<h4>Chapter 219: Hunter’s Offer</h4>


    Blocking was a very precise affair—one that Aira had no problems with. Not with how fast her body could move. It came with an unexpected ease that she found thrilling as she continued to block every one of the hits that Verret swung in her direction.


    This went on for a while, so much so that Aira soon began to entertain the idea of attacking back—something she was just about to do, only to feel Verret’s attack pattern change.


    It was so sudden, and not in a good way, that Aira couldn’t help but be relieved she had chosen to wait before doing anything drastic.


    The attacks were fierce and random, in a way that—even with all her attention fixed on his sword—he still managed to continuously nick her without her being able to avoid it.


    Small nicks slowly turned into long gashes, which she instantly willed to heal, allowing light to burst from the wounds. But soon, she could no longer concentrate on even doing that, as Verret attacked like he was aiming to slice her head in two.


    It was fierce in a way that showed a bit of animosity. Aira couldn’t deny that Verret would like nothing more than to see her blood run red with how he attacked—and she kept on fighting back.


    "Scared? You can heal limbs, can’t you?" he asked, his tone harsh, even as Aira’s heart began to thump and race in fear.


    <fned43> Original content can be found at FιndNovel</fned43>


    For a second, she couldn’t help but consider the fact that Verret might actually be an assassin, turned by one of the lords to use training as a way to get rid of her.


    "One arm or two won’t harm you!" he said, showing just how easy it was for him to do more—even as Aira was barely avoiding him by sheer luck, so much so that she wondered if the next hit wouldn’t actually result in the loss of a limb.


    Quickly she darted back, only for him to follow her, sticking closely. She red at him, speaking in a rush and with bated breath.


    "Zyren will be unhappy to hear that I lost an arm..." she harshly told him with a hint of a threat, only to hear him chuckle in response.


    "It’s all training! All training! What are you scared of!" he told her, even as he sliced his sword upward—changing direction from where she had guarded herself with a speed that made Aira’s eyes constrict. She couldn’t imagine how a human like him could do something that only a vampire should be able to do.


    Did he also take something like the potion Harriet did? she wondered, her mind racing at the thought of some hidden stash she knew nothing about—even as she felt the sword slice into her jaw, nicking the edge deep enough to touch bone.


    The pain was chilling. She darted back, healing herself even as she raised her guard, expecting him to instantly attack—only to be shocked when he suddenly came to aplete standstill, a soft smile forming on his face.


    The wooden sword he had dropped was still on the floor, and the de he held in his hand was still a bit bloodied at the tip as he began to speak.


    "The news was guarded, but people are saying that you bonded with him to gain your powers! What would your father have said about that?"


    The words weren’tpletely out of his mouth before Aira raised her gaze and fixed it on him, ring with all the hatred she could muster.


    "What?"


    "Bond to a vampire! You have an ability—but do you even know what that means? A vampire king, no less!" Verret continued, and Aira’s frown deepened even more.


    The only thing that kept her from unleashing her anger on him was something in his tone, something that made her frown further, as he spoke like he represented someone... someone who at least knew her father.


    "Did your brother and father die for nothing?" he continued.


    At this point, Aira had heard enough. She opened her mouth and snapped back at him, her only intention to wipe the disgusted, high-and-mighty expression from his face.


    "YOU KNOW NOTHING!" she snapped, her gaze zing with heat.


    "I’m doing what I can to survive, and even that... you know nothing about!" she told him, her voice biting as she prepared to use her sword if she had to.


    She had defended herself, but that didn’t mean she had used her all. She was about to dere the sparring session over when she heard words that froze her from head to toe—her eyes widening inplete astonishment.


    "I’m from House Elvane," he said, pulling his shirt open to reveal a tattoo at the center of his chest—the symbol of a longbow with no arrows.


    "If that name still means anything to you... Aira, from House Duskbane."


    Her next reaction was sharp—she instantly looked at the double doors that led to the hall, almost as if confirming that they were indeed alone. She was aware that whether or not he was who he imed to be, he was brave to say such a thing aloud in the castle.


    "The Houses have met. With the rumors of the monster crisis, they think this is the best time for a rebellion to arise—and for us to fight back!" he continued.


    "They think if we fight together, with your help, we can take down Zyren and the entire vampirework!"


    "That is... if you haven’t forgotten your roots. If you haven’t forgotten the reason why your father and brother were murdered." His voice was cold but steady, giving her enough time to answer—though he did not speak again.


    Silence filled the room. Aira continued to stare at him, not saying a word in response.


    He still didn’t seem to be in a rush, waiting almost like they had all the time in the world. Slowly, Aira began to speak, her voice trembling as if testing how the words sounded before she let them fall.


    "The... the Houses?" she whispered, a confused look on her face as she tightened her hold on the sword. Her gaze darted around before finally returning to Verret.


    "They still exist?" she asked.


    And just when Verret was about to answer, it became clear her question was more rhetorical than not.


    "Then where were they when my father and brother died for their cause? Where were they when Liora was sold and I was taken?"


    Her eyes slowly turned red with anger as she realized the truth: they had only decided to show themselves once she proved to have an ability that could be useful.