The artwork above is not mine.

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    Ruhn crossed his arms with an impatient sigh, waiting for his father to acknowledge him. The Autumn King was studying his model planets once more, occasionally turning to a desk and writing down a few notes. He'd permitted Ruhn entrance, but hadn't spoken to him since. Why should he? His work was more important. It always had been.

    "There have been rumors that you're still in contact with that Wolf," the Autumn King said at last. "I've summoned you to make sure we both know where your loyalties lie."

    "My loyalties?" Ruhn bit out, barely suppressing a growl.

    "I've turned a blind eye to your numerous dalliances in the past, but I'm told there might be something more going on this time. That this is not just a dalliance. You are Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae and Heir to the Starborn Fae. Whatever you think you and that Wolf have, know that it will not last. She can never be your wife, nor would I permit her to be."

    "I thought you wanted me to have an heir. Surely you don't care who that happens with, so long as it happens," Ruhn spat.

    "Any child you have with that bitch will be a bastard. Any child you have out of wedlock will be a bastard. Any child you have without my permission will be a bastard. They will be worthless and forgotten before they're even a day old."

    Ruhn bristled at the insults. He was going to tear his father's tongue out and shove it down his throat. That would teach him to insult Sarai. But...no. That was exactly what the Autumn King wanted. He wanted Ruhn to slip up. To prove that the rumors were true and he and Sarai were together. He couldn't jeopardize Sarai, no matter how much it grated on his instincts to keep his mouth shut.

    "That's not what you said about Bryce. Not at first, anyway," Ruhn growled.

    "And then I was told that she was powerless and would never amount to anything." Einar Danaan's gaze shifted to him. "Sometimes I wish I'd been told the same about you." Ruhn swallowed hard, struggling to keep himself in check. "Break off all ties to that Wolf, Boy. If you don't..." He picked up something off his desk.

    Ruhn's mouth ran dry as the Autumn King rotated the bullet between his thumb and forefinger. He recognized it within seconds. It was a gorsian bullet, capable of nullifying magic, and deadly to all Vanir. "You can't kill a Wolf based on mere rumors," Ruhn said. "Sabine would never let you get away with it."

    "Sabine Fendyr won't bat an eyelash. Not for Sarai Ilerion."

    "She won't forgive you for killing a single Wolf, no matter who they are."

    There was a ghost of a smile upon the Autumn King's lips. "Then it's a good thing I won't be the one who pulls the trigger." He turned back to his planets. "I've played this game for a long time. Longer than even Sabine Fendyr. I know how to remove a problem without incriminating myself. You would be wise to remember that."

    Ruhn stiffened, picking up the hint of a threat in his father's voice. He spun on his heel and left without replying. If his father thought he would give up Sarai because of a few threats, he was sorely mistaken. But, I will be careful, Ruhn thought. The last thing either of us needs is for the other to wind up dead.

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    "Ow, ow, fuck!" Sarai squealed as Nathalie yanked on her hair.

    "Hold still. You've got so many knots in here that you're lucky I don't just shave it off," Nathalie grunted. She stuck her tongue out the corner of her mouth as she worked another tangled knot out of Sarai's hair. "How did you even manage this?"

    "I didn't. Cassia somehow accomplished this during training today."

    "What a bitch. Did she at least get into trouble?"

    "Of course not. What's Rafe going to do? Tell her that hair pulling isn't allowed in a fight?" Sarai scoffed.

    "I guess not. Have you heard back from Salem about that favor you asked of him?" Nathalie caught Sarai's eye in the mirror and arched her brow.

    Sarai picked up on Nathalie's underlying question. Are you going to tell me what you've up to? She shook her head. "Not yet. He's been handling a few solo assignments, same as Connor."

    Nathalie grimaced, tugging another knot loose. Sarai winced and clenched her jaw. "Danika's been keeping Bronson busy too. I haven't seen him in days."

    "Do you think they're working on similar assignments?"

    "I couldn't say. I'd think you would know more, considering you're Blood Moon's Second and I'm only the Devils' Third."

    Sarai shook her head once again. "I asked Rafe, but he wouldn't tell me anything, and Holly said she didn't even know what was going on."

    "Hm. That's a bit strange, don't you think?"

    "It is."

    Nathalie bit her lip and heaved a sigh. "Well, if we're meant to find out, I suppose we will soon enough. I just wish Bronson would text me or something."

    "I'm sure he will when he's able to. I haven't heard from Ruhn in a few days either." Sarai rested her chin in her hand, squeezing her eyes shut as Nathalie set to work on another difficult tangle in her hair.

    There were two main reasons why she and Ruhn hadn't been in contact with one another for a few days. The first was that Sarai hadn't been able to leave Moonwood unaccompanied. Her packmates had been trailing her relentlessly, so she spent time with the Devils instead, hoping to throw them off her scent.

    The next reason was that Ruhn believed his father was growing suspicious of them, and he wanted to make sure his fears were unfounded. Flynn had texted her that morning and told her Ruhn was attending a meeting with the Autumn King, but she'd heard nothing since then.

    The space between them was growing more and more unbearable with every passing day. Sarai was overwhelmed by the urge to find Ruhn and stay with him. To never leave him, or let him out of her sight. To be with him and care for him. Give him all that he needed and more. She'd been thinking about those instincts more and more lately, and a thought continuously tugged at the back of her mind. She'd been trying to ignore it, but...

    "Can I ask you something?" Sarai asked, catching Nathalie's attention.

    "Of course. What is it?"

    "Do you know why Sabine reacted the way she did when she found out Ruhn had attacked Lucas and threatened Blood Moon for me? Or why Rafe felt the need to try to keep the incident a secret from her?"

    Nathalie knit her brows. "Sabine felt threatened, I imagine. You, a Wolf who has been shunned and hated your entire life, suddenly has an alliance with the Crown Prince of the Fae, and your own Alpha tried to protect you rather than let her find out?"

"Sabine knows how powerful you are, despite her attempts to weaken you," she continued. "I think she's still afraid that if you form equally powerful friends, you'll help Danika overthrow her."

    Sarai thought for a moment. "If Sabine is so afraid of losing power that she doesn't even have yet, maybe she should never have it."

    "Maybe, but don't let her hear you say that." They sat in silence for several minutes while Nathalie combed out the last of the tangles. When she drew back, Sarai remained seated. "What is it?" Nathalie prompted.

    "I... I've had a thought," Sarai began. "About why Sabine and Rafe did the things they did."

    Nathalie pulled up a chair beside the vanity and sat down. "Oh?" She began to toy with the end of her ebony braid.

    "Rafe was protecting me from Sabine, and Sabine felt threatened by whatever it was she learned. But neither of them would tell me anything about this secret. Rafe said I would figure it out soon enough, and Sabine told me to remember where my loyalties lie, even though Ruhn has clearly forgotten."

    "What's your point?"

    "What if Ruhn and I are something...more? More than just a couple. More than just lovers. More than just allies. What if we're something that actually gives Sabine and the Autumn King a reason to fear us? To try to separate us?"

    Nathalie cocked her head. "What are you trying to say, Rai?"

    "Do you think..." Sarai broke off and drew a steadying breath. She'd avoided thinking about this for so long, but now... Maybe now it was time to admit the truth to herself, and to him. "Do you think Ruhn and I could be mates?"

    Nathalie's eyes widened in shock. "Mates?" She echoed. "Like, actually mates?"

    "Yes."

    Nathalie raked her fingers through her hair, staring down at the vanity in shock. "I don't know. I mean, it would make sense why Sabine would feel threatened, and why the Autumn King would want to keep you apart, but why would Rafe keep a secret like that for you? Why, how... What made you start thinking about this in the first place?"

    "Our behavior. The way we've never been able to stay away from one another, even when we hated each other. The way we're just drawn together. The way we care for one another, and would do anything to protect each other. When we were attacked by the Dissiri, I was frozen in fear. But the moment I saw it attack Ruhn, I just... I don't know what came over me. The only thought in my head was to protect him, even at the cost of my own life."

    "When you, Bryce, and I were attacked by Marcus, I know he had the same thought," Sarai continued. "He keeps telling me that he wants to keep me safe and make me happy. He wants to take care of me. How do you explain why he was so worried and upset when I was whipped? We still hated each other then."

"And how do you explain why I feel safe around him?" Sarai pulled her gaze from Nathalie's and stared at the floor. "Why don't I have many nightmares when I'm asleep beside him? Why does being apart from him feel like my body is being torn two ways?"

    Nathalie watched her quietly, her onyx eyes gleaming. At last, she spoke. "That's exactly how I feel about Bronson."

    "And?" Sarai urged.

    "Maybe you should tell Ruhn how you feel. Tell him exactly how you feel and what your suspicions are. Only he can help you figure out whether they're true or not."

    Sarai gave a small nod. "What about you and Bronson?"

    Nathalie smiled. "We'll make our way there eventually." Sarai grinned, then rose and stretched her arms over her head. Nathalie remained seated, a thoughtful look in her eye as she let her hands fall to her stomach.