Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Chapter 178

Ruoxi didn’t rouse until it was almost noon, he woke up to find Lady Lihua and Qingyi on either side of him, studying him gravely.

"I can’t even have privacy during bath time?" He said dryly, his voice low and raspy.

"You’re starving," Lady Lihua pointed out bluntly, making no attempt to move away. "I’ll arrange a meal for you."

"No need," Ruoxi sat up, steaming water falling off his powerful body.

Qingyi shot Lady Lihua a knowing look. "Then go off and eat." She shooed him away. "With how much trouble you are already, it would be a catastrophe if you lost yourself."

Having no patience to deal with their squabbling, Ruoxi warped from the bath to his room. His movements were languid but his body felt taut, uncomfortably strung up.

He paid no attention to the soft gold glow of his mark which made an appearance sometime while he was asleep, dressing up. He created a portal to Earth in an unbelted robe and comfortable pants, his hair perfect although he hadn’t even bothered to run a brush through it.

Ruoxi stepped out in Dulce’s room before he could stop himself - he was supposed to be waiting for the Vampire to take the initiative. The room was surprisingly empty, and after a quick sweep through the cottage, he noted that the cottage was empty as well.

Deducing that they were in Fairwyn, he stumbled to his room and got on his bed. Regardless of his choice on the matter, he was forced to wait for Dulce to come to him, he closed his eyes to the canopy above his bed.

-+-

Dulce ended up getting taught until the sun started to set, he startled at that, reminded that he had left the others waiting for him.

"I have to leave now, I’ll come for another teaching session." He said, already heading out before he could be prevented. "Thank you for all your help, Miss Moira."

Moira waved him off from the stairs, too focused on watching him walk out of the alley to notice her father’s appearance. Thus she left herself completely open to being smacked on the head with his crooked staff.

Unaware of the violence his departure had heralded, Dulce picked up the pace, wearing his guilt on his face as he hurried to the tavern, where Asael had said they would wait for him.

He found them easily, hurrying over. "I apologize for making you wait so... long?" He trailed off, noticing for the first time that Kath’tan was slumped over the table.

"What’s wrong with him?" He asked in astonishment, forgetting his apology for a moment.

Asael rose to his feet, emptying the jug in his hand before placing it on the table. "He’s drunk. Let’s go." He said shortly, taking the Vampire’s wrist.

"Wait..." Dulce protested, getting the air knocked out of him when Kath’tan suddenly sat up as he was pulled along by Asael, reaching for him. The Demon easily caught him by the waist and pulled him down on his legs, wrapping him up in his powerful arms.

The Fiend smelled like he had been doused in a drum of ale, roasted malt clinging to his dark red skin.

Dulce suppressed the shiver that went down his spine when Kath’tan clung to him, the Demon nuzzling his neck.

"Dulce..." Kath’tan hummed into the curve of his neck, his hands starting to roam.

Asael rescued him in record time, but he could still feel Kath’tan’s low hum buzzing through him, right from the shell of his ear.

"We can’t leave him behind," He reminded even as he put the Shadow Demon between them, they were in public after all.

"He’ll follow," Asael said carelessly, going ahead without checking to see if the Fiend followed or not.

Dulce did look behind him, constantly. Kath’tan had shot to his feet as soon as he went out of reach, walking behind them with impressive balance even though his usual dark purple eyes had gone magenta.

"How much did he drink?" He leaned closer to Asael to whisper, worried.

"One jar less than I did," The Shadow Demon replied vaguely.

Dulce looked him over, they had gone out of sight now, standing behind a tall building that seemed to have once been a temple. Asael looked no different than usual, it was difficult to believe he had drunk more than Kath’tan.

"And how much did you drink?" He tried again, watching Kath’tan slowly close the distance.

The sun had almost set by now, the gentle blue of twilight slowly suffusing the once red sky,

"I lost count after the twentieth jug," Asael said flippantly, pulling the Vampire up against him before warping away.

Dulce was clinging to Asael when they got to the cottage, his worried expression immediately easing when Kath’tan appeared next to them. "I should..." He started to say, already walking towards the Fiend.

Asael stopped him, "You should check up on the Incubus." He said cryptically, "He’ll sleep it off."

Dulce’s concern for Ruoxi momentarily surpassed Kath’tan’s drunken state. "Right. I’ll return." He said seriously, turning around to leave.

Asael glanced over at Kath’tan with dim, dark eyes, he knew the Vampire wouldn’t be returning so soon, possibly not tonight. Just as he predicted, as soon as Dulce stepped out of the Fiend’s reach, he flashed forward.

Asael easily intercepted the drunk Demon, physically moving him to the bed. Dulce had stepped out of his bedroom by then, none the wiser.

Kath’tan had been about to immediately rise, only to get distracted by a familiar scent. The bed was immensely comfortable, his eyes heavily dropping closed as soon as he sank into the bed.

Asael watched this display with envy and displeasure, after making sure the Demon was truly out cold, he made his way to his room. The scent of lotus was even stronger in the hallway, it made him pause outside his double doors and turn to glance at the Incubus’ room.

Dulce had already gone in.

There was no need to interfere now, he would only get influenced by the Demon’s aphrodisiac and that would just bring more trouble to Dulce