"Huh!?"
Xain and Even both reacted at once, eyes widening as Quincy pulled them aside and explained their so-called reward.
"Are you serious?" Even asked, staring at her like she'd just offered to set them on fire.
Quincy nodded, her ever-present smile unfazed. "Yep! Since you two helped me the most with the tournament, I thought I'd give you a little bite as a reward."
Xain blinked. "Why?"
Quincy tilted her head slightly, looking genuinely confused. "To reward you. I just said that."
"No, no, I get that," Xain said quickly, rubbing his temple. "And—just so you know—you don't have to reward me. I didn't do much. But… why a bite? How is that a reward?"
Quincy's smile widened playfully. "Well~ I'm a half-blood," she said, tapping a finger against one of her fangs. "Which means I have all the gifts of a vampire—none of the drawbacks. And when I say all the gifts, I truly mean all of them. Including a very enjoyable bite."
Xain's confusion didn't lessen in the slightest, but before he could respond, Ercale's voice chimed in his mind.
*When a vampire bites someone, it gives them an overwhelming sense of euphoria—stronger than any drug, any physical pleasure. If not for that… well, how would you react to having your neck punctured by sharp fangs?*
Xain gulped. *Very loudly.*
*Exactly. That's why she sees it as a reward. But I wouldn't recommend it. A vampire's 'kiss' is not only intensely pleasurable—it's addictive. Nothing else will feel the same afterward. It can be overcome… but why risk falling into that in the first place?*
Xain quickly responded, *Way ahead of you on rejecting this.*
He exhaled, shaking his head before looking at Quincy. "I appreciate the offer, really. But no, I'll pass. I don't need a reward. And besides… I don't have the best memories of vampire fangs near my neck."
His mind flashed to Eirisse, to the moment her fangs had nearly sunk into his skin. That lingering sense of danger, the feeling of being prey—none of it was pleasant.
Quincy's eyes widened slightly before she let out a small gasp, covering her mouth. "Oh! I didn't know that. I'm sorry, Xain—I should have been more considerate." She gave a small bow of apology.
Xain held up his hands quickly. "No, no, you didn't know. And your intentions were good, so… it's whatever. You don't have to apologize."
Quincy straightened up, though her smile had softened into something a little more thoughtful. "Still… I feel bad."
Her gaze then shifted to Even. "I'm assuming you feel the same?"
Even had been silent, rubbing his jaw in thought. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply before looking at her.
"Okay, you know what? Okay. Alright. Do it. Why not?"
Xain and Quincy both turned to stare at him in surprise.
"Are you sure?" Quincy asked, eyeing Even. "You seemed a little apprehensive at first."
Even ran a hand over his throat, his expression unreadable. "After being nearly choked to death by my own father—who, by the way, still shows no remorse for it, even after all these years—and after watching him name his new son after my dead brother?" He let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, I need something to take the edge off. And if your bite is as good as you claim, then sure. Why not that?"
Xain frowned. "That's... not exactly the healthiest way to deal with things."
Quincy nodded in agreement, despite being the one to offer in the first place.
Even sighed, rubbing his wrist. "You think I don't know that, brat? It's this or I go back to what I usually do."
Quincy hesitated. "And what you usually do is...?"
Even gave her a look. "You can figure it out."
Quincy studied him for a moment, then simply nodded. "If that's what you want."
Xain exhaled, knowing full well this wasn't the best decision—but he also knew Even had been through too much for him to judge. Not everyone had to deal with nearly being murdered by their father in front of thousands of people.
"Well," Xain muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I'll leave you two to it." He turned and wandered back toward the others, letting Even handle his choices on his own.
Once Xain was gone, Quincy leaned in, parting her lips as she neared Even's neck—but he stopped her with a hand to her shoulder.
"Not here," he said firmly. "I don't want to be reduced to a mess in public. Let's go to a room."
Quincy blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before her lips curled into an amused smile. "Of course. If that makes you more comfortable." Then she chuckled. "Though I wonder what everyone else will think about us going off alone to a private room."
Even shrugged, already heading toward the innkeeper. "Let them think whatever they want. Maybe it'll even come true. Who knows?"
Quincy stood there for a second, momentarily stunned by his words, before a slow smirk spread across her lips. "Well~ not quite the 'reward' I had in mind... but I certainly won't complain."
As Even paid for a room, the two of them headed upstairs. Unsurprisingly, a few people in the tavern stopped to stare, murmuring amongst themselves—but honestly? Who cares. They were adults, not kids who worried about gossip.
"My little Even," Lia sighed dramatically, wiping away an imaginary tear. "He's growing up so fast."
Dirk, watching them disappear, muttered under his breath, "The holder of the coliseum... Never thought you had that in you, Even."