Page 127 of The Umbra King

Rory’s fingernails dug into her palms as she fought the urge to launch herself at the vile woman, and once Nina stood at the foot of the dais, looking at them with as much hate as she could muster, Rory smiled.

“Hello, Nina,” she cooed.

“Don’t talk to me, butcher bitch,” the woman spat, clearly lacking any self-preservation. Nina turned to Caius, the picture of a damsel in distress. “Your Grace, whatever she said is a lie. Since she arrived, she has been terrible to me, spreading terrible rumors. I only tried to protect myself, for I feared for my life.”

She cried big crocodile tears, and Rory had to give it to her—she was good, and had Rory not seen her evil firsthand, she might have believed her.

“You are charged with conspiring against a fellow inmate and thefuture Umbra Queen,” Caius boomed, his voice echoing in the large room.

Nina recoiled and looked between Rory and the king. “No, I didn’t. I was only protecting myself,” she cried. “Sheconspired to killme!”

“And now you lie to your king.” His smile was merciless. “Your sentence is death.”

He turned to Rory, giving her the go ahead, and her own mouth curled into a wicked smile. Seeing Nina’s face as she descended the steps of the dais gave her great satisfaction.

Nina fought against Lauren’s hold, and another member of the legion took her other arm to hold her steady. When Rory stood in front of the woman, she looked deep into her eyes and held out her palm.

Sam placed a black dagger in her hand, and she looked away from Nina to inspect it. When she turned back, Nina thrashed, trying to tug her arms free. “No! You can’t do this!”

She struggled harder, and Rory grabbed the top of her hair to hold her in place. “Tell Orcus hello for me,” she purred, repeating Caius’ words. She sliced the dagger across Nina’s neck and watched as the blood poured out. When Nina’s gurgles finally stopped, her body slumped forward.

Turning to Caius, Rory held up the dagger. “Can I keep this?” The ghost of a smile played on his lips.

“You can keep her head if you wish.”

This was why they were made for each other. He understood her savagery, admired it even.

As she stood facing the king with the sound of Nina’s lifeless body being dragged across the marble floor, she knew she loved him.

He had been wrong.

She was the first tofall.

That night,Caius stood in the doorway to the bathroom, watching Rory through the glass door of the shower. Seeing her strength today was exhilarating, and it confirmed how great of a queen she would be, if given the chance.

Her eyes were still swollen, but not from her fight. Tallent didn’t land a hit because she had been ready. They’d gotten the best of her once, and she wouldn’t allow it again. No, her face was swollen from crying over the news of her mother, and Caius had agonized over it all day.

He couldn’t let Rory suffer, and she would, knowing the state her mother was in. He would petition Adila to bring Lenora here, but allowing an innocent into Vincula was unheard of.

If Lenora came in Vincula, her abilities would disappear as her essence was siphoned to power Erdikoa, alleviating her madness. It could work, if only his sister would agree. If Adila had to clear it with Gedeon, it was a no, but just maybe she would grant him this without going through their brother.

“Are you going to stare all night, or are you going to join me?” Rory said without looking at him, and he chuckled as he shed his clothes.

He stepped in behind her and moved her hair over her shoulder to kiss her neck as the water pelted them both. “You were beautiful today,” he murmured against her skin.

She turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and lifted on her toes to kiss him. Their tongues danced together, gliding smoothly as they gave in to their need for each other.

His hands explored her slick body, and his own heated in return. She moaned into his mouth, and he pulled back to wrap a hand around her throat. “I won’t be gentle,” he warned. He was predatory after watching her in action today, and he needed to fuck her hard.

She grabbed his cock and squeezed. “I won’t be either.”

He flipped her around and ran his fingers through her arousal. “You will scream for me, louder than youever have.”

“Fuck me hard enough, and I might,” she said, shooting him a taunting smile over her shoulder.

He pulled his fingers back, aligned his cock, and thrust into her, the momentum slamming her against the wall. His hand flew up to protect her face from hitting the tile, and she arched her back in response.

One hand dug into her hip, and the other snaked under her arm to grab her neck and pull her back. He squeezed the sides of her throat as he rammed into her again, and her head lolled back.

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