Page 141 of Stars in Umbra
The guard sneered and poured some of the ale over her apron. ‘Wrong again. Try not to cry this time, girly.’
Another guffawed, nudging his shoulder. ‘Maybe she cries better when she’s on her knees.’
Mo’s knuckles went white around his glass. Rina placed a calming hand on his thigh, her expression rigid.
Without warning, the dynamic shifted.
The front door creaked again, and three figures stepped into the tavern.
They prowled in with silence and auras that snaked through the air like the hum of a power core.
They were taller, broader, with penetrating eyes and tighter gear.
Mo spotted tactical armor disguised under plain synth jackets.
Their badges bore the same ‘twin blades coiled in a serpent’s mouth’ insignia as the sixkinaisalready in the inn.
However, their stance made it clear that they weren’t part of the circus act.
The laughter at the bar petered out.
The first group of loudmouths turned, their expressions falling.
The leader of the three was dark-haired and handsome, with silver flecks in his sculpted beard.
One ear featured a polished obsidian communication implant, and he spoke in a tone that was both timbred and firm. ‘That’s enough.’
The younger wardens stiffened. ‘Just having a bit of fun, sir.’
‘You’re not here to ‘have fun.’ You’re here to represent Thrall Estate.’
His growl came across as measured, cold as water on steel. ‘I catch you acting like this again, you’ll be reassigned to perimeter patrol on the sulfur flats. Understood?’
He got rewarded with grumbles, nods, and forced salutes.
The waitress slipped away while she could, trailed by the chastened men.
Mo narrowed his eyes on the threesome capable of shifting the energy in the room.
‘Thosekinais,’ he murmured to Rina, jerking his chin in their direction. ‘They’re a different breed, definitely senior, more freakin’ dangerous.’
The trio moved with confident strides, broad-shouldered, their faces hard and their jaws set. Their body language screamed military, not just trained, but tempered by experience.
These were not the kind who followed. The were men who commanded with cold precision.
Mo leaned in, his voice a rasp against Rina’s ear. ‘See those handguns? The leader’s packing a Colt Archangel. It features plasma rounds and a DNA-coded grip. That piece isn’t sold, it’s auctioned.’
Her gaze flicked to the others.
‘Left one’s got a Zarien V90, Sartixian elite issue, rare asfokk. I also note that the third carries a Rivenclast Echo-Twin, a dual-discharge, armor-shredding weapon. Black ops only.’
Rina gave a subtle nod. ‘So they’re bigwigs, leaders, freakin’ alphas. I’m guessing they’re the ones with the kind of clearance we need.’
Mo exhaled. ‘Bingo. They’re our mark. Or rather yours,mi kaya.’
She glanced at him, brows lifted.
‘You’re going to have to charm yourself into their orbit,’ he drawled, teasing but with an undercurrent of solemnity. ‘I won’tfokkin’like it but we have little choice.’
