His blood was boiling, what is Raphael doing here?

But Asher concealed it well, it wouldn't do him any good if Raphael knew he was bothered by his intrusion.

"Raphael of the Raven clan, to what do I owe this visit? " Asher announced, more rigidly than he has ever being.

Raphael stood from his seat in an eccentric manner, his eyes twinkling with excitement as he hit him playfully on the chest.

"Why are you so stiff brother, or don't you like my visit ? " He chuckled, wiping an invisible dust from Asher's shoulder.

"I don't remember being related to you " Shot Asher, not a trace of humour on his face.

"Perhaps if you don't acknowledge the related by blood part " he said, a mocking smile on his face " You can admit we're definitely kindred " Raphael made his point.

"Why are you here? " Asher went straight to the point. No matter how he sees it, he was sure Raphael was here to mess with him.

"Why? " He asked " You don't want me here even if I missed you ? "

Asher's jaw tightened " I have no time for your games, Raphael " he said as a matter of fact "It would do me a lot of good if you leave me alone "

The Raven clan was also one of the most popular vampire clan due to their infamous shrewd and cunning personality.

Anytime they wandered into a place, trouble and chaos was sure to follow which is why they were the most avoided of all vampire clans.

Even the council was meticulous in dealing with their mischief due to the fact they always have a lot of trick up their sleeve and somehow always plays the trump card at the end.

But aside from that, the Raven Clan and the Nicolli Clan have a bit of a special and complex relationship.

"Please believe me for once, I'm here for good brother " He whined and made his way back to the sofa, plopping down with a contended sigh.

"I am not your brother! " Asher insisted, eyes blazing with anger.

"Very well then if you say so, I guess I'll keep my compliment to myself " Raphael pouted a mean moue trying to express his irritation and crossed his leg over the other.

Dan who was standing at the side, raked his hand through his hair, mussing it up so horribly that one would think he was slowly going mental.

How long has it being since they met like this? Decades? centuries? he couldn't exactly remember but he knew this wasn't going to end in a good way.

The truth was that, Asher was technically half Nicolli and half Raven.

Even as sacred as mates was, every vampire knows how Asher's father audaciously stole Ezekiel's mate.

Ezekiel who is Raphael's father had his mate stolen right under his nose which resulted to Asher being born.

According to rumours, Ezekiel's mate Helen and Asher's father Antonio had been lovers and were planning to settle down together, matebond or not , when Helen finally found her truemate .

Unable to resist the pull that comes with being mates, she finally gave in and got married to Ezekiel leaving Antonio with a broken heart.

But it didn't sit well with Antonio cause right after the birth of Raphael, he whisked her away and out of everyone's reach .

Few months later, he returned to his clan with toddler Asher held sweetly in his arms. And According to rumours, Antonio's departing speech to Helen was "If I can't have you, then I'll surely have a part of you "

Antonio never married again and as coldblooded as he was, he loved Asher to the core.

Which is why the Nicolli clan till date are still on pins and needles : Antonio was bad so it's expected for his son to turn out worse.

Though Dan was not worried about Asher leading the clan to destruction since he loves it more than his own life, but he was worried Asher would follow his father's step especially now he has found out he has a fierce love rival.

Sometimes blood just never lies.

"Why are you here?" Asher asked for the umpteenth time, it was obvious Raphael was fooling around with him.

" Fine then, I'll tell you " A michevious smile played on his lips.

"Quickly, I have no time for your stupid delay"

"Easy brother " Raphael coaxed " I wonder then how you'll react if I told you a little bird told me something interesting"

Asher's expression shifted to a slight frown, what's Raphael pulling off this time?

"Dear brother" Raphael said and stood to his feet again, approaching Asher this time at a leisure pace until he was standing right in front of him.

He dropped his hand on Asher's left shoulder and said to him, starring him straight in the eyes "Why didn't you tell me you've found your mate? I mean, I know how hard it is for Vampires from the Nicolli clan to find theirs. Like come-on, even your own father didn't find his until he died "

Asher stiffened while his eyes twitch, he felt like he was hearing wrong.

"W-what did you just say?" Asher stammered, his mask cracking at once.

"Seriously ?! " Raphael pushed him at the chest " Why are you behaving like someone given a death sentence?! You finally found your mate, you should be happy! "

Raphael spun around and guffawed dramatically " Asher of the Nicolli clan finally found his mate! The heavens has finally blessed you! "

He screamed at the top of his lungs like a lunatic with an obvious mocking smirk on his face.

Suddenly Asher grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward as he growled " Who told you that! "

Raphael snickered and signalled to his men who had stood up at once to defend him, to stand back.

"Well, well, well " He mocked " How comforting to see your feathers has finally being ruffled "

"Shut the fuck up and tell me who told you such a thing!" Asher threatened and slammed him against the concrete wall causing Raphael's men to try to interfere again but Raphael himself gestured them back.

It seems he was really craving a beating.

Raphael lifted a mocking glare and said

" Matthew 10 : 36 "

Asher's brows were drawn together in a frown as he let go of Raphael, " Matthew 10:36 " Playing in a loop in his mind.

He didn't doubt Raphael afterall he was from the Raven clan known for their cryptic nature.

Asher immediately picked up his phone and downloaded the Bible from online and his eyes narrowed down as he went through the contents.

" A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD "

GIDEON