"So what did your father have to say?" Sarai asked as they slipped onto two vacant stools at the bar.

    Ruhn signaled the bartender and put in his order before answering. "He's heard rumors about us."

    "And?"

    "He wants me to end our relationship." Ruhn met her gaze. "If I don't, he insinuated that he'd have you killed." Sarai's throat bobbed and he turned away with a shrug. "Or me. Maybe both of us. It's not too late for him to produce another heir, after all."

    "Ruhn..." She rested a hand on his arm. "You should've called me when you left."

    "I went to a gun range. I was too angry to talk to anyone."

    He caught the glass of whiskey that the bartender slid his way and Sarai took her own drink. Ruhn took a sip, focusing on the familiar burn of the amber liquid. "What will we do now?" Sarai asked. "Do you want to end things?"

    Ruhn glanced at her. "Do you?"

    "No." She looped her arm through his and let her head fall against his shoulder. "You're one of the only good things in my life right now. I'll die before I choose to give you up."

    Ruhn couldn't help but smile. "That seems a little dramatic, don't you think?"

    "Maybe, but it's true."

    "Well, I share the sentiment. We'll just have to take more precautions, at least for now."

    "For now?" She echoed, raising her head.

    "Someday we'll work something else out. Something that will require less secrecy and involve less risk."

    "I don't know. Secrecy and risks make all of this so much more exciting." Sarai batted her eyelashes at him, then raised her glass to her lips. "It's fun, knowing that we're going against Sabine and the Autumn King's wishes, and living our best lives while doing so."

    "It is fun," Ruhn agreed. "But someday, I want to have fun and not fear for your life at the same time."

    "This is Crescent City, Danaan. Is it ever possible to have fun and be safe?"

    "If it's not, I'll make it so."

    "My hero," she giggled, draining the last of her drink. "Come dance with me." She hopped off the barstool and held out her hand.

    Ruhn let her lead him to the middle of the room, where a few other patrons had begun to dance. They melted into the crowd seamlessly, matching each other's movements and following the rhythm of the music. Ruhn's smile grew, washing away the prior stress of the day. Sarai mirrored his expression.

    "Have you received any updates on the drug case?" She asked, twirling away from him for a moment, then coming back against his chest.

    "No. The Angels don't seem interested in sharing what they've learned, if they've even learned anything. I'm beginning to think they already closed and filed the case."

    "People died," Sarai pointed out. "They can't just do that."

    "The Governor's Triarii can do whatever the fuck they want, as long as he doesn't have a problem with it."

    "It's not fair," she huffed. "That was our case. They should've let us see it through."

    "I suppose the Governor decided it wasn't worth the risk when the Crown Prince of the Fae was almost killed by a drugged Angel. That could've sparked a war between our people."

    "Then they could've at least chosen someone to take your place and let me stay on it," she spat. Ruhn stiffened. "Sorry." Sarai massaged her forehead. "I just... I finally felt like I was doing something worthwhile. Something important. Now, I'm back to being my old worthless self."

    Ruhn tucked a finger beneath her chin, lifting her gaze to his. "You have never been worthless, Sarai, and I wish you'd never been treated as such. I can't undo that, but I can show you how you deserve to be treated."

    "How?" She asked.

    Ruhn drew her close, leaning down to nuzzle her neck. "With respect and admiration. With humility and submissiveness. You are powerful, Sarai. Anyone who doesn't see that is a fool. You deserve a pack of your own. You deserve to be an Alpha. A Queen."

    She gave a faint laugh. "Very few people would agree."

    "The ones who do are the only people who matter. Those who don't aren't worth the dust beneath your boot." Ruhn searched her gaze, hoping she could see just how true his words rang.

    Sarai pushed herself onto the tips of her toes and kissed him deeply. Ruhn let his hands fall to her hips, following her lead. "I missed you," she breathed against his mouth. "Being apart from you was almost painful."

    "Tell me how to make it up to you," Ruhn answered. He cracked an eye open, studying their surroundings. No one appeared to be paying them any attention.

    "You know what I want." She pressed herself against him and Ruhn almost groaned, catching a hint of her aroused scent. "Just you."

    "Flynn is still at the house, and I'd rather he didn't hear the sounds you make," Ruhn answered.

    "Who said anything about going back to the house?" Sarai touched open-mouthed kisses to his neck and jaw in between words.

    "I'm not fucking you in an alley where cameras could catch us."

    He could barely think through the heady fog in his brain. Aching heat pooled low in his stomach and Sarai dragged her hands down his chest. Ruhn did the first thing he could think of. He grabbed her arm and led her across the bar towards the bathrooms. Both were unmarked single stalls. They ducked into one together and Ruhn kicked the door shut, locking it swiftly.

    "So unsanitary," Sarai chuckled, turning to the mirror above the sink. "But I've been in worse."

    "I bet you have, but never with me." Ruhn settled his hands on her waist and kissed her exposed shoulder. "Now, should I bend you over that sink or fuck you against the wall?"

    "We'd better not break the sink."

    "Who says we won't break the wall?"

    "If you break the wall, that means you'll break me."

    "I won't." Ruhn's lips brushed the shell of her ear. "I'll never do anything to hurt you."

    "Never?"

    "Unless you want me to," he amended.

    Sarai grinned, already unfastening her pants. Ruhn watched her, his blue eyes dark with anticipation. He unlaced his own pants and hooked his hands behind Sarai's thighs. She tightened her legs around his waist and draped her arms over his shoulders. Ruhn backed her against the wall.

    "Ready?" He rasped, voice hoarse with need. Sarai nodded and he thrust in.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

    It was an effort to hold back her moans. Sarai tipped her head against the wall, sucking down ragged breaths as Ruhn rocked into her. He braced himself on the wall with a forearm and let his head fall onto her shoulder. Sarai dug her fingers into his hair, panting as fiery pleasure scorched through her veins.

    "Ruhn," she moaned, somehow keeping her voice quiet.

    Ruhn moved harder, his hips driving into hers with rough strokes. Sarai was already trembling. She turned her head sideways, layering kisses on his hair. Ruhn's groan was muffled by her shoulder. "Fuck, Sarai." Every inch of her tightened at the low growl in his voice.

    Her hand dipped low and closed around what little of him wasn't inside her. Ruhn jerked harshly and Sarai cried out. He clapped a hand over her mouth, raising his head. Sarai held his gaze as she squeezed him. Ruhn's breath shook and she squeezed again, letting her nails scrape his skin.

    Ruhn's hand fell and he crushed his mouth to hers. "Fuck," he moaned onto her lips. "Oh fuck." His hand slid beneath her shirt and up to her breast. "No bra?" He chuckled, already teasing her with his thumb. "Were you expecting this, Rai Rai?"

    "Hoping," she corrected. "I was hoping for..." She broke off with a moan. Without removing her shirt, Ruhn brought his mouth to her other breast. "We'll walk out of here and everyone will see... Ruhn!" The brief pain from his teeth was already dulling as his tongue swirled over the fabric covering the peak of her breast.

    Sarai's chest heaved with jagged breaths and Ruhn barely lifted his head. "Gods, you're fucking gorgeous," he growled. Sarai whimpered as he pulled out, then shoved in all the way. Her whimper shifted to a loud cry, which he smothered with a hand once again.

    Sarai gave a breathless laugh and licked his fingers. Ruhn lowered his hand, stroking her lip with his thumb. He gave her a pointed look and she closed her mouth over it, letting her tongue roam. "I want you to do that to my dick later," Ruhn groaned, as if imagining it.

    "I'll do it now," Sarai said, flashing him a wicked smile.

    "No, you won't." Ruhn captured her lips in another kiss, moving with renewed vigor. Sarai moaned, clinging to him as pleasure swept through her veins. Release welled up within her and Ruhn's mouth shifted to her jaw, then her neck.

    "Ruhn," she panted. "Ruhn!" He kissed her once more, silencing her moans. Release erupted and stars danced before her eyes. Sarai closed them, holding onto Ruhn while she weathered her climax.

    Ruhn slowed his movements and she let her legs fall to the ground, but he didn't pull out immediately. She could hear his shuddering breaths matching every jerk of his body. Sarai rubbed her hands down his damp arms, trying to steady her own breathing. At last, she opened her eyes.

    "Ruhn?" Sarai furrowed her brows. "The lights..."

    "They went out a few seconds ago." Ruhn swallowed audibly and pulled out. Sarai couldn't stifle her gasp. "Sorry. Are you all right?"

    "You ask that every time, and every time I say yes." Sarai pulled up her pants, fastening them quickly. "What's going on?"

    "I don't know." She heard him struggling with his own pants.

    Her vision finally adjusted to the darkness and she could make out Ruhn's shape. He offered his hand and she took it. They hurried out of the bathroom, only to find the bar in complete darkness. Confused voices drifted all around them. Sarai stuck close to Ruhn, listening in on conversations where she could.

    They stepped into the street, but weren't greeted by the firstlights that usually lit their path. The only available light came from the moon overhead. "Gods," Sarai breathed. "It's a blackout." Ruhn was already on the phone with Declan.