To Seduce A Siren

37. Like it's the Last Night of Our Lives

The first sensation that came back was his sense of smell. It was salt and jasmine. The comforting scent was heavy, seducing Raz back, into a comforting murky depth.

The next time it was touch. Soft flesh encased his head, he wanted to lean in further. He could fuse into this comfort for all he cared.

Then he realised there was pain.

Pinpricks danced across his skull, intensifying until they drilled underneath the bone. Raz let out a breath.

Lovely nothingness again.

The third time it was sound.

"Raz?" A voice called.

He felt his ear tilt to the source. The most beautiful sound in the world. He felt it penetrate right into his chest, warming it.

"Raz?" The voice repeated. He knew that feminine voice well. A soft hand stroked his temple, brushing off a lock of his hair. "Are you alright?"

I'd be alright anywhere you are, he wanted to say. But the words felt sluggish and wouldn't flow to his mouth. He tried again and they came out distorted.

"Aiedb," He heard himself say.

"You're okay," she said. Raz realised he was lying on her when he felt muscles relax beneath him. "I'm so glad you're okay."

His brows wrinkled, why did she sound so worried?

Then it all came back.

Theron. Isaac. So much blood. But Selene was safe.

Selene!

Raz's eyes wrenched open to Selene's face hovering over him. Her lips eased into a smile but her eyebrows twisted further in.

"What are you doing here?" He croaked.

She hesitated before answering, "I don't know."

Despite his worry, something unbuckled in his chest. A load he forgot he was carrying. Raz shut his eyes for a moment, relishing the lightness - just for a second.

Of course, she didn't know. She runs to danger for him yet she can't admit it to herself.

"You shouldn't have come Selene, I can't protect myself here let alone you."

"Well, it's too late for that."

They lay there in the dimness, looking at each other. Selene's hands still cradling Raz.

"I don't know what to do," She admitted.

Raz felt himself smile. He didn't think she would have ever admitted that.

"It's okay." He gritted his teeth as he shuffled up, using the floor for support. Selene's hands reached out to steady him but he brushed her off. It was no time to appear weak. "I've got it figured out, just give me a minute to recoup," He lied, trying to ignore the cold sweats shaking down his spine.

Selene, shifted to him rest against the wall but mercifully, said nothing. Didn't even raise an eyebrow. She must be more afraid than she let on.

"Why did you come, Selene?" Raz asked softly.

She looked down at her lap.

"It wasn't the rational thing to do to come with no backup," he continued. "It made it bearable to be here knowing you were somewhere safe."

Selene glared at him. "What do you want to hear? I was so overcome by emotion, that I made an impulsive decision with all thoughts to the wind?"

Raz smiled sadly. "That would be nice."

Her eyes narrowed ever further, how that was possible? Raz had no idea.

"Damn you!" Selene bolted up and pointed an elegant finger at him. He should be chastised but all he could think about was the delicate bones that made up her pretty hand, how it fit snugly in his hand. How soft that skin was.

So easy to mar. So easy to break.

"We're trapped in this dungeon and all you can think about is baiting me! How about using that annoying personality to try to think of a way out!"

Raz knew the dungeons like the back of his hand. He spent more time than he'd care to admit thinking of ways to secure it further.

He had come up with none.

He could never say this out loud but once you were in a cell, you could not - of your own accord - get out of the cell. There was no way out.

Scratch that - the only way out was somehow ambushing Isaac and his flank of guards when he finally came in to kill them.

Raz sighed. "Selene, our best chance is your witchy friend teleporting us back. That chance is dying by the second because Isaac is going to find a way to enforce a barrier that blocks teleporters."

Selene scoffed and crossed her arms. "How can you build a defence that guards against magic without magic? Redeemers aren't allowed to use magic."

"Isaac is a man of many talents. One of them is hypocrisy."

Selene dropped her arms and then sat back down to his left. She paused before leaning onto his shoulder. "I'm sorry but Kali isn't going to come for us. She's my friend, sure, but she'll look out for her best interests first. As would I. And they don't include entering a Redeemer fortress."

Raz smiled at her. In this angle, her eyes looked even larger. With her lips slightly parted, she looked almost young. Like it was her first lifetime. "Well don't go expecting Theron to come to my aid."

She smiled back then her lips drooped. "No one likes me. I don't think anyone has ever liked me."

Raz was surprised at this admission but didn't dare betray his shock. Perhaps she was letting her defences down because deep down she knew like he did that this might be one of their last moments.

"I like you."

"You have to like me."

He laughed. "No I have to crave you but I don't have to like you. I just do." He let himself savour this delicate minute. Wishing it stretch forever.

"I like that you're funny and that you're brave. I know you think you're always scared but you never let yourself act scared. That's real courage. I like that you like pretty things. I like the way your hair curls around my finger. I like that you're smart, you always have something to say."

Selene was frowning now.

"Most of all I like that you won't admit you love me. You don't want to be hurt again. But you'll risk your life for no reason and pretend that I don't matter. It melts my heart because I've heard nice words all my life. You won't say one nice thing to me but you'll do anything for me, won't you?" Raz softened his tone for the blow. It would be a blow. Selene wouldn't take it standing down.

He breathed out and prepared himself for an angry onslaught of words.

Instead, Selene reached up, cradling his head once again and brought her lips to his.

"Oh, am I interrupting something?" A voice called out