"You're such a dick!" Sarai seethed, dashing down the hallway after Ruhn.

He was still laughing, and his phone was now safely hidden in his pocket. Ruhn shoved open the door to one of the extra bedrooms, Flynn's judging by the scent. He sprinted to the other side of the bed and paused to catch his breath. Sarai planted her feet firmly and stood opposite to Ruhn, waiting for his next move.

"I'm not the one who made the picture," he pointed out.

"But you have it, and I doubt you scolded Flynn for making it." She braced her hands on her hips.

Ruhn grinned. "You're right. I didn't. I thought it was hilarious."

    "Unfortunately for you, I don't share the sentiment."

    "What are you gonna do about it, Rai Rai?"

    Sarai smirked and cocked her head, her dark braid falling over one shoulder. "You'll see."

    Ruhn feinted around the bedstead, but Sarai anticipated the move. She was ready when he switched directions abruptly and rolled over the bed, landing at her feet. Sarai lunged, but Ruhn managed to evade her and ran into the hallway once more. She hurried after him, determined not to let him escape.

    Ruhn was heading towards the stairs. Sarai took a running leap. She collided with Ruhn's back, and hooked her arms around his neck, then her legs around his waist. Ruhn stumbled under her weight, but steadied himself against a wall. "Delete it," Sarai ordered.

    He looked back at her, mischief and delight shining in his blue eyes. "What if I don't?"

    "I'll push you down the stairs."

    "I might break my neck."

    "I don't see how that's my concern." Sarai rested her chin on his shoulder.

    "How long do you plan on staying there?"

    "My record with Connor is five hours."

    Ruhn's brows lifted. "Five hours?"

    "He called me a brat and stole one of my favorite pairs of earrings." Sarai smiled at the memory. "So I chased him down and tackled him. When he still wouldn't apologize and give them back, I just latched on and there I sat for the next five hours."

    "How did either of you get anything done?"

    "We didn't. Those hours consisted of Connor trying to shake me off, switching between sitting down and standing up, the Devils attempting to remove me themselves, etcetera."

    "You are a dedicated female, aren't you?"

    "I am. Now, unless you want me glued to your back for the foreseeable future, I suggest you delete that picture."

    Ruhn rolled his eyes but pulled his phone out of his pocket and began scrolling through his photo gallery. Sarai stole glimpses of what pictures she could. Some of them were of Flynn and Declan. In one, they were playing beer pong. Declan had an arm around Flynn, while the latter waved one hand in the air.

    There were a few photos of exotic foods. Some images featured the interiors of bars and clubs. There were pictures of items that were likely relevant to other cases Ruhn was working on. There was even one photo of a younger Bryce Quinlan. But what stood out to Sarai the most were all the photos of herself.

    "You've been saving the pictures I send to you," she remarked, more as an observation than a question.

    "Yeah." Ruhn found the edited photo and deleted it.

    Sarai loosened her hold on him and dropped to the floor. "Why?"

    Ruhn thought for a moment. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to?"

    "Which one is your favorite?" Ruhn selected another photo and let her see it. In it, she was smiling and holding up a cigarette with two fingers. "Why that one?"

    Ruhn slid his phone in his pocket and continued towards the stairs. "It was the first time you smiled for me."

    Something unfamiliar fluttered through her stomach. Sarai ignored the sensation and followed him downstairs. "I've got it!" Declan exclaimed, just as they reached the main floor.

    Instantly, the two of them joined him. Sarai sat on the edge of the cushions while Ruhn and Flynn rested their elbows on the back of the couch and leaned forward. Declan pulled up a clip of black and white footage and increased the volume.

    "This was taken a few minutes before the bust by a camera near the warehouse," he explained. No one spoke as the audio picked up and the recording began to play.

    Several men in suits approached the warehouse. Two of them carried the mysterious crate. Sarai recognized August, hovering just behind the two men. Liam approached the building first. "Take it inside," he ordered. "Our buyers will be here soon."

    "Is the Boss coming?" August asked.

    "That's none of your concern."

    Sarai could just make out a hint of movement on the side of the warehouse, where the Fae unit had been waiting. "They didn't speak when they went inside," Ruhn mentioned.

    The minutes ticked by and presently, three more men in suits emerged from an alleyway. The buyers this time. They had also been arrested, though Sarai and Ruhn hadn't been allowed to question them when they went to the Comitium.

Flynn shook his head with a huff. "Of course Humans would be the ones going on a power trip with shit like this."

"Shut up," Sarai and Ruhn snapped in unison. They glanced at each other, but Sarai managed to keep her surprise from showing. "Bryce is half Human," she said. A smile crossed Ruhn's lips.

"Sorry. I didn't mean her," Flynn answered.

"Watch," Declan urged. They obliged.

The three newcomers were still outside the warehouse, speaking inaudibly. Sarai narrowed her eyes, peering at their outfits. "I know I've seen suits like those before. Can you enhance the image?" Declan nodded and somehow, zoomed in on the three men. Their features were mostly blurred, but Sarai could pick out a few of the finer details on their suits. "You can't buy suits like those in Asphodel Meadows."

"August said he thought the Boss was working for someone outside of the Meadows," Ruhn reminded her.

"If I had to guess, I'd say you can only buy suits like those from custom tailors," Flynn said. "Most of them are set up in the CBD. Business men do like to look formal, after all."

"Maybe we should investigate the drug activity in the CBD then."

Sarai nodded her agreement. "We could question the tailors too, but what are the odds of them knowing anything about drug operations?"

"We can save that as a backup plan."

"I'll keep trying to find the footage from the missing cameras," Declan promised. "I still haven't figured out when they were stolen exactly."

"Let me know when you do," Ruhn said.

Sarai bent over and recollected her sandals. "I should get back to the Den. The Devils are coming over to Nathalie's place this evening." She stood just as someone's phone went off.

Ruhn pulled his out and read a message, a frown crossing his lips. "Someone reported an attack from a lion shifter last night. The Aux wants me to look into it."

"Need some help?" Flynn offered.

Ruhn shook his head. "This shouldn't be too difficult. I'll be back later."

Ruhn left the house and Sarai hurried after him. He paused in the street, waiting for her to catch up. "Where was your lion shifter last spotted?" Sarai asked.

"Just outside the White Raven." Ruhn's gaze lingered on hers. "I could walk back to the Den with you before I go check it out."

Sarai snorted. "Coming to the Den will take you in the opposite direction of the White Raven."

Ruhn merely shrugged. "I still have most of the afternoon. It won't take that long. Besides, isn't Blood Moon patrolling around here? Do you really want to run into them alone today?"

Sarai sighed and shook her head. "I suppose not." She thought for a moment. "You can walk with me until we're three blocks away from the Den." Ruhn smiled and let her take the lead.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Ruhn let his hands rest in his pockets as they walked down bustling sidewalks. Plenty of people stared when he and Sarai went by, but thankfully, no one approached them. He thought they were most likely appalled by the fact that he was wearing long sleeves when it was already sweltering outside.

As if sensing his thoughts, Sarai asked, "Why have you been wearing long sleeves so much lately?"

Ruhn lifted a hand to his bicep. "I've got an unfinished tattoo that I'm waiting to have filled in. I don't want anyone seeing it until it looks better."

It was partially true, in a manner of speaking. He'd already booked a few appointments to have a new tattoo placed over the scar left by his father's hand. The first one was in two days. Once he had some colorful ink hiding the burn, he'd stop wearing long sleeves.

"Why?" Ruhn asked, hoping to steer the subject in another direction. "Do I look better with short sleeves?"

"You look better with no sleeves at all."

"Oh really?"

Sarai nodded. "Besides, it's hilarious to watch all of these young females start drooling when they see your arms."

"I've never seen you drool."

"Of course not."

"Are you one of the rare females who doesn't lose her mind when she sees a guy's muscles?"

"Nope," Sarai answered, matter-of-factly.

"Someday, I'm going to prove you wrong, Ilerion."

"You're welcome to do your worst." Sarai's smile faded after a moment. "You never did say if you found the sample in Demelza's lab."

Ruhn sighed and shook his head. "I think we found the slide it had been on, but the sample itself was gone."

"Someone went to an awful lot of work to keep us from learning anything about a drop of liquid that was smaller than a pinhead."

"No kidding."

Ruhn stiffened as Sarai touched his shoulder gently. "I'm sorry about Demelza. Just...remember that it wasn't your fault."

"I know it wasn't, but I still feel guilty. If we'd given the sample to someone else..."

"Odds are they would've been killed too."

Ruhn breathed a heavy sigh. "You're right. All we can do now is keep working and find whoever did this."

"We will find them. One way or another." Sarai offered him an encouraging smile.

They reached their chosen point of separation only fifteen minutes later. Sarai continued towards the Wolves Den alone while Ruhn turned back the way they had come. It wasn't long before voices reached his arched ears. Blood Moon Wolf Pack appeared up ahead. Ruhn caught sight of one male in particular and white hot rage pooled in his stomach.

Before he even realized it, Ruhn launched himself at Lucas and wrestled him to the ground. The Wolves shouted with rage and alarm, but Ruhn was deaf to their words. Shadows licked at his fingertips and cold power rippled through his veins. He wedged one knee on the male's chest  and shoved his head into the ground with a palm. Ruhn's other hand flexed at his side as he fought to keep his power contained. Lucas had the sense to look afraid.

"I don't give a fuck about protocol, hierarchy, punishment, or tradition," Ruhn snarled. "If you ever lay a hand on her again, in any way, I'll rip your godsdamned heart out."

"A bold claim coming from someone whose hatred for Sarai is well known," Rafe Fenix spat.

Ruhn's head jerked towards him. He backed off of Lucas and approached the Alpha, completely undaunted. "And you're a fucking coward if you won't stand up for your own packmate, your Second, when she's given twice the amount of lashings she was supposed to receive." A muscle in Rafe's jaw twitched.

"Personal differences aside, I will always defend those who I know are being treated wrong," Ruhn growled. "And my warning goes for you too. For all of you. Even Sabine Fendyr. If anyone tries to harm her, I will personally ensure retribution."

"It's not wise to threaten the Prime Apparent," Rafe warned.

"Who said I was wise?" Ruhn shot back. He spun on his heel and stormed away, somehow convincing his power to subside.

Footsteps chased after him. "Wait!" Holly called. Ruhn obliged. "Thank you. Sarai needs more people like you on her side."

Ruhn eyed the female, narrowing his eyes. "Why did the two of you choose to join Blood Moon?"

Holly crossed her arms, taking on a guarded look. "I joined because Rafe asked me to. Sarai..." She sighed. "Sarai didn't have a choice." Before he could question her meaning, Holly was running back to her pack, and the Alpha who had waited for her.