They were avoided for a reason, such cunning creatures !

Asher wasn't stupid, it was obvious that Raphael was trying to drive a wedge between him and his men.

His gaze suddenly dropped on one of Raphael's men, the one with a sharp penetrative gaze that seem as if they could look into the depth of one's soul - he knows him.

Name is lark and has the truth inducement ability . He literally can force anybody to tell the truth by looking them in the eye.

Their gaze met and they both began a stare down , a challenge that non of the two willing parties wanted to lose .

Asher felt him probing his mind, trying to gain access and get him to speak but he blocked him at once - only those with a strong mental strength or a natural counter to this ability could ward his attack off .

When used against Dan's telepathic ability, lark can not exactly assert his influence over him cause Dan was sure to keep him distracted by putting a disturbing, nauseating or useless thought in his head.

From this , Asher could already surmise what happened. Raphael must have captured Gideon and drew the truth out of his mouth thanks to lark, after all Gideon was the weakest amongst them when it comes to mental strength in addition to his loose mouth.

Thankfully, Gideon hasn't realized the girl he turned and his mate were the same person , it was a good thing he sent him away on time.

When lark wouldn't look away as a form of submission, Asher decided to teach him a lesson.

Asher increased the intensity of his gaze and suddenly blood started oozing from lark's eye and though he refused to show he was feeling the pain, his hands clenched at the sides gave him away .

"Aren't you being childish, brother? " Raphael asked, looking more amused than bothered.

"No, I'm not " Asher told him straightforwardly "I'm just getting started " at once he moved his hands and a strange force grabbed lark and slammed him against the wall.

Standing in midair and pinned to the wall, the creaking and cracking sound of bones filled the air as Asher began to break every single bone in Lark's body stating ,

"The next time you intrude into my house " He said and crushed another bone earning a horrid scream from the guy.

He continued " Seek permission from me first after all even a dog respects and bows to his master "

Though Asher was speaking to lark but Raphael knew he was referring to him indirectly.

"Did I make myself clear?! " Asher boomed at him as the guy nodded then he violently snapped his neck to the side causing him to faint right away.

Asher released his hold on him and the boy dropped to the ground like a ragdoll while he cleared his hands with a clean white handkerchief he took out from the pocket of his pants.

He knew the guy wouldn't die but heal slowly unless decapitated and burned to prevent merging back to his body.

" Satisfied now? " Raphael queried

"Would be once you leave " Asher answered coldly.

"Don't worry " Raphael laughed " I would as soon as I meet my future sister-in-law "

Asher's countenance changed.

"Wait, don't you want me to see the woman that would make you a better man? "

Even though Raphael's voice was tender and caring, it was making him sick in the stomach. Asher knew he was just putting on a facade, moreover this was an exciting game to him and all Raven clan feed on excitement - it's like a drug to them.

Though all vampires love the game of cat and mouse especially when it comes to feeding on humans. As predatory creatures, they loved the thrill of the chase but it was more severe in vampire from the Raven clan.

They are the cat and their victim the mouse. They loved chasing, cornering and pushing their prey to the limit.The victim distress cry are like music to their ears and arouses them further - in one word, they were one cunning, selfish, and sadistic clan.

" Piss off ! "

" Why? why are you so tensed? I just want to take a good look at her? or Is she not a pure blood? What clan is she from? or a converted vampire?.. " His eyes widened " Or a human?"

Raphael's suspicion was further confirmed when he saw the fire burning in Asher's eyes.

"She's a human? " He pointed at him and burst into a wild laughter

" Oh my God, my emotionless brother has a human mate " He mocked, clutching his stomach from the laughter. "How pathetic "

Asher understood where he was coming from, most vampires viewed human mates as weak and pathetic since they were always in need of saving and the trouble escalate when they're turned. Then the trouble of teaching self-control to the then converted vampire begins.

He continued " But don't worry, I'm sure she's a feisty one cause a weak bimbo wouldn't suit you at all " Raphael irked him further.

But Asher ignored him and turned to leave when he dropped the next comment

" Or did you steal another person's mate? " Raphael gasped theatrically " You really didn't, did you? Oh my God, like father like son "

Asher turned and rushed at him, grabbing him by the collar "If I see you even a meter near her, I'll rip your heart out of your chest and feed it to the dogs " Asher threatened, hot white anger blinding him.

"Oh ,I'm scared " He replied in a mocking tone before the smile disappeared, replaced by a challenging icy look as he shoved Asher's hand away " Why? Are you scared I might do to you the same thing your father did to my father?"

Asher's head jerked up and his jaw clenched at the question. Raphael was wrong, Asher was scared he would do a whole lot more than his father did.

"I guess you'll find out the more we coexist together." Raphael said and begin to walk towards the direction of the stairs leading to upstairs.

But Asher appeared before him in a flash

"What are you doing? " he asked grabbing him by the arm.

"What do you think? " Raphael sneered " Obviously going to find a room that fits my taste "

" You wouldn't dare! " Asher roared

Raphael snorted contemptuously "Oh, watch me " He said and flung Asher's arm away and began to climb up the stairs while humming a tone.

Asher wanted to interrupt Raphael again but decided against it eventually . Afterall it was better having him within his walls and be able to predict his movement than not having him at all and being on tenterhooks.