Page 37 of The Umbra King

Rory perked up. “I know my room number.”

“Perfect.” Bellina grinned as she opened the door. “You can give it to them this time since you’re new, but you’ll need your card next time.”

The shop was like any other clothing store in Erdikoa but without technology. There were jeans, jackets, shirts, dresses, and anything else you could think of from the other realm.

Rory reached out to touch a shirt. “Do they have these imported?”

“Ding, ding, ding,” a deep voice said.

She spun around, facing a man who looked to be her age or a fewyears younger. He had a mischievous smirk, and his hair was like Nina’s, only darker. “What color is your hair?” She grimaced at her lack of manners.

“You’re weird,” he replied with an amused smile. “It’s auburn. You’ve never seen it?”

“I can only see the color of souls,” she admitted. “I have grey-scale sight.”

“What is that?” Bellina was eyeing the man’s hair.

Rory played with the end of her hair to give her hands something to do. “I can only see in shades of grey, black, and white.”

The guy whistled. “Damn.”

“My hair is dark brown,” Bellina offered. “Almost black.”

“And my gorgeous eyes are hazel,” the man added, making Bellina roll her eyes.

“You’re The Butcher,” he said, sticking out his hand. “I’m Asher.”

“Leave her alone, Ash,” Bellina chided.

Rory shot Bellina a withering look. “I’m in no position to pass up someone being nice to me.” She turned back to Asher to shake his hand. “I go by Rory.”

“Rory. I like it.” He tossed his arm over Bellina’s shoulder and bent down to smack a kiss on her cheek. “I told Bell to bring you out with us, but she keeps refusing.”

Rory understood. “You’ll get a bad rep if you’re seen with me.”

Bellina pushed Asher away. “Don’t call me that. I told him we needed to give you time to adjust first, but you are welcome out with us anytime. Everyone here is a criminal, so they can fuck off with their judgment.”

A laugh burst from Rory. “I knew I liked you.” She turned to Asher. “You know of my atrocities. What are yours?”

He seemed embarrassed, which struck her as odd, seeing as how she was a serial killer.

“Armed robbery of a bank when I was twenty-two,” he said, regret lacing his voice.

Rory wondered how long he’d been here. His phrasing suggested a while. “How old are you now?”

He ran a hand through his hair, and Rory couldn’t help but notice how his biceps bulged. “Fifty-one.” He chuckled. “In a twenty-two-year-old’s body. How fucked up is that?”

She lifted a shoulder. “At least you’re a hot fifty-one-year-old. Gives a whole new meaning to the age-gap kink.”

He threw his head back with a loud laugh. “This is my last year, thank theSeraphim.”

“Lucky,” Bellina muttered as she plucked a shirt off the rack.

Asher reached over and tweaked her nose. “I’ll miss you.”

Bellina’s expression grew somber. “No, you won’t. You won’t remember us.”

Silence fell over the group. “I’ll remember you both enough for all of us,” Rory tried to joke. “I was sentenced as long as the king.”

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