Jaguar found himself staring into Xiran’s wrath-filled eyes, any warmth they carried around Aselia had vanished from them. His grip was so forceful that Jaguar’s both hands couldn’t even budge him an inch.

"Let go," Jaguar’s voice came out hoarse as his eyes widened and he tried punching Xiran but it was a feeble attempt. Xiran dodged it and banged him so hard against the wall that his head began bleeding and he growled, a stinging pain erupted in his head. His hands went around Jaguar’s neck and he began to choke him.

"You should have listened when I said to stay away from my woman. You have tested my patience which has already been lingering on the edge of being lost," the hatred in his words was apparent and Jaguar knew he had not only pushed him but underestimated his strength as well.

"Now, now, Xiran! Let’s think this through. Put him down so we can talk and sort this out. If you kill him, how will we explain everything to Aselia?" another voice spoke from behind Xiran, trying to reach him and pacify the anger which coursed through his veins like a poisonous serpent.

"I warned him, Casmian. He didn’t listen. Can you believe, he grabbed her from me. I wanted to end him on the spot," Xiran fumed, keeping his scorching peepers fixed on Jaguar, who was thrashing against his hold, unable to breathe, his face was getting blue and his eyes were popping out.

"He will listen now. He didn’t know you well. If you value our friendship, spare my brother. Just this once," Casmian guiltily asked. It was his mess which had landed them in this situation in the first place.

He had earlier called Jaguar in his study and tried reasoning, asking him to walk away from Aselia. But he acted all macho and boasted that he could take on Xiran, but now he was unable to even land a single punch.

Jaguar had trained to be an assassin from an early age and he was proficient in his field. This swelled his head a bit and he thought he could take on the likes of Xiran as well. But he had clearly underestimated him and now was paying the consequences and Casmian only hoped he didn’t have to pay with his life.

Xiran’s stance didn’t change.

"Remove his memories so he will never pursue her again," Casmian sadly murmured behind Xiran, his eyes fixated on his brother whom he was trying to save from Xiran without causing a blood bath.

Xiran deeply thought for a few more seconds, his forehead creased with confusion and then he loosened his grip, letting Jaguar breathe a bit. But using his vampiric speed he grabbed his left hand which had rested on Aselia’s waist and twisted it.

The crunching of bones, followed by Jaguar’s shrill screams of pain echoed inside the room and he doubled over holding his broken hand, his knees hit the floor and a punch landed on his square jaw, breaking a few of his teeth and jawbone. He heaped on the floor, his breathing becoming raspy. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"That’s for touching and grabbing her," Xiran towered over him. Jaguar tried to speak but only blood and air came out of his mouth. The air sang with tension, and Casmian had his heart in his mouth.

"Xiran! Father will be furious. You have to stop torturing him now. This much I can handle, beyond it I don’t want a cold war between our city and yours. So just take his memories and we can get this over with. I will tell Father the truth so there would be any animosity."

"Allies don’t go behind each other’s back. Let this be a reminder, I won’t be so merciful in future," Xiran warned as he pressed his hands against Jaguar’s temples and removed his memories of Aselia. As all the memories were repressed he became unconscious. Xiran threw his limp body on the floor with utmost disgust. His nose scrunched up as if he had dealt with trash and it smelled foul.

"I understand!" Casmian watched them with regrets. Once Xiran was done he turned to him and said:

"I will be staying near her tonight without her knowledge. Tomorrow, you will use my jet to send her back and ensure she reaches home safely. And he is to never meet her again," he pointed to Jaguar.

"It will be done. You have my word, no harm will come to your girl," Casmian nodded his head in approval.

Xiran threw one final glance at Jaguar and asked Casmian to guide him to her room. He wanted to see her, his heart was beyond agitated from the moment she was yanked away from him. It was killing him.

Casmian called his guard and he took Xiran outside Aselia’s room and took his leave. The silver-haired vampire stood outside and collected his thoughts. He used his vampiric senses to detect what she was doing on the other side of the door and he heard her snores.

That brought back memories and he almost chuckled. Very quietly he twisted the doorknob and silently entered her room before tip-toeing towards her bed.

The silvery tendrils of the moon filtered through the window and illuminated half of her beautiful sleeping face and body. She was clad in a white silk robe and her hair was strewn behind her on the velvet bedspread.

Xiran almost forgot to inhale and exhale, seeing her like that. She seemed so fragile and delicate. Her tiny mouth was slightly opened and small snores were escaping her.

"Leia! Happy Birthday! Sorry, I didn’t bring a gift this time around," he softly intoned and squatted on the floor near her. Placing his chin near her resting hand, he began to observe her with a smile gracing his countenance. Her face scrimmaged in that instant as if she was having a nightmare and her rose-petal lips quivered a bit.

Xiran’s right-wing instantly shot out and covered her. The grimace on her face gradually subsided and was replaced by serenity, she relaxed as his wing covered her sleeping figure, as if knowing he was there to keep her safe.

"Sleep, my love. Soon you will be sleeping in my arms and I will never let you go," he blew a kiss towards her and kept on watching her until the first rays of morning broke out and she stirred.