Elise tried to pull her hand again. The words whispered by Ian was no less than a whisper of a devil, sweet, tempting, almost bringing her the image of her family's death. Ian told her he would not die, they hadn't tried to prove it is true, and this was what Ian tried to do, but Elise didn't want it.

With Ian didn't let go of her hand, she frowned, her eyes looking at him, "I don't want to," rather than anger, or a voice of disapproval, Elise sounded like begging. "Even if you can't die, Ian, I don't want to injure you."

"I can heal myself," replied Ian, stating what he could do. He was never bothered by wounds or injuries. He saw Elise shaking her head, and somewhere he can't correspond with Elise's thoughts. "I will not die or injured."

With her lips bitten, Elise replied, "Even if you wouldn't be hurt, I can't bring myself to hurt you because I love you," she replied, her voice falling to squeaky whispers, and her cheeks reddening. Ian wasn't fazed to be wounded but she was in his behalf.

Ian stared at her, and Elise saw him looking surprised and awed. His smile then pulled with elation, "That was insensitive of me," Ian let her hand away from her chest and pulled her fingers to press his lips on it, Elise felt her heart softened at the kiss. His lips softly moved away from her fingers, the kiss was dainty and fleeting but the traces lingered.

Ian said, sounding happy, "I didn't take into consideration in what you think and you felt. But you should try it on me. We can test for the sake of future and take if I am wounded or not to consideration."

Ian saw Elise still hesitant and used his trump card, "Believe me that I would not get wounded or harm."

When putting it that way, Elise couldn't reject his request. When it come to believing Ian, Elise came first. No matter how absurd he would act, she still believe him. She knew Ian was well aware of it and he was, "unfair," whispered Elise. Ian caught her words and raised his brows. 

"Yes, I am being unfair, do you hate me?"

"No. I will try," Elise managed to steer his attention. She didn't want to wound Ian, making it harder for her to feel angry as she can't do it while worrying of Ian's health. But then, she thought that trying might help them to prepare them for the future. 

Ian didn't spoke a word, knowing that to be focus with him around had taken Elise whatever she had and added with the thought of wounding her. It's as truly adorable for Ian to have Elise worrying of him. With no food on the table, Ian thought of how appetizing it would be to have her on the table.

Although his lips said nothing, his gaze burnt to her, Elise shakes it off. It took her a long time to handle her anger. She touched his hand, the best place to start with and not chest like the initial plan Ian gave. 

The moment she opened her eyes, Elise saw Ian's hand she held was not wounded, and her smile beamed. "It didn't work!"

She turn her head at Ian and he shook his head, "No, truthfully it did work, but it's not powerful enough to turn my time to ashes. It might be that the stronger your emotion is it would match the strength of your power— either strengthening or weakening."

Elise agreed, nodding, "But I don't know when my power would stop. I'm afraid that if I touch things it would turn to ash."

Ian took her hands, placing it on the cup next to them but only a crack appeared, "As long as your heart feel no anger, nothing would turn to ash. Next time we should try to harness your power. Seeing that it work with your emotions and not everyone could control them like a switch, we need a put a lid to help you close and access to your power."

Elise agreed with the thought, "How would I be able to achieve that?"

"I will tinker of a way," Ian said, he pushed his hand on her hair. It was soft and silk. He smoothly slide his fingers through her hair to the back of her head. Elise's hair had the softest texture and brushed properly, making his finger to slide without getting tangled. 

"Did you wonder who came as a guest today?" Ian questioned her. 

"I did." Elise hadn't went to the East side of the castle. Her work was assigned at night, after the dinner which why she hadn't seen the guest yet.

"It's someone from Hell, a demon," his words confirmed Elise's guess in the afternoon, "He is sly but good enough for us to befriend with. You can treat him as you like. To add, he would never do things that could harm us."

"He would not?" There was a hint of trust on Ian's words that she found to be rare. The only people Elise knew Ian believed in was Cynthia, Austin, and Maroon. Was this man Ian's friend in Hell? Elise was eager to meet the person. But her guess was denied after Ian's next words.

"Because he had learned his lesson. That to defeat me is beyond his ability," Ian then shifted his eyes at the door before back at Elise, "Would you like to sit on me throughout the dinner? I can't promise I won't touch you though." Ian stated at her skirt, her legs sitting right near the place where it was borderline dangerous.

Elise looked down on his leg she had seated on. At first it was uncomfortable because her heart was getting out of hand, but as time passed, she found herself feeling the seat to be one of the best she had ever had the chance to. 

Her cheeks blushed profusely when seeing how close their body was pressed and with the closer look, Elise could see Ian's broad chest that was showcased from the two buttons left opened from his shirt.

"I will sit there," Elise pointed a random seat without choosing as her mind turn to scatter after seeing a better look on Ian's physique and his handsome face that had never fail to steal many breaths including hers. 

Ian noticed Elise's expression changing adorably, he release her waist, letting her to go down a it seemed like she would faint on his hand if he tease her any longer. "Sit here," Ian tapped the empty sit right beside him, cueing her where to sit. It was the seat that used for the lady of the castle, Elise walked to the sit and settled herself while feeling Ian's gaze on her.

In the meantime, the door was knocked, "Come in," Ian stated loud enough for the door to be open and Elise saw Maroon pushing the door, letting a man to stroll inside with confident strides. His hair was golden blonde, and eyes redder than normal vampires, the same shade Ian had on his eyes except it didn't hide his sly nature.