I was above them.
"Have you seen my partner?" The word sounded harsh to me when she was my partner, but I had already publicly proven my right. I didn't want to endanger Amara by declaring how important she was.
Without exception, everyone shook their heads. I was heading to the bathrooms to check on him as well when I caught a whiff of Amara's floral scent in the air. I walked out of the room with him.
I was going to rip the bastard's head off whoever was with her. No one took away what was mine.