Lotus was pleased with the boy’s reactions. He would be easy to train and she would have to remember to explain the rules to him. She didn’t need someone like him falling in love. And she was easy to fall in love with. Lotus put a finger to her lips and took his hand after she was done with him. “There is more to that Dear. I have a whole collection of things to teach.” She brought him to her and kissed him.

From there she took the shocked boy back to her favorite little tavern and locked him up. She told him nothing but sweet things as she tied him up to the bed. She told him it was only a little while. However, a little while in demon time was more like a week. She made him recognize and learn. She kept him there until he could, in fact, do what she told him to.

At the end of the week, she pulled the white bondage off his wrists and looked at the deep cuts in his wrists. “My poor, poor Daulton. Pain is good isn’t it?” She leaned down and kissed at his wrists. They began to heal. “Never forget how good pain feels. It helps you get through the tough spots in life. Get out of here and get some sunlight. I’ll be here when you get back. Promise.”

She pointed him down to the clothes on the floor and knew he would be utterly exhausted. She had hardly let him sleep or rest until he got things right. She was forcing him to get out so she could spend time with others but she had conveniently left all the rules out in her desires to teach.

When she brought her fingers to her lips, he didn’t say another word. He grew excited again at her words. A smirk crossing Daulton lips. “Hell yes!” He thought to himself as he kissed her back. He had never had a woman be so forward with him. It was an amazing feeling not to do all the work himself. He wish that he wasn’t a virgin, but she had offered to teach him. He was more than a willing student.

Before they reached the tavern, he wrote a note to his mother. Saying he met a friend and would be staying with them for a few days. He wouldn’t leave the city. With that he sent the note with his fire magic. Soon after, she brought him to the room and tied him up.

Daulton did whatever she wanted and more. He was willing the whole way through. He loved the way she moaned when he did something right, then kept doing it. The days and night they spent together was the most funnest time he had ever had with anyone.  Yes, it was mostly filled with sex, but she made him feel amazing.

Soon she was back and untying him. He didn’t notice the cuts on his arms from the ties and felt the urge to wince when she kissed them. The stinging pain soon went away after her kiss and he smiled. “Pain is always good.” He said in agreement. “I need to see my family anyways. My mother probably wondering where I am.” He didn’t feel how exhausted he was until he sat up. The room spinned for a moment before he blinked a few times to clear his head.

After a moment, he put on his clothes. He gave her a quick kiss before saying goodbye. “I’ll probably be back tonight… after some sleep.” He said with a small laugh before he left the room

He soon left the tavern and soon moved into the crowd that walked the streets. It took a bit before he finally reached his home. The iron fence squeaked a bit as he entered the small garden area before the house. He soon walked on the path to the front door. a large pond was on one side of the path and a small garden lined the house. He turned the around the house. A small deck was before the door with a set of rocking chairs on the side of the door. But one thing seemed out of place, well one person he didn’t expect to see.“Hey Soon to be Mrs. Vladimir.” He said with a smile as he took a small bow before the queen.

Lily had her hand on her swell. It was a lot larger than the last time that Daulton had seen her. The child was growing fast and Clyde and she had been ecstatic about the prospect of having the child. Her green eyes met Daulton’s and her nose immediately began to scrunch up.

She had been walking out of the house since Ana was paying full attention to the growing baby she had. “Hello, Daulton. Walk with me for a moment?” She took his arm and her eyes flashed back up at him for a moment. “You need to be careful who you are bedding. Your heart strings shouldn’t be anywhere near Lotus. I can smell her you know.”

Her eyes closed for a moment. “I hope she told you the rules.” She knew damn well about the rules that Lotus had. If she had somehow forgotten and unintentionally led the boy on Lily felt rather sorry for Daulton. “I don’t wish to rain on your happiness… it’s just well… Lotus.” She didn’t know how to explain how Lotus truly was. “You should ask her about the rules Daulton.”

Daulton smiled at Lily as he straightened. He was happy for his Uncle. He finally met someone he could be with and love. She asked him to walk with her and he nodded. Can’t say no to the Queen. He needed a shower and sleep, but that could wait. Taking her arm, he walked beside her down the path towards the entrance. As she began to talk, he stayed quiet to let her speak. He did roll his eyes a bit. He knew who he was bedding. He couldn’t stop now. He knew his feelings for her. “I love her…” He thought within his mind. They had been together for a week. Nothing was more important than them.

“Rules?” This was when he spoke. He pulled away from Lily to look down at her. “She has no rules for us. We love spending time together.” He finished by opening the iron gate to lead her out. He closed it behind her. “Bye.” The bye was more of a formal announce. She had irritated him. He was happy with Lotus and didn’t want anyone to ruin that happiness.

The demon turned around to walk back to the house, but instead he saw sitting under the large willow tree in their garden, Nymph and Alden. They were cuddled in each other's arms reading a book. Lotus and him didn’t do anything like that, and he wished they did.

“Alden! Daulton! Inside please!” His mother called from the window facing the garden. “I need to talk to you two in private!” Anastasia waved to them both then disappeared behind the sheer curtains. He saw out of the corner of this eye Alden kiss Nymph with a smile. Then joyed Daulton walking to the house. “Hey. Haven’t seen you in a week!” Alden smiled at his brother, his eyes still lit from the moment he had with Nymph, and then he smelt his brother. “What is that smell?” Alden said at the steps of the house. “A woman. Hope one day you find you.” Daulton snapped a bit. “Hey. Lay off.” Alden eyes narrowed as he followed his brother into the house.

Their mother sat in the living area to the left of the door. Walking in they took a seat opposit. “Daulton, how was your time at your friends?” She asked and he replied, “Good.” With that his mother didn’t want to wait another moment. “So. I have some news.” She paused to take a breath.”I am pregnant. You're going to have another brother or sister.” She said with a huge smile even tho sadness gripped her heart. “Congratulations, Mom!” Alden was the first and only son to congratulate his mother.

Daulton was quiet for a moment. Anger swelled within him. “Haven’t you learned with three children?” He said as his eyes turned dark. Looking up at his mother, his eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, Daulton do not get that tone with me.” Ana tried to stop her son’s harsh words. He stood up, his anger radiating from him. “Three of your children have lived with this curse! Now you want to put another child through this! How selfish of you!” He just about yelled at his mother. “Go to you room.” His mother words shook as she held back tears.

“I will make you one better.” He said and rushed out of the house. He needed to get back to the woman he loved. She would make him feel better. He rushed passed Nymph on the way out and into the city. He wasn’t really looking where he was going. His feet seemed to know where to go. His eyes were dark with anger. He couldn’t believe his mother was doing this.

Maybe if his eyes were turned up, he would of saw the girl he bumped into. When she was on the floor, he gasped. “I’m sorry!” He said as he helped up the pretty girl. “Hello. I’m sorry again.” He said as his eyes looked into hers. “Are you okay?” He asked, his hand lingering on her arm.

Astrid was soft spoken and sweet. Her eyes were soft like glacial water and a stem to a flower. One blue and one green. A white dress that scooped down her back and hung around her neck like a halter was all she wore. Her long brown hair was a mess of curls far from perfection. Oddly it was her wings that caught the hot sun and reflected almost too well.

She was humming as she held a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Astrid was a petite girl, small even compared to Nymphaea. Her skin was not quite sun-kissed but not pale, more of a cream. When she got bumped into her wings went hard into the ground and she winced. However, her gaze was soft as if she couldn’t mad about a mistake.

“I’m alright…” Her voice was so soft and feminine as he helped her up. She dropped her flowers and pulled her wing inward as she gently pet a fragile bunch of feathers. It was slightly bloody. There was a distinct frown on her face as she picked a feather that had been plucked out of her flock. She looked at it’s bloodied mess and gently let it go in the wind. Finally, she offered a smile. “Don’t worry, it only hurts for a minute or two and a good bath gets the blood out.” She was more upset about the squished flowers on the ground.

Her dual colored eyes were focused on it for only a moment. “You shouldn’t be in a rush here in Arri. Too many people.” She blushed a bit as she looked up at his face. “You were with Lotus… Oh dear.” She put her hand to her mouth and gently chewed on her thumb nail as if it really did bother her. “She told you the rules right?”

As he tried to hurry back to Lotus, Daulton accidently ran into someone. He wanted to ask Lotus about the rules right away, but was momentarily sidetracked. As he helped the woman up, he heard her voice. He smiled at her when she rose up. “Good,” he said. He was happy that she wasn’t hurt that much. He knew when he bumped into someone it was like running into a brick wall. Thanks to the demon blood within him, he was muscular and tall.  

Seeing the flowers on the ground, he reached for them. He held them as she mended to her wing. “So sorry about that.” He motioned toward the blood that came from her wings. Glancing down at the flowers in his hands, he frowned. She had landed on them, all because of him.

Hearing her words brought his eyes back to hers. He nodded. “I’ll take note of that.” He said with a smile. Her next words wiped the smile from Daulton’s lips. Why was it so bad he was with Lotus? She was a great person at heart. The sex was even great to top that. “What is up with people and these rules? There is no rules between us.” His voice was irritated as he spoke. They were just two people having fun, but in the midst of that, he fell in love with her.

Ignoring her he turned around, he headed to the vendor she had bought the flowers from. He gave the ones he ruined to the man and paid for two more. One to replace them for the girl and the other for the woman he loved. He would tell her today.

Making his way back to the girl, he narrowed his eyes at her. “Here.” He said and shoved the flowers at her. He didn’t mean to push her when he did that. The angel lost her balance and fell backward. His eyes widened and he reached out. If he was a moment off she would've fallen on her wings. His hand circled her wrist and pulled her to him. For a second he could smell her, like flowers, but sweet. She smelt different then Lotus. Not so intoxicating, but at the same time she was. Stepping back quickly, he bowed his head. “Sorry again.” With that he ran off away from the winged girl and to the woman he loved.

Astrid looked so sad when he spoke to her. Even as innocent as she was she knew her demon cousin had rules in place for a reason. Lotus wasn’t inherently evil but she just didn’t do attachments. She was shocked as he replaced her flowers with a shove and looked up at him with a rather shocked face. He hadn’t meant to shove her like that and she knew it. Astrid blinked a bit as he pulled her up. “It’s alright.” She hugged the flowers to her as she watched Daulton take off. She was confused but that was usually the case. “He’s weird.”


–

Lotus, on the other hand, was being herself. She was enjoying a whole group of men at her disposal. It was more like a massive party in her room as Daulton made his way up. The amount of kissing and other things going on was enough to leave a wafting smell out the door.  She took turns with each of the different men she had found and they had no problem sharing her.

When Daulton finally opened the door, she looked with an annoyed look as kisses were laid to her body. “You weren’t supposed to be back until later Daulton.” She took a heavy sigh but then a moan as a kiss was laid in just the right spot. She began to swat at whoever had done it but it was more playful as she rolled on top of that particular man. “I’m rather busy.”

As he moved down the hallway, he started to think of the many ways he could tell Lotus of his feelings. His feet moved slow, not wanting to reach the door yet. He hoped that she would be there. Maybe catching on some sleep before he saw her again. They didn’t get that much sleep when they were together. The thought made him smirk.

When he reached the door, he could hear the moans inside, and found the location of the smell. “What the fuck.” He said in anger then through open the door. There she laid with a man between her legs and more around her. His eyes narrowed. Her words angered him even more. If his demon was still in control of his actions, he would've killed them all. Even her.

“Should've known you were a whore.” Daulton said, his anger lining every word that rolled off his tongue. He tossed the flowers he had bought for her at her. He didn’t mean to hit her right in the face but he didn’t care. He slammed the door behind him and walked out of the inn.

His mind raced about the millions of ways he was a fool. He wasn’t paying attention once more and happened to bump into the woman from before. He caught her wrist like before and pulled her to him. His hands held both sides of her face and kissed her lips. Maybe Lotus would see this from her window? He hopped she did.

The kiss was quick and the girl was taken off guard. He moved away soon after and ran. He didn’t look back at the girl he kissed. He didn’t even know her name. He just ran, and ran out of the city. He didn’t want to look back, he didn’t care about anything anymore because his heart was breaking. He didn’t cry, he couldn’t let himself to. Men don’t cry over whores.