Asher woke up with a smile on his face, recollecting the events of yesterday. Sabrina was right, everything was as real as shit to him. The sensation, everything! Like he was one with Daniel. Though he did take liberty with Daniel. Well, it was the wolf's bad for thinking they had a fifty percent right deal.

Daniel was the first to break the deal - even though it wasn't literally his intent - but everything worked in his favor and he didn't dare to imagine what those things were doing now the link between them had severed.

However, amid the happiness of last night, Asher was anxious. Now Daniel had marked her, it was obvious that whatever Lia felt for the werewolf would be heightened and he might be dumped.

"Why is he drinking early this morning?" Zukai nudged Gideon when they came into the living room to see Asher sitting on the barstool, pouring himself a drink.

"Didn't he have a great time yesternight," He questioned further.

And yeah, there was nothing that goes on around this house they didn't know unless Asher doesn't want them to - that vampire was good at keeping secrets. But then, this one wasn't concealable especially because the witch did some "interesting" ritual.

"He's thinking, morons," chimed in Dan.

"He had sex last night, he should be booming in the afterglow," Gideon complained.

The others gave him an odd look.

"Well, it wasn't full sex but it was something. I would pay anything to be in his shoes right now," Wished Gideon.

He was banned from doing those kinds of stuff with humans since he couldn't control his bloodthirst perfectly. For vampires, feeding while having sex was one of the most euphoric feelings in the world and they could easily lose themselves in the frenzy, draining their victim to death.

Then out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Helen emerge into the living room.

"Where is Asher?" She seemed a little nervous, they could smell that off her. Something big was about to happen - and they were here to watch.

They simply tilted their head in his direction and she headed over to the bar.

Asher was having one of his super thinking yet lost moments when he felt someone by his side.

"Morning mother, hope you had a pleasant sleep? " he asked without turning to her.

"We don't sleep," She pointed out his mistake. They were undead creatures, why would they sleep?

"But we rest, don't we?" He didn't back down on the argument.

"I couldn't, there was no room for that," she said, taking a tumbler from the rest and poured herself a drink," I was thinking,"

Asher chuckled mirthlessly, "And let me guess the result of the whole thinking, you're leaving me, aren't you? "

Her head whipped towards him, shock apparent on her face, "How did you…?"

"Not exactly hard to figure out when your mother wouldn't look you in the face," He said with no care.

"Asher, it's not -"

"I get it, mom," He interrupted her, "It's not easy to stare at the face of the vampire who killed your mate and son, neither can you avenge your loved ones by killing him because he's the son you desired to be with but couldn't,"

"I'm sorry," She teared up, "I never wanted all this to end this way; I planned for a harmonious family when I finally get the chance to be with you,"

"I understand, mother. I would do the same if I were in your shoe. But in case it consoles you, then you should know that I would be mateless soon," He smiled wryly.

"What? Why? What happened?"

Asher sighed, "Let's just say that my love rival won," He threw his head back, clogging everything down his throat. The drink hurt like liquor should but its effects were useless, he needed to get drunk now - maybe, Sabrina might make him a special concoction to help with that.

"I'm sorry, Son. Dan told me about your situation and if you ever need my help, don't hesitate to reach out. Vampires might not have much influence in the council but I have some people who owe me a favor. They might be able to help when trouble comes knocking,"

"Sure," He answered.

They both drank in silence until Asher asked.

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning,"

"To where,"

"I don't know. Anywhere? Maybe I'll travel around the world. That had always been my dream that Ezekiel never indulged me," She winked at him, "Also one of the reasons I fell for your father, he's a traveler,"

Asher grinned, this moment was perfect.

"I'll be back," Helen promised him, "I just need to clear my head for a few years,"

"Alright,"

Silence reigned again. But this time, there was something different. The tensed atmosphere was replaced by a jolly one.

Asher was on his third bottle when he picked up a familiar scent in the air, his eyes widened and he turned at once to spot Daniel coming in with Lia.

"Asher," Lia ran to him.

He was stunned, yet welcomed her into his arms. This wasn't the scene he envisioned; he had thought Lia would abandon him.

Lia's heart pounded in her chest, she had thought Asher wouldn't look at her after what happened between her and Daniel last night.

Asher kissed her at once, not minding that Daniel was standing behind her, partly glaring at him. He poured his insecurities into the kiss, exploring her mouth and drawing a moan from her which made Daniel growl - not that he cared. The werewolf had his way already, it was his turn.

The only reason Asher pulled away was because of the fact his control was slowly slipping and not the continuous rumble from Daniel's throat.

Lia was speechless, the attraction between her and Asher had not diminished at all amid Daniel claiming her - somehow it was a great relief. The pull was so strong that she swore he would have taken her right there and then if they didn't have company.

Daniel was quick to pull Lia to his side, he couldn't help it. Yes, guilt gnawed at his heart, having broken that deal first but Iyke didn't exactly like the vampire touching what was his.

"What are you doing here?" Asher asked, eyeing the way Daniel held her possessively - It had gone down to that already, "I thought you both would be having your honeymoon already," One could sense the jealousy in his voice.

"We could," Daniel said, "But we have a problem,"

"What problem? " Asher inquired yet saw the way Daniel's gaze moved to his mother and the other three vampires eavesdropping on them, understanding what it meant.

"I'll leave you guys alone," Helen said. She wasn't dumb not to notice she wasn't welcomed in this very discussion.

Yet when she passed him by, Helen stopped to whisper into his ears, "You and your father have a knack for the sexy ones,"

"Mom," Asher groaned as she winked and left. He knew Lia heard her judging by the way she was red in the face.

"They're all gone, you can talk now," He informed Daniel.

Asher observed the way Daniel signaled Lia and she began to pull her shirt off. He swallowed, were they planning on… it couldn't be what he was thinking. The vampire fought with his dirty thoughts until he saw the markings on her back.

"Holy shit!" Asher exclaimed, disbelief written on his face. He was stunned for a few minutes before moving to trace his hand on the markings.

Lia shivered when he touched the marks, she couldn't tell if the marks were sensitive or because it was Asher touching her.

"Do you know what that is?" Daniel asked, unsettled by him touching Lia in his presence.

"Looks familiar but I can't exactly remember where I had seen it; there are centuries-old memories in my head," Asher complained yet was enthralled by the mysterious art on her smooth, silky skin.

Lia gave out a suppressed moan when the touching became an erotic dance and that signaled Asher to withdraw his hands.

"I need time to remember and a photo to send to Sabrina. The witch might not know about the mark but she's the best person I can rely on for secret research. Nobody else should know about this," was Asher's strict warning.

"I have pics with me already," Daniel notified Asher, bringing out his phone to send it to him when they heard a groan.

"Ugh," Lia grunted sharply, doubling over.

"What is it?" Both asked.

She glanced up, panting with sweat on her face.

"She needs blood," Asher noticed her blue eyes, "How can that be? I fed her before sending her to you," He was perplexed.

"I'm really hungry," Lia complained and as a matter of fact, her fangs had descended.

"I don't know how that's possible but she can't wait any longer. Give us some privacy, Daniel," Asher said, his hands on his shirt, already unbuttoning it.

"No, I'm not leaving," Daniel insisted.

"Daniel, you should. It can get quite intense in here, I don't want you to get uncomfortable," she was concerned amid being in pain.

Daniel did not know how to rate her definition of "intense" but one thing was for sure, he wasn't leaving Lia in the hands of that vampire. Asher already took liberty with him last night by controlling his body and having sex with her - not that she knew - who knew what he might do that this time?

"Don't get a boner?" Asher smirked at him and went to take a seat on the couch, tapping on his laps for Lia to sit on him.

Lia glanced at Daniel unsurely but when he didn't react, walked over to Asher and sat astride him.

"There's something you two are not telling me. I still don't understand how I come to have sex with Daniel nor why you're cool with it" Lia told Asher even though she had this crazy strong urge to just take his blood, "Daniel broke the deal, you're supposed to be throwing a fit - ugh!" another pang of pain hit her.

Asher's eyes narrowed, why was she so hungry? More like starved, as if she hasn't eaten for days.

"Just shut up and feed," He swallowed her words when he saw her about to start another interrogation after the first wave of pain subsided.

Lia kissed him hard, clinging to his lips before withdrawing to kiss his neck. For some strange reasons, Asher smelled incredulously good right now.

Her fangs arched, she grazed his neck with it, causing him to shiver and the hand he used to anchor her to him tightened. Lia sank her fangs into his neck, sucking his blood, and felt the explosion of richness in her mouth; his blood was so sweet.

Asher hissed through his mouth while his hands roamed her body, there was something so alluring about her today. His hands traveled into the inside of her shirt and began to touch her boobs.

Lia moaned, her other hand treading through his scalp while her hip began to unconsciously move against him as she drank from him.

Daniel was stunned, he had thought he would be so furious by now, to the point that he'd tear them apart. However, contrary to his thoughts, he was enthralled by the scene.

He couldn't take his eyes off them and to crown it all, had the ridiculous thought of joining. Something must be wrong with him. Daniel tore his gaze away, yet her dulcet moan and Asher's soft groan excited him.

"It's enough," Asher tried to pull her away from his neck, "You're going to get yourself sick,"

Yet, she stubbornly latched onto him and drank until he was almost sucked dry. She pulled away.

"I feel better," Lia wiped away the blood trailing down the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Asher expected her to throw up the excessive blood but nothing happened, she burped instead.

This got him all the more mystified and was about to scan what brought on this sudden change when someone barged into the living room.

"Leave my daughter alone, you animals,"