Phantom’s hand flew toward Rivan’s throat, being an original vampire his movements were too quick and swift and it was almost impossible for anyone to dodge them. Rivan moved but he wasn’t quick enough.

The stronghold of Phantom’s grip tightened around Rivan’s sturdy neck. Rivan landed a hefty punch on his flawless face but it didn’t have any effect on the man, while several bones in Rivan’s hand cracked, he grimaced in pain.

"You realize it’s futile to fight me, not even Xiran can do that," Phantom pulled Rivan closer to his face and breathed out. The repulsive look on Rivan’s face deepened and he could feel his skin crawl looking at the man, who was handsome on the outside and yet so ugly on the inside.

"I...won’t succumb.... so easily, I would....prefer to die fighting," Rivan spoke with difficulty, he was constricting his throat.

"I won’t give you an easy death Rivan, I seek answers and you can’t die before you give them to me," Phantom drawled out, relishing in the moment of having Rivan in his grip.

"I thought... Xiran had an ....understanding with you to not...attack our city," Rivan couldn’t understand why he had attacked them, Xiran had paid a hefty price to keep him away.

"He attacked his brother and his girlfriend for a bit*h. He even dared wipe their memories. He then killed my right-hand man and lied about it. Now I am going to punish him by destroying his city and hurting the people he loves so much. So tell me where can I find that elven who*e?"

Rivan’s eyes enlarged from the shock that he knew Aselia was an elf but he quickly composed himself before replying:

"I don’t know any elven girls except your daughter,"

The answer didn’t sit well with Phantom and he began squeezing Rivan’s throat, his intense gaze was razor sharp and his grip was more solid than steel.

The veins began to blacken and travel up and down his neck, constricting the supply of oxygen to his body.

The pain was so excruciating that Rivan’s whole face reddened and his eyes began to bulge out, making it impossible to speak, he couldn’t even breathe properly and his heart felt like giving out from the force it applied to pump blood to his body, in order to keep him alive.

Rivan was not only going through the same torture he inflicted on his son numerous times but he was also wondering, how Xiran survived him every time.

"I want you to think very clearly and answer me again. I need her name and location and I will let you leave, otherwise, I will not only kill you but your brother as well," Phantom threatened him again in that dangerous low voice of his, but all he found in Rivan’s eyes was contempt for himself.

"Fu*k o...off," Rivan spoke with so much difficulty and Phantom’s hand lunged toward his chest, breaking his rib cage, a blood-curdling scream filled the entirety of the room as the blood gushed out and tainted his white shirt.

Before the Phantom could jerk his heart out, a loud crash was heard and something flew in through the window and landed swiftly in front of them, folding the milk-white wings, he stood up grand and majestic.

The fiery grey eyes which seemed to be bustling with rage met the cold blue ones and he drawled:

"Let him go or I will fu*King kill you today."

"What an entrance? Seems like we are shooting a movie," Phantom threw his head back and laughed. His hand was still on Rivan’s chest, one small move and his heart would be ripped out.

"You have dared to wreck my city, this means war," Xiran was literally shaking from all the rage and fury his father had ignited inside of him. And he was going completely mad seeing the state he had found his friend in, almost half dead. His eyes were closed and Xiran could sense his breathing was very erratic.

"Xiran you are in no position to make threats. One wrong move and I will end your friend’s life now and here," Phantom’s gaze had become intense as if he was scrutinizing his son.

"What do you want?" Xiran asked with gritted teeth while he stared helplessly at his friend, barely holding on in the merciless clasp of his father.

"For starters, I want to teach you a lesson for going against me and killing my men, especially Hudias. So for that, I have left you a special surprise back at your hotel," Xiran stiffened at his words and all the colour drained from his face, he knew Carios and Frila were there, holding the fort in his absence.

"Secondly, I want that elven bit*h you keep around. I know she survived and accompanied you at the beach the other day. Hand her over and I will leave without harming anyone further," Phantom’s merciless words hit straight in Xiran’s heart like a dagger being twisted and he visibly grimaced, unwillingly taking a step back.

His father knew she was an elf, but how? He has been careful, how did that information leak out? He should have hidden her more properly. He just stood there blankly staring at his father who held the life of his friend in his hands.

"One wrong move or answer and Rivan will die," so what’s it going to be, Xiran had been rendered speechless. Such dread had fallen over him that he couldn’t even move a muscle left, he had been transfixed.

His father watched all his reactions very carefully and then it hit him why Xiran had become too tongue-tied. He loved Rivan most in this entire world, more than his family and yet he was not giving him anything about her. This only meant one thing, this only had one explanation and his smile widened as malevolence descended in those blue eyes and he sneered at his son:

"You fu*King bonded with her. You bonded with an elf, didn’t you? Just like your mother did with me. Your mother’s species bond only once in their lifetime and never again. Just like elves."