“One day yes. I believe they fear losing me like they did my parents. I remind them a lot of my mother. She died so easily of a broken heart that it scares them.” It was true that an angel’s heart was easily broken and that was why Rem and her grandma were so cautious with her.

Astrid tilted her head and smiled. “You will. It might take a bit before she opens up but… she isn’t always such a hard ass. She is a sweet person to especially to Kite and Tempest.” She chuckled a bit and smiled. “Well she let you come here and that is a start. She just is rude with her words.”

She let out a squeal as he pulled her up and laughed. “I can, its more of a little tribe though. They don’t have buildings and Daphne doesn’t know why they started to center around her tree house. Though she suspects they think she is the forest guardian who will protect them from a great evil.” She followed him and he helped her climb down the ladder. She dropped herself after she felt safe enough to.

There were plenty of tribesmen that were checking out the small group. Daphne was showing Alden how to cook using the natural resources of the rainforest. Astrid beckoned him just a bit. “There are ents here too. I like them but sometimes they can get moody and Daphne gets into arguments with them.” She laughed as she reached into a basket and gave him a durian fruit. “It smells really bad but it tastes really good… Trust me?”

“Don’t ruin your lunch too much,” Daphne yelled over to them. Astrid blushed a bit and laughed waving back over to them.

“Daphne is one of Aunt Angela’s daughters.” She informed him as they walked. She munched on pieces of the durian as they walked through the small tribal area. “There is a small vegetable garden that Daphne has for herself in the back too.”

As she spoke of her parents, Daulton listened. He regretted what he had done to her. She had a strong heart, but sometimes the strongest of hearts could be broken. He resisted a sigh and decided to not think about the past any longer. He needed to make up what he had done to her. The half demon didn’t want to be the one who broke her heart.

While he helped her to the ladder, his thought about what she had said about her grandmother. He didn’t know how he would ever like someone like her, but he was opened to the idea. He would give her another chance to change his mind. Deep down, the half demon didn’t think she could. She was old enough that she wouldn’t change, what he saw was who she was. Maybe even just a bit of who she was. With a mental shrug, he pushed his thoughts away.

Climbing down the ladder after Astrid, Daulton jumped down just like her. When he saw his brother he waved a bit. Alden waved back but continued to help Daphne. The half demon turned his attention back to Astrid as she started to speak. He nodded. “They are grumpy old men.” He said with a laugh, thinking about the time he met a few with his uncle.

When she offered him a fruit, he took it into his hands. Turning it this way and that, he inspected it. He was taken back by the smell but didn’t let that stop him. He peeled back the spiky skin and then bit into it. She was right. After he swallowed he nodded to her. “Very good. The smell though… Wooo. “ He made a face then started to walk alongside Astrid. He just then noticed her wings were missing. “She looks beautiful either way…” He thought to himself as a smile appeared on his face while she spoke. “It is really nice of Daphne to take you in.” He commented as they walked.

“Veggies are good and all, but sometimes you just need a good steak.” He smiled a bit at his words. “Hopefully you're not vegetarian.” He said to her then took another bite of the fruit in his hands. His eyes roamed the area as they walked side by side. His eyes occasionally looking at her. “So what are you going to do? Stay here? Or will you return to Arri?” He asked her, he hoped that she would return sometime soon. Alden and himself would have to leave soon. They really weren’t even supposed to be gone.

“It would be nice to see you in Arri sometime.” Daulton commented, hoping she would get his meaning. He really didn’t want to say it. They were “friends” after all.

Astrid looked at Daulton and tilted her head. “Grandma didn’t tell you? She sent me here to stay with Daphne so I could have a vacation away from Arri. Apparently, Grandma went and seen Aunt Angela and had it worked out… She never does that. Aunt Angela and her get into fights all the time so… It was weird that my grandma cared enough to talk to her… She wouldn’t tell me what she had to do for this favor though.” She frowned a bit and soon she was cheerful again.

She laughed a bit and shook her head. “Oh no, while it’s true Rosenites mostly eat vegetables and fruits we still do like meat. Depending on the person cooking the meat is really good.” She smiled at him. “I will come back to Arri. I was just here because I was upset at you and thought I would see you… So Grandma asked me to take a break and come here. Learn the wilds through Daphne.” She got his meaning and gave him a smile. “I’ll be back home soon.”

There was rustling in front of them and she stopped for a minute. “Keira? Is that you?” A large golden dire wolf came out. It had green eyes and it was staring at Daulton. Before long its form began to shift and it was a tall nude blonde girl with green eyes.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’ve been here in the forest watching to make sure you didn’t trip and fall. Oh, and that Daulton didn’t get overly lost from Mother’s quest.” She moved over to a little hideaway and pulled out some clothes. “Thanks to Daphne I had clothes stashed here already.” She pulled her shirt and pants on before tying up her blonde hair.

“Oh… Grandma was that worried?” Astrid tilted her head.

“Not particularly. She said that Daulton was the type that could protect himself and Alden had been told beforehand where to find you if Daulton got lost. I was here just to make sure that nothing overly bad happened out of the blue. In case that you didn’t know that Daulton, my mother told Alden where Astrid was this whole time.” Keira smiled at him. “I hope my yelling at the manor didn’t startle you too much. It’s just she does that to everyone she perceives as a threat.” Keira rubbed the back of her neck.

“Didn’t she do that to Torn?”

“Yeah… but we were pregnant and she didn’t know him… The dragonfire whiskey she was going to give you knocked him on his ass.” Keira came over to them and smiled at Daulton. “She’s a hard ass because she is a warrior. It’s all she knows and I know it’s hard to look past that but when Torn found out how she actually was she was like his mother. He idolized her and loved her as his mother. She’s gotten over you now so she shouldn’t be such a pain in the ass to you anymore. Can’t say the same for Daddy though. He is still going on about his baby girls bringing boys into the house. Mom has been telling him to get the hell over it… It’s quite the thing to listen to. I think he is thinking about locking Tempest up.” Astrid chuckled a bit.

“The children you saw in the manor are mine and Torn’s. He’s gone now but they are still here at least.” Keira gave a smile. “I’ll be heading back now… Daphne should be able to get you all home from here.” Keira waved and walked off in the opposite direction she came.

“See? Everything will be alright!” Astrid was so happy that she clung to Daulton’s arm and smiled up at him. “I’ll have to show you everything in Sularia when we get back. Besides, I have to go back… My cousin is getting married!”

Daulton’s life hasn’t been one for settling down. Even as a child he would travel with his family. They had a family home but it was never for more than a few months. Arri was the first place he really stayed at, but he still kept leaving. He loved adventure, the thrill of fighting, and sex. Ever since the encounter with Lotus, it was like he couldn't get enough. He would also take her rule as well, no love. He didn’t want to love again after her. She ripped out his heart and stomped on it.

That was until Astrid, he felt warm around her. The aurora that always shined from her kept him happy. It wasn’t the sexual attraction that drew him to her, it was her love for life and family. She loved to smile. He did want to sleep with her, but not as much as he wanted her presence. He was glad just to be standing beside her.

As he walked beside her, he listened to her speak. Their hands would brush against each other every so often. He kept the smirk from appearing on his lips. “Soft,” he would think every time. “I’m glad.” He said to her after she said she would come back to Arri again. That was her home after all, he didn’t know why he was worried for a moment. 

All thoughts vanished when her heard the rustling from the plants before them. He stood ready, he wasn’t sure if it was a wolf ready to attack them, or just a bunny. You couldn’t really know while walking in a forest. When the creature emerged from the bushes, he sighed. He was right about the wolf part, but she didn’t attack. Astrid was quick to speak when the wolf appeared so he knew that the wolf was not a threat.

The wolf before them soon transformed into a human. A naked girl in fact. While the two women conversed, he couldn’t help but let his eyes wander. “Damn.” he thought to himself as his eyes traveled up her body. He didn’t even notice the scar on her chest.

Realizing that Astrid was still there, he cleared his throat and quickly turned around. He didn’t apologize, maybe they didn’t see? He only stared for a quick second before turning around, but that second was a long one.

After he heard the rustling of clothes stop, he took his que to turn back around. He smiled at him when his eyes met hers. Her comment towards him. “No, it didn’t.” He returned her smile then nodded at her words about her children. Thinking back to the children, he never really thought if he wanted kids, but he knew not now. He was lucky enough not to have any after the women he had slept with.

Daulton soon let out a laugh at the excitement of the girl beside him. “She sure is cute when she is excited.” Daulton thought to himself then nodded. “I would like that.” He agreed to her showing him around. Then the marriage hit. He thought back to his father in that moment. Resisting a sigh he pushed his thoughts away. “Let's get back and eat.” He laid his hand over hers that was on his arm and smiled down at her.

Astrid had noticed him eyeing her cousin but she couldn’t fault him for it. He was a man with wants after all and while some would have turned away Daulton didn’t seem like the type that would. He noticed her though and he immediately he went to respecting her and she let out a little chuckle.

Together they all ate dinner and shared wild tales. Though it appeared that Daphne had the best as she told stories of the forest around them. At some points it made Astrid jump and it appeared like Daphne knew Astrid’s buttons and pushed them. They all laughed and it was wonderful.

In the morning, they all said goodbye to Daphne who told them she would be making her way back to Sularia for the wedding herself but not with them. Sadly she couldn’t stay as the forest needed her here. Astrid hugged her cousin and set out with Alden and Daulton to go back to the capital of Arri.

Once they got there she was shocked to find out that the wedding was being postponed due to Cyprus’s attacks on the courts of Arri and the trouble she was stirring. It was shocking to her but she knew that everything would be alright eventually. She parted from Daulton and Alden only to go home and scold her grandmother for being so rude to Daulton. Things could possibly never really change, not that she minded. Not now at least.