Page 51 of Stars in Umbra (The Sable Riders #8)

Divine Justice

KAINAN SABLE

D usk fell on the expansive rooftop terrace of Sable HQ, nestled high above the glowing skyline of Eden II.

Kainan stood near the bar with a quiet smile, the warm breeze ruffling his black hair.

The night was balmy, summery, thick with the aroma of grilled food and the sound of children’s laughter echoing through the open air.

Lanterns hovered overhead, casting honeyed radiance across the deck where chaos reigned in its most joyful form.

At the long banquet table, Selene, his wife, his anchor, his stunning, dark-haired beauty, was organizing their twins’ birthday cake with military precision.

Harlow and Illana, Kage and Zane’s wives, flanked her, bickering lightheartedly about candle placement while trying to fend off their icing-thieving youngsters.

Kainan chuckled to himself and rolled his shoulder, the accompanying ache a reminder of his recent Stygian black site mission less than twenty-four hours ago.

Reaching into a nearby ice bucket, he fished out a frosted bottle of Solaris Pale.

He popped the cap and took a long pull before strolling, while attempting to hide a limp, toward where Zane and Kage were keeping an eye on the pool antics.

Their kids, his progeny, and Xion’s tribe, too many to count now, were either cannonballing into the water, shrieking with delight or racing barefoot along the slick tiles, defying every adult command issued earlier in the evening.

Xion lounged on a divan, half-asleep with his woman, Samira, curled in his lap, her head tilted on his shoulder.

Ki’Remi and Issa were on a week-long break from their mercy ship surgical duties.

The couple was lost in conversation with each other on the edge of the terrace, hands linked, murmuring about some medical mission.

Zane took one look at Kainan and raised a brow. ‘You still standing? Or is the old warhorse admitting he needs a walking frame?’

Kainan gave him a dry smirk and leaned onto the railing. ‘Storming a black site ain’t what they used to be. But nada , I’m still good. Just sore as hell.’

‘How are the mercs?’ Zane asked. ‘Any good ones in the mix?’

Kainan exhaled and nodded. ‘Too early to tell, but some of them have promise. They’re freakin’ good soldiers, and if we leave them without a tether, they might just continue in Thrall’s footsteps.

I’m already thinking about how we might bring a few into Sable, maybe for fieldwork.

Truth is, brother, you, me, and the rest of the crew are getting too old for front-line ops. Besides -.’

He cast a look toward Selene, who was now fending off a frosting fight between the twins. ‘She gives me hell every time I go out on a mission now and reminds me we’ve got kids to raise, and a family to stay alive for.’

Zane chuckled. ‘That’s the cost of love, kaka .’

Kage snorted. ‘Speak for yourselves. I live for the missions. They keep me limber and fit, so I can keep running The BirdKage’s kitchens and banquets. I also need our fat-burning missions to offset my six-course dinner experiments. I have to keep my woman thirsting.’

‘Speaking of thirsting,’ Zane smirked, sipping his own drink, ‘you hear about Mo and Rina?’

‘Oh?’ Kainan asked, arching a brow.

Kage’s grin turned wolfish. ‘Turns out they were getting real cozy in Dunia. Mirage says they’ve been holed up together for a bit, and I mean Holed. Up.’

Zane groaned. ‘Brother, keep it PG.’

‘What? I’m just saying love is in the air, again for two of us.’

Before the teasing could spiral, Selene called out across the terrace, clapping her hands for attention.

‘Alright, everyone! Cake time!’

The kids shrieked, threw themselves from the pool, and stampeded toward the table, trailing water and squeals.

Kainan set aside his beer and prowled over.

He reached his children first, ruffled their damp hair, and dropped a kiss on each of their heads as they leaned over the four-tiered confectionery, giddy with anticipation.

He slid an arm around Selene’s waist and pulled her into him, pressing his lips to her temple.

‘The cake is incredible, khamila ,’ he murmured.

‘That’s Harlow’s artistry, not mine,’ she replied, with a wink.

‘ De nada ,’ he rasped, ‘besides, you’re the icing I want to lick off.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘You have a terrible mouth.’

‘And you married it,’ he growled with a smug smirk.

She shushed him, narrowed her eyes, but pushed her spine into his embrace, moaning at the soft slide of his hand down her back, before he tapped her ass. ‘Later, soldier.’

‘Can’t wait,’ he growled, eyes sparkling.

She turned from him with a wink and kicked off the ‘ Happy Birthday ’ chorus.

Their extended found family’s voices chimed in loud and heartfelt as the twins soaked up all the attention.

As the last notes faded, a sudden BOOM lit up the sky.

All of their heads twisted as an explosion of light erupted overhead, in waves of color that streaked across the horizon in radiant crescents of mauve, gold, silver, and aqua.

The rivers of shimmering fire fell in a spectacle that rivaled any display Sable HQ had ever seen.

The children screamed in awe, clapping, pointing.

The wives looked up, their eyes expansive and amazed.

Selene leaned toward Kainan, laughing. ‘Baby! You organized fireworks?’

Kainan blinked. ‘Uhm, about that-.’

His voice trailed off as all five Sable Riders present received a private neural ping even as Selene kissed Kainan’s cheek, her eyes dancing with delight.

Kainan tapped his node link. Mirage? That you?

Her utterance was laced with satisfaction. ‘I won’t take the honors. That light show is courtesy of Molan. Mission complete. Eden II is safe. You’re welcome.’

Kainan’s eyes drifted to the glowing arc of fire above, then to his family, laughing and cheering.

He smiled. ‘Well done, Sable warriors. Well done.’

The lift chimed, and Mo, Rina, and Mirage stepped out onto the Sable HQ terrace.

Still in their armored suits, they brought with them the smoke and scuff of battle, each of them battered but upright, marked but unbowed.

A deep scratch marred Mo’s rib plate, and a smear of dried blood traced his jawline.

Rina’s ponytail was loose and fraying, and a slight tremor ran through her arms as she held fast to Mo’s hand with both of hers.

At their flank, Mirage shimmered in a glittering suit.

She appeared just long enough to offer Kainan a silent nod of confirmation before glimmering away.

Most likely to conduct any mop-ups on the incident and shut down any chat about it under classified files.

The fire pit’s warm glow cast dancing shadows across the rooftop.

The children were now tucked into bed, their sugar highs from the birthday cake fading into quiet dreams.

What remained was the core of their family: just the Riders and their partners and wives, lounging close to the flames, drinks in hand, their voices hushed by the serenity of a good night.

The Riders rose as one: Kainan, Kage, Zane, Xion, and Ki’Remi.

Without question, they closed in, their arms wrapping around the returning trio, grounding them and guiding them to the circle of warmth.

There were no immediate greetings, no frantic questions; just presence and care.

The women surged in next, taking hold of Rina and fussing over her.

Eventually, the group pulled apart, and Kainan took the lead, his hands crossed over his chest. ‘Brother,’ he grunted, ‘tell us everything.’

Mo drew in a ragged breath, the words coming from the pit of him, from somewhere still raw with fury and shame.

‘We managed to avert disaster, brothers, but it came fokkin ’ close. Caidan hot-wired a bomber with thermonuclear explosives and aimed it at Eden II. It almost made it. He also snatched Rina and tried to make me watch it burn with her inside.’

A current of palpable tension rippled through the group.

Zane stiffened, his jaw clenched. Kage exhaled, and Ki’Remi went still.

‘Lucian Makori was his sidekick.’

At this, Selene blanched, and Kainan slid a hand around her waist, lips to her temple.

‘I thought he disappeared into some backwater,’ Selene whispered, a dark emotion in her eyes.

‘He became Thrall’s lackey and they planned to use Mo to assassinate you all in revenge for Dunia, and then when that failed, the bomber became Plan B.’

Rina crossed the small space to her best friend and hugged her. ‘Lucian is gone, forever. Thrall killed him to get rid of him as a loose end.’

‘ Fokk me,’ Selene cursed.

‘Caidan is also DOA,’ Mo rasped, his timbre hardened with a cold finality, but his demise was personal for me.

He used me like a blade. He placed a neural node in my brain, bent my will without my knowing, so that I slaughtered targets without memory, a slave to his evil commands.

I almost lost Rina, and myself, and I came close to failing you all. ’

‘Talk about divine justice,’ Kage murmured.

Mo’s eyes flicked over the Riders, meeting each of their gazes in turn; the men he bled with, and worked for, who embraced him in their fold, and also who he just about betrayed.

In his regard was a raw, bruised emotion and a genuine remorse.

‘Once again, I am sorry,’ he muttered.

Kainan stepped forward and dragged him into a firm, grounding embrace. ‘The second you found out, you made amends. That’s all that matters, Mo. We’ve all danced with darkness. What counts is how and where you step into the light.’

Zane clapped him hard on the back.

Kage crushed him in a hug that lifted him off his feet.

Xion gave him a slight smile, one that was loaded with sincere appreciation.

Ki’Remi pulled him close, holding him there for a beat longer than needed, a silent promise of solidarity.

Mo’s chest swelled with a mix of gratitude and overwhelming emotion.

Tears wet his eyes, enough to sting, but he blinked them away. ‘ Sante brothers. You’ve no idea what you all mean to me.’

Kage cracked open a few beers and passed them around, and the group toasted. ‘To the brother who returned,’ Kage said.

Mo turned, offering Rina a beer.