"I don’t like beating around the bush so I will get straight to the point. Firstly, thank you for keeping her safe, I owe you big time for this. You ever need a favour, just ask," Rivan appreciatively glanced at him while Silver simply nodded.

Xiran received a phone call and seeing the caller ID, he excused himself and went further along the corridor to answer it.

"Aside from that, I want to know what intention you have with my sister?" Rivan solemnly asked, staring straight into his eyes, his expression suddenly blank.

His direct question threw Silver off a bit because he was confused on that front. He had no idea where that relationship was headed. He needed time to wrap his head around it but every time he was in her vicinity all he wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and not let go.

"It’s between me and her for now and we are figuring it out. But I don’t have any intention of hurting her if that’s what’s bothering you. I protected her today and I will always protect her," thinking that he would have to leave her behind very soon was already giving him sleepless nights. He didn’t know even know where they stood.

"I see. Look the relationship between my sister and I has not been a smooth one and it’s with much difficulty that we have come to speaking terms. She has been apprehensive of us most of her life. I want that feeling to completely vanish and be replaced by mutual trust," Rivan wanted her to have a nurturing life from here onwards and he didn’t want anyone to stand in the way of that.

"Work on it, she has a generous heart. And as far as I am concerned I can’t stay here for long, my job is such but I will have a talk with her first."

"Don’t break her heart or hurt her in any way. I won’t take lightly to that," Rivan’s deadpan expression and the gravity of his voice told Silver he wasn’t joking. He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"That’s not what I do. I am not a womaniser," he sternly replied keeping his gaze focused on Rivan, letting him know he wasn’t afraid of him.

"Good. Keep my sister safe as long as you are here."

"You probably don’t know but your sister is not a damsel and that’s what I liked about her," Silver cackled and went on to narrate to him how they had met the first time and how she had been protecting the city. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Rivan was astounded, a satisfaction filled him to his core knowing that she could very well handle herself. He was one proud brother that day.

"I can’t tell you how proud I am of her. Maybe one day when we are close enough I can finally tell her."

"It’s not far in the future," Silver offered his hand and Rivan grimly shook it. Both men talked some more before Xiran returned from his call and they took their leave from him.

A wide grin was etched on Xiran’s face, so once they settled in their car and were on their way back home Rivan faced him.

"You seem in a perpetually good mood. Who was on the call?" Xiran turned to his friend and his grin widened. There was this calmness and joviality on his face that Rivan has not seen in a long time.

"It was Aldridge, they have developed a serum strong enough to subdue my father’s powers for a time interval for me to get close to him and end his life. We are finally ready to make our move in the next month."

"You serious? This is big Xi," Rivan’s lips widened in a surprise smile and leaning forward he embraced his friend, patting him on his back.

"I am and we are going to celebrate tonight. Call Rumail and tell him to close the nightclub to the public. Today we will be the only ones who will party there," the happiness he experienced was making his heart rate elevate a few notches and he could already see himself holding Aselia in his arms once again.

This was the most terrific news he had heard in a long time, something which had given him hope again. The hope he had lost after Aselia. The smile which seemed to have disappeared, returned. The darkness shrouding his heart slightly dissipated with this sparkle of hope.

They reached home and after getting fresh, headed straight to the club. Rumail, Agent 93 and Frila were already there. Entering the club Xiran’s smile widened seeing Frila and he openly hugged her and whispered:

"How was she?" his heart jumped up and down in his chest as he waited for her to answer. He had forgotten to breathe in anticipation.

"Beautiful and lovely as always and also you know brattish," Frila answered with a slight giggle, remembering her conversation with Aselia.

"I wouldn’t expect anything less from her," words couldn’t even describe how delighted he was. He couldn’t stop grinning and carrying out conversations with everyone.

"Congratulations Señor! I guess soon we will be riding this world of him and his atrocities," Agent 93 handed him a glass of champagne.

"Thank you! Zir. It’s about time, so let’s get this party started. Cheers!" Xiran raised the glass above his head and everyone else joined in with a loud clinking of glasses and "Cheers!"

They could sense his happiness and the whole mood of the party was lifted to a new level as Rumail opened bottle after bottle of liquor and they toasted to the incredible news they had received.

Tomorrow they will plan their attack, tomorrow they would plan all their moves but tonight it was party and liquor time. The loud music thumped from the speaker and their laughter mingled with it.

Rumail and Zir began to dance and swing their bodies with the rhythm of the music. They invited Rivan and Xiran to join in as well. While Rivan refused politely and preferred to drink his wine, Xiran joined in amidst their whistles and shouts.

His sultry dance moves had all of them in awe and he wished Aselia was there with him. And then an idea hit his brain. He would go see her before he would make a move against his father. He will hold her in his arms even if it’s for a brief second.