Xiran contacted Yurian later to make sure they had reached their headquarters safely. He didn’t dare ask Aselia for he wasn’t sure he was ready for more of her wrath.

["We have reached back safely, and yes she is fine considering what happened and whatever you said to her."] Yurian texted him at dawn.

["Thanks for informing me and yes I was cruel to her. She didn’t deserve the way I treated her. I need to make up to her somehow. Help me Yurian."]

["Bro!!!you sent me a million texts, it was impossible to ignore you. And for making up to her, well you will need a lot of patience and yes bury your self-respect when you see her again."]

Yurian added a devilish smiling emoji with the text.

["I know, I know. Just help me come up with a plan, I will always be indebted to you."] Xiran replied.

["Since you got that tablet for me and I loved it, so as a thank you for that, I will help you. I have a plan so hear me out..."] Yurian explained the plan to Xiran, who in turn knew it could work.

["I think I can work with that, thank you. I appreciate you man."]

["Yeah, don’t blow it again. She won’t give you too many chances, she is pissed. Her silence is more dangerous than her yelling, so good luck."] Yurian texted back.

["I won’t, take care of yourself and her. Until we meet."] Xiran sent him a final text, and his heart finally felt a tinge of ease, knowing she had reached safely and he had concocted a tangible plan with Yurian. Engulfed by her thoughts, sleep finally found him.

--------------------

Irlana got up early, it was only dawn outside. Feeling thirsty she made her way to the kitchen, thinking everyone would be asleep since it was early in the morning. Entering the dark kitchen she fumbled for the light switch and turned it on and almost shrieked.

Rivan was standing there with his back against the counter, only adorning grey trousers and drinking a glass of blood. His eyes widened seeing her there and her reaction.

"I am sorry, no one is ever up early so I didn’t bother putting up a shirt and turning on the lights. I was famished," Rivan was apologetic as he lowered the glass from his lips.

"No, no. It’s not your fault, I wasn’t expecting to find you here. I thought you would be sleeping. I just wanted to get some water, forgot to put it in the room last night," she carefully moved forward and he stepped aside to give her access to the glass rack.

Rivan noticed she smelled like a savoury woodsy flavoured wine. Sharp and yet something aromatic, she was a half-elf so no wonder she smelled nice. She filled the glass with water and both drank in silence, giving each other awkward smiles.

He observed how delicate her features were and although she resembled Xifin to some extent, she didn’t have that ruggedness about her. Irlana finally broke the silence and spoke:

"Can I ask something?"

"Of course, feel free to."

"Why do you drink from a glass? Vampires prefer drinking directly from a person and it’s not like you can’t afford that," she reluctantly inquired, avoiding a peek at his well-built torso.

Rivan smiled at her question, a smile that touched his sapphire coloured eyes and Irlana couldn’t help but smile back at him. He answered:

"I used to but my hunger became insatiable at a point in time and I began to hurt innocent people. Your brother had to lock me up for a time being and fed me from a bottle or blood bag until I came to my senses. I stopped drinking from people after that."

"I am sorry you had a tough time, you and brother Xiran have always been close it seems," Irlana’s eyes widened but she replied ever so softly.

"Yes, as long as I can remember. We have been childhood friends and our friendship only became stronger over time," Rivan finished the last of the red nectar he has been drinking and before he could move toward the sink, Irlana stepped closer to him and took the glass from his hand.

"I am glad he has someone reliable like you, someone he can trust," she was standing inches from him. If he was to look down, he would be able to see her cleavage from the gold nightie she was clad in.

He could hear her slightly raspy breath and aggravated heart rate. She was nervous as she lifted her head and stared into those azure orbs that held a twinkle. Irlana was lost for a second as if she had fallen deep into that ocean that was his eyes.

His light brown hair was roughly jostled and a few strands fell in front of his face obscuring the turbulent oceans and the emotions they held. She reached out with a reluctant hand and brushed them aside. He didn’t stop her, just watched in bewilderment. No woman had done that in a long time.

"Your eyes are beautiful," she finally whispered once all his hair had been brushed aside. Rivan clutched the counter with both his hands, to curb the need to touch her too. She was a beautiful girl but he didn’t want to go down that road with her.

"So are yours," he said before he could stop himself and she blushed at the compliment.

"Thank you, I will wash this," she indicated to the glass finally breaking free from the trance his mesmerizing eyes seemed to have cast on her.

"You don’t have to," Rivan didn’t take a step back from her nor did he stop staring at her beautiful face.

"I know but I want to," she smiled like a morning flower, fresh and dewy.

"You want to join me for a morning run after?" Rivan reluctantly invited her.

"I would love to, meet you in 10 on the jogging track outside?"

"Sure, I will put on a shirt and meet you there," he finally altered his gaze and stepped outside the kitchen, and took a deep breath. Only then he realised he was holding his breath to not inhale her scent. For once in a long time, someone was pulling him, and that someone was dangerous.