Once Carios and Frila were gone, Aselia joined Xiran who was in a bad mood, he was sulking like a child whose ice cream had been stolen. She sat down beside him and touched his arm, he turned his head to glance at her with stormy eyes and spoke:

"Carios was ten years old when I saved him from some drunk vampires and turned him into one too because I couldn’t bear to see a child die in my arms. He has been with me for the last 20 years and he is one person I trust most after Rivan. He has never turned down my order before, but to threaten you like that, I wanted to snap his neck."

"Xiran, he only said that out of love for you. He just wanted me to feel a fraction of pain through his words for I caused you harm. He has been with you for 20 years and you have known me for barely one. Care to think how he feels that a girl whom he brought was the cause of your heartbreak," Aselia tried to provide Carios’s perspective to Xiran.

"He shouldn’t have threatened you, I can’t get his words out of my fucking brain, they don’t know the anguish you have been through, only I know that they don’t have the right to judge you," Xiran’s hands clutched the sofa so hard that the leather tore underneath it. Aselia rubbed his arm slightly to calm him down before answering:

"Instead of threatening everyone and keeping them quiet through fear, I would like to settle this with conversation and apologies. I owe them at least this, because of the wounds I have inflicted on you all. Please, let me fight my own battles, I am capable of doing that. Don’t come to my rescue on every minute hiccup. It’s my mess, let me clean it up."

Her tone had gotten serious now, Aselia was strong-headed but she knew how to own up to her mistakes and she never had problems with carrying out conversations and speaking her mind.

At her words, Xiran fumed, and reaching out he gripped her wrist before snapping at her: "I am fucking letting you fight your own battles. I even let you stay in that wretched place with those despicable hunters, I am letting you pursue my father, what else do you want from me? If you think I will stand by and watch one of my people hurt you or hurl insults at you, then you are thoroughly mistaken. Either they respect you or I will make them."

Aselia closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down, for she had to calm him down too. He was too agitated, as he always became when it came down to her.

She placed her other hand on his face and said softly: "They can’t comprehend your feelings because they are not in love with me, you are. They don’t even know me that well, and like you said they don’t understand my grievances because they don’t know. They only care about you Xiran and no one want to see the person they love, in pain. Try to put yourself in the shoes of Carios and Rivan and you will see why they hate me right now."

He just stared back at her with a heavy heart, Xiran knew this wouldn’t be easy but he felt alone. Rivan and Carios were his supporting pillars and he could sense losing them.

"We will win them back, I promise," Aselia murmured and he sighed, his square shoulders slumped in defeat and she could see the boisterous emotions that were accumulating in his eyes. His grip slacked on her wrist and she moved forward to hug him and he collected her in his robust arms.

"I have this impending doomed feeling that I am going to lose you Aselia, I can’t shake it. It’s killing me," he whispered while combing her hair with his fingers. There was something inside of him that was not the same.

"Don’t worry, it’s not that easy to get rid of me. I am going to be around for so long that you are going to get tired of me. Plomp, plomp," she teased his nose with her index finger and a small smile spread on his plump lips.

"That’s the smile I want to see on you, not that glare," she imitated the way he glared at others and he began to laugh.

They sat there for a while when Frila finally descended the stairs with three boxes in her hands. She seemed frightened and the boxes in her hands were shaking.

"Señor," she called out in a shaky voice.

"Frila, he won’t bite. Come," Aselia ushered her and she reluctantly stepped forward.

"Señor Rivan sent these for Aselia," she showed them the boxes.

"Place them in Aselia’s room, we are to attend the Winter Gala tonight. You will be responsible for helping her get ready, we will leave at 7:30 pm."

"Understood, Señor. Should I bring a new breakfast, that one must have gotten cold?" She inquired, keeping her eyes on the floor.

"Yes, and clear the room," he instructed to which she nodded and left.

"I told you to eat more and here you are skipping meals, I don’t like that Aselia. Don’t make me punish you," Xiran was back to glaring at her once Frila left.

"Don’t even know what you are talking about," she shrugged at him.

"I will tell you soon what I am talking about," he pointed at her suggestively.

"We will see," she winked and before he could say anything else, his phone began to ring. Xiran saw the caller ID, it was Rivan. He swiped his phone to receive the call while keeping her close to him.

"Hey! Xi, did you receive the packages?" Rivan inquired.

"We did, thanks man," Xiran replied. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Don’t forget the time is 8 pm, be there. I have reserved the cubicle for you and Aselia. You have the key which I gave you last time, bring it. It has a one-way glass just like you requested, still wear masks." Rivan informed him.

"Rivi you are the best, you know how much I appreciate this," Xiran chuckled at his friend who spoke again:

"I do, and we will have a private after-party on the beach. I have informed Rumail, Irlana will join us too. Will that be alright with you and Aselia?"

"It will be, don’t worry about it. See you tonight," Xiran replied.

"See ya soon, bye," Rivan cut the call.