Sarai stared at the demon, frozen with horror. It couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening. But it was. Blood spattered against the wall and ground, speckling Ruhn's face with crimson. Ruhn. He was reaching for the Starsword, features contorted in pain.

At once, Sarai's shock faded into nothingness. She had watched a demon take her parents. She would not watch another take her prince. The Dissiri was advancing towards Ruhn, blood dripping from its gaping maw. Sarai raised her gun and fired. The Dissiri's head whipped towards her.

"Go!" Ruhn ordered, heaving himself to his feet. "Alert the Aux or the Malakim!"

"You're the one with the phone," Sarai argued.

She shot the demon again. The Dissiri gave an enraged scream. Sarai kicked her heels aside. She kept firing until the gun gave an empty click. Sarai threw it at the demon. It knocked against its head, but the Dissiri prowled towards her still, biding its time. She backed away, trying to remain calm.

"Ruhn?" Sarai called.

"Phone's busted. We're on our own. Pray that Flynn and Declan are watching the camera feeds like they said they would."

The demon's tongue lulled to the ground, slinking back and forth like a snake. Sarai shifted into her wolf, growling at the Dissiri. Behind it, Ruhn raised the Starsword. She could sense the waves of power rippling around him and summoned her own in turn. She'd need all of her strength to survive this. The Dissiri cocked its faceless head, blood and saliva dripping from its teeth.

Sarai and Ruhn lunged simultaneously. The Starsword slashed through the demon's side while Sarai tore a chunk of rotten flesh from one of its arms. The Dissiri howled, raising a taloned hand. Sarai yelped as it batted her aside. She hit the ground hard, leaving a crack in her wake. Sarai was up before the shock could register. Ruhn was dodging the Dissiri's blows and returning ones of his own, but each movement had him wincing in pain.

Sarai bounded towards the demon and launched herself at it. She dug her claws into its back, snapping her jaws at its neck. The Dissiri howled, reaching over its shoulder to grab her. It dragged her off and slammed her into the ground. Sarai shifted into herself, air whooshing from her lungs in a scream. Her scream shifted to a breathless sob as the Dissiri hunched over her, teeth bared and taloned fingers tracing her sternum.

Light flared and the Dissiri shrieked, turning its face away. Shadows swarmed over Sarai and she scrambled out of the demon's reach. The shadows fled as soon as she joined Ruhn. Sweat ran down his face and his starlight was faltering. Sarai shifted once again, then grimaced. A few of her claws had been torn out. She ignored the pain for now. The Dissiri had recovered itself and was approaching again.

"Fuck," Ruhn panted, dropping to his knees suddenly. His starlight winked out.

Sarai angled herself in front of him, snarling at the approaching demon. Instincts hammered through her, growing louder with each moment. This demon would not take another thing from her, especially not Ruhn. The Dissiri's tongue lashed out and Sarai shoved Ruhn out of the way. She sprinted towards the demon, sinking her teeth into one of its legs.

It swiped a hand at her, but Sarai evaded the attack. Her mouth closed around its hand and she gave a sharp tug, yanking the demon off balance. Ruhn had already recovered himself and was charging at the Dissiri from the other side. He buried the Starsword in its back and ripped it free, then rained blows upon the demon. Sarai pushed herself up onto her hind paws, clawing at the creature's gut. It shrieked with pain.

Ruhn dove to the side as the Dissiri stumbled backwards. It flailed an arm at the last moment, snagging Ruhn in the side. He cried out, blood spurting from the wound. The Dissiri's head shifted towards him and its jaws parted, saliva glistening on its teeth. Sarai leapt at the demon, but its talons shredded through her leg. The Dissiri flung her down the street and turned back to Ruhn.

Sarai picked herself up, shifting again. Blood ran down her leg and her riven thigh burned. She hobbled towards Ruhn as he struggled to stand and grip the Starsword. The Dissiri lunged. Ruhn ducked, but the demon's mouth closed over his shoulder. There was a sharp crack, and Ruhn was screaming. Something cracked again. The Dissiri forced him to his knees and leaned down, ready to deal one last blow.

"Ruhn!" Sarai screeched.

She managed to shift, though fiery pain raced through her limbs. She barreled into the Dissiri, knocking it aside. Ruhn collapsed, his eyes closed and body twitching as his wounds continued to gush blood. Sarai couldn't hold her wolf form any longer. She returned to her usual form but remained hunkered over Ruhn, shielding his body with her own. The Starsword lay just out of reach, and her own dagger was long since lost. Sarai braced herself, staring up at the demon defiantly.

The Dissiri's jaws parted one last time, and lightning arced through the sky. Sarai's eyes widened and she threw her arms over Ruhn's head, shielding him from Hunt Athalar's crackling power. The Dissiri screeched. There was a resounding crunch and blood poured down on Sarai's back. She didn't dare look up.

No, she couldn't. She couldn't move. Ruhn's face blurred before her eyes and the world tilted off balance. Sarai collapsed onto her side, the demon's blood flowing around her. Voices rang out, some hollering orders and others calling names. Her name.

"Sarai, thank Cthona," Connor exclaimed, dropping down beside her. At least, it sounded like Connor. She couldn't make out his features.

"Ruhn," she breathed, trying to point towards him.

Connor didn't seem to hear her. He slipped his arms beneath her, hoisting her off the ground. Sarai whimpered as his movements jarred her injuries. "Sarai!" Tristan Flynn hollered. "Sarai, where's Ruhn?"

Connor snarled and Flynn's footsteps halted. Sarai tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Nothing would. Everything was growing dark and fuzzy. She was cold. She was so cold. "Keep your eyes open," Connor was saying. "Sarai. Listen to me. Keep your eyes open." She tried to obey, but couldn't. Her eyes drifted shut. "Sarai. Sarai!"

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Scorching pain dragged Ruhn from the depths of darkness he'd sunken into. Blinding light flooded his vision and every nerve in his body was on fire. Scents swirled around him, jumbling his senses even further. Flynn, Declan, Wolves, Sarai... Sarai. Where was Sarai? The last time he saw her, the demon had thrown her somewhere in the street.

Ruhn struggled to sit up, blinking rapidly to clear his vision. "Hold him down. He can't move yet," someone was saying. Hands grabbed him and shoved him back onto a bed.

Ruhn fought against them. Sarai. Sarai. Where was Sarai? Was she dead? What had happened? Where was he? "Let me go!" Ruhn shouted. "Let me go!"

He surged against the people holding him back. Skin ripped and his vision washed red. "Shit," someone gasped. He sounded familiar. "Shit, Ruhn, stop!" Flynn shoved him back down, bracing both hands on his chest. Someone else was hurrying to strap down his legs.

"Get off of me!" Ruhn kept fighting, scenting the air. He could smell Sarai faintly, but there was blood. So much blood. Her blood. "Where is she? Where is she!"

"We'll take you to Sarai as soon as you've been taken care of." That was Declan. "You have to calm down, Ruhn. You're making your injuries worse."

"Take me to her now!" He demanded. Ruhn lurched against Flynn again. Agony tore through his shoulder, but he paid it no mind. Every part of him was screaming at him to find Sarai. "Now!"

"If he doesn't stop fighting, we'll have to sedate him," a female was saying.

Cold air gusted into the room. "The Autumn King sent orders for the Prince to be taken back to Five Roses. He can be treated there."

"And the Wolf?"

"She'll remain here."

They were going to take him away. He didn't even know where Sarai was. If she was still alive. His father was summoning him. Taking him from her. "No!" He threw one of his legs in the air and heard a muffled thud as someone was knocked to the floor.

"Damn it, Ruhn!" Flynn fought to keep him down.

Ruhn shoved his palm up, making contact with Flynn's face. There was a loud crack, and he rammed his knee into Flynn's gut, throwing him off. Ruhn rolled off the bed and stumbled to his feet. Blurry figures were racing towards him. Declan and Flynn caught him by the arms once more and forced him back several paces.

"Let me go!" Ruhn seethed between gritted teeth. "Let me go!" A needle glinted under the firstlights. The needle, the liquid, the Angel, the demon... Sarai. Sharp pain bit into his arm, and everything faded to black.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Sarai blinked her eyes open with a groan. She was lying on a cot in a white, air conditioned room. She could see no windows and only one door. Sarai lifted a hand to her head, wincing as she touched a bruise. Slowly, she checked herself for other injuries. Sarai bit her lip as she uncovered each bruise and gash. They looked as though medwitches had been treating them, but weren't entirely finished.

The door opened and Nathalie's hand flew to her mouth. "Sarai! Burning Solas..." She ran to her bedside. Sarai yelped as Nathalie pulled her into a crushing hug. "Are you all right? What happened? Connor said you and Ruhn had been attacked by a demon, but..."

"Give her some space." Danika appeared behind Nathalie and nudged her aside. "How do you feel?"

"Awful," Sarai admitted. She gazed about the blank room. "Where are we?"

"A hospital in the CBD. The 33rd are still cleaning up the demon mess."

"What about the Angel who was there?"

Danika sighed, rubbing her forehead wearily. "I'm told he'll be autopsied."

"When?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course it does. Ruhn and I need to know what they find out."

Danika crouched, meeting Sarai at eye level. "You're off the case."

"What?"

"Your investigation is being taken over by the 33rd. Governor's orders. Sabine already gave the order to take you back to Moonwood as soon as you were stable. That's what we were coming to do."

"Back to Moonwood? The 33rd?" Sarai sat up, shaking her head. "No, they can't do this."

"They can and they have," Nathalie sighed. "I'm sorry, Rai."

Sarai hid her face in her hands for a brief moment, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. She couldn't. There was only one sensible thought in her head. "Where's Ruhn? I need to see him."

"He's in FiRo," Danika replied. "He left yesterday."

Sarai's head snapped up. "Yesterday? How long has it been?"

"Only one night."

Tears smarted beneath her lashes and Sarai turned away before her friends could notice. "He left yesterday? Without waiting to see if I was all right?"

Danika shook her head, catching Sarai's attention. "He didn't have a choice. The Autumn King ordered his transfer. They had to sedate him. He broke Tristan Flynn's nose while trying to find you. He wouldn't stop fighting."

"Is he all right?" Sarai whispered.

"He'll be fine," Nathalie answered. "I bet he's waiting for you to call him right now."

"His phone broke during the fight, and mine was with some stuff we sent with Flynn." Sarai's chest tightened. They didn't have a way to contact one another, and now that they were off the case...

The door banged open, revealing Sabine. She narrowed her eyes, looking between the three of them. "Let's get going. I have a few words to share with you." She pointed at Sarai, then spun on her heel and left the room.