The three men jerked their heads to look at Aselia.

"Your partner," Xiran whispered and she nodded.

"You see golden hounds have golden eyes not red and they have very distinctive golden bands on their chest. These appear like cheap copies as if someone has created them in a lab," Aselia explained as her memory went to the elven-vampire hybrid girl they had killed.

"You may be right, they are too identical and I have never seen hounds with so many mixed properties," Rivan added keeping his eyes glued on the naked boy.

Aselia then went on to explain about the elven-vampire hybrid girl and how her autopsy has revealed that she has been modified using serums. They listened intently.

"Very intriguing. There is indeed something unnatural about them," Rumail said with a grimace.

"Seems like someone is busy in labs," Xiran spoke in disgust while taking out his phone and dialing Warise.

Rivan fisted the hair of the unconscious boy and began to drag him towards the bonfire.

"Let’s get some answers," he said with determination.

Rumail got up and followed him leaving Xiran and Aselia alone. "My dress is ruined and so are my shoes," Aselia sighed making Xiran stare at her.

"After everything, this is your worry, they were trying to kill you," Xiran asked apprehensively, scooping her up in his arms and following Rumail.

"Yes, it was a good dress. I am mad they ruined it. And I have fought and killed hounds before. Because of Yuri, I know all their weaknesses. Besides I have kicked Yuri’s ass more than you can count, both in his human and hound form."

She cradled his neck and gave Xiran a sweet smile as if she was telling him some kid’s tale, he couldn’t help but gush at how brave she was. She never screamed during the fight they had with hounds.

"I am so proud of you and look at us bonding over killing. No wonder we feel at ease with each other," there was a dark sinister smile that spread on Xiran’s lips.

"I know," she smiled sheepishly at him.

Reaching the bonfire, Rivan slumped the naked boy on one of the chairs. Irlana stood there shivering from head to toe.

"Is everything alright? What happened?" She asked in a quivering voice, fear gripping her body.

"Xiran and Aselia were attacked and I am about to find out who is behind it," Rivan gave her a sinister look and she gulped hard. "Rumail, bring water. Time to wake him up."

Rumail went to bring a jug full of water while Xiran settled Aselia in the chair and wrapped a blanket around her body. Everyone watched the unconscious boy on the chair.

"You knocked him out pretty good," Rivan glanced at Aselia. He had seen her perfectly kick him.

"Practice," she added with a smile and Irlana couldn’t believe Aselia had done it. But she kept her mouth shut.

"She killed the other one just with a pencil heel," Xiran beamed and told them, acting proud like a mother does of her child’s exceptional performance in an exam.

Irlana’s eyes flickered to Aselia, the girl was in complete shock and wondered who this mysterious girl was. The fact that she seemed like Xiran’s lover, piqued her interest more. Xiran seemed enamoured by her, the way he kept glancing at her, carried her, and hid her identity.

While Irlana was lost in her train of thought, Rumail had brought a jug of water. Rivan took it and emptied it on the head of the unconscious boy.

The cold water hit his senses and he jerked awake to find five pairs of eyes watching him intently. Two women and three men, including the pair they had attacked. He was completely surrounded and seemed scared out of his wits.

"Good, you are finally awake. Now be a good lad and answer some questions," Rivan grabbed him by his hair and yanked hard while bringing his face to his level before asking: "Who sent you?"

The boy grimaced in pain, his face convulsed with fear Rivan instilled in him and he began to stammer: "I....don’t k... now, we neve...r saw hi...m. His hunch...man instruct...ed us to ki...ll the girl with silver...haired vampire," his eyes flickered to Aselia.

Xiran’s fist clenched and a raw guttural sound of anger escaped his throat. Without warning, he was onto the defenseless boy punching his face mercilessly. His screams echoed long and wide along the expanse of the dark night.

Rivan grabbed Xiran and separated him from the boy while Aselia rushed to him. "We need him alive, so keep your emotions in control," Rivan fumed at his best friend.

Aselia took his arm and guided him to the chair at the far end: "Relax," she whispered, rubbing his arm. His chest was heaving and there was blood in his eyes. All he wanted to do was tear the boy in pieces who dared to try and harm her. His fists were so tightly clenched that Aselia was sure he was hurting himself.

"You better hurry Rivan, because I don’t want him to breathe any longer than he has to," Xiran yelled.

The boy was left bloodied with a broken jaw and several teeth, his face was a mess but he was still alive and conscious.

"What type of hound are you?" Rivan inquired, straightening his face. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Till a mo...nth ago, I w...as a hum...an, they cap...tured my fam...ily and in...jected me with serums thro....ugh syri...nges. I was in pai...n for da..ys and then beg...an shift...ing into this creature. They threat...ened to kill my fam...ily if I didn’t oblige," the bloodied boy was trembling like an autumn leaf, about to fall from the tree.

"How did you acquire the information where to attack?" Rivan asked next while Rumail shifted to other side of Xiran to hold him at bay if needed. Irlana was rooted to her spot with her hand over her mouth.

"They hav...e someone clo...se to you, some...one told them, I don’t kn...ow who but we rece...ived a me...ssage with the locat...ion," a hushed silence fell over the group at his revelation.

They had a mole amongst them.