Xiran almost cried out in hysteria seeing Aselia’s hair, she had cut them as short as his, making herself look like a boy. Her silky golden locks were reduced to short strands of hair, jutting out at weird lengths, this revealed to him that she had cut them on her own, taking out all her frustration on her hair.

The fearless hunter never let an opportunity slip by to give him a heart attack and this hurt him more than seeing his own hair gone. Xiran took in a sharp breath, for the pain in his heart had magnified tenfold. His heart beat louder and more restless, seeing her in such a state, his wings wanted to jet out and engulf her. Why Aselia? Why would you hurt yourself? His mind screamed again and again but she couldn’t hear him, she wouldn’t even look at him.

Aselia didn’t meet his gaze, her expression was pained, and her swollen red eyes told him she had been crying all night. Instead, she addressed the man sitting in front of Xiran.

"Why are you here? Black Raven." Her voice was utterly cold and void of emotions.

"Ahhh, White Falcon. You are such a sight for sore eyes. I missed you and having just returned from my mission, heard you were back with a trophy. I wanted to observe the trophy." The man with jet-black hair and raven-black eyes tilted his head at Aselia giving her a lewd look from head to toe.

This made Xiran grit his teeth in disgust and revulsion at how he gazed and addressed her, Raven’s tongue slipping out and wetting his lower lip as if he was gazing upon a delicious meal rather than a person. Xiran wanted to clutch his heart out and end his wretched life.

"Don’t forget I can gouge your sore eyes out if you won’t control them." She didn’t appreciate his flirting. The man slightly smiled at her, a flirtatious smile, and said:

"Why did you cut your gorgeous hair? Or did this filthy creature clip them so haphazardly?"

He got up and moved toward Aselia and tried to touch her hair.

"Don’t," Aselia warned him but he paid no heed and tried to inspect her hair.

Before his hand could even make contact she grabbed his wrist and twisted it, making him double over, her knee sprung up and connected with his backbone, making him scream and wince in pain. She grabbed his hair and yanked him so he would face her and snarled:

"Keep your filthy mouth and hands to yourself or I would break them both." The man tried to get his hair free of her sturdy grip, clearly taken aback by her ferocious action. He had a filthy mouth and a huge crush on Aselia but she usually avoided him, not considering he was worth her time, but not today.

The door flew open and Yurian rushed in, looking flabbergasted, he grabbed the man and separated him from Aselia. This made Xiran smile as he couldn’t suppress the cackle at what transpired in front of him. He found it highly amusing how Aselia had put him in his place, she knew how to handle herself in this organization dominated by men.

Everyone turned to stare at the white-haired prisoner who had a slight grin on his face, this melted Aselia’s heart. At least he was smiling at her actions, his handsome face had brightened up because of that smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Raven yelled at Xiran while still being held by Yurian so he and Aselia won’t collide again.

"He found your humiliation amusing," Aselia answered his question instead of Xiran, making Raven grind his teeth in annoyance.

"Aldridge will hear of your blatant disregard, the way you humiliated me in front of a prisoner." He challenged her.

"Knock yourself out, tell him of your open flirting in front of the prisoner too. Let’s see what he has to say on that front." Aselia challenged him, making him go berserk.

"Let me go," he jerked himself free of Yurian’s grip who let him go without hesitation and said:

"Man, I was merely protecting you. If you want to get your as* kicked again. Go ahead." Raven shot angry glances at the three people in the room and thought it was better to leave. He strode angrily to the door, and after opening it exited the room, banging it behind him.

"Partner, avoid confrontation with him. I have told you this countless times. He is garbage, don’t soil your hands." Yurian slightly chided Aselia.

"He tried to touch me, no one touches me without my permission. He is lucky to have escaped with his hands attached. Plus, I put the garbage in its place." Aselia merely shrugged at Yurian who shook his head in amusement trying not to laugh.

"We are getting late for our mission, let’s go and get this done with." Yurian chirped, he seemed in a good mood today.

"Give me five minutes, I will join you." Aselia pleaded with her eyes making Yurian nod at her before leaving.

Once they were alone, Aselia finally took the courage to glance at Xiran, who was already keenly observing her, not saying anything. The muscles in his arms were so taut that his veins edged out. His protruding abs shone in the dim light, even in this state he looked perfect, too perfect.

"I know you hate me right now and you are justified in doing that. I am going on a mission, once I come back there is something I want to tell you. Hear me out, will you?" Her tone was soft and she had picked her words carefully while peeking at him with hurtful eyes and a burdened heart.

"It’s not like I have a choice, I am bound here. I have to listen to whatever you say to me." His annoyance and anger dripped from every word he uttered. His orbs held disappointment, aimed at her. He couldn’t help but notice that after everything she kept the pendant he had given her around her neck, the green gem reflected the light in the room.

"Sorry," she mumbled averting her gaze and boring it in the floor. She couldn’t bear the look he gave her.

"What are you sorry for, Aselia? Hurting me? I would gladly accept your apology if it was because you hurt yourself. But I am sure you are not, for you don’t even realize that you hurt me more with what you did to your hair." He clicked his tongue showing his irritation and frustration to her. His voice was not warm as it always was with her, this killed her inside.

"I have to go, I will talk to you on my return." She turned and took a step toward the door when he spoke again:

"To kill more vampires? Tell me how many have you killed so far." He asked with contempt. Her hand that was reaching out for the door handle stopped in mid-air, and Aselia swiftly turned her head to glance at the man chained mercilessly in this room. The sight made it difficult for her to even breathe and yet she stood there, watching him.

"409," she slurred, his orbs widened in shock at her words, not prepared in the least for the answer she had given him. She could sense this had affected and rattled him beyond her comprehension, for he understood the sweet innocent Aselia was neither sweet nor innocent. She was a ruthless killer who had no remorse for her enemies.

"You keep count. I see. Do you feel anything in your heart when you kill them?" His voice harrowing in the territory of pure disgust. She could discern his tone was getting colder with every answer she gave him, but these were her harsh truths and he needed to hear them.

"No, I don’t. I sleep better knowing one less monster in the world. Meaning innocent people will be safer." She couldn’t escape his gaze, he was holding her in a trance again.

"Will you? If they ask you to make me your 410?" He asked with utmost seriousness, thrusting her being into Styx and he held her there with his unforgiving gaze. She yelped, screamed, begged, and cried with her eyes, but the ruthless man with white hair showed no mercy, all he sought was the answer to his question. When she didn’t give him what he wanted he yelled:

"SPEAK, ANSWER ME."

Her whole frame visibly trembled and shuddered at his outburst, she flinched as he continued: "You think you are the only one who has the license to hurt me with your words and actions? Does the thought of killing me hurt your heart?"

"Yes, it hurts my heart, my body, my soul, my very being, every fiber of my existence excruciatingly aches to the point I can’t take it. I want to wretch my heart out and throw it away because it fuc*ing hurts, Xiran." The tears dripped out of her turquoise orbs and she finally tore her gaze from his relentless one and she whispered again before departing: "I don’t expect you to forgive me, for I am your enemy. But I don’t think my heart is mine anymore for it won’t listen to me, only you." That being said she opened the door and left, leaving him bewildered, leaving him incomplete.