Ruhn lounged on the couch, a joint of mirthroot between his lips and headphones covering his ears. Flynn was running through an assortment of stretches, while Declan played a video game. Distant thunder clapped outside, announcing another approaching storm. A slight breeze wafted through the house. Ruhn had left the windows open, hoping to freshen the air inside before the storm set in.

    He took his joint between two fingers and let smoke roll out of his mouth. Ruhn rested his head on the back of the couch with a contented sigh. Days like these were his favorite. No obligations or duties to fulfill. Just time to relax and enjoy his friends' company. He hadn't even turned up his music all the way, wanting to be able to listen in on Flynn and Declan's occasional conversation.

    "Hey," Flynn called. Ruhn slid one side of his headphones off. "Someone's here."

    He sat up and twisted as a knock sounded at the door. Flynn opened it, revealing Sarai. "Put a shirt on," she said, sweeping past him without a second glance.

    "Aw, Rai Rai doesn't like my abs," Flynn laughed.

    Ruhn watched with raised eyebrows as Sarai strode over to him. She plucked the joint from his fingers and took a long drag. There was a look in her dark eyes that he couldn't quite interpret. It was a mixture of guilt and...pain? She handed the joint back to him and started towards the stairs.

    "What was that about?" Declan asked, keeping his voice quiet so that she couldn't hear.

    "I don't know." Ruhn switched his music off and set his headphones down. "I'll find out." He quickly mounted the stairs.

    The sound of running water reached his ears once he stepped into the hallway. The bathroom door was open and Sarai stood at the sink, cupping water in her hands and letting it drain before massaging the back of her neck. Ruhn leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms, waiting for her to acknowledge him.

    "Sabine didn't punish me," she murmured.

    "Then what's wrong?"

    Sarai turned the water off and rubbed her nose. Her throat bobbed as she turned and leaned against the sink. "She said Rafe kept a secret for me. I don't know what, but..." She exhaled sharply and hid her face in her hands.

    Ruhn instinctively took a step closer. He smoothed hair from her face and let his hands trail down her arms. Sarai's shoulders rose and fell with uneven breaths. "She punished him," she whispered. "She made him whip Holly. 100 lashes."

    "Why?" Ruhn caressed her arms, hoping the sensation would be soothing.

    "They're mates. I...I didn't know. I knew there was something between them, but I never guessed it could be that. Rafe and I have never gotten along, but Holly... She's my only friend in the pack, and she is suffering because of me. I don't even know what secret Rafe kept for me. I..."

    Sarai's voice caught and her shoulders jerked again. Ruhn's hands stilled on her arms and he lifted one to her cheek, though her face was still hidden by her own. He folded his hand over hers and ran his thumb across her knuckles. "I didn't know," she whispered. "I still don't."

    "It's not your fault," Ruhn said gently. "Rafe and Holly will understand that."

    Sarai shook her head. "Holly will, but Rafe? He'll resent me forever because of this."

    Ruhn furrowed his brows. "Why would he do it in the first place? Why wouldn't he fight back? If she's his mate..."

    "Sabine threatened to kill her if he didn't."

    "100 lashes," he murmured.

    "And you remember what forty did to me."

    Anger clenched in his gut at the thought. Ruhn pulled one of her hands away from her face and pressed it to his chest. "I do. And if it had been 100, I would've taken you away from Moonwood and never let you go back. I was, am, tempted to anyway."

    Sarai gave a weak laugh. "How would you keep me here? I beat your ass before. I know I could do it again."

    "I'd make you feel so happy and safe that you'd never want to leave," Ruhn chuckled. "I'm aware that nothing else would work."

    "Happy and safe," Sarai echoed. "I've always wondered what that felt like."

    "Ask and I'll show you."

    Sarai's gaze fell to their joined hands, which were still held against his chest, then to the hand he'd rested on her shoulder. Ruhn swallowed hard, noticing how little space there was between them. Her white cranberry and champagne scent filled the gap, mingling with his to create an intoxicating fragrance. His heartbeat quickened and he drew a deep breath.

    Sarai's lips curved into a tantalizing smile. He'd just have to lean down a few inches and he'd be kissing her. Every inch of his body tightened at the thought, but Ruhn held himself still. This was dangerously new territory. Hadn't he just told Flynn last week that he had to be careful? He couldn't jeopardize their already improved relationship.

    "I'm glad you came over," he found himself saying.

    "I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. The Devils are on patrol and Bryce is at work." Sarai held his gaze, something unfamiliar shining in her own. "But I didn't want to go see them anyway. They wouldn't understand why I feel guilty about this."

    "But you thought I would?" Ruhn asked. He began toying with his lip ring, and Sarai's gaze dipped to his mouth. Burning Solas, he wanted to kiss her.

    "Yes," Sarai answered. "Was I correct?"

    "You feel guilty because Holly is your friend and she doesn't deserve to suffer because of you and Rafe's choices. She and Rafe don't deserve to be used against one another. It wasn't fair for Sabine to punish them, and it's not fair for her and Rafe to withhold a secret about you that you weren't even aware of."

    "You must be a mind reader, Chosen One."

    Ruhn thought for a moment, then reached towards her mentally. I'm not a mind reader, but I can do this.

    Sarai's eyes widened. "Holy fuck, that's weird." Ruhn grinned. "That must come in handy when you want to talk dirty to someone without anyone else hearing."

    Ruhn's grin shifted to a smirk. "It does, although I don't share this gift with a lot of people."

    "How many times have you used it to talk to other females?"

    "Four, maybe five times, not including you. They weren't exactly fans, so I figured most other females wouldn't be either."

    "Ugh," Sarai scoffed, rolling her eyes.

    Ruhn leaned closer, bracing both hands on the edge of the counter next to her hips. Jealous?

    "Hardly," Sarai replied, though he heard her heart skip a beat.

    Don't worry, Rai Rai. I promise I'll only use this gift to talk dirty to you from now on.

    Sarai's head shifted towards his cheek and her breath coasted his jaw. "So you're going to talk dirty to me now?"

    If you want. Ruhn waited for an internal voice to scold him once again, but if it was there, he couldn't hear it. Unfamiliar instincts drowned it out. He lifted his head slightly. "Do you want me to talk dirty to you, Sarai?" He asked, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke.

    Sarai was silent for several long minutes. Ruhn closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. "I think we should go back downstairs," she said, her voice unusually quiet. "Wouldn't want Flynn and Declan to get the wrong idea." Her hands fell from his chest and he felt her absence sharply.

    He stepped back as she slid off the counter. Sarai moved around him and headed back towards the stairs. Ruhn lingered in the bathroom for a few minutes longer, drawing steadying breaths and trying to determine what had come over him.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

    "Took you long enough," Flynn remarked as Sarai reached the living room. He was on the floor doing pushups. "What were you even doing up there?"

    "Just talking," Sarai replied. She crossed the room as Flynn lowered himself onto his elbows. She sat on his back and he raised an eyebrow. "I'm helping you. Keep going."

    "You're just as annoying as Ruhn," Flynn grunted, and obediently kept doing his pushups. Sarai grinned to herself.

    Ruhn appeared on the stairs and let out a laugh. "Now that's something I never thought I'd see."

    "Me either," Declan chuckled.

    "You're just jealous," Flynn replied.

    Ruhn pulled a chair out from beneath a corner table. He flipped it backwards and straddled the seat, crossing his arms over the back and resting his chin on them. Sarai swallowed hard and he caught her eye. She lowered her gaze abruptly.

    She still wasn't sure she understood what had occurred in the bathroom. She certainly didn't know how they'd reached that last topic. And what Ruhn had said, what he'd asked... Sarai shook the thoughts away. She would think about that later. Maybe she'd speak with Nathalie about it. She'd need her friend's help to interpret her own feelings on the matter anyway.

    "Now why would I be jealous?" Ruhn asked, his tone low and mischievous. He was still watching her.

    "You know exactly why," Flynn laughed. He glanced over his shoulder and winked at Sarai.

    "Careful," she warned. "I'm in a great position to break your neck."

    Flynn grimaced. "I'd prefer it if you didn't."

    "You're all incredibly boring," Sarai sighed.

    "You're the one who decided to come over," Declan pointed out.

    "Thanks for that, by the way." Sarai watched curiously as Ruhn shot Flynn a warning look. Flynn ignored it and added, "I thought Ruhn was going to go crazy if it took any longer to get you over here.

    "Oh really?" Sarai giggled as Ruhn hid his face in his arms. The tips of his pointed ears were red.

    "Oh, yes. He's dying to hang out with you outside of your investigation and Aux work. He even..." A boot came flying. Sarai rolled off of Flynn just before it struck him. He dropped to the floor with a loud huff. "Fuck you," he groaned, pointing his middle finger at Ruhn.

    Sarai laughed and collected Ruhn's boot. She took it to him and rested her arms over the back of the chair when he let his own fall. "You should be nice to your friends. That one seems especially fragile."

    "Fuck you too," Flynn called.

    Sarai stuck her tongue out at him and Ruhn laughed. She turned back to him. "So, are we going to watch Fangs and Bangs or not? I seem to recall a promise you made regarding it."

    "That depends," Ruhn drawled.

    "On what?"

    "Am I still expected to use my own hand, or will you be..." Sarai grabbed his hair and yanked it before he could finish his sentence.

    Ruhn yelped and leaped off the chair. She was already running. He gave an unintelligible holler and chased her into the kitchen. Sarai sprinted around the room, keeping a fair distance between the two of them. She matched Ruhn's every insult and threat with one of her own, and didn't miss the amused glances that Flynn and Declan exchanged when they raced out of the kitchen and up the stairs.