The next day, Syryn was a picture of misery as he went about his work. He tried to keep himself busy with alchemy and by brainstorming ideas that could help Riha.

The selkie had told him that it was as if he lived in a dream. What did it mean to live in a dream? Riha has nothing to do, nowhere to go, so he spent all his time reading books and working on small projects that Salem thought up for him.

What could Syryn do to add to the quality of his life? He felt guilty for never having spared the thoughts for Riha's well being.

"Syryn, you've been very quiet," Salem said to him. Neiro and Blaze were both given the week off because Syryn wanted peace in the manor.

"You're familiar with Riha, aren't you?" He asked Salem.

The blond thought about it. "We are friends. I don't quite know what you mean by familiar."

"I meant that you know what he likes and dislikes, don't you? You know what makes him tick."

"I know some things about him but not a lot. Why?"

"I feel like I've treated him unfairly," Syryn replied. "I didn't care enough."

"You sheltered him, Syryn. You of all people should know the significance of what you've done." Salem was referring to the nature of the relationship that bound their two species.

"It's hardly worth mentioning. It wasn't like I was using his room for anything else. It costs me almost nothing to shelter him."

The blond glanced at Syryn once then looked back at his cauldron. "Give yourself some credit. Any other demon might have attacked him."

But he did. And Lucien hadn't. Who had the human heart again? Syryn wanted to scoff.

"How do I free him, Salem?"

"I don't know right now, but, we'll think of something."

That night, Syryn and Alka checked on Blue. The lump of magic was happy to see him but he kept demanding food till Syryn gave up some magic to it. Blue seemed happier than before. He didnt have to worry about food or getting hunted down by anti mages.

"Happy?" He rubbed a hand over its smooth skin. Blue had grown a little bigger too, Syryn noticed.

{Happy}

"I'll come back again with more food," Syryn told the squid.

{Home?}

The mage felt a pang in his heart. "Not yet, Blue. Someday." He was making so many promises but had no idea how to fulfil them.

{Okay Syryn}

Trust. What a horrible gift to be given. Syryn turned his back on the creature and walked out of the rift.

------

Rowan returned two days later. He found Syryn staring out of the window with a vacant look in his eyes.

"Ryn?" the blond called out lightly, worried about this development. It was unlike Syryn to look so lost. He walked up to the mage and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Syryn promptly turned to wrap his arms around Rowan's midsection. Surprised but receptive, the anti mage's embrace enveloped him in turn. Rowan said nothing as Syryn breathed him in and listened to his heartbeat.

"Rowan, I drank from Riha. Again." The confession came tumbling out of his lips.

There was a moment of quietness as Rowan absorbed the information. Syryn was beset by anxiety.

"Why did you do it, Ryn?" Rowan gently asked.

Syryn was buoyed by the question. It meant that Rowan thought Syryn hadn't just done it out of greediness or loss of control.

"Because if I didn't, my demon would have taken over me completely."

"I see. Did it tell you that?"

"I felt it, Ro. I haven't satisfied its needs this lifetime. That is why it's fighting me harder than ever. Or at least that's what Red thinks."

Rowan's breathing was stable. His heart rate was also normal. A good sign.

"What does it need?" Rowan asked next.

"Selkie, but also violence, murder... You know... Everything I used to do."

Rowan made a hmm sound in response.

"Red said you can help me, Ro."

"Red is a strange one," Rowan stated. "He's come so far from the person he used to be."

"So you remember how much worse than me he was?"

"Yes. And that tells me that every half-demon child can be redeemed. You changed, and so did he."

Syryn looked up at Rowan - Violet eyes, trusting eyes. "Help me, Rowan. Find a way to lock it up for good."

The anti mage was not a miracle maker but when Syryn looked at him through such trusting eyes, he could only say yes and prepare himself to move mountains for Syryn.

The mage raised his hands and tugged Rowan's face lower till their lips met. It was like coming home.

Syryn had been wrong about the tower. The peace that he found in the tower wouldn't have come to him if Rowan was removed from the situation. It was this anti mage that brought him peace.

Syryn recognised that his request was too much, but he also knew that Rowan would try to still make it happen. The end result wasn't as important as knowing that the anti mage loved him enough to fight for him. And whenever he felt overwhelmed by his problems, Syryn just had to think of Rowan and somehow it all seemed okay - like the anti mage would catch him if he fell. He felt like the luckiest person alive in the world.

"Ro," he murmured after their slow kiss. The anti mage had a look in his eyes that indicated they might be locking the door soon.

"Yes?"

"Please let me plant the corpse tree, Ro. Please." Syryn palmed Rowan's growing erection through the cloth of his pants.

The anti mage smiled wide. He was amused by Syryn's opportunistic behaviour.

"It's too dangerous."

"But-"

"The last time someone planted a corpse tree in their backyard, it killed twelve children before the mage hunters were alerted."

"I will ensure that it doesn't happen."

"How?" Rowan slipped his hands under Syryn's shirt and caressed the warm skin of his waist.

"Magic."

Rowan raised his brows. "That isn't convincing at all."

"Please, Ro. If anyone gets killed, it'll be Alka."

"You're making this harder for yourself, Ryn."

"I'm asking you Rowan, not the Sanguine. You let me keep the squid so why are you fussing over a corpse tree?!"

"Just because I broke a few rules in a moment of weakness, you expect me to break more?" Rowan asked. Syryn had already unbuckled him.

"Yes. You've already crossed the line, Rowan. So keep going."

The anti mage pressed him up against the glass of the window. Rowan was so hard that Syryn could feel its thick length against him.

"Rowan says yes but the Sanguine says no. What do we do, Ryn?" He murmured against the mage's cheek.

"We listen to Rowan."

The anti mage chuckled. "You make my life hard, Syryn."

"Not just your life." The mage slipped a hand under Rowan's waistband.

"Ryn, I'm not your chaperone, and I won't stop you with my identity as your lover. But I'm also a sanguine. I have a duty to perform," the anti mage said as he pushed his fingers through Syryn's hair. "You endanger the entire neighbourhood with a corpse tree."

"What if I get a priest, Ro? He can suppress it every month and the roots won't spread."

"Then it means you'll find a priest willing to break the law," Rowan smiled as he shook his head at Syryn.

"Please turn a blind eye again," the mage whispered as he kissed Rowan's neck. His hand was already busy with the anti mage's erection.

"Syryn," Rowan groaned. "I know what you're doing." Despite his knowledge of Syryn's manipulative tactics, it was still effective. "I'll think about it."

Syryn smiled. This round was his.