(This Chapter is for my very special reader @Riemc, thank you so much for such overwhelming support and gifts. Much love)

It was almost nighttime when both hunters returned to the headquarters. The dead body was handed over to the required doctors for further postmortem and collection of data.

Aselia covered her head with a beanie so Aldridge won’t see the mess she had made of them. The hunter duo then went to Aldridge’s office and debriefed him about their mission, astonishing him with what they had found.

"That’s an interesting find, I never thought we will ever find a hybrid birthed through two mortal enemies," Aldridge spoke while going through the initial report Aselia had prepared on the plane.

"Yes, but we need more information to understand what she was. Too bad we couldn’t capture her alive. My life was in danger and Yurian had to act." Aselia explained. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"I understand, a good job both of you on completing a successful mission. But we are not getting anywhere with Xiran. Aselia, I called a meeting yesterday of our senior hunters, and they thought that we should oust his secret by making a video of him and posting it on the internet." Aselia’s blood began to boil at his words but she kept her emotions in check before speaking:

"I don’t think that will be a good idea. His father can rile up and our whole continent could be submerged in war besides he has links in Druhias. We can’t have Druhias against us too. I will talk to him, give me a day or two."

"I agree, it’s just that everyone is getting a bit antsy about the lack of results and his stubborn nature. Go get some rest you two and extract some answers from him as soon as possible." Aldridge’s tone was soft today and they wondered if it was because of their successful mission.

"Good Night! Sir," they left his office. Once they were on the stairs Aselia turned to Yurian and spoke in a hurting voice:

"Yuri, can you get me some time with him alone? I want to talk to him. Switch off the camera and keep a guard outside. I don’t want to be interrupted."

"Leave it to me, you go talk to him. Remember whatever he says I am here for you." Yurian reassured her with a small smile that reached his concerned eyes. His partner nodded at him and headed for the room where the person she cared about was being kept.

Reaching the door, Yurian asked the hunter guarding the door to go take a break and leave the post in his hands. The hunter handed him the key and left so he could eat something. Aselia waited for Yurian to turn off the camera and waited in anticipation. She couldn’t stand still, her heart was restless and her body was trembling at what she might find once she will open that door.

Yurian emerged from the adjoining room after turning off the camera and informed her.

"Partner, go talk to him. I will keep guard." She gave him a weak small to show her gratitude and turned the doorknob to enter the room. It noiselessly slid inside and Aselia quietly peeked in.

The light was very dim and Aselia could see him in the same position as she had left him. His eyes were closed and his head was tilted to the right side. There were new bruises on his torso and she knew they had tortured him again. This hurt her inside causing a storm to brew in her heart and mind.

She tip-toed toward the table in the corner and taking off her belt she placed it on it. Approaching Xiran, Aselia squatted in front of him and extending her hand she tried to touch him but stopped mid-air. She had no right to touch him after what she had done, at least not without his permission.

Feeling ashamed of herself she drew her hand back. The shadow hid half of his face while the other half brightened up due to the low light. He appeared like a wounded angel, her angel.

His sinewy chest muscles seemed ripped and so did his robust arms from dangling for an extended period. The blue veins in his arms protruded and she wanted to trace her finger on them. Aselia wished to break those chains and throw them away but knew patience was required.

"Xiran..." she finally whispered. Those sultry grey orbs slowly opened at her voice and met her apologizing turquoise ones.

"Aselia..." his voice was so faint, his sensual lips hardly moving.

"Did they give you something to eat?" She inquired while gulping, keeping her emotions in check. He didn’t answer and merely gazed at her with an intensity only his eyes could hold.

Aselia extended her right arm and offered her wrist to him and murmured: "Drink, please."

"NO," hurt descended in his eyes for he didn’t want to drink from her anymore. His heart was too restless, his emotions were way too exacerbated.

"Please, if there is a shred of care left in your heart for me then drink. I need you energized because I want to talk to you. Hear me out." She bared her desperation to him, not caring anymore about what he might think about her.

"I can hear you fine, speak." He was afraid that she would notice his wounds healing once he will drink her blood, although her closeness and scent were wreaking havoc on his mind, body, and senses and all he could think about was her blood.

"Not before you drink, you are too weak." She didn’t want to touch him for she was afraid of his response and the thought that he would find her touch repulsive was killing her. So she simply inched her wrist closer to his lips with anticipation brimming in her eyes.

Xiran’s hunger finally gave in to his resolve, his canines protruded out and he jabbed them in the soft skin of her wrist. The bliss he felt as her sweet nectar hit his system was indescribable. His eyes closed to devour and properly feel the ecstasy this elven blood provided.

The pain began to fade and his wounds began to instantly heal as her blood rushed through his veins, owning every part of his body, easing his throbbing aches, his anguish, his afflictions, and the heaviness his heart held. Aselia was too focused on his face to observe the disappearance of wounds.

She didn’t flinch when his canines dug deeper demanding more of her blood, letting him take whatever his body desired, whatever he desired.

Once his body had enough that he sensed a surge of energy coursing through him, he stopped. Slowly opening his eyes he removed his canines from Aselia’s wrist and murmured: "Thank you."

She withdrew her arm and subtly asked: "How are you feeling?" Her hands itching to touch just a tiny part of him, her heart thudding out of control.

"What do you want to say, Aselia?" He disregarded her question and asked in his calm collected voice, those greyish orbs observing her flushed cheeks and noticing the fresh bandages on her left wrist. How the thudding of her heart was turning his own heart, restless. The way she was pressing her right wrist tightly to stop the flow of her blood and the sway of her hair which were so short now that they made his heart bleed. And her eyes held sadness, a lot of sadness.

Her parting words had been echoing in his brain since she uttered them and he wondered if that was what she wanted to discuss. Did she find him so disgusting that she ought to throw away her heart instead of giving it to him?

Aselia had rehearsed the words so many times in her mind but now that she was in front of him, they refused to surface. This man had a knack that tended her speechless and she didn’t know where to begin. Thorns seemed to be pricking her throat for the pain was immeasurable as she began:

"I..umm... I... Know I don’t deserve your forgiveness nor should I be asking for it after what I did." She lowered her gaze, unable to withstand his scrutinizing one.

"It’s mine to give, let me be the judge of that." His reply was domineering, his expressions not giving anything away about what might be going on inside him and she vehemently nodded at his

words.

"Xiran...I...umm...wanted to..." she stammered but couldn’t muster up the courage to reveal the love that lay in her heart for this angel-like being. This was uncharted territory for the elf, she didn’t know how to express her feelings to him. The thought of him rejecting her was already gnawing away at her existence. Aselia wasn’t sure she would be able to bear the misery his rejection will bring her.

"Aselia, look at me." He ordered and she gradually lifted her gaze to meet his, it was tender and questioning.

"Speak what’s in your heart, let me hear your decision, whatever it is. I want you to give me your final answer. Stop playing with my heart. Remember, whatever you will say, I won’t hurt you." The intensity in his voice made her take a deep breath and she understood the hurt she had inflicted dwelled deep and yet he cared so profoundly for her.

"Xiran, I don’t know how to say this but I am in love with you, my heart, body, and soul crave you, crave your warmth, your touch, and your love. I am tired of denying myself your affection and I am extremely tired and ashamed of hurting you."