Ruhn lay awake, unable to quiet his mind. He'd done everything he could think of. Taking a hot, then cold shower, smoking more mirthroot, running in place, watching TV, reading a book... He'd even tried counting backwards, but nothing could silence his thoughts or help him fall asleep.

His head was spinning with all that had occurred today. Ruhn thought that perhaps he was just beginning to process it all. He hadn't let himself think about everything while Sarai was still at the house, and he certainly wasn't going to consider it in front of Flynn and Declan. This was the first time he was alone since Sarai had come over.

Thunder rumbled outside and rain continued to pelt his bedroom windows, but not even that was enough to drown out Ruhn's thoughts. The sticky heat in the air was a distraction however. It was hot enough that he'd forgone clothes tonight, and he was still uncomfortably warm. Ruhn clasped his hands atop his stomach with a sigh.

If I can't sleep, I might as well let my mind have its way, he thought. Why did I say those things to Sarai? Why do I keep saying them?

How many times had he warned himself to keep his mouth closed? To keep his thoughts to himself? They were work partners. They had only recently stopped hating each other, after years of rivalry. He was Fae. She was a Wolf. As soon as the investigation was over, she'd want nothing more to do with him. And for some reason, that thought drove a wedge of pain into his heart.

Ruhn swallowed hard, processing the pain and what it meant. At some point during their investigation, he had begun to care about Sarai. Her well being. Her happiness. Her safety. Those were things she wouldn't find in Blood Moon. She no longer had the option of finding them with the Devils. But maybe she could find them with him.

She had come to him, hadn't she? She had needed someone to listen and understand. She had needed a distraction, so she finally accepted his offer and came to the house. Ruhn hadn't expected her to stay as long as she did either. She'd stayed until the storm was upon them. Then, rather than risking Sabine's wrath by staying overnight, Sarai had returned to Moonwood.

But not before they'd lain on Ruhn's bed for over an hour, simply talking. Sarai had practically collapsed onto his bed after he chased her up the stairs. She'd then refused to get up, so he had joined her. And Sarai hadn't protested. In fact, she hadn't been protesting anything that he did lately.

She didn't protest when he touched her. She didn't protest when he held her hand. She didn't seem to mind when he rubbed her arms. When he smoothed her hair back. When he cupped her cheek in his palm. Sarai hadn't even protested when Ruhn's lips met her earlobe. If anything, she'd arched her neck a little more, enticing him to do it again. Luna spare him, but he had wanted to do it again, and more besides.

Heat pooled low in his stomach, the more he thought about it. Ruhn half closed his eyes, picturing his mouth on her neck, his tongue tracing her copper skin with every kiss. Her fingers threading through his hair, maybe tugging on it with a little less force than she had earlier, but enough that he could feel it. His hands clutching those beautiful thighs that he would beg to kiss. Her legs locked around his waist as he laid her back on his bed and...

"Gods," Ruhn breathed, blinking his eyes open. "She's right. I really am a horny pervert."

But even that admittance wasn't enough to dissuade him from reaching a hand just below his hips and bringing himself over the edge, though it did little to sate his raging instincts.

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Sarai stood outside of Rafe's apartment door once again, but this time, she knocked and waited. Minutes ticked by and at last, the door inched open. Rafe studied her warily, though there was no sign of his fangs or talons. "May I come in?" Sarai asked.

"We don't want to see anybody right now."

Sarai took a step back, averting her eyes. "I took the pack out on patrol this morning and we spent three hours at the gun range afterwards. Salem helped keep Lucas, Cassia, and Willow in order. They were asking about the two of you."

"What did you tell them?" There was a hint of warning in his tone.

"Sabine sent you off on a private assignment and it will be a few days before you complete it."

Rafe relaxed slightly. "Thanks."

"How is Holly?"

His tension returned tenfold. "Recovering slowly."

"I'm...sorry. She didn't deserve this."

Rafe narrowed his eyes. "But I did?"

"You're a prick, but no. You didn't deserve it either." Sarai pursed her lips, then added, "I still don't know what secret you could've kept for me. All Sabine told me is that I should take another look at my Fae and remember where my loyalties lie, even though he's clearly forgotten his own."

Rafe blinked, something similar to surprise flitting across his features. He opened the door wider and leaned against the frame. "If you don't know, then it's not for me to tell. I imagine you'll figure it out sooner or later."

"That's maddeningly unhelpful."

Rafe's gaze fell to the bag in her hand, noticing it for the first time. "What's that?"

"It's for Holly." He raised an eyebrow. "A loaded baked potato and cheesy fries," Sarai clarified.

Rafe ran a hand through his loose hair with a resigned sigh. "She'll kill me if I don't let you in now." He stepped aside, granting her entry. "Ten minutes and then you have to leave."

Sarai nodded and the door clicked shut behind her. She let Rafe head to the bedroom first and waited near the entrance to the hallway. Rafe switched on a light and perched beside Holly's sleeping figure. She was mostly hidden beneath a thin sheet, although Sarai could see a few of the brutal wounds left on her back.

Rafe caressed her shoulder gently, leaning down to whisper something in her ear. Holly shifted a moment later, lifting her head and peering back at Sarai. She held up the bag with a small grin. Holly's eyes lit up and she waved Sarai closer. Rafe begrudgingly left the room and Sarai set the food on a table close to Holly's side.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"Like shit," Holly answered. "But I suppose that's to be expected. At least Rafe found a medwitch who could be convinced to sneak into the Den and visit me after dark. She's healed some of my wounds already, but it's taking a while."

"I'm sorry," Sarai said. "You two didn't deserve this. And...I had no idea you were mates."

"We wanted it that way, and that's how it needs to stay."

Sarai nodded, failing to mention that she'd already told Ruhn. She wasn't worried about him spreading the fact around, especially since she'd explained Rafe's reasons for keeping the Bond a secret. "I suppose a few things make more sense now. Rafe's deference to you, for one."

"He does find it hard to say no to me," Holly giggled. Her smile lessened. "But you should probably go. He's...not himself right now."

"What do you mean?" Sarai guessed the answer a second after she asked the question, recalling the primal anger and protectiveness Rafe had been displaying.

"Being mates gives us instincts that other people don't have, one of them being that we're very protective of each other," Holly explained. "And since I'm vulnerable right now, Rafe sees everything as a threat. Even you. He's doing his best to remain calm, but..."

Holly brushed hair out of her face with a timid smile. "He even tried to attack Sabine. That's why she made him give me 100 lashes. But it's not something we have much control over. It's instinctual. Primal. A part of us so ancient and integral that we can't help but yield to it." Holly's gaze met Sarai's.

"Like how we can't help but submit to our Alphas?" Sarai asked.

"Yes, but stronger." Holly thought for a moment. "It's like Ruhn approaching six Wolves and threatening them, threatening Sabine, on your behalf, with no thought for himself."

"I see." Sarai backed towards the door, her breath catching. "I hope you feel better soon."

Rafe returned to the bedroom the moment Sarai was gone. She paused only once, watching the pair. Holly was grinning as Rafe handed her the baked potato. She stuck her finger into the cheese and blotted it on his nose. Rafe rolled his eyes and wiped it off, but returned her smile. A moment later, he was pressing a kiss to her forehead. Sarai left abruptly, her thoughts tumbling over one another.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down," Nathalie interrupted. "Just give me a minute to process all of this."

Sarai waited patiently, glancing up at the doorknob to make sure it was still locked. She and Nathalie were seated on the bathroom floor in Bryce and Danika's apartment while the rest of the Devils devoured whatever food Danika had ordered. From the rich, tangy scent in the air, Sarai guessed it was fried noodles of some kind.

"So you're telling me that you might actually be considering Ruhn's offer?" Nathalie finally asked. "You want to fuck him now?"

Sarai rolled her eyes with a groan. "That's not what I said. I said I might be interested in seeing where things go. He's different than I thought he was. An annoying dick, yes, but other things besides. I think he might actually care about me, and despite his flirting, I believe he's interested in a genuine relationship, not just a fling."

"All right. I get that, but this is Ruhn Danaan we're talking about. Are you sure you understand what a relationship with him would entail? There's no way you could keep it a secret from Sabine, and she would be furious. Not to mention what the Autumn King would have to say. Ruhn is Crown Prince of the Fae. Neither Sabine nor the Autumn King would let your relationship advance beyond a few dates. Hel, suppose they got the Governor involved?"

Sarai hid her face in her hands, trying to sort through her own whirling questions. "I don't know. I haven't thought about all of that yet. I haven't even made an actual decision. I just know that things are changing so quickly and I'm so...confused."

Nathalie only listened while Sarai continued to speak. "I hate him. I like him. He's annoying. He's sweet. He's a pain in the ass. He's so hot that it hurts. He teases and flirts with me and I can't help but do it back. He's defended me. He's offered me a place to go if I ever need one. He's given me comfort and companionship. I don't understand it, but I just..."

"You care about him," Nathalie finished.

Sarai hesitated, then gave a short nod. "Yes." Her chest constricted, more from nervous excitement than from anxiety. "And I know it will cause problems but I can't stop caring. I don't even know when I began to."

"Maybe your caring for one another isn't a bad thing," Nathalie said. "It comes with its risks, but if he'll make you happy..." Nathalie smiled. "You deserve at least one thing in your life that makes you happy, regardless of what anyone else might do or say. If he is what you want, I'll do my best to help you make it work."

"Despite it all?" Sarai dared to ask.

"Despite it all," Nathalie promised. She squeezed Sarai's hand tightly.

A fist pounded on the door. "Would you two hurry up?" Thorne hollered. "I'm seconds away from shitting myself!" Sarai and Nathalie laughed and finally emerged from the bathroom.