Page 46 of Stars in Umbra (The Sable Riders #8)

She smiled into his shoulder and murmured, ‘You’re a natural, son. Sante for helping.’

He froze.

The spoon slipped from his hand and clattered onto the counter.

He picked it up, placed it in the sink, mumbling an apology.

With an abrupt swivel, he loped out of the kitchen, movements uneven, breath jagged.

By the fire, Rina glanced up from her book.

Her eyes tracked from her mother’s gentle confusion to Mo’s retreating silhouette disappearing through the hallway. She closed the pages on her lap and knifed up.

‘What did I do?’ Hanna asked, her face pinched with concern.

‘Nothing wrong, mama. You just showed him that he’s cared for and loved,’ Rina said as she stood. ‘He’s probably not used to it and doesn’t know what to do with all the emotion it brings. You might have also reminded him of what he’s missing, living without a mother.’

After stroking her mum’s arm in reassurance, Rina padded after her man, barefoot, following the open door and the ripple of cool evening air.

She found him outside, on the terrace.

Bare feet set apart on the flagstones, arms crossed tight over his chest, his gaze tilted skyward, unblinking.

Rina moved to him without a word, slipping her grasp around his middle from behind and resting her cheek on the solid curve of his back.

They stood like that for a few minutes before Mo stirred.

‘Hanna reminds me of my mother,’ he rasped, emotion raw in his timbre. ‘She was kind. Generous. She saw the best in me, and I fokkin miss her.’

His voice cracked.

Rina tightened her hold. She pressed her lips against the seam of his spine.

‘How did she pass?’ she asked.

He inhaled through his nose, a ragged sound, chest lifting and falling unevenly.

‘She just faded,’ he said. ‘Being so far from her people, having lost everything she knew, she had little to live for other than me. She told me once she was only hanging on until I was strong enough to care for myself. When she was certain I could, she let go.’

He tilted his head, his eyes reflecting a shimmer of the stars above.

‘She said she was slipping into a new heaven, or so she claimed. Her body disintegrated into golden motes. They floated right through the window and vanished. The only thing she left was her bracelet.’

He glanced down, and Rina caught the gleam of aged gold and weathered leather around his wrist. She’d admired it a few times now and wondered about its significance.

‘I’ve worn it ever since,’ he added.

Rina brushed her lips over his shoulder. Then another kiss, just below his neck.

She rocked him from behind, swaying with the quiet rhythm of mourning and memory.

‘I know she’s with me,’ he murmured.

‘She is, honey. Always.’

He turned then to face her. His eyes searched hers, brimming, tender, vulnerable.

‘Maybe she brought me to you,’ he whispered.

‘I’d like to believe that,’ Rina said.

He cupped her cheek and kissed her, long and sweet, lips soft and unhurried, tasting of unspoken grief and the warmth of trust.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested on hers.

‘ Sante ,’ he murmured. ‘For letting me talk about her. For allowing me to grieve. It lifts the sadness that much more.’

Rina smiled. ‘My pleasure, soldier. You OK now?’

He gave her a lopsided smile. ‘Never better.’

‘Now, let’s eat, get dressed, and light out of here. We’ve got a hot date with our friends for after-dinner drinks.’

Rina stood in the middle of the rooftop bar in New Rambasa, the night air cool against her bare shoulders.

Behind her, the horizon was smeared in violet and peach.

Warm chatter surrounded her, the clink of glasses, the occasional laughter rising in pockets.

The city pulsed below, street lights flickering like stars.

It was a rare evening of peace, one she hadn’t realized she was desperate for until she exhaled into it.

Mo loomed beside her, tall, solid, his arm brushing hers now and then in quiet reassurance. He was attentive in a way that made her smile in wonder.

He topped up her drink without being asked.

Neither did he question why she was drinking a Virgin Margarita crafted with orange, grapefruit, lime, and sparkling water.

He was a droll, witty conversationalist, laughed at Issa’s pointed jokes. He even got Sheba snacks when she walked in hungry, and delved with Ki’Remi into Rider-related topics.

Most of all, he was present and caring with Rina, hands on her at all times. It was a tad possessive, but she leaned into it, and her friends took note.

Sheba gave her an arched brow and a sly grin. Ki’Remi winked when Mo pulled Rina’s chair out for her.

Even Mirage, who rarely expressed any opinion on matters of the heart, granted her an approving nod.

She added a smirk as she smoked a synth cheroot and reclined back in her seat, blowing smoke into the air.

Minutes later, Sheba found her moment.

She looped her arm through Rina’s and tugged her toward the balcony under the pretense of admiring the view.

‘So,’ she drawled, eyes bright. ‘You and Mo got it on after all?’

Rina bestowed a crooked smile on her close friend, her gaze flicking to the city lights. ‘We did. We’re taking it one day at a time. You know how it’s been. We’re dealing with a shitshow of a mission that crosses over into both our jobs, which makes things complicated. We’re not rushing it.’

‘Complicated, huh?’ Sheba’s tone was thick with disbelief. ‘You’ve only ordered mocktails all night. You’re glowing like Alphetraz at full phase. Something’s up.’

Rina sighed, scanned the group behind them, and pulled Sheba another few paces away into a darkened corner. ‘Don’t scream. Don’t squeal. Don’t even blink funny.’

‘I’m scared,’ Sheba mock whispered, gripping her hand.

‘I’m pregnant.’

Sheba’s mouth dropped open in a silent shriek, her eyes dilating. ‘You’re fokkin ’ what? Wait. Who’s the father?’

Rina gave her a narrow-eyed, pointed look. ‘Who do you think, silly?’

‘Oh. My. Freaking. Deities.’ Sheba clutched her arm like a lifeline. ‘Woman, are you for real?’

They stood in stunned silence for a beat before Sheba began to shake her head, thoughts already racing. ‘Are you okay? Are you happy? Are you freaking out?’

‘All of the above,’ Rina admitted. ‘At first, I was losing my mind, but after some thought, I found that I want this baby. With a kind of wild savagery I can’t explain but I want Mo’s child.

But my mind’s still spiraling. What will life look like?

How do I prepare? I’m capable, I know I am, but I’m spinning with it all. ’

Sheba nodded, her expression softening. ‘Honey, you’re allowed to feel all of that.

But you also don’t have to do it alone. First, we have to get you prenatal vitamins.

Plus, drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet.

Cut back your kahawa . Start thinking about the baby space, where it’ll sleep, and what you’ll need.

And for heaven’s sake, let me help you. I’m a nurse and a damn good future aunt. ’

Rina’s lips twitched in a half-smile. ‘I’ve got a couple of prenatal books already. They’ve helped a little when they’re not terrifying.’

‘I’m so here for you,’ Sheba murmured. ‘Ask for whatever you need. Cry when you want to. This isn’t a solo mission.’

‘I know.’ Rina’s voice cracked. ‘ Sante .’

She glanced over her shoulder. Mo was watching her with quiet curiosity, his brow arched in a silent question.

Her chest tugged with guilt.

‘Wait,’ Sheba said, stepping into her line of sight. ‘Have you told him?’

Rina paled. ‘ Nada . Not yet.’

‘Rina.’ Sheba’s worry was evident.

‘I will,’ she promised. ‘When this assignment shit settles. I need the world to stop spinning for five seconds first.’

Sheba gave her a drawn-out, exasperated look, then hugged her. ‘Don’t delay too long. That man adores you. He deserves to know.’

Rina nodded, throat tight.

After another hug with Sheba, the pair moved back to their group.

Rina walked to Mo and slid her arms around his waist, encircling him, burying her face in his muscled, solid chest.

He lowered his head, his voice a deep murmur against her hair. ‘What was that about? You two seemed downright conspiratorial.’

‘Best friend chatter,’ she replied, eyes fluttering closed as his clasp came up around her.

‘Bullshit, but I’ll let it pass, for now.’

For a moment, she surrendered herself to the shelter of his strength, safe and protected.

Even as the guilt of the truth pulled at her conscience.

MOLAN

Dawn bled across the high-altitude windows of the Sable Corvette, casting pale gold light through the half-drawn shades.

The world outside was a hush, with soft cloud banks and silver radiance, but inside, it was all warmth, breath, and tangled limbs.

Mo lay in bed, spooning Rina in the captain’s quarters, one hand splayed over her hip as his nose nestled into her hair.

Her scent grounded him, a blend of vanilla and spring blooms, stirring his need for her.

His cock swelled as she shifted, murmuring an incoherent whisper, and he tightened his hold, mulling whether to make love to her once more.

As he was about to nuzzle her nape and wake her, a pulse came through his neural link.

A signal spike.

His eyes opened as Kainan’s communique streamed into his cerebral HUD.

Data cascaded over his vision: battle footage, encrypted transcripts, and confirmation codes.

The previous night, the Sable Group, in tandem with the United Pegasi Military, launched overnight coordinated strikes against multiple Stygian black sites throughout the sector.

The mercenary forces mounted stiff resistance but got crushed with clinical efficiency.

Dozens of hardware depots and experimental weapons caches had been secured.

Even more surprising, Kainan offered Stygian’s surviving fighters the chance to be absorbed into their respective planetary armies in Pegasi, across Dunia, Galicia, and Rhesia.

It was a solution that hopefully put an end to Stygian’s chaos; a conclusion to their shadow war.

But only if you three take their HQ and eviscerate it.

Kainan’s ultimate words came through like steel. ‘We’ve isolated Stygian HQ. No comms. No backup. No escape. It’s your move.’

Kainan’s sign-off was uncompromising and final.

Mo exhaled.

He brushed a hand over Rina’s waist, then leaned in, mouth brushing her temple. ‘Rise and shine, troublemaker.’

She mumbled into the pillow about needing the bathroom urgently.

He grinned. ‘That’s what you get for going so hard on the water last night, hydration queen.’

Her hand reached back and slapped his ass. ‘Keep talking, I’ll leave you to storm Stygian HQ alone.’

He laughed, deep and real, and sat up, stretching his arms over his head, every muscle sliding beneath skin still warm from her body.

Rina blinked awake, hair tousled, lips curved.

He kissed her long and hard, then tapped her ass. ‘Fun times are over. We have our marching orders.’

They moved through their morning with fast precision: showers, a protein-packed breakfast, and a final run through of their plans.

The Corvette was already in complete stealth, cloaked above the stratosphere.

They hovered in perfect position over the jagged steel structure that marked Stygian Corp’s endmost bastion, an obsidian fortress.

In the loading bay, the atmosphere shifted.

Armour hung waiting like silent sentinels.

Mo adjusted the clasps on his suit and checked the pulse rifle at his back.

He turned to find Rina zipping up her torso plate, sliding her gloves into place with a snap. Even now, on the precipice of war, she appeared like power incarnate.

He crossed to her and drew her into his arms, his forehead against hers.

‘I’m your forever ride, mi kaya, I got you.’

‘Always.’

She kissed him with fierceness, clutching him like she never wanted to let go.

The world stilled for a breath, then he tore his mouth from her.

He stepped back and they stared at each other until their helmets slid on with twin hisses.

The rear airlock opened with a hydraulic roar, the wind slicing in with chilling finesse.

Side by side, they proceeded to the edge of the ramp, gazing down at the enemy’s final stronghold below.

Its black spires rose from a sea of mist, lit only by the morning sun cresting behind them.

Mo clenched his fists, readying his mind and soul.

This was it.

Time to finish what they started.