Lottie shook her head. They weren't understanding. Maybe they couldn't understand how what they did could be so warped and twisted. Surrounded by the family she had, Lottie had learned early what mortals could do with the gifts given to them. She hated to see affection and friendship used and abused in such dark ways, but it did happen. Had the erotes never seen love misused before, or did they just not want to see it this time?
“No, it shouldn't be a game,” she repeated. “But it is. It is and it was with Nicolas. This was his intent along along, this is what he planned. I don't know what your influence did to him, Eros, but it didn't make him any more sincere. He used me, he did it deliberately, because this is what they're all doing.”
Philotes swallowed then went on. “It gets worse. Romantic love is encourged to be played as this game, with the woman being some unattainable goal. I lost because I really fell in love. Do you understand that? They're making it so that true, genuine relationships are wrong, frowned upon, mocked. You lose if you really fall in love. It's... it's warped. And wrong.”
Her voice had grown stronger as she spoke, though the tears had yet to stop. Would they never stop? Her eyes went to Eros and she said, “How can this be made better? Make them stop.” She turned her pleading look on Anteros. “Make them all stop. They have to stop ruining love.”