Lia discovered her brother was abnormally quiet as she drove home. Did something happen at school? She wondered. Girl's problem? - Perhaps it was time she found him a girlfriend.

Then something caught her attention and she saw him stroking a sort of plain black card with no print whatsoever.

"What's that? " She asked curiously, eyes still glued on the road.

"Nothing " He breathed "Just nothing significant " He mumbled and slipped it in his pocket ignoring his sister's side look.

"What caused the incident ? " He asked trying to divert his sister's attention from him.

"Umm, what accident ? " Lia asked squeezing the steering wheel and using the other hand to remove a lock of hair away from her eyes.

"The one at school, I was in class when everyone heard the loud bang so I couldn't get much accurate details " Trevor said and his sister gave him the side-eye look.

"What? " He raised a brow when he couldn't take his sister gaze anymore.

"You need to come out of your shell , Trevor, associate with friends. Have fun you know and stop being such a loner " Lia chide him.

" I'm not a loner " He retorted sternly " I do have my own fun - "

"Burying yourselves in your books and cellphone ? Is that your definition of fun? "

Trevor's brows drew together in a frown " Yes, it is that fun for me " He replied with a firm voice.

She shook her head sympathetically " There's seriously no hope for you. But if you're that interested in what caused the incident , then you should know the principal engaged himself in some experiment that had a negative aftermath " Lia fed her brother the same lie Asher had fed the school.

Everyone had heard the percussive sound and since humans were curious creatures, an explanation was needed. So Asher came up with some mumbo-jumbo and they totally bought it.

Asher really deserves a thumbs-up

"Not surprising , there's something off about that man " Trevor opined drawing Lia's full attention.

" How so? " She asked interestedly.

Trevor rubbed his jaw " I can't really tell but I feel like there's something strange about him - Like he's a different entity from us. Have you seen his eyes? Although it might sound crazy but I feel like they're calling out to me whenever he looks at me, so hypnotizing it gives me the chills. Talk about his skin ? They're so pale to the extent one would think he's a vampire or something- "

At the mention of 'vampire' Lia choked on her saliva releasing a cough that lasted for a while .

" Go on " She cleared her throat.

Trevor went on " Besides he's too young to handle such a huge school. I heard the students say he's twenty four years old "

'Twenty four indeed ' Lia sneered mentally. Her brother would probably die from shock if she tells him Asher's actual age - simple, the guy is an ancestor.

"Moreover, I can't understand why the girls in school are head over heels in love with him - "

Lia interjected " Well, for a start, he's handsome "

Trevor rolled his eyes "Girls and their obsession with beauty "

His comment brought a smile to her lips "Of course " she concurred " The eyes has to feed first before any other part of the body so forgive us if our obsession irks you "

Trevor turned his head towards her "Does that mean you're one of those numerous girls dying for him too ? " he startled Lia with this unexpected question.

Lia was at a loss for words , what should she say?

"Of course not " She chuckled nervously " I'm not like those girls dying for his attention " She lied through her teeth but said instead in her mind, ' I'm just the only girl receiving his attention ' .

" Thank God " Trevor sighed in relief.

But Lia's brows knitted together in a frown "Why the 'Thank God ' ? Is something wrong? " She asked wondering why her brother was so relieved she was not crushing on Asher as she claims.

Trevor shrugged " Sometimes I can't help but feel he's a threat. Like he's a very dangerous person , so don't ever associate with him - principal or not, promise me " He demanded and Lia found herself committing to a promise she knew wouldn't stand a chance being fulfilled. It seems her relationship with Asher would suffer severe persecution in the future.

"Pinky promise ? " Trevor insisted and brought out his pinky finger.

" Fine, pinky promise " She breathed and after making sure the road was clear, thrust out her pinky finger as they both entwined their pinkies together.

"Seal? "

"Seal " Lia reluctantly agreed and kiss his palm just as Trevor did to her's.

Trevor sank into his seat with a fulfilled smile but that was not the case for Lia. Her heart was in a turmoil. She hated the fact that she would break this promise sooner or later and probably would continue lying to her family about a lot of things, but there was nothing she could do.

Asher was her mate - her other half and she couldn't leave or abandon him like that - which is why she still dreaded the rejection. She just wished there was a way to work this out without breaking anybody's heart.

"So it's you and Dan ? " Trevor interrupted her thought.

"What do you mean? " She asked with a straight face.

"Oh please, don't give me that look cause you know perfectly what I'm talking about " Trevor teased, wriggling his brows suggestively.

"There's nothing going on between Dan and I, we're purely friends " Lia denied his claims. Though she initially wanted to let him think whatever he wanted, but she discovered she was keeping a lot from her family -atlest they deserve to know this one.

But still Trevor didn't believe her cause he gave her his signatory I - don't - believe -a-thing -you-said look

"I'm serious Trevor " She still clarified as she pulled up at the house.

"Fine then, I'll believe you just because I haven't caught you both touching lips " Daniel said and stepped out of the car.

"Eww " Lia cringed and made a gesture of gagging just to convince her dear brother there was nothing going on between her and Dan.

Once they reached the door, Lia knocked twice expecting it to be opened by her mom but was dumbfounded when it was answered by an unfamiliar yet handsome stranger .

She eyed him curiously yet cautiously, brows raised " Who...?"

Standing at the entrance, he boomed a smile at her and thrust out a hand " You must be Lia and Trevor. Hi , you can call me Raphael "