Thorns And Roses

Chapter Six

*Demi's list of rules*

Just because Demi can't and probably won't want children does not mean that he didn't like children. In fact he loved them. He couldn't take his eyes off the twins for even a minute. Demi understood why River was so protective over them. One look at those precious little beings would have anyone fighting tooth and nail to keep them safe. Demi included.

"Demitri, listen to me." Speaking of children, Demi pulled his eyes away from the twins to give Theodore all of his attention just to appease the man-child he was. In the very short time he has spent with Theodore, he's come to understand that he had to have everyone's eyes on him.

"Finally. Now as I was saying before you got distracted, you will be staying here and helping River around the house." Demi stiffened before he looked over at River, who sat quietly by Quinn.

"Is that okay with him? I don't want to-."

"River has already agreed to it. After you are done here, I would like for you to come up to my office. I have some things to discuss with you." Then Theodore got up and left the kitchen. Muttering "useless Omega" under his breath as he passed by Demi.

Demi clenched his fist, tight enough to leave tiny moon-shaped imprints in the palms of his hands. He tried not to let the insult get to him, but it still hurt. Demi knows it's only been less than a day since he's been there and they didn't know each other very well but did Theodore have to call him useless?

"Don't listen to him, Demitri. He's in a bad mood right now and looking for someone to take it out on." River said as he started clearing the table. Quinn was also gone, leaving them alone with the kids.

Was that supposed to make Demi feel better? What would happen if Theodore got too mad and the insults lead to an actual beating? What would Demi do then? Could he defend himself from a monster like Theodore Mateo? Probably not, seeing how he's a dragon and all.

Getting over his nerves he asked if River would like some help with the cleanup. It was something he needed to get used to since he would be helping River take care of the place.

"No. I think you need to go see, Theodore. I wouldn't keep him waiting for too long if I were you." Was River trying to scare him? Because if he was, it was working.

"I don't know where his office is." It's like everyone expected him to know these things already. Fuck, he's not a mind reader.

"It's upstairs, right across from your room. The one with the double doors."

"Okay. Thank you." Demi waved goodbye to the twins, then walked out of the kitchen. As he started ascending the stairs, an anxious feeling entered his stomach and he shook something awful. What was going to happen to him when he stood face to face with Theodore? Alone.

In the kitchen it was different. There were other people there to stop Theodore from doing something stupid. Like hurting Demi. Now it felt like he was digging his own grave with every step he took on those stairs.

When he came to a stop on top of the staircase, his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. Demi didn't want to go any further, his fear of this man made him feel like he was aiming a loaded gun at him. Demi didn't even fear his own father as much as he did Theodore.

Demi thought about running to his room and locking the door behind him. It's not like a single piece of wood would keep Theodore out, but it seemed like his only chance at life. Would Theodore hurt him though? Demi has done nothing wrong and you don't hurt someone without a reason, right?

He took in a deep breath, before leaving the edge of the steps and made his way to Theodore's office. His hand shook as he rapped his knuckles against one of the doors. He dropped his hand and stood there, his nerves making him jittery. Demi chewed on his bottom lip as he waited.

"Come in." Demi opened the door, and popped his head in but didn't go all the way in. He was too scared to go in without being told to.

"I said come in. Don't just stand there like an idiot." He flinched back at the harsh words but obeyed. Demi walked into Theodore's office, then stopped as the man glared at him.

"Shut the door behind you." Demi turned and shut the door.

"Good boy. Now come stand there." Theodore said as he pointed at a spot on the carpet. He needed to get his body under control before Demi did something irrational. He could feel a pit in the bottom of his stomach and he felt like throwing up.

Demi walked until he stood in the middle of Theodore's office, feeling like he was standing on trial to be judged or something. He froze as Theodore stood up out of his cushy-looking chair and stalked towards him.

The dragon shifter circled him, making Demi feel as if he was a piece of meat on display. It wasn't a very good feeling. Theodore finally came to stand in front of Demi, a smirk lifting the corners of his mouth.

"I have some rules that you must follow in order for your stay here." Rules? What did Demi look like, a five-year-old?

"I'm twenty-six, do I really need rules?"

"Rule number ten, do not question me. Every rule I have made for you is for your benefit Demitri." More like for Theodore's benefit. Theodore walked away from Demi and went back to his desk, picking up a piece of paper that looked like it had a list on it. How many rules did Demi have exactly?

"Here. Read them over. I am up for compromise, but only if I agree to it. If I don't like your suggestions then I will not allow them." What kind of compromise was that? Demi looked over the list of rules. He had twelve in total and didn't see a problem with most of them besides the last one.

"I'm not a kid. I don't need a bedtime." He spoke up. Of course, speaking against Theodore scared the shit out of him, but the man did say something about compromising.

"And why do you believe that? If I feel like you're not getting enough sleep, shouldn't you have a bedtime?" Why did he care if Demi was sleeping or not? Just like rule number two. Why did Theodore care if he ate all of his meals?

"Why do you care? It's my body." Where Theodore was leaning against his desk while Demi read over his rules, he instead came to stand in front of him.

Demi instantly dropped his eyes and refused to look at Theodore. He's been taught how to be an excellent Omega at a very young age. He knew how to act to gain the favor of an Alpha. It was his size that made him unlikable.

He flinched a little when Theodore took his jaw in his huge hand and lifted his head until they locked eyes. Those golden orbs could see right through Demi.

"It's not your body anymore, Demitri. Your body belongs to me. Don't you get it? You're just an Omega that needs to be owned in order to be human." That's not true. Before Demi was sold off to Theodore, he was his own person.

"I'm not yours." Demi knocked Theodore's hand off of him and took a step back. A shimmer went through those gold eyes, and Demi could tell it was pure anger and displeasure.

"That's what you think for now, Demitri. But disobey any of my rules and I will punish you." Demi gripped the paper in his hand and took another step back. What did he mean by that? How would Theodore punish him?

"What do you mean by punishing me?" Theodore tsked before he pointed at the paper in Demi's hand.

"Rule number ten. Did you already forget?" Demi dropped his head before he shook it.

"Don't just shake your head at me, I want a verbal answer. Am I going to have to make that a rule too?" He could tell Theodore was getting fed up with him.

"No, Theodore." Tears of anger and frustration clouded his vision, but he refused to let Theodore see just how much he got to Demi.

"Good boy. Now leave." Demi obeyed, the list of rules being balled up and thrown at the wall once he made it to his bedroom. How dare that man think he could get away with controlling Demi. Who the fuck did he think he was?