"How about you? Anyone special?" he boldly asked seeing her wicked smile.

"No. romance is not for me," Aselia simply shrugged her shoulders at him.

"Why though?" his forehead furrowed a bit hearing her answer.

"I think I have hardly been on two dates in my entire life and they went horrible. It’s my overbearing personality, a man’s inflated ego can’t handle it. They want someone docile," her response made him grin.

"Well shame for them to want to suppress someone’s personality to feel better about themselves. I would rather accept someone wholeheartedly than have them change and become someone they are not."

A surprised look passed on Aselia’s face, she hadn’t anticipated such a reply from him.

"It’s refreshing to hear such thoughts in this world dominated by male species," she was impressed and her smile said it all.

They talked for a while discussing likes and dislikes, mostly it was Jaguar who wanted to know everything about her. She then began to yawn and her eyes began to droop.

"You should get some rest, I will keep watch," Jaguar offered and she didn’t need to be told twice. Placing her head on the table Aselia went to sleep. Jaguar quietly went to his room and brought a blanket, he then covered her with it.

"What a strange little creature you are! I think you and I are going to get along so well," he mumbled to himself with a smile and silently left her office and went out to smoke once again.

Aselia woke up early at dawn with her phone ringing. It was Yurian, they were heading back after completing the mission. She got up from her seat and found herself wrapped in a blanket.

"Jaguar..." she whispered to herself. Recently she has always been cold, she never had much affinity with it but for the last few months, she always felt cold for some reason.

Aselia went to the bathroom to get fresh and later made her way out of her office to find Jaguar. He was standing outside the facility, watching the sunrise. His brawny back faced her.

"Were you able to get some sleep?" he asked hearing her approach him.

"Yes, in bits and pieces."

"Come, let’s watch the sunrise it’s refreshing and provides Vitamin D. Good for bones," he spoke lazily and appeared tired, his backbone which always appeared straight like an arrow was a bit hunched and Aselia could tell he hadn’t slept a wink.

She moved closer and glanced toward the direction from where the sun was peeking out of the snow-kissed mountains. Its golden rays spread far and wide like the huge tentacles of an octopus.

"I love watching the sunrise, it fills me with warmth," he confided to her while stretching his arms and letting out a huge yawn.

"It’s beautiful, without a doubt, but you should get some sleep. Yurain and other hunters are on their way back and I am awake now to keep watch."

"I will sleep when they are here," there was this stubbornness about him and Aselia knew he didn’t want her to be alone.

You did pretty well for a newbie hunter," her appreciation had him turn toward her and she offered him a rare smile. His mouth was left agape and his dark eyes shone with the warmth her words had provided him.

"Appreciated, White Falcon," he slightly bowed to her and she shook her head at him. Living amongst men all her life she knew they tried to charm women and Jaguar was no different than them. She hoped he was less lewd.

Soon after Yurian and other hunters returned from their mission. Aselia rushed forward and hugged Yurian; who seemed tired, his eyes were red from lack of sleep.

"Are you alright?" she softly asked, her face holding concerns she only reserved for him. Jaguar noticed that.

"I am, just tired. It was a hectic mission and there were too many of them. Thankfully we had tear gas, which enabled us to avoid any losses," she led him inside and everyone else followed.

"Good job all of you on a successful mission. I am super proud of you all, get fresh, have breakfast and get some sleep. You people have earned it," Aselia instructed. Their tired faces brightened up and all of them thanked her and dispersed.

Later after dealing with all the reports and work, Aselia and Yurian went home. Esma and Razian were extremely worried. They rushed out and turn by turn hugged both Yurian and Aselia.

"Mom, Dad we are fine. Don’t worry," Yurian comforted his parents. Esma was crying, her cheeks and nose were red as she wiped her nose with a handkerchief.

"My heart can’t take it anymore, where did those rogues come from after such a long time?" she questioned as they were led inside.

"An ancient vampire is creating an army of vampires, hybrids and other creatures. So attacks in residential areas have increased in the last year," Yurian explained to his mother while rubbing her back.

"We will keep you safe, you don’t have to worry as long as I am alive," Aselia comforted Esma and she couldn’t help but kiss the forehead of the elven girl.

"Stay blessed. How are you so brave?" Esma had started to see Aselia as her lost daughter and she knew she wouldn’t be able to bear it if something was to happen to this girl.

"Practice," she added sheepishly and everyone laughed making the atmosphere light.

"What’s for dinner? I am starving," Aselia further tried to change the gruelling topic and lighten the mood.

"Grilled fish, chips and veggies. Go get fresh and we will serve food," Esma offered and headed for the kitchen.

Soon all of them sat down for dinner. Rony joined them too. The house was filled with warmth and laughter as Aselia and Yurian told them the tales of their different missions and the elderly couple shared their wisdom with them.

They had turned into a complete family and Aselia had never felt such warmth and love after her parents passing. Only if she could remember thousands of miles away someone lived who loved her with the entirety of his being, she just didn’t remember him.