"You're avoiding your job " Dan said taking away his fifth drink. He was trying to come to terms on why this guy would drown himself in whisky than head to his place of work.

"It's not a job, just something I started out of boredom " He retorted snatching back his drink and downed it in one clean gulp.

"That's obviously a job... wait a minute " Dan trailed off, his face lit up with realization

"It's not the job you're avoiding but the girl involved with the job, isnt it? She transferred to your school, didn't she? " Dan pressed on eventually causing him to spill him the beans.

"Yes, she did and this guy here , which is me had no idea as the principal of the school of such event , fat thanks to my assistant " He complained, nonchalantly swirling his drink.

"Well, can't blame the lady. She had a job to perform unlike you, moreover , it seems your relentment on the job hasn't gone unnoticed " Dan chuckled until he noticed Asher's glare and gave up

"Fine, but avoiding her isn't going to solve anything. For Christ sake, she's your mate!"

Asher rose in a fury " She's not my goddamned mate just some manipulation from the witches!" he snapped, eyes flashing red with bulging veins on his neck.

" Whether you believe me or not, we both know no one and by no one, I mean not even the witches can manipulate the attraction between soulmates."

Asher laughed at himself mirthlessly " You think I don't know that?. Hell! I f*cking know that but I'm scared of the disaster my acquaintance with her would bring to my clan and probably other vampire covens "

Dan looked away with quilt, Asher was right. The girl was a living time bomb which when detonated, it's shock wave would blow everyone away.

"Honestly, I'm confused here " Asher confessed "She's unlike anything I've seen since the history of time "

Dan stared at him with a shocked expression "You knew?"

"of course, I know. What am I, ten? stupid? " He grimaced "It was suspicious from the start, her death. When a human dies with vampire blood in their system, it takes a day or two for them to wake,for final transition to take place but she? it took her a few hours, a monstrous achievement . Not to talk of her heartbeat and temperature "

"You sure, she's not half-witch?"

"She isn't, I didn't sense any magic in her blood moreover, unless you're a hybrid which she isn't, you can't exist as a witch and vampire at same time. You must be one, either you're a witch or a vampire, no two ways about it "

Dan took a deep breath, the truth slowly dawning on him. The dark witches were preparing for war and the girl was their weapon, a huge one at that.

"The witches are creating an abomination, something that shouldn't exist but it's quite funny " he snorted "That abomination is my mate "

"Shouldn't we inform the council before it's too late? " Dan suggested but Asher gave him a ridiculous look "It's just a suggestion " he said defensively.

"Yeah, I know but an incredibly stupid and bad idea. Haven't you asked yourself, how were they able to come this far without the council noticing? "

Dan's eyebrow rose suspiciously " Because their tracks are being covered, they are being backed by someone in a high position probably from the council "

" Bingo " Asher commended, finishing another glass of whiskey.

"You do know that alcohol has no effect on you , right ?"

"Yes, I know. Tastes like water actually " Asher answered truthfully "But I want to enjoy the feeling humans relieve from drinking these"

Dan waved his head sympathetically, the guy was a total wreck but he loved him nevertheless.

" So, what's your plan? Don't tell me you intend clashing with the dark witches? " Dan inquired but when he saw Asher's eye flash with something he called excitement, he recoiled in anger.

"Tell me you don't .... "

"Oh don't worry, I might be impulsive but not suicidal. Any mistake and I might end up being the scapegoat, instead . If the almighty council won't get off their arse and clean this mess, so be it .who cares if the world ends, anyway" Asher plonked down on his swivel chair.

A smile tugged at Dan's face, as usual for Asher, the safety of his clan comes first.

"What about the girl? " he suddenly remembered

"Oh, her? I intend to play along until I figure out what they're up-to " he smirked, a glint of mischievous in his eyes.

"Play along? " Dan wet his lips nervously "Asher, feelings between soulmates aren't playable, they're very intense and can scald if not careful "

Asher stood up " Don't worry mom, I can take care of myself "

Dan glared at him but the perpetrator in question wasn't bothered instead he walked towards his walk-in closet

"What are you doing? " Dan asked.

" Preparing for work unlike a certain jobless person " Asher mocked checking out a few of his designer shirts.

" I am not jobless " Dan dissented bitterly "keeping an eye on the clan is your job not mine which am helping you out with, happily. You're welcome by the way "

Asher chuckled mentally, he might seem a little intense but Dan was passionate about what he loves doing unlike a certain henchman, speaking of which

"This discussion should remain between us, you know how much of a blabbermouth Gideon is. We can't risk him knowing " Asher warned seriously buttoning up his shirt

" What can't you risk me knowing? "

Speak of the devil.

Gideon waltzed in, an earphone in his ears while nodding to a certain beat playing from his phone.

"I - eh, I " Dan tried to come up with an excuse but with Gideon staring at him like that, it was a miserable attempt.

"We can't risk you knowing you're about to become my secretary, the old one will be fired once I arrive. See, surprise ruined " Asher replied smoothly without even batting an eye and Gideon fell for it, quickly.

Wow, Dan clapped mentally . His acting deserves an Oscar award.

" Really? " Gideon asked excitedly " When do I start? "

"Now "