Aselia went and stood beside him and softly rubbed his arm, knowing he was hurting deep inside. As much as she was pissed at him, she never wanted him to feel alone at that moment.

"Are you alright?" she questioned and he nodded, keeping his anguished orbs on the burning mansion. She could sense the stiffness of his body. This used to be his home and he just burnt it down with his father and brother inside.

Memories after memories hit him like splashing waves of an angry sea and no matter how much he braced himself for it, they hurt. He clenched and unclenched his hands and Aselia slipped hers in his large one. Their fingers intertwined and a sense of calmness washed over him. He gripped her hand tightly, never wanting to let go.

"I am sorry, you are hurting," she murmured.

"Not your fault my love, this was something which needed to be done," Xiran so wanted to yank her to his chest but he didn’t. He knew she wouldn’t permit him until they would talk everything through.

Both of them silently watched the flames and hoped this would be the last place they would have to reduce to ash and dust.

Once the flames died down, Aselia quietly removed her hand from his and distanced herself from him. Xiran grumbled from the loss of her touch, he wanted to hold on for a while longer.

She walked over to Rivan and solemnly inquired:

"Rivan, can you drop me off at Lahoire?" Rivan stole a glance at Xiran who had a clenched jaw at her request. He was fuming like an enraged bull who had just seen red. With his muscular arms crossed against his chest, he was barely holding himself back.

"Of course, Frila is there too, so we are heading there," he answered sheepishly, knowing Xiran would be seething with uncontrollable fury inside.

"I can take you, Leia," Xiran spoke from behind her, agitation noticeable in his voice.

"If I wanted to go with you I would have asked, let’s go Rivan," she simply answered while giving him her back.

"We can all go together in my jet. Xiran ask your pilot to head to Lahoire alone," Rivan tried to ease the tension, he didn’t want to face Xiran’s wrath later, they had just patched up.

"I will do it from the car, we should leave," he replied with a set jaw. Soon they made their way to Xiran’s car. He opened the door for her so she could sit inside.

Once everyone was settled they headed for the airport. The silence prevailed, broken only by the random ringing of Xiran and Rivan’s cell phones.

Their phones were blowing up, as everyone wanted to confirm if Phantom was really dead. Most people were congratulating them while others were purely shocked. Especially the vampire community.

Xiran occasionally stole glances at her while she sat quietly staring out the car window. It was tempting to take her hand in his as it rested near his but he snubbed the urge.

Her blowing him hot and cold would be the death of him one day, he was sure of it.

They reached the airport and boarded Rivan’s jet and it took off once they were settled.

It had been almost two and a half days since Aselia was kidnapped and she hadn’t eaten anything. Her empty stomach was growling so loudly but she sat quietly near a window seat and stared outside.

Xiran heard her rumbling stomach and whispered something to Rivan. He got up and advanced to Jet’s small kitchen while Xiran went and seated himself near her. He could only see half of her face, worries and bruises lined it.

"Yurian will pull through, don’t worry," he finally broke the silence between them, hating every second of the indifference she showed him.

"We don’t know that, he is in a coma because of me. How will I ever face his parents if something is to happen to him?" she sniffled, keeping her gaze on the fluffy clouds outside, that floated alongside them.

"It’s not your fault," Xiran slightly touched her shoulder. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"No, it’s yours. You threw all the responsibility on him and wiped my memories, leaving me extremely vulnerable. I didn’t even recognise your father when he barged into our home. I wasn’t even prepared, living under the false pretence of being safe," she snapped at him, removing his hand from her shoulder.

"Leia!" His face fell and his shoulders drooped from the loss of contact with her.

"Go, sit over there Xiran. I can’t do this right now. Let me deal with my emotional state," her tone was dismissive and her jaw was set tight. Both of them had been through so much, she just needed space from him to collect herself. And until Yurian was out of danger she knew she wouldn’t even be properly breathing and Xiran being Xiran will suffocate her with overprotection.

He sighed at her words and gripping the seat he hauled himself up and settled in the seat opposite her. His gaze was still fixated on her wounded body and he wasn’t sure how she was still awake and going on. It was her sole willpower.

Rivan emerged from the kitchen with some canned food, fruits and juice in a tray. He set the tray near Aselia.

"Please! Eat something, you will need your energy," he requested. She turned her head towards him, tears shimmered in her eyes but she kept them at bay. Xiran held his breath, any more tears or her refusal to eat and he would lose his mind.

"Thank you!" she mumbled and began to eat and he breathed. Rivan offered her a small smile and returned to sit beside Xiran and handed him a bottle of blood.

Xiran uncorked it and took a sip but his gaze was transfixed on her as she gobbled down her food. He could sense how hungry she had been, his family had stripped her of even basic necessities like food.

Once she was done, she placed the tray back, and although Rivan tried to take it from her, she insisted on doing it on her own. Resuming her seat, Aselia leaned on the seat and closed her eyes, mentally and physically drained she soon drifted off.

Rivan grabbed a blanket from the compartment above and handed it to his friend without speaking. Xiran opened it and shifted from his seat before covering her with it, she instantly snuggled with it.

Not being able to stop himself, Xiran placed his hand on her scratched cheek and the tension grappling her face instantly dissipated. A sense of calmness descended on her face as creases on her forehead disappeared.

"You should sleep too, it’s going to take us a while to reach there," Rivan spoke from behind him, seeing his friend all miserable.

"I am fine, I don’t think I can sleep without her in my arms."

"Then take her in your arms," Rivan stifled a chuckle and bit his lips.

"And face her wrath when she wakes up. I think I will pass," Xiran shot him a look of disbelief.

"It will be worth it besides that both of you will sleep in peace, that’s a given," Rivan shrugged.

Xiran contemplated for a few seconds and then settled in the empty seat beside her, placing her head in his lap and she snuggly settled right in. Purring like a cat in her sleep.

A satisfactory smile broke on his lips and he closed his eyes as his hand settled in her hair. The braid he made of her hair was all messed up and hair poked here and there and yet she appeared so beautiful. His thumb softly drew circles on her temple before he drifted into the sleep realm as well.

Rivan quietly brought out another blanket and covered his friend with it. He hoped the trials of their love were finally over and they could start their life together and the peace for which they had heavily paid may reign supreme in their world.

He had informed Irlana and Rumail about the situation. Irlana was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to meet Aselia again. Amoris had returned to Fritez to be with Rumail for the time being.

The plane finally landed near Lahoire and Rivan woke Xiran up.

"We are here," he whispered. Xiran rubbed his eyes, still drowsy and he was exhausted. But they had to go so he gently laid Aselia on the seat before getting up and waking her up too.

"Leia!" he lightly shook her shoulder but she was so tired that she didn’t wake up, he sighed. This was the last thing he wanted to do, disturb her sleep so he collected her in his arms and carried her out of the jet and into the car.

Rivan knew the location of the hospital and he had already informed Frila that they would be arriving, so they set out to see Yurian and his family.