Ruhn: HOSAB Bonus Chapter

It was early as fuck when someone started pounding on the front door to Ruhn’s house, ringing the doorbell over and over.

Sprawled naked on his bed, Ruhn cracked open an eye and hollered, “Somebody fucking get that.”

Dec hollered back from his room across the hall, “Somebody fucking kill that person.”

Flynn made no reply from his own room. The asshole was likely sleeping right through the commotion.

Another round of banging on the door and doorbell ringing. All right, all right,” Ruhn groaned as he slithered from the bed, fumbling for his black jeans. He didn’t bother with underwear as he slid them on, forgoing a shirt and trudging down the stairs.

If the press had arrived to ask about Cormac’s arrival, they were in for a rude fucking awakening. Perhaps he shouldn’t have left the Starsword on the floor of his bedroom.

Ruhn yanked open the door, wincing as blinding sunlight blasted him.

The petite, delicate female standing on the porch still had her fist raised to the door.

It was worse than the press.

The female was immaculate in a white dress, her silken black hair unbound, her tan face tight with displeasure. She wore little makeup, as was appropriate for all well-bred Fae females, but solid sapphire studs gleamed at the lobes of her pointed ears. A hint of the obscene wealth her family possessed. From all appearances she was beautiful—the ideal of a Fae female.

Too bad she possessed the rotted soul of a Reaper.

Ruhn didn’t bother greeting her before he turned to bellow over his shoulder, „Flynn, your sister’s here.”

“Do you know what time it is, Sathia?” Flynn hissed from where he perched on the grand staircase, nursing a cup of coffee.

Ruhn leaned against the banister at the bottom, his own coffee already half-consumed. Dec sat at the top of the steps, glowering at the female surveying them all.

„It’s nine o’clock,” Flynn’s sister said primly. “Most people have been up for hours already.”

„Only people who go to bed at eight like good little sheep,” Flynn shot back.

Sathia, Flynn’s younger sister by a decade, smiled coldly. „Better than the losers who drink and smoke all night and make a habit of spitting on their ancestors’ graves.”

Ruhn snickered. The female turned her disapproving gaze on him. “I include you in that group, Prince.”

Ruhn sketched a bow. “Proud to be in it.”

Sathia’s dark eyes blazed. Flynn cut in, „Why are you here, sister? Playing messenger for Mommy and Daddy?”

„No. They have no idea I’m here. I came to speak to you. All three of you.”

„Lucky us,” Dec muttered. Sathia ignored him, and said to Ruhn. „I have it on good authority that Prince Cormac of Avallen arrived here last night and declared your sister his bride.”

Sathia ignored him, and said to Ruhn. “I have it on good authority that Prince Cormac of Avallen arrived here last night and declared your sister his bride”

“This makes so much sense now,” Flynn murmured to himself. Then he laughed. „Planning on hunting Cormac down and dragging him to the altar?”

Sathia’s lips pursed. „I came to learn the truth.”

„It’s none of your business,” Ruhn said coldly. Despite his conversation with his father and Cormac last night, this matter was far from settled.

„You owe it to the Fae nobility of Valbara to make it known if an available bachelor has come to town.”

Declan burst out laughing. „That is a load of shit, Sathia, and you know it.”

The female didn’t back down, though they each had a hundred pounds and about a foot on her. Ruhn couldn’t help but admire her, despite the fact that he hated her guts. Sathia was pure predator at heart. Nothing-and no one-scared her.

„Prince Ruhn is marrying outside the noble bloodline,” Sathia declared. „So we must look elsewhere.”

„We,” Flynn taunted, „or you?”

Sathia stared her brother down. „I, at least, have some interest in bringing honor to our family name.” She sneered at the beer bottles littering the room from the party the night before.

Flynn yawned loudly. „Cormac and Bryce are engaged. Done deal. Now get the fuck out.”

Sathia put her hands on her hips. „How solid is the engagement?”

„For fuck’s sake,” Flynn groaned, and got to his feet, stomping down the steps. He grabbed his sister by the elbow. „Save your social climbing for someone who cares. Cormac’s taken. If you’re set on an Avallen asshole, then Cormac’s got twin cousins who could fit the bill. Which one liked females?” This last question was directed at Declan.

„Darragh,” Dec replied, and a shadow of memory darkened his friend’s face. Dec had been involved with Seamus, the other twin, for a time. A very short time, since he turned out to be the scum of the earth.

Right. Darragh,” Flynn went on as he steered his sister to the door. “He’s a prince. Not a Crown Prince, of course, but you’d at least get to wear a tiara.” He yanked open the door and practically shoved her out. “Why don’t you go bother him?”

Sathia planted her heels before Flynn could throw her down the front steps. She yanked her arm from his grip and snarled with impressive menace, „You’re an embarrassment to the Hawthorne name.”

„Good,” Flynn said, and slammed the door shut in her face. The lord leaned back against it and rubbed his neck. „Gods. She’s the fucking worst.”

„I bet her Ordeal will be something involving not being able to get her manicure done on time,” Dec said, coming down the stairs.

Ruhn chuckled. „Or the agony of suspecting that the maid stole her jewelry.”

„Again,” Flynn said. He eyed Ruhn. „You’re so lucky you didn’t have to marry her.”

„That was never an option,” Ruhn said, but it was a half-lie. Had his father ordered it, he would have had to marry Sathia. But his father had bigger ambitions.

He never thought he’d be grateful for that.

Declan said, „Someone like Darragh Donnall would be a good match for her. They’d make each other miserable.”

„You forget,” Flynn said, „that I’d have to call that shithead my brother.”

„True,” Declan said.

„She’d be happier,” Flynn continued, „with some weak-spined male she can boss around.”

„Plenty of those around here.” Ruhn muttered. Fae nobility were, for the most part, pathetic worms–as evidenced by their behavior this past spring, shutting out desperate people from their estates during the attack.

Disgust roiled in Ruhn’s gut.

Had the Starsword only chosen him, had Urd made him Starborn, because there were no other decent royals out there to carry the burden? The thought of the title and sword falling into the hands of some of the other Fae nobles, especially Cormac, sent a chill down his spine.

„Bryce better be careful,” Flynn said. „She’ll have an army of Fae females out for her blood now that she’s engaged to Cormac.”

“Bryce will enjoy the challenge,” Ruhn said, frowning deeply.

“How’d it go with your father last night?” Dec asked.

“Same as always.” It was all he needed to say. “The engagement stands.”

“I don’t trust that shithead Cormac for one second,” Flynn mumbled. „He must have some other reason for being here.”

Maybe, but he’s as bad as Sathia when it comes to the whole continuing the bloodline thing,” Ruhn said.

„Speaking of which,” Dec said, „any word from Hypaxia?”

Ruhn threw his friend a wry look. „No, asshole.” He ignored the glimmer of dread that rose in him. Not about his betrothed, the beautiful and wise witch- queen, but about the fact that continuing the bloodline wouldn’t be possible for him, even if he wanted to.

Was it fair to Hypaxia, to hide that information?

What did it make him, to keep it from her?

It made him alive, for one thing. Since his father would surely kill him if he knew.

His only value to his father lay in his breeding potential. And without it… no need for a thorn in his side.

Dec said, „Cormac is bad news, engagement or not.

I’d be careful if I were you, Ruhn.”

„He’s not going to jump me in my own city,” Ruhn said.

„He tried to kill you the last time you two saw each other,” Dec warned, and Flynn grunted his agreement.

„That was before the Ordeal. He wouldn’t dare now,” Ruhn said.

„He holds a grudge.” Dec insisted. „Not only did you get the Starsword, you showed him up on his home turf.”

„We showed him up.” Flynn corrected. „And if Cormac holds a grudge, then we sure as Hel do, too.” He patted Dec’s stomach. where the scar from Cormac’s blade remained despite the male’s Vanir healing. Dec batted him away. „Let him see what happens if he tries to start round two.”

For a moment, Ruhn was again in that mist- shrouded cave Dec’s blood warm and sticky on his hands. But he shut out the memory and said, „Just be on alert.”

If they killed the prince, there would be all-out war between the Valbaran and Avallen Fae.

Not that Cormac had shown any such concern all those years ago..

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Ruhn entered the small yet beautiful villa through the back gate. Of course, the two Fae guards posted outside noted his presence, and definitely noted the Starsword strapped down his back, but at least they would be the only witnesses.

He didn’t mind people knowing that he visited his mother. But he liked to at least pretend he could visit her without it making the gossip rounds.

The garden at the rear of the villa was built for the arid climate, unlike most of the lush, magic-fueled estate grounds around here. White stones surrounded the olive trees; beds of swaying lavender buzzed with honeybees. A few orange trees by the northern wall filled the place with their sweet scent-as familiar to him as the reek of beer and mirthroot at his own house. He entered the villa through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors between two white pillars, stepping into the kitchen, which was sunny yet cool. He unbuckled the Starsword and its sheath, tucking it into the umbrella stand next to the garden doors. The thunk of the blade inside the ceramic holder was the only sound in the pristine space.

No personal touches. No photos of him. Even while growing up here, his artwork had never been hung on the stainless steel fridge. He hadn’t even known parents did that stuff until ng gone over to Dec’s house one day and spied his friend’s shitty artwork from school all over the place.

Ruhn let the memory fade as he strode through the white shining halls, aiming for the room where he knew he d find mother at this hour of the morning.

Lorin was indeed sitting in the breakfast room, a book open fruit-laden table before her, dressed immaculately in a lilac-colored gown. She was beautiful, as all Fae were gentleness to her face. A sadness to her deep blue eyes – Ruhn’s eyes.

She was always perfectly put together. Always pristine and ready for a visit.

Not a visit from him, Ruhn had learned long ago.

But her gaze brightened upon seeing him, a smile of genuine warmth gracing her face. „Ruhn,” his mother said, rising from the table.

„Hey, Mom.” Ruhn motioned for her to sit. He pressed a kiss to her silken dark hair before sliding into the chair beside her. Though she was two centuries older than him, they looked the same age. He’d always envied the fact that Bryce’s parents would remain looking like her parents-that is, years older than her.

„To what do I owe this pleasure?” his mother asked, piling grapefruit and orange slices onto a plate for him.

„Just wanted to say hi,” he hedged, not ready to jump into conversation just yet. „See how you were doing. Did the handyman fix that issue with the garden sprinklers?”

„Yes,” his mother said. „Thank you for sending him.”

Ruhn refrained from saying that there was no one else who would have sent for him. His mother had no idea who to even call about issues in the home, and his father sure as shit wouldn’t bother to care. Lorin wouldn’t have dared to bother the Autumn King, anyway.

Luna shoot him down, but Ruhn had come home from his Ordeal in Avallen to find that his mother had gone two weeks the height of summer with a broken air-conditioning system. when he’d asked her why she hadn’t gotten it fixed, she’d only said she didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.

So Ruhn had made sure in the decades since then to visit at east once a week to check on her and the house.

Ruhn picked at his fruit, then asked, „You see my father lately?”

His mother’s eyes flicked down to her plate. „I have not had that honor.”

Ruhn clenched his jaw. „He’s, ah, been busy.”

The thought of his gentle, lovely mother with the Autumn King … The male had used her like a broodmare, sired Ruhn and then dropped her into this cushy villa to rot.

But at least mentioning the Autumn King offered Ruhn a good opening into why he’d come. „We learned last night that he’s engaged Bryce to Cormac Donnall.”

His mother lifted her head at that, a smile gracing her beautiful, delicate face. „That is wonderful news.”

Ruhn shrugged. „Bryce doesn’t think so.”

„She doesn’t approve of the match?” Lorin frowned deeply.

„When you were… chosen for the Autumn King,” Ruhn managed at last, „did you get any say in it?”

His mother blinked at him. He’d never asked her about it only heard stories secondhand about the pairing that had resulted in his birth.

„It was my duty and honor. I was happy to oblige.”

Ruhn took a long breath in through his nose. „You could have said no, though. Right?”

„Why would I have ever said no?”

Ruhn suppressed his urge to groan at the ceiling.

„Because you didn’t want to jump into his bed?”

„I was chosen to continue the royal bloodline. There is no reason I should have not wished to do so.” The problem was that his mother had developed an affection for his father in the process. One that the Autumn King was incapable of returning. She asked, „What is this about, Ruhn?”

He couldn’t risk telling her the truth that he’d come here to see if there was some way out of Bryce’s engagement. Hopes his mother might remember some loophole either she or her family had tried to exploit.

It had been a fool’s errand. Ruhn had grown up knowing mother viewed her involvement with his father to be an honor – even it was little more than an arranged breeding. He didn’t why he’d expected her to suddenly admit to having doubts beforehand.

„Bryce is a smart girl-and a kind one,” his mother said. „She will see the wisdom and honor in this union with Prince Cormac.”

Lorin’s mother had been a Donnall it was through those blood ties that Ruhn had been invited to Avallen all those years ago. Blood ties were all that truly mattered among the Fae. Passing on the noble heritage, ensuring that no one sullied it.

Had his father been a different sort of male, Ruhn would have believed his relationship with Ember to be nothing short of defiant of that tradition.

But whatever rules his father might have broken to be with Ember Quinlan, he clearly didn’t care to allow those transgressions to his people. To his own daughter. Maybe that would change when Ruhn took the throne. Maybe he’d be the first to break the rules and traditions and put an end to the planned breeding and arranged marriages.

Ruhn tucked away the thought and asked his mother, „Anything in the house you need me to look at?”

She smiled broadly, as if grateful for the shift in conversation.

Ruhn spent the next hour with her, until his phone buzzed with a message from Flynn. Where are you? The meeting started five minutes ago.

Shit–the meeting with the Aux captains. Ruhn typed back, Stall for me. Be there in ten.

He rose from the table and said to his mother, „I have to head to a meeting, but let’s plan on dinner sometime in the next week or two, okay?” His mother beamed, and his heart tightened. Was he any better than his father, stringing her along with occasional visits and dinners?

The question lingered as Ruhn headed out into the lush quiet of FiRo a few minutes later, strapping the Starsword down his back las once more.

Would he be any better than his father when it counted? When he became king?

A small part of him wondered if the question even mattered. With what the Oracle had told him about the bloodline ending with him, he didn’t even know if he’d live long enough to be king at all.

Picking up his pace, Ruhn kept to alleyways and side streets. dodging the usual throngs of gawking tourists that would either recognize him or the Starsword and start snapping photos.

I might not live long enough to be king.

The thought should have disturbed him. But all it left in its wake was a strange calm, a hideous sort of relief. He waited for the guilt, the self-loathing to set in. Braced for it as he entered the Aux training facility, passing the Fae guards who saluted him.

But that strange calm and relief remained, steadying him for the rest of the day. He didn’t want to dwell too long on why that might be.

Urd had decided his fate. He’d save his breath for fighting things he could actually change.