Chapter 124: Chaptter 124

The mists had gotten thinner at this point and he stepped out into the endless plains with perfectly still grass, not a single black blade of grass swaying despite the gloomy atmosphere.

Dulce took out a vial of blood, walking further away from the mountains. He could feel his throat closing, the black mist was the same poison he had been poisoned by from Asael’s blade.

He drank the vial of blood, catching his breath. On his journey through Noctyrn, he had seen the cause of the mist. Giant mushrooms, thousands of them.

They glowed an eerie black light, constantly releasing spores until they saturated everything around. With how many of them there were, he was surprised that this open field was untouched by the spores.

Dulce hesitated before summoning a Demon, having never had to do it before. But it was fundamental knowledge in summoning Demons, his case was an odd one, summoned Demons usually remained in the Hells until their summoners called for them.

The portal instantly appearing caught him off guard, Ruoxi stepping out of the portal with a tense expression. "Where is Asael?" He demanded, relaxing slightly when he saw it was just the two of them for miles around.

"Asleep..." Dulce started to explain, letting Ruoxi take his hand and lead him into the portal that never closed.

They stepped out onto the oasis in the Rahana desert, the sun was just rising, the morning sun gentle.

"Thank you," Dulce said softly, looking around. "How long has it been?"

"A little over a week," Ruoxi filled him in.

Dulce’s eyes widened, startled. He hadn’t realized that he had been in a trance for that long. "Where are Caedos and Kath’tan?" He asked again, more shaken by their absence than by the realization of how long he had been in the Hells.

"Cooking,"

"...What?"

Dulce right away started for the kitchen, he had been worried about how they would fare in the desert without servants, and that was before he found out that he had been in Noctyrn for well over a week.

Of all the sights he expected to meet, seeing Caedos cook slabs of meat with his breath didn’t even come to mind. The Hellhound took up most of the space in the kitchen, Kath’tan standing nearby to make sure the meat cooked evenly.

"Oh," He murmured, drawing attention to himself.

"Where is Asael?" Kath’tan asked right away.

"In Noctyrn. I didn’t return with him."

"I’m surprised he let you go," Kath’tan quipped, his attention focused on the roasting skewered meat.

"He didn’t exactly let me go, I left while he was asleep..." He trailed off, "Did the kitchen run out of wood?" He had to ask, concerned that Caedos had to be the one to provide fire.

"There’s wood?" Kath’tan asked blankly.

"Don’t leave again," Ruoxi chimed in, taking both of his hands. "I’m sick of spiced meat."

Kath’tan shot him a look, "Then you can have it unspiced."

The meat was finally deemed as properly cooked, Caedos rising on all fours to shift. The Hellhound immediately beelined for Dulce, pulling him away from Ruoxi and out the door.

"Don’t take him away and leave me here with this Fiend and his fiendish cooking," Ruoxi protested when Dulce was led out the door.

Kath’tan just swept him a look, plating his cooking without indulging the Incubus.

Just down the hallway, Dulce let himself be led around, self-conscious and wary of making another promise he couldn’t keep. "Do you also need to visit the Hells?" He asked timidly, starting to pick up patterns.

"Not yet," Caedos slowed down as they entered Dulce’s room, "I’ll soon have to leave to save my kind."

Dulce did his best to keep his emotions from his face, "How soon?" He had to ask. They were still on their journey, they hadn’t even gotten to Dewmire yet, so he could have a short while to read by the fireplace.

Caedos glanced down at their joined hands, "It doesn’t matter, I’ll return." He said calmly, staring into silver-blue eyes. "It’s too dangerous to take you with me so become my mate."

Dulce went from hopeful to stunned, blinking. "W-What?"

"So I can keep a part of you with me all the time," Caedos patiently explained, his tone serious.

"I don’t think..." He trailed off, at a loss. "I’m an old Vampire who can’t die, I’m not fit to be-"

"You are," The Hellhound cut in, his mind long made up.

"I have no love to give, you would just be tied down with me." Dulce tried again.

Caedos thought it over, "That’s fine, I want you tied to me."

"But-"

"Would you become my mate then if I return?" Caedos asked, his hazel eyes intense.

"Wouldn’t you need to take the throne when your kind are rescued?" Dulce took a step back, trying to diffuse the situation.

Caedos pulled back, pulling him even closer until he had to crane his neck back to keep eye contact with the Hellhound. "There’s no throne to take, my final duty to them is to save them. So will you?"

Dulce went quiet, deep in thought, while rescuing his kind, there was no chance that Caedos wouldn’t find someone else more fitting. He would accept that even if the Hellhound didn’t return; if agreeing would make his treacherous mission lighter even for a short while, then he could indulge him.

"Don’t make up your mind yet, you might find someone more fitting." He said lightly.

Caedos didn’t lose his focus, the intensity in his gaze only deepening. "And if my mind remains unchanged?"

Dulce smiled, confident it wouldn’t be. "Alright, we can further discuss then."

Caedos didn’t hear the part of ’further discussion’, convinced that Dulce had agreed to his proposal. His heated stare dropped from those smiling eyes to Dulce’s lips, struck with the unwanted image of seeing the Vampire kissed.

Dulce turned away, eager to get started on the journey back to the west. He wanted to make the most of Caedos’ company before the Hellhound had to leave.

He looked over his shoulder to find Caedos still standing where he left him, the Hellhound’s gaze tracking his every movement.