Page 6 of Stars in Umbra (The Sable Riders #8)

‘I’m on the Pegasi United Galactic Military board and the attache to your sister, the Dunian Prime. I get intel reports and I know my shit.’

‘The nurse and medic in me bows to your nerd credentials.’

‘Colonel nerd credentials,’ Rina corrected with a wink, just as a massive shadow stalked by their table.

He moved with purpose; fluid, silent, lethal, a savagery scarcely restrained.

Rina jolted as his eyes locked with hers as he prowled past.

He moved like a war machine, broad shoulders and thick thighs swinging with grace, his formal wear clinging to each inch of his hulking, muscled frame.

Damn, even his gait was a striding threat.

He sliced his eyes away, and she was left staring, hard .

She’d seen military personnel in every shape, some so overbuilt they resembled caricatures. There was nothing inconsequential about Mo.

He was all lethal precision and sculpted power, a weapon wrapped in skin, forged for war and built to ruin.

Her tongue flicked out to wet her lower lip as he stalked to the bar.

A sudden compunction came over her, and she leaned toward the next woman at the table. ‘Harlow?’

Harlow Sable, Kage’s wife, glanced up from where she was spoon-feeding her three-year-old.

At the same time, she used her other hand to muster her five-year-old, who was attempting to scale the table and upend a tray of desserts over their head. ‘Hmm?’

‘First of all, can I help with the kids?’ she offered.

Harlow shot her a conspiratorial smile. ‘ Nada , I’m good, sante .’

She then twisted to her daughter and narrowed her unusual amethyst eyes at the child.

The youngster developed a sudden case of demureness and slid back into her seat with a whisper. ‘Sorry, mama.’

Harlow turned to Rina and Sheba, waggling her brows. ‘No words needed, just a stare.’

They all chuckled.

‘You’ve got motherhood down to an art,’ Rina chortled.

‘You better believe it. You were asking?’ Harlow prompted.

‘Oh yes, I wanted to know a little about Mo,’ Rina murmured. ‘What do you know about him?’

Harlow’s lips curled as her dancing gaze flicked over to the bar where the man in question was leaning over the counter. ‘Did he just make your ovaries sigh?’

Sheba laughed and rolled her eyes. ‘He so did. See, Rina’s been on outbound missions and then back to base for four months, training, running combat drills, sleeping in a cot with the stuffing clawed out.

She needs a break now and then. A curving of her spine with him over there will do her well enough. ’

Rina elbowed her hard and hissed in warning. ‘I’d curse, but they’re children at the table.’

‘Mo’s an Iccythrian,’ Harlow said, unfazed, cutting up her toddler’s grilled steak with military efficiency.

‘He’s an ex-merc who retired from private army work and was contracted to the Sable Group as a guard.

He stood out in a few of their stoushes, so Kainan picked him as The Osirian ’s head bouncer after the Dunian coup.

He was magnificent when the crats attacked the Riders during the war. ’

‘That’s where I’ve learned of him,’ Rina murmured, recalling mentions of the Iccythrian warrior during the short Dunian seizure of power.

‘Before that, he was a mercenary sniper. From what Kage has told me, he’s a hands-on, experienced, kick ass warrior. He runs a tight security crew. No nonsense, no softness, all teeth. He’s scared off every single hustler who thought they could make a quick credit on the Riders’ turf.’

‘I can imagine. He doesn’t exactly give approachable energy.’

‘ Nada ,’ Harlow said, licking sauce off her thumb.

‘He’s secretive, he doesn’t talk much, and is scary as fokk , which is what we need for security on any of the Riders’ facilities.

Still, he’s a teddy bear under the gruff exterior.

He’s also super reliable. Given I now run Sable Manufacturing, I happen to know he’s a weapons expert. ’

‘Is he loyal?’ Rina asked.

‘Like a beast. He’d kill for them, for us.’

‘Of more importance, is he in a relationship?’ Sheba drawled. ‘Just asking for a friend.’

Rina exhaled, bracing.

Harlow was about to answer when her five-year-old wriggled off her chair and took off toward the fireworks booth.

With a groan, she stood up, shouted Kage’s name over the music, and jogged after her rogue offspring, with her toddler tucked into her arm.

Sheba sighed. ‘Damn. I freakin’ wanted to know if a certain Mr. Mo is already spoken for.’

Rina let out an exhaled breath laced with disappointment. ‘Woman, why are you so invested?’

‘Because your eyes are dilating as we speak, and the medic in me is concerned you might be under the influence of a cocktail of cortisol, dopamine, and adrenaline. AKA you’re in a state of heightened libido,’ Sheba shot back unfazed.

‘ Fokk off, but I must admit I’m keen to know, too.’

Sheba stretched, slugged back her drink, and stood. ‘Say no more. I shall find out if he’s married.’

‘Please,’ Rina hissed. ‘Do not do what I think you’re about to. Sheba!’

It was to no avail. Sheba was already sauntering toward the bar like she was on a catwalk.

She paused next to Mo, leaned over, way over, and with an affected ease, studied his hand.

He stared at Sheba, eyebrow raised, and Rina could scarcely breathe.

Then her friend rotated, lifted her chin, and shouted across the tent:

‘ NADA ! YOU’RE GOOD!’

Rina wanted the ground to eat her whole.

She went scarlet, flaming, red-hot tomato as Mo’s head turned.

His eyes locked on hers, framed by his piercings, glinting along the edge of his temple.

A fire of smoke and gilded flame hit her, his stare unblinking.

He sat like some brooding sentinel carved out of obsidian and velvet menace.

One thick, muscled leg stretched out, the other bent, foot hooked onto the stool’s step. His posture was casual, but every angle of him radiated coiled power.

One hand cradled a crystal tumbler of amber whiskey, the other resting on his thigh, fingers long, veins prominent, movement precise.

Then he smirked as if daring her.

Rina almost melted in her chair, her smart mouth and military bravado disintegrating under the furnace of that look.

Sheba was beside her again in an instant, whispering against her ear like a demon on her shoulder. ‘You’re welcome. Go get it, Colonel.’

‘You witch.’

‘What are friends for?’

Rina had no chance to retort, as the massive man in question came up behind Sheba.

He came to a stop before her and reached a hand.

He stared up at her, then he jerked his chin.

‘Would you like to dance?’ he rasped.

She jolted at his growl. His voice was a deep, raspy sound, like gravel dragged across stone.

It vibrated through the air, hitting every one of Rina’s nerves. The sound crawled over her skin in a slow, deliberate caress, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

It set her blood ablaze, a wildfire roaring through her.

She took an inhale to control her wild fire reaction. ‘Is that an order?’

‘It’s an offer. Not the kind I make twice.’

Rina gazed at his outstretched hand for a beat longer than necessary.

With an exhale of surrender, she knocked back the rest of her wine.

Then she rose, smoothed her dress over her hips, and placed her palm in his heated clasp.

With a shake of disbelief, she let him lead her forth.