Trying to take stock of what particular form of protection she is setting up (if he can), Dylan begins his own ritual. He takes the cups, places them on the floor and, after indicating for Layla to get on her knees in front of one of said cups, pours out a very thick circle of salt around the two of them before getting on his knees in front of the other and filling each cup with water from the canteen. "Let our intentions be as pure as this water," he intones, "as we bind ourselves together through the blood that joins it."
Now the next part is important. The ritual, if it is meant to be equal, would require both of them putting a drop of their blood in each cup at the same time before drinking at the same time. However, if she does not know this particular ritual, Dylan will put his blood in both cups first before letting her add hers... signaling his priority in their relationship. Of course, if her defense protects from this or she tries to cut him off then he might be in a spot of trouble... but he has gone this far so it is far too late to stop now.
