(This Chapter is for @Jennifer_Goliah and @Kelly_Bucy. Thank you for so much support ladies.)

Xiran’s POV

My heart sank at Irlana’s words. No wonder father had only impregnated one elf. If it was that easy he would have raised an army of his children by now.

I glanced at Aselia and her face fell. We never really discussed our future life but at the back of our minds, I guess we both wanted to get married and have kids someday. On so many occasions I wanted to discuss this with Aselia but didn’t want to scare her.

I reached out and took her hand before squeezing it gently. Letting her know it was alright and she smiled back. The forlorn look completely disappeared and she had masked her feelings from me.

"Did I say something wrong?" Irlana asked with a confused voice and I turned towards her.

"No, no, just taken aback by all the information you have given us. Although I knew he has been experimenting on people. I didn’t know he was preparing hybrids in the lab. He is up to no good, I am sure of it," I answered back.

"He wants Druhias, and sooner or later he will come for our city," Rivan added with gritted teeth. I knew deep down that this is why he was preparing an army. He always wanted power, to be the ultimate predator, and sit on the top of the food chain.

"Sir Rivan, father doesn’t like you. He believes you are too distracting for brother Xiran," Irlana confided in them.

"Call me Rivan, and I know what his views are about me," Rivan replied raking his hair back from his eyes. He held so much contempt for our father. Irlana nodded at him with fearful eyes. She was still afraid of Rivan, he can be pretty scary when he wants to be.

"Also, that henchman the boy mentioned is a wendigo named Hudias. I have only seen him in his human form but he carries out small tasks like gathering information on people. So keep an eye out on him," Irlana gave us another vital piece of information. Seemed like father had picked up a new one.

"Wendigos are vicious creatures and their original forms are much smaller and skinnier than their human forms with tiny bat-like torn wings. They are perfect for spying on the enemy," I recalled everything I had read about these vicious creatures.

"He could be hiding anywhere, watching us, spying on us. We have to be more vigilant, Xi. You can’t let him see Aselia," Rivan spoke up.

"I know, we will stay here. Can’t risk going in the open until we fully know what we are dealing with," I answered with annoyance creeping up in my voice. Aselia’s soothing hand on my back made me turn toward her and I found her smiling. My heart eased at her touch.

Irlana wanted to give us more information about father but I stopped her, this was something I would talk to her in private, not in front of Aselia.

She removed her hand from my back, although she said nothing. I knew she didn’t approve of my action. While Irlana continued to speak:

"Brother, I am so glad to meet you, I know my happiness will be short-lived, and will have to return to that hell hole. I will try to not bring you any more harm. I would ask for your help to get my mother out of his clutches but I guess that won’t be easy."

"Irlana, we will get your mother free from him. A day will come when he will painfully die and pay for his crimes," Aselia spat out before I could and Irlana’s eyes widened at the way she had said those words.

"Thank you," she murmured to Aselia with gratitude in her voice.

"We will free your mother and every other innocent person from his clutches, we need to formulate a foolproof plan for it," I placed my hand on Irlana’s shoulder and reassured her. It was time to take action against him. He had hurt too many innocent people.

Four of us talked till it was late in the noon and hunger crept up on us. I decided to cook for everyone.

"No, brother Xiran. I will do it, I am an excellent cook, please let me make something for you all," Irlana requested with her big blue eyes simmering with love and hope and I gave in.

"Alright," I smiled at her and she hugged me.

"I will help and show her where everything has been placed," Rivan got up and made his way to the kitchen and Irlana followed him.

Aselia quietly got up too and made her way upstairs. Something has been bothering her.

No, a lot of things were bothering her, she was quiet.

I followed her and reached her room, opening the door I entered. She was standing by the window, looking out at the calm surface of the pool below.

She had lowered her hood and her arms were crossed against her chest.

Approaching her from behind I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her to my chest and whispered in her ear:

"What’s bothering you, Leia?" She sighed and leaned back on my chest before murmuring:

"Xiran, what plans do you have for our future? What do you expect from me?"

"What do you mean?" I couldn’t understand what part she was referring to.

"I mean I know we are new in this relationship but it will grow into something else one day. So do you want kids someday? Will you like to be a father?" The heaviness in her voice was very much visible, this was burgeoning her. This was something we needed to talk about. With the messed up life we had, I wasn’t even sure if we should have kids.

Her body had stiffened in my arms so I lowered my head, placing my lips on the side of her neck, I gently kissed her before softly speaking:

"I do want kids Leia. I find them adorable. I wish to have them one day, with you," she sighed at my answer and turned to face me. There was this unreadable expression in her eyes that dangled between pain and disappointment.

She cupped my face with both her hands and gently spoke: "I don’t think we can even have kids. Did you hear what Irlana said? Even if we could, I don’t want kids."