The Umbra King (Vincula Realm Book 1)

Caius stood in the kitchens and shoved as much sugary food in his mouth as he could. After Rory fell asleep, he snuck off to clear his mind. When Gedeon killed Atarah, Caius wasn’t surprised her power passed to his brother because there was no one else for it to pass to.

The Lux rulers could only have three children, and when his mother got pregnant with her fourth, everyone was shocked. Caius and Gedeon were technically one when conceived, and identical twins were a rarity in the realms.

When the twins were born, everyone assumed Gedeon would be the Umbra King since he was born first, making him the second born, and Caius would be the Scales of Justice.

But when the twins turned six, Gedeon had no abilities other than that of a Fey, minus the soul seer ability, and Caius could control shadows. When Adila turned six, her abilities to see souls manifested, and as she aged, the seed of justice grew.

Gedeon always felt jilted, and by killing Atarah, he took the highest-ranking position among the three. His selfishness was unmatched, but to kill his own Aeternum was more than Caius could comprehend.

“You haven’t been down here in a while,” Sam said from the dark.

Caius shoved a spoonful of cake in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “When did you get back?”

Sam tucked his wings to weave around the kitchen island. “About an hour ago. I came to grab a fresh pitcher of water,”

“A night maid could have gotten that for you,” Caius pointed out.

Sam walked to the sink to fill the pitcher in his hand. “No need to bother them when I can do it myself.” Once the pitcher was full, he shut off the water and turned. “What’s on your mind?”

Caius set down his dish and leaned against the counter with his arms folded across his bare chest. “I think Gedeon killed Rory’s sister.”

Sam mirrored his movements, leaning back. “I figured as much. There is no other reason she would have seen you in Erdikoa only a decade ago.”

“Cora also had grey-scale sight.” He met Sam’s stare, and understanding passed between them.

“And you think she was Gedeon’s Aeternum,“ Sam concluded.

Caius sighed and ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I do, and I think he did it to prevent himself from losing the throne. He intends to rule forever.”

“We can’t allow that,” Sam said, stating the obvious. “Adila cannot ignore this.”

“She won’t kill our brother,” Caius replied ruefully. “I’ll have to do it, but I need her blessing first.”

Sam’s brows rose. “You have never cared for her blessing before. What changed?”

“I can’t leave Rory.” When Caius looked at his friend, the Angel was smiling like an idiot. “This isn’t funny.”

Sam pushed off the counter. “I’m not laughing.” His hand clamped down on Caius’ shoulder. “I am happy for you, brother. It is good to see you in love.”

Caius shrugged him off. “I don’t love her.”

Sam looked bemused. “Are you sure about that?”

Not anymore.

“Both attacks are linked to Nina,” Lauren said from the bookshelf she leaned against in Caius’ office. “She needs to be dealt with.”

Sam shook his head. “We have no proof. On the off chance there are other powers at play, we cannot send her to hell on a hunch.”

“It’s not a hunch,” Rory protested. She couldn’t believe her ears. “When Ronny attacked me, it was because of what I said to Nina, and the other two men were always with her.”

Caius lounged in his chair with his chin in his hand. “Sam’s right, but I want her watched around the clock.”

“Are you kidding me?” Rory asked, rounding on the king. “How is letting her go unpunished protecting me?”

Caius’ eyes sharpened, and she swore Lauren and Sam held their breath. “My priority is always you,” he said with a glacial calm. “We can’t damn a woman who has never stepped out of line until you arrived based on subjective evidence. I know she’s behind this,” he continued. “But if there is even the slightest chance she’s not, I can’t send her to hell.”

Rory’s fingers flexed with the urge to break something. “You were ready to burn the entire damned realm once, and now you hesitate?”

“Would you like me to commit mass murder, Miss Raven?” He sat forward. “Sam would have never let me do that, anyway. Please, trust me.”

Her jaw tensed. “Fine, but if she comes near me, I’ll kill her myself.”

Caius’ lips twitched. “I expect nothing less.”

“I’ll take care of Nina’s detail,” Lauren said, getting the conversation back on track.

“And I will be Rory’s,” Caius added, his voice daring Rory to object.

She knew fighting him was futile, even if she could beat the shit out of Nina on her own. There was also no telling who else did Nina’s dirty work. “Fine. I hope you like beer.”

Caius looked taken aback. “What?”

“Beer,” Rory said again. “We’re going out with my friends tonight.”

The king closed his eyes, mumbling under his breath, and she inflated with satisfaction. “Be ready to go at seven. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get lunch.” She glanced at Caius. “Coming?”

He pushed his chair back and stood. “I need to speak with Sam before we leave.”

“I’ll report back after Nina’s detail is settled,” Lauren said before leaving.

Sam walked forward and said, “More victims have come forward to vouch for The Butcher.”

“What?” Rory gasped. She’d forgotten he went to Erdikoa. “Did you speak with Dume?”

Caius looked annoyed at the mention of her friend, but even more so when Sam nodded. “As well as Kordie, Keith, and Sera.”

Rory searched her memory. “I don’t think I know Sera.”

“She is a woman you saved,” the commander replied. “She is a feisty one.”

“Bruce’s daughter,” Rory recalled, snapping her fingers. “He said her name was Sera.”

“Have the enforcer departments made any statements?” Caius asked.

Sam shook his head. “Not to my knowledge.” For the first time since arriving in Vincula, Sam looked uneasy.

“What else?” Rory asked, on high alert.

“Your friends still take care of your mother, but she has been difficult,” Sam replied carefully. “They do not know why.”

“What does that mean?” Rory demanded on the verge of hysteria.

Sam’s eyes darted to Caius before returning to her. “On her lucid days, she tries to escape, going on about saving you. Keith said it was a prophecy.”

Rory’s body was numb. She caused this. “It’s too late,” she croaked. “My darkness sent me here, and my mother will be dead before I return. She doesn’t understand.”

“What prophecy?” Caius asked with a sense of urgency, surprising Sam and Rory both.

“Two were one, and one is yours. Do not let him fool you. His darkness is poison. Only the golden child can save you,” Rory recited. “It was something she said not long before I was arrested. I don’t understand the rest, but the darkness reference was obvious.”

“Two were one, and one is yours,“ Caius said, barely above a whisper.

All three seemed to realize the meaning at once, because they all moved. Rory’s knees almost buckled with shock. “You,” she said, pointing at Caius. “‘Two were one, and one is yours.’ She means you.“ Identical twins, once a single embryo, split in two. “You really are my mate.”

Caius looked offended. “You doubted me?”

“No,” she lied.

Caius circled back to his desk and sat down, grabbing a pen and pad. “Say the prophecy again.” He scribbled as Rory repeated each line. Once finished, he tapped his pen against the pad as he read the words before looking up. “You won’t have one second alone for the next five-hundred years, maybe longer.”

Rory narrowed her eyes. “It is only one possibility of an infinite number of futures. Just because a section of it is true doesn’t mean all of it is.”

“I don’t care,” he clipped, putting the pen and pad away. Standing, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and approached her with an outstretched arm. “Shall we?”

Rory looked at Sam for backup, but he only gave her a toothy smile.

“Where would you like to eat?” Caius asked casually.

Giving up, she grabbed his hand. “The sandwich shop next to the bakery.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, warming her insides. “Good choice.”

Rory’s face curled in disgust as she watched the deli worker make Caius’ sandwich. “Ketchup and lettuce?” She was going to hurl.

“Many people eat ketchup and lettuce on burgers,” he replied smoothly, taking his sandwich from the worker.

“You’re eating a turkey sandwich!” she exclaimed.

He waited for her to get her food and led them to a small table in the back. She was used to the stares by now. Word had gotten around about her relationship with the king, and while she hated prying eyes, it was better than the sneers she used to endure.

“Why does the type of meat matter?” he asked, pulling out her chair.

She thanked him and placed a napkin on her lap. “It just does.”

He watched her unwrap her sandwich and take a huge bite. “You take that sandwich almost as well as you take my cock.”

She sputtered, and for a split second, she knew she would die of either embarrassment or asphyxiation. He smirked and took a bite of his own food. “You can’t say that in public,” she whisper-yelled.

He took a sip of water and smiled. “I can say whatever I want.”

Her boot found his shin under the table, and he grimaced with the impact. “Save it for the bedroom, Miss Raven.” The table of women next to her stopped talking, and Rory begged the ground to swallow her whole.

“You look a bit flustered.” Caius observed, making her cheeks burn brighter.

She ripped into her sandwich with her teeth and chewed mechanically while glaring at the villain across from her.

“If you eat too fast, your stomach will hurt,” Caius warned. “And we have plans tonight with your friends.”

She choked down her too-big bite. “Have you ever been to the bar in town?”

The chair beneath him groaned as he shifted. “A few times with Sam, but we prefer to drink in the palace.”

“Why not put a bar in the palace for you and the staff?” she suggested. “Everyone there is used to being around you regularly, and it might not be as uncomfortable for you.”

His fingers toyed with the wrapper of his sandwich. “I like that idea.”

She stopped chewing. “You do?”

“It’s a good idea,” he replied. “And you are queen. You could put a bar in the middle of the lake if you so wished.”

A woman beside them spewed her drink across the table, and Rory threw a napkin at Caius. “I am not the queen,” she announced loud enough for the woman to hear.

Caius turned to the woman. “She will be.”

“You haven’t asked me to marry you,” she said sharply. “To be queen, we must be married.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked, folding his napkin. She set herself up. Damnit. “If a proposal is what you want, I will get down on one knee here and now.”

He rose, and she leaned forward to push him back down. “Stop being ridiculous.”

His expression turned grave. “The sooner we marry, the sooner you will become immortal. Your essence will return, and you will be faster and stronger.”

“That is not a reason to get married,” she said, shaking her head. “If you want to marry me, earn it, but more importantly, mean it.”

She never wanted to get married in the first place, but even she couldn’t deny her growing feelings toward the king. It was scary and new. Going from hating someone and wanting to murder them to whatever they were now was surreal.

“When you realize you love me, I will drop to one knee wherever we are,” he murmured for only her to hear.

She shook her head. “It won’t matter if I love you or not. I refuse to marry someone who doesn’t love me back.”

His lip tugged to the side. “I will fall first, Miss Raven, and we both know it.”

Her lungs took it upon themselves to stop working, and when her breath returned, she used it to change the subject. “Is everything you own black?” she asked, gesturing to his shirt.

If the question surprised him, he didn’t show it. “My pants were grey last night.”

“Sweatpants to bed don’t count,” she quipped. “Even your athletic clothes are black. Why don’t you like color?”

Rory became obsessed with colorful clothing once she could see it. While a lot of her comfortable clothes were still black, she liked to buy dresses and blouses in brilliant colors.

“I like black.” He popped a chip into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “I can wear the grey sweatpants tonight if you’d like.”

She thought of his dick outlined in his sweats. “No.” She didn’t want anyone enjoying the view but her.

He winked and grabbed another chip. “You should wear that dress from the first Plenilune. It’s my favorite.”

“You destroyed that dress,” she reminded him.

“I only made the split higher.” His smile was hellish, and she knew he was thinking of the gardens.

Heat bloomed low in her gut. “I’d rather not parade around with my vagina hanging out.”

Something caressed her leg, and she yelped, glancing under the table. A shadow curled around her, and Caius leaned on his elbows. “I like to show off what’s mine.”

Her lips parted. “Most men don’t want their women dressed scandalously.”

“Most men want to control women.” He pushed his chair back and stood. “If you want to walk through the realm naked, you will do so, and I will admire you the entire way.”

Before he could pull out her chair, she stood, needing to move before she led him into a side alley to blow him.

Caius sat in the corner of their room, reading and waiting for Rory to finish getting ready for their outing. He moved his things from his quarters to the sky room because going back and forth wasn’t logical.

There was a secret entrance from the sky room to his quarters, making going back and forth easier, but he didn’t want to be one room over. He wanted to be here.

She stepped out wearing a bright blue top, jeans, and heels. Her long hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her makeup accentuated her eye color and cheekbones.

“You look beautiful,” he said, meaning every word. He couldn’t build a better woman if he tried.

“I know.” She did a slow turn to show him every angle. “Thank you.”

He chuckled quietly and crossed the room to stand beside her. “Whom are we meeting tonight?” he asked as they headed out.

“Bellina, Cat, Kit, and Tallent.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “You met them at Asher’s going away party, I think.”

He knew them. Not personally, but he had Lauren look into everyone Rory surrounded herself with. “Do they know I’m coming?”

“I haven’t seen Bellina since this morning, so no, but it will be fine.” She slid her eyes to him. “I hope you have tough skin, because as soon as Cat is comfortable around you, you’ll wish you hadn’t come.”

“I do like my women feisty,” he purred, and she pulled back, jealousy flashing in her eyes, and his face split into a wide grin. “Is something wrong?”

Her cheeks pinked. “Yes,” she snapped, but the look on her face said she didn’t mean to say it out loud.

He studied her tight features. “Don’t filter yourself with me.”

The words hung in the air as she made an internal decision before finally releasing a long exhale and stopping in the middle of the courtyard. “The only woman you should like anything about in that way is me.“ She stared him down, letting him know she meant every word. “I don’t care if you’re joking, it’s disrespectful, and I don’t like it.”

Vulnerability clouded her eyes, and he reached for her hand. “Always tell me how you feel. We’re in this together for the long haul. Even if you decide not to be my wife, you are still here for five-hundred years. If we can’t be ourselves with those closest to us, then whom can we be ourselves with?”

The uncertainty left, and there stood the woman who made him love feisty women in the first place. “Like I said, I don’t like it. Don’t do it again, or I will cut your balls off.”

Instinctively, his hand flew to his crotch, and Rory burst out laughing. “You’re so violent,” he tsked.

“I sewed people’s hands to their shoulders, and you’re surprised I’m a little aggressive?” she asked, laughing.

Still hand in hand, they walked through the dark night with only the streetlamps illuminating the sidewalks. “Why can’t you power the entire realm with your essence?” Rory asked him.

Caius’ brows rose. “It would drain me. I’m powerful, but if I were to power the entire realm all day and night, I would be powerless, like the inmates.”

“Are your shadows that important?” She glanced at him with a small smile to let him know she was teasing, but it still left a weight in his stomach.

“I’ve considered it, but if there was an uprising, I would be powerless to stop it.” He adjusted the collar on his shirt. “The lack of technology is nice.”

“Says the man who has essence powered quarters.”

“Our room is essence powered too.” He reminded her. “I believe you are a hypocrite, Miss Raven.”

Her steps faltered. “Our room?”

He turned to her. “Yes. What else would you call sharing the same space?” He regarded her carefully. “I can move my things back to my quarters if it makes you uncomfortable.”

She squeezed his hand. “No, stay.”

He drank her in, wondering why the Seraphim deemed him worthy of someone like her. “Always,” he said, pulling her in for a kiss.

His tongue caressed the seam of her lips, asking for entrance she immediately granted, and his hands tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

Her fists bunched the fabric of his shirt, and he felt his heart hang over the edge. He was ready to fall, and as he kissed his future wife, he knew it wouldn’t be long.

When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard, and Rory’s lips were swollen. “Your lipstick is smeared,” he murmured.

Her thumb swiped the area around his mouth. “So is yours.” He grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. “We’ll clean up when we get there.”

“Absolutely not,” she said, laughing as she tugged her hand from his. The intimate moment was over. She produced a mirror and tissue from her small purse, and Caius wondered what else was in there. It wasn’t very large, and there wasn’t anything she needed to carry other than her inmate card.

After cleaning herself, she used the tissue to tidy up around his mouth. “There.” She held out her hand for him to grab. “We’re late.”

The bar was busy, but inmates cleared a path when he walked in. It felt ridiculous to be king sometimes. Rory’s friends waved them over to a large table, already littered with empty glasses.

“You’re late,” the girl with dark, curly hair said. She turned to Caius with an almost giddy smile. “I’m Cat.”

He shook her hand. “Please, call me Caius. Nice to see you again.” Her eyes lit up, and she opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted.

“I’m Tallent,” the man said tightly, refusing to hold out his hand, and it took Caius by surprise.

Caius tipped his head. “Nice to see you again.”

“I’m Kit,” the taller woman said as she threw back a shot. “Nice to meet you, Your Grace.”

“Where’s Bellina?” Rory asked, looking around.

“She’s late, too,” Cat snipped. “We thought you were together.”

Rory continued to survey the room, but eventually sat down. “If she’s not here within the hour, I’m going to look for her.”

Kit zeroed in on Rory. “You’re anxious. Is there a reason to be worried about her?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s nothing. She’s never been late before, is all.”

“She’s been late a time or two,” Tallent reassured her. “She’ll show.”

Bellina didn’t show, and Rory stayed perched on her stool, watching the door. “I’m sorry guys, but if I don’t find Bellina and know she’s okay, I won’t be able to think about anything else.”

“Why are you worried?” Cat asked. “She’s an adult. Maybe she was tired after work.”

“Or maybe she’s at the bottom of a set of stairs,” Rory countered, making the table fall silent. “Or being beaten by two giant men.”

Rory stormed out, and Caius turned to the others. “I want you three to go home. She’s right, someone is trying to hurt her, and they might try to hurt her through you.”

He left, not waiting to hear their replies, and caught up with Rory before she stepped through the door. “Where do you want to check first?” he asked.

She grabbed the sides of her head. “I don’t know. She was coming to meet us. Anywhere between here and her room.”

“Keep an eye out, and stay close to me,” Caius told her as they set off toward the palace.

There was no trace of Bellina in town, and when they hit the landing for the staff quarters, Rory was so tightly wound she could have sprung into Erdikoa. She knocked on Bellina’s door, but there was no answer, and Caius watched her anxiety grow.

Instead of knocking again, Rory opened the door, and Caius pulled her back. “Please don’t barge into dark rooms unprepared,” he said, grabbing a torch off the wall.

The room was pitch black, and when the flame lit the small space, Rory cried out and ran across the room before Caius could grab her.

Bellina was on the floor with her hands and feet bound. A gag covered her mouth, and she was beaten black and blue.

Caius stepped into the hall and called for an enforcer to fetch the doctor and Samyaza. Bellina was out cold, and Rory worked furiously at the rope digging into her friend’s wrists.

She was crying, and Caius knew images of her sister were assaulting her. He bent down and stilled her hands. “I’m faster. Take the torch and light the lamp.”

He called on the shadows to make quick work of the ropes, and within less than a minute, Bellina was free. Rory pulled her into her lap, and Caius fetched water and a rag from the bathroom.

Sam barged through the doorway like a hellhound, and when he stepped into the small room, his wings vanished. “What happened?”

Rory stopped whispering to Bellina and looked up. “Where’s the doctor? She needs potions.”

“He’s on his way,” Sam assured her and turned to Caius. “What happened?”

Caius set the water next to Rory and handed her the rag, instructing her to clean some of the blood from Bellina’s face. “We don’t know. She was to meet us for drinks, but when she didn’t show, Rory thought something was wrong.”

Sam looked around the room in commander mode. “What is that?” he asked, pointing to the bedside table.

Caius twisted to see a small paper. Standing, he grabbed it and read the note. Aether, this was bad.

“What does it say?” Rory asked from the floor.

He tried to think of a reason not to read it, anything that would keep her from hearing these words, but he knew her. She wouldn’t stop until she read it herself because she wasn’t a porcelain doll to be handled with care. She was the beast who stomped on dolls for fun.

“Do not marry the king, or everyone you love will die, including your family in Erdikoa. This is your last warning.”

Rory’s face was stricken before it filled with rage. “Nina did this.”

“She couldn’t have,” Sam replied. “Lauren has been watching her all day.”

“Then she made someone else do it!” Rory yelled. She turned to Caius. “We have to do something.”

He knew she was right. “We’ll bring her in for questioning tomorrow.”

The doctor rushed in with a bag of potions and got to work on Bellina. He said she had a minor concussion, but was otherwise fine, and Rory refused to leave her side.

Caius grabbed the extra potions from the doctor to give Bellina when she woke up and approached the commander. “Sam, carry her to our room.”

Caius grabbed Rory’s shoulder and stopped her from trailing the Angel. “We’ll catch whoever is behind this. Someone in the palace had to have seen something.”

Rory’s features hardened. “I learned a long time ago not to wait on someone else to exact justice. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Then I will help you,” he promised.