Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Chapter 164

Ruoxi glanced across the table at Dulce, the lower half of his face obscured behind a glass goblet. Ever since they arrived at Dewmire, he had done his best to keep his distance.

Dulce’s invitation to him to go fruit-picking the next day was pleasing. His patience had been wearing thin, but now it was a bit easier to remind himself that keeping his distance and exercising restraint were the best ways to let Dulce take the initiative.

It was about time for dinner, and they had gone through several bottles of wine. Well, it was more apt to say he had drunk most of the wine, Dulce mildly nursing a few goblets. It was no surprise, he knew that the Vampire didn’t care for grape wine.

Ruoxi’s slightly dilated irises lowered to Dulce’s slender fingers on the neck of the bottle; the Vampire was pouring him his umpteenth goblet of wine, and despite the potency of Earth’s wine being considerably less, his movements had become languid.

"I may not be around for dinner," He said quietly, bringing the goblet of wine to his lips instead of the Vampire’s fingers like he really wanted to.

Dulce looked up curiously, "Where will you be?"

"In Huayuan," Ruoxi answered honestly, "There’s something I need to attend to."

Dulce simply nodded, not questioning his reasons. "Will you be gone for long?"

Ruoxi’s gold eyes settled on the Vampire’s wine-soaked lips, there was nothing to be done in Lotus Garden, he simply needed some distance from Dulce. Being this close to the Vampire but forced to keep his hands to himself was incredibly taxing.

His hand trembled unnoticeably as he took a calm sip of wine. Dulce’s lukewarm attitude towards him was maddening; in hindsight, the Vampire hadn’t changed his treatment of him but it had only gotten more unbearable over time.

"Why?" He asked with a harmless smile, hiding the madness alight in his gold eyes. "Will you miss me?"

Dulce frowned, worried. "Will you really be gone that long?" He repeated, thinking that there was something of utmost importance the Incubus needed to attend to. "Do you need me to undo your summons?" He was quick to offer although it constricted his throat.

Ruoxi’s smile faltered, the glass goblet in his fine-boned hand sporting hair-thin cracks on its surface. "Eager to get rid of me?" He asked. His smile was still on his face, but his voice was cold.

"Of course not," Dulce denied, still worried. "Do you need me to come along with you?" He offered once more, a furrow between his brows.

The tension bled out of Ruoxi and unable to stop himself, he reached out to gently massage the spot between his brows with his thumb. "Don’t tempt me."

Confusion danced in Dulce’s eyes as he watched the Demon rise to his feet and place his half-drunk goblet of wine on the table. He bit back the rest of his questions as he watched Ruoxi walk out of the leisure room, silk robe hanging off his broad shoulders.

Since they arrived at the cottage in Dewmire, the Incubus had been very relaxed, scarcely getting dressed most days. A sharp contrast from when he was first summoned and he covered up every moment he could.

Dulce was tempted to go after the Demon but it wasn’t really his place to. If Ruoxi didn’t need his help then there was little else he could do.

Although there were servants more than willing to, Dulce rose to his feet to clean up the table, picking up Ruoxi’s goblet. He was so occupied by thoughts of the Demon that he missed the cracks in the cup, drinking the rest of his leftover wine.

Dulce’s worries were easily kept from his face, but he couldn’t help but worry that Ruoxi would go into hiding with the rest of the Cubi. Perhaps that was what was so important that he needed to leave for so long.

He barely made it down the hallway with the tray before a servant hastily took it from him, informing him that dinner was about to be served.

With little else to do, he stopped by his room briefly to freshen up, undoing the ties on his hair to run a brush through the pale locks. Even though he was so diligent with finding a way to undo Kath’tan’s summons, it saddened him.

The summoned Demons had no reason to keep remaining by his side, they could leave at any time, and then he would have to spend a bitter winter all alone, one that even a burning heath couldn’t thaw.

Dulce was a Vampire with all the advantages, he could withstand the sun and enjoy sustenance... and he couldn’t die. He had little fear and should have even fewer worries, but he was terrified of being lonely.

Pain was a much more tolerable torment than the icy cold ache of loneliness.

He was distracted at dinner, his gaze occasionally drifting to the chair Ruoxi favored, his appetite minimal.

"Where is the Incubus?" Asael was the one to ask, noticing Dulce’s listlessness.

Kath’tan glanced around the table like he was just noticing Ruoxi’s absence.

"In the Hells," Dulce snapped out of his haze, "He said there was something important he needed to attend to."

Asael’s expression brightened a fraction, pleased with the Incubus’ absence. Privacy with Dulce was a rare commodity, with one less aggravating Demon around, he could finally spend some time with the Vampire.

"Would you like to go fishing tomorrow?" He right away invited. He disdained company while he fished with the sole exception of Dulce.

"I-" Dulce cut himself off, reminded that he was supposed to go fruit-picking with Ruoxi but now the Demon was gone. "I would," He completed.

The candles on the table swayed gently, illuminating the dining room. Outside, the wind picked up, it could be heard blowing through the trees around and against the solid cottage.

Dulce decided that he would wait for Ruoxi to return before he went fruit picking... he glanced out the windows which were closed to prevent the candles from being blown out... he hoped the Demon would return before winter.