House of Blood and Beasts

40. Security and Contentment

    "Have you noticed the lights aren't on?" Ruhn asked the second Declan answered the phone.

    "Uh, not exactly. They were already off for me."

    "Nice, Dec. Apologize to your date, get your pants on, and head to the Aux facility. We need to figure out what's going on before the city's lowlifes decide to take advantage of this blackout."

    "Want me to grab Flynn on the way?"

    Ruhn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just get to the headquarters. I'll get ahold of Flynn somehow and he can join us when he's able. He was high on about four joints of mirthroot when I left the house."

    "He's probably in a dead sleep then, but all right."

    The call ended and Ruhn switched over to a message thread he shared with other members of his Auxiliary unit. He sent out a quick text, ordering everyone to meet at the headquarters and divide into patrol groups, then comb their usual streets. Ruhn glanced up, sensing Sarai's gaze on him.

    "Authority looks good on you," she said.

    "Thanks. Have you heard anything from the Wolves?"

    Sarai checked her phone and shook her head. "Blood Moon will be kept close to Moonwood, I imagine. The Devils will come to the Old Square, and a few other packs might patrol around the Meat Market."

    "Fae will take FiRo and Asphodel Meadows," Ruhn murmured, mostly to himself. "The Angels will focus on the CBD. That leaves the Bone Quarter, but no sane person would go near those docks in the middle of a blackout. Wraiths will be out, and I'm sure the Vampyrs will make the most of this."

    "Do you think the blackout is city-wide?" Sarai asked, falling in step with him.

    "I don't know. If it is, it won't be long before we hear from the Governor."

    "Where are we going?"

    "To the house. I need to grab my uniform and the Starsword. And Flynn," he added as an afterthought. "Maybe."

    "I should get back to Moonwood, just in case someone misses me," Sarai sighed.

    Ruhn shook his head. "You shouldn't go anywhere alone in a blackout. You know what's about to happen."

    "I can take care of myself," Sarai retorted, a hard edge in her tone.

    "I know you can, but still."

    "I can't exactly stay with you. Not if you're that worried about your father making good on his threats."

    "You can stay at the house. It's safe."

    "Safe?" She scoffed. "I just told you I'm capable of looking after myself. I can shift into my wolf and make my eyesight even better than it already is. I'm not helpless, you know."

    "I never said you were," Ruhn protested. "But think, Sarai. There have been more demons than usual finding their way into the city. This new drug is making people go feral. Marcus Trejon could've killed you, and he's a male who most believed was harmless. That Angel could've killed me. We were both nearly killed by a Dissiri."

    He broke off and shook his head, averting his eyes. "I won't tell you what to do, but I wish you'd just stay at the house until we know what's going on. You can come up with something to tell Rafe, can't you? Say you were with the Devils and went to check things out with them. I'm sure they'll play along if they're questioned about it."

    Sarai's gaze bored into him, but Ruhn didn't meet it. He wouldn't try to stop her if she decided to leave, but he would definitely trail her to Moonwood, even if it set him back in his own agenda. "Fine," she relented. "But only because it's nice to know that someone actually cares about me. You'd better let me know the moment you figure out what's going on."