Page 99 of The Umbra King

“Bye, Sam!” Bellina called after him, wiggling her fingers before turning back to Rory. “Was he any good?”

Laughter bubbled out of Rory at her friend’s abrupt change of subject. “The best I’ve ever had,” she confirmed.

Bellina wrinkled her nose. “You’ve obviously never been with a woman.”

Rory snickered and stood to grab clothes. “You were right about shopping. I don’t know if or when he’ll take me somewhere.” She paused. “He doesn’t seem the type to take women on dates.”

Bellina rose from the bed. “He doesn’t, but he took Nina out to dinner.”

Rory’s jaw locked at the memory of Nina and Caius together. “If he tries to take me to the same restaurant, I’m not marrying him.”

“Feed him to Lo,” Bellina suggested. “She likes you.”

“Asher is going to…” Rory’s voice trailed off, and her chest ached.

Bellina rubbed a hand down Rory’s back. “I’m not used to him being gone, either.”

“Max leaves next,” Rory lamented. “At least I still have you for a bit longer.”

Bellina looked thoughtful. “When you marry Caius, does your contract end? And being aRoyalmeans you won’t lose your memory when you leave.”

Rory stilled.Did it?She could see her parents, and maybe her friends would speak to her if she were aRoyal.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I’ll let you know when I find out.”

32

Caius was nervous,an unfamiliar feeling he experienced often as of late.

“Get out of your head,” Sam said as he approached the pond where Caius stood.

“She thought I killed her sister, and while she says she no longer believes it, a small part of her might.” There was no reason for her to believe him.

Sam stood beside him with his wings tucked tightly. “Dissolve her doubt.”

He said it like it was the easiest task in the realms. “She said my actions didn’t match my words.” Shadows swirled with his anxiety, and Sam kicked at them.

“That was before yesterday,” Sam pointed out.

Caius tried to show her he cared by throwing her the ball and inviting her friends, but when she blew in like a tornado ready to blast him to bits, everything was ruined. Until it wasn’t.

Sex with her was unlike any he’d experienced, and now that the bond was nearly complete, he wanted nothing more than to be near her.

“What if you don’t like her?” Sam asked, breaking his thoughts.

Caius turned to his friend. “Repeat that.”

“What if you don’t like her?” Sam repeated, making Caius laugh. “I am serious. You are worried she will not like you once you get to know each other better, but what if it is the other way around?”

“I know her,” Caius told him.

“Perhaps.” Sam stood stoically beside him, letting him stew.

“You were sure we would marry, and now you aren’t?” Caius shook his head.

“I still believe you will marry,” Sam corrected. “But you don’t, and thinking you will be the one to let her down is preposterous. Do not feel sorry for yourself.”

Caius sighed and looked to the aether. “You’re a terrible motivator.”

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