"Syryn, my blood can help you recover fast."

The mage hadn't expected Riha to visit, let alone offer him blood. The selkie had slipped in immediately after Salem's departure from the room.

​​

"Thanks for the offer," Syryn replied, feeling out of sorts. He wasn't very familiar with the selkie despite living in the same house. "But I'm good."

Riha had filled out very nicely after the long peaceful stay in Syryn's home. There was a bluish tinge to his skin that set him apart from humans. Ocean green eyes that were marked by the vicissitudes of time saw through the flimsy cover of words that hid Syryn's longing for his blood.

"I am offering it to you, Syryn. Why do you refuse?"

Why did Syryn refuse? It felt like he was taking advantage of Riha. Maybe a year ago, Syryn would have promptly and without a second thought taken it. He was growing softer with the years. He compared himself to a tomato that was wrinkling. After softening sufficiently, he would finally rot and die, and no one would remember him.

"Syryn?" The selkie appeared concerned. "Are you alright?"

"No," Syryn sighed. He wanted to be irresponsible. Syryn wanted to forget about the dangers looming over his future. He wanted to go out and travel the world, exploring the limitless offerings that it had for him. At least he would die having visited amazing places and having experienced an adventure. A prisoner in his past life, the mage wanted to spread his wings this time. Nua had been an eye-opening experience for him.

"Have some blood, Syryn. Worry about other matters after you've recovered. You can't be sick and stressed. That's one struggle too many."

The mage chuckled at Riha's simple philosophy. He was right. If Syryn could regain his strength sooner, why was he refusing the selkie?

"I accept your offer, Riha. How are we doing this?" He looked at the selkie's neck where warm blood thrummed - a spring of salty-sweet ocean flavoured nectar that Syryn salivated for. It was much too dangerous to take it directly from the selkie but Syryn could hope and dream about it.

"How good is your self-control?" Riha asked.

Syryn's sights, still lingering on the neck, snapped up to meet Riha's. "Terrible."

The selkie's next words roused something primal inside Syryn. "Would you like to test your self-restraint?"

"What are you saying?" Syryn's brows drew together as he stared at the selkie.

The selkie shifted in his chair, clearly uneasy at being the centre of Syryn's focused attention.

"Syryn, I was trapped for too many years for it to not have warped me strangely. I am alive and yet I live my life like it's a dream." The selkie looked like he was at loss for words after having this much. Eyes cast on a faraway spot of the bed, Riha said in a softer voice, "I wish to wake up from this dream."

"By putting yourself through a life-threatening situation?" Syryn asked. In a twisted way, it made sense to him.

"Yes. That is, if I don't end up dead."

Syryn placed a closed fist to his mouth. Riha was crazy to be courting death just to feel alive. The trial he wanted to put himself through was the exact opposite of feeling alive.

"Did the spider not threaten your life enough?" Syryn had forgotten her name.

Riha frowned at the motion of Zelli. "My blood was the key to her longevity. She made sure I was protected at all cost." Riha's blood was precious but not everyone could use it as a blood mage could.

"You're not in a dream, Riha."

"But it feels like it."

"What if I refuse?" Syryn asked the selkie.

"I won't force you to co-operate, Syryn. It's a request, not a demand."

"But you'll find other ways to court danger, won't you?" Syryn believed that there was a disease spreading through the occupants of his home. And he truly suspected that Alka was patient zero.

"I will leave you to rest, Syryn." The selkie stood up. There was no sense in wasting time exchanging words about what wouldn't happen.

The mage caught his arm and yanked it forward, tugging along the selkie's body. Riha promptly braced his arm against the bed and caught his fall but he was now at eye level with a hungry half-demon.

"The buffet offered itself to me so it shouldn't have any resentment if it dies from blood loss," Syryn said in a low voice. His hunger for selkie blood was a gnawing hole in his belly.

Riha's held his breath. He slowly nodded while holding eye contact with Syryn. "I might have a way to prevent death."

"You do?" He asked the selkie. Syryn's hunger was a pain, his demon coming awake, but he was also still in control. Was it a mistake letting this happen?

"I'm not entirely defenceless," Riha told him. "If push comes to shove, I have a way to incapacitate you."

Syryn's mouth was dangerously close to the selkie's neck. He wanted to stick his tongue out and lick the delicious skin there. Then his teeth would sink in, tearing through the soft skin, and releasing the sweet blood that sang to his demon. How warm and wet the blood would feel as it trickled down his throat, surrendering its life giving essence to the demon.

Syryn made a sound of hunger that came out like a snarl. He took a deep breath and turned to the mage.

"Riha, I think this is a bad idea."

"I do too." Riha was beginning to feel the stirrings of fear that lay dormant in him.

But Syryn wanted it. If Riha had a way to incapacitate him then he didn't have to hold back, right? Right.

His canines grew and lengthened into wicked needle points. The mage was shaking with need for selkie blood and couldn't wait another second. Mouth closing over the skin on Riha's neck, Syryn licked it and then sank his fangs into the selkie.

The first trickle of blood over his tongue sent a shudder through Syryn's body. Drinking it out of a tube was incomparable to the exhilaration that came with acting on his predatory instincts. It was even more delicious than he had anticipated. A low moan of deep satisfaction sounded from his throat.

Riha was motionless in his grip - a prey caught by its primary predator. The selkie had received his wish. It was a life and death situation now, with the balance hanging on the thread of Syryn's frail control. He could hear the sick wet sounds of his own blood being sucked and swallowed, and it sent a thrill of pure terror through him.

Riha closed his eyes, and for the longest of time, the only sound that could be heard in the room was Syryn's tiny moans of pleasure, but not the kind that was sexual. It wasn't too different though because the teen had popped a tent from the rush that he was receiving.

"Syryn.." Riha breathed out. He had lost a lot of blood.

"Mm." He was responding and that was a good sign. Syryn was still in control, maybe.

"I think you've had enough."

There was no further response.

Riha grit his teeth and forcefully relaxed his body. It seemed he had to separate them the violent way. After regaining his strength and undoing the shackles that Zelli had bound him with, Riha had come into the power that belonged to him. An ancient language poured out of his lips and it birthed a spell that stunned Syryn into motionlessness. It was just enough for Riha to put distance between Syryn and his neck.

The half-demon blinked like he couldn't understand just what had happened. Before he could say a word, a calamity fell upon his head.

"Ryn, what's going on?"

Rowan stood at the opened door of the room. To say that he was beyond furious was an understatement.