Night fell heavy and suffocating.
Elias lay in his dormitory bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the ache in his veins. The hunger had grown worse sharper, more demanding.
He pressed a hand to his chest.
"Not now… please…"
The voice inside him stirred.
"You deny your nature. Why?"
"Because I don't want to hurt anyone."
A low, rumbling amusement echoed through him.
"You already have."
Elias flinched. "I didn't mean to—"
"Intent is irrelevant. Hunger is truth."
His skin prickled. His vision blurred. His senses sharpened until he could hear every heartbeat in the building.
He curled into himself, trembling.
The hunger roared.
He needed essence.
He needed life.
He needed....
A knock at the door.
Elias froze.
"Elias?" Seraphine's voice. "Open up."
He didn't move.
The door creaked open anyway.
Seraphine stepped inside, eyes narrowing as she took in his trembling form.
"You're molting again."
Elias shook his head. "No… it's worse."
Seraphine approached slowly, like one might approach a wounded predator.
"What do you feel?"
Elias's voice cracked. "Hunger."
Seraphine studied him for a long moment.
Then she did something he didn't expect.
She extended her wrist.
"Take a little."
Elias recoiled. "No! I'm not"
"You won't kill me," she said calmly. "Solar Basilisk blood is potent. It will stabilize you."
He shook his head violently. "I can't."
Seraphine stepped closer, golden eyes unwavering.
"You can. And you will. Or you'll lose control and devour someone else."
Elias's breath hitched.
The hunger surged.
His vision darkened.
His hand moved on its own.
And the moment his fingers brushed her skin.
Light and heat exploded across his senses.
Seraphine gasped.
Elias devoured a sliver of her essence radiant, burning, intoxicating.
He pulled away with a cry, collapsing to the floor.
Seraphine staggered, clutching her wrist, breathing hard.
But she was smiling.
"You really are something terrifying, Elias Thorn."