Hassian stood in the living room, broad shoulders squared, staring at the front door as though it had personally offended him. His jaw was tight, his hands buried in his pockets, the picture of a man about to be left behind.

Lyra breezed in, the faint scent of sugar clinging to her as she set a plate of cakes on the coffee table. She caught sight of him glowering at the door and couldn’t help but smile. Crossing the room, she slipped her arms around his middle and tipped her face up toward his.

“It’s just for a couple hours,” she teased gently.

“I know.” Hassian’s voice rumbled low, reluctant but steady. “I want you to have fun with your girls. I could hang out in the conservatory. I won’t come in and bother you at all.”

Lyra giggled, resting her cheek briefly against his chest. “I thought you liked Rex and Simon?”

“I like them,” he admitted, tone dry, “but I don’t want to be drinking buddies.”

“You don’t have to drink any more than you want to,” she said with mock sternness, then grinned. “But I’m warning you right now—you’re probably going to return home to a tipsy fiancée.”

That earned a laugh, deep and warm, from Hassian. “More reason for me to be here. I can hold your hair back, since we both know you can’t handle alcohol.”

Lyra swatted lightly at his arm, eyes dancing. “It was one time. Just play some cards with them and have a few laughs. Rex is very funny if you loosen up.”

He let out a long-suffering sigh that fooled no one. “Alright. Cards, laughs, one drink, two hours—then I’m coming home.”

Lyra kissed his cheek with a smile. “And enjoy yourself. But absolutely no female entertainment! Bachelor party tradition or not.”

The corner of Hassian’s mouth curved. “In Killima, baby? Closest we could come is having Reth jump out of a cake. Unless the girls have already booked him for your party.”

Lyra threw her head back and laughed. “If we were looking for a male dancer, it would be you, hunter.”

“Male, fine. Dancer…” Hassian smirked faintly. “I’ll just stand there.”

“That’s okay,” she whispered mischievously, “as long as I can touch.”

He leaned in, his smile darkening into something more private. “Mmm. Now that’s a party.”

She caught his lips in a quick kiss, the moment lingering just long enough before a sharp knock rattled the door.

“We come with wine and tacos!” Saraya’s high-pitched voice sang from outside.

“Two hours,” Hassian muttered under his breath, straightening. “Then I storm in and carry you out.”

Lyra laughed, going to open the door, but before she reached it, Rex’s booming voice rolled in through the wood: “We’re here for you, Hassian.” The words carried a deliciously ominous weight.

A low growl rumbled in Hassian’s throat as he started toward the door. Just as Lyra reached for the handle, she called over her shoulder with a mischievous smile, “I love you, hunter!”

The room stilled for a beat, every eye snapping to Hassian. He froze in the doorway, caught.

“I love you, baby,” he grumbled, the tips of his ears faintly red. “A lot. The things I do for you.”

Laughter bubbled up from the women as Lexi smirked. “There’s the broody guy we remember.”

With that, Hassian surrendered himself to fate, stepping out alongside Rex and Simon as Saraya, Lexi, and Kenyata swept into the house with their wine and tacos.

Let's Play

The tavern was alive with chatter, mugs clinking against scarred wood. The door swung open with Rex’s booming laugh preceding him, Simon close on his heels, and Hassian trailing behind like a plumehound headed for the healer’s tent.

“Here he is!” Rex announced grandly, clapping Hassian’s shoulder with enough force to rattle his teeth. “The groom-to-be! Let’s get this man a drink.”

“I’ll pass,” Hassian muttered, earning an immediate groan from Simon, who flanked him like a shepherd dogging a reluctant ewe.

“You don’t want Lyra thinking you’re no fun, do you, Hass?” Simon teased.

“She already knows,” Hassian deadpanned.”And it’s Hassian.”

From a stool at the bar, Sifuu snorted into her glass and called over, “Get him hammered!” She lifted her drink in salute, eyes dancing with amusement.

“Mother,” Hassian acknowledged, jaw tightening as though that single word was all the energy he could spare.

“Son,” she fired back sweetly, clearly enjoying herself.

Reth leaned lazily on the counter, polishing a mug with exaggerated slowness. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the party lively,” he said with a grin sharp enough to cut. “Think of me as…entertainment.”

Hassian’s glare was automatic, but secretly, he felt a quiet wave of relief. At least Reth was behind the bar and not jumping out of a cake at Lyra’s party.

Over by the hearth, Chayne sat with a cup of tea, looking for all the world like he was settled in for a front-row show. He caught Hassian’s eye, winked, and then chuckled softly.

Rex dragged Hassian to a table near the center of the room and slapped down three mugs of ale. “Alright, one drink, and then cards. That’s the deal.”

“One drink,” Hassian echoed grimly, like it was an oath he might regret taking.

Simon leaned in, smirking. “You know, Hass, this would go faster if you just admitted we’re fun.”

Sifuu lifted her glass again, voice carrying easily across the room. “Don’t strain him, boys. Fun isn’t part of his vocabulary.”

Hassian reached around to rub the back of his neck. “This was a mistake.”

Rex only grinned wider. “Best mistake of your life. Now drink.”

Simon shuffled the worn deck of cards with practiced ease, letting the leathered tips of his fingers slide over each card. “Here’s the rules,” he said, grinning at Hassian. “Twenty gold per game, five hands per round. And since you’re the bachelor at this party, if you lose a game, you have to answer any question Rex and I decide on.”

Hassian’s eyes narrowed, lips tugging into a confident smirk. “Fine. I won’t lose.”

From the bar, Sifuu leaned against the counter, glass in hand, eyes glittering with amusement. “Boy, I hope one of those boys was a card shark in a past life,” she muttered to Reth. “Tear him up good.” She snickered softly at her own jest.

Reth, polishing a mug with one hand while resting his elbow on the bar, shot a glance at Hassian. “You’re in for it if you’re cocky,” he said dryly, a small grin tugging at his lips.

The first game began, cards flicking across the table, gold coins clinking against the wooden surface. Round after round, Hassian’s hands moved like clockwork, precise and unerring. By the end of the fifth hand, he had won every round. Simon leaned back, feigning shock. “Well, I’ll be… The man actually can play.”

Rex let out a hearty laugh. “I think we might have underestimated the bachelor!”

Hassian leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck, a small, unconscious gesture that only Sifuu, Chayne, and Lyra could read. “Told you,” he said simply, eyes scanning the table with a quiet satisfaction.

Sifuu’s snicker morphed into a full chuckle, and even Reth’s lips quirked upward. Chayne, sitting with his cup of tea, shook his head and smiled knowingly. The groom might not be the life of the party—but he was holding his own just fine.

Rex shuffled the deck with exaggerated flourish, then dealt the cards with practiced precision. Hassian’s eyes were laser-focused on his hand, unblinking and unreadable, a quiet storm of concentration. Try as they might, neither Rex nor Simon could glean a hint from his face.

The first hand was dealt. Hassian blinked, and for a fleeting moment, a frown tugged at his brow—he had lost. His hand shot to the back of his neck, but he recovered instantly, refocusing with a steadying breath. Round after round followed, and Hassian’s calm precision won him the next four hands, securing the game.

Rex flopped his cards down, groaning loudly. “Not only are we not getting to ask embarrassing questions, but I’m losing my life’s savings to this man!”

“I warned you,” Hassian replied smoothly, a faint smirk curling his lips.

From her perch at the bar, Sifuu finally rose, rolling her eyes. “Most boring bachelor party I’ve ever attended. I’m going to see what the ladies are up to. I know Saraya took copious amounts of blueberry wine.” With that, she swept past, leaving a faint trace of smoke and mischief behind.

Reth leaned on the counter, feigning a meticulous wipe of the bar as though it weren’t already perfectly clean. His smirk betrayed his amusement. “Best night ever,” he muttered under his breath.

Simon shook his head at Hassian, conceding defeat with a playful groan. “Two hours of this, and we still can’t make him squirm. I swear, he’s untouchable.”

Hassian only shrugged, slipping a coin into his pile. “Patience, boys. Tomorrow, maybe you’ll get a chance.”

Hassian gathered the cards, shuffling them smoothly with a practiced hand. “Looks like there’s time for one more game,” he announced, eyes glinting with amusement. “Ante up, fellas.”

He dealt the cards, and round one went to him without surprise. “Come on, Simon, we can still get him,” Rex grumbled, frustration edging his voice.

Round two began. This time, Hassian stumbled—just enough—and the room erupted with cheers from Simon, Rex, and Reth. Victory was theirs.

Round three, Hassian recovered, reading the table like a hawk, and clinched the win again. But by round four, his hand drifted instinctively to the back of his neck, a subtle comfort move. His eyes flicked between Rex and Simon, scanning their expressions, measuring their tells, counting every twitch and grin.

Rex slammed his winning hand onto the table with a groan, then pushed back from the chair and began an unceremonious little victory dance, shaking his shoulders in mock triumph.

“Two wins, two losses,” Simon noted, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “One more hand.”

Hassian leaned back in his chair, smirking. He glanced toward the door, briefly considering a strategic retreat. But no—this game wasn’t over.

The final hand began. Hassian’s concentration sharpened to a razor’s edge; his lips pressed in a thin line as he appeared to count quietly to himself.

“I fold,” Simon said, throwing his cards down with a resigned sigh, while Rex’s grin widened, anticipation lighting his eyes.

“I call,” Hassian replied steadily. Tentatively, he laid his cards on the table.

Rex’s face went white. “Dammit it all!” he barked, tossing his own cards down in disbelief. Hassian’s victory was absolute.

Hassian leaned forward, gathering the scattered coins with deliberate ease. “Well, that’s game, boys,” he said, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “But I’ll tell you what—I’m feeling generous. Since I’m leaving with all your money, you each decide on three questions, and I’ll choose one to answer.”

Rex and Simon exchanged quick, conspiratorial glances, hunching together like they were plotting a raid. Hassian’s eyes flicked toward the doorway, already calculating the odds of what he might be forced to reveal.

From behind the bar, Reth emerged, stepping smoothly between the two men as they leaned in to whisper and gesture, their discussion suddenly cloaked in secrecy. The bartender smirked, arms crossed, as if daring them to try to pull a fast one on the groom-to-be.

Hassian reclined slightly in his chair, still collecting his winnings, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Better make it good, boys,” he called over his shoulder. “I’m a man of honor… and mischief.”

The guys huddled briefly, whispering and arguing in low voices. Hassian lounged back, elbows resting on the table, fingers lightly rubbing the back of his neck, perfectly calm. Every so often, he caught Reth smirking from behind the bar or Simon glancing at him with mock suspicion, and he simply raised an eyebrow.

Finally, they straightened, sitting back in their chairs, all three grinning. Simon went first. “One—what part of Lyra’s body is your favorite?”

Rex leaned forward, adding with a wink, “Two—where’s the weirdest place you ever had sex?”

Reth slammed his hands on the table for emphasis. “Three—your favorite position, bro.”

Hassian smirked, cool as ever. “That’s all you’ve got?” he asked, eyes glinting. He leaned back, letting the chair creak under him. “One—every part of Lyra’s body is my favorite. Two—in a briar daisy patch in Bahari Bay. And three…all of them....as long as I'm with her.”

He took the last sip of his ale, savoring the moment, then set the mug down with a soft thump. “Thanks for the fun. Goodnight, guys.” With that, he rose and walked out.

Rex froze, spilling a bit of ale. “We once ate lunch in that briar daisy patch!” he exclaimed, wiping his mouth, half laughing, half aghast.

Simon threw his head back in awe. “He’s so damn cool,” he said, elbowing Rex, who only groaned and shook his head.

Reth leaned on the bar, pretending to polish a mug but grinning like he’d just witnessed a masterclass. “Seriously,” he said, “that’s how legends handle a bachelor party.”