Chapter 166: A joke made in poor taste
Turning in for the night after the whole affair was quite awkward. Especially since Cass had agreed to share a tent with Lord Ridgewood.
Cass could feel the turmoil that Lord Blackburn was feeling, and also the hissy fit he was throwing because Cass didn’t do what he wanted. There had been a few times where Lord Blackburn had stepped in and tried to take over. Well, not tried. He had. But this was the first time that Cass had tried to resist him taking over in that situation.
Even if he didn’t like Lord Ridgewood, sharing a tent with him was going to be fine. It wasn’t like he was sharing a tent with Vespertine or Lucian. Lord Ridgewood had shown no interest in Cass. At all.
Plus, the man had thrown a huge stink about his sharing a tent with someone of the opposite sex. Clearly, he wasn’t thinking of him in that way, and honestly, Cass didn’t need another of Lady Fiona’s husbands interested in him. He was barely surviving with Lucian focusing on him. He felt the only reason why Vespertine wasn’t putting more effort into it was lack of interest, and Lady Ava.
He really hoped that it was a lack of interest. He wasn’t about stealing other people’s husbands, even if they were neglecting them. He didn’t like the idea of being a homewrecker.
Either way, Sir Forsythe remained around until Cass had eaten more, and taken his medication. Lady Fiona had then stepped in and helped Cass wrap his hands. Cass didn’t mind that he wouldn’t be able to change after that, since he wasn’t Lord Blackburn, but Sir Forsythe stepped in. He helped Cass into the tent and helped him change.
It was odd, because Sir Forsythe did make a comment that this reminded him of Cass’ childhood and how he used to help him change when he was a kid. Why would Sir Forsythe, who was a knight and guard, be helping a young Lord Blackburn change?
If Cass thought about it too much, his blood might boil over. Fuck that grandpa of his. He never really had respect for his elders before this, but he really didn’t now. It felt like all the people older than Lord Blackburn, except Sir Forsythe had abandoned him when he needed it the most.
Damn it, he was getting himself worked up.
But now he was in his sleeping attire, his bed of several blankets had been made for him by Sir Sanders while Sir Forsythe had helped him change, he was feeling tired now that the food he had eaten had caught up with him, and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.
Lucian and Lady Fiona could tell that he was crashing. Everyone else was getting ready for bed themselves since they did have an early morning, but it was clear that Vespertine and Lord Ridgewood were going to stay up a little later. They hadn’t changed yet, and were sitting down on a wooden log near the fire. Cass could tell they had a little bottle of something nearby, with two small glasses.
It was cute that they were going to do something together. Cass smirked.
"Feeling tired, Cassian?" Lucian asked, reaching out and placing his hand on his shoulder. Cass turned his attention towards him as he and Lady Fiona approached. Both were also dressed for bed. Both were modest, relatively. Lucian wasn’t wearing a top at all, and Cass was fighting for his life to not look lower than his neck.
So he turned his attention towards Lady Fiona, who had a knowing look in her eyes. Cass coughed into his wrapped hand as Lady Fiona crossed her arms, a knowing look on her face as she turned towards two of her husbands.
"He appears so. Did you eat enough?" She asked, glancing behind Cass as his two knights faded into the background of the night. Cass sighed.
"I did, and I am tired." Cass muttered. Lucian chuckled.
"Even after all of that sleep that you got in the carriage?" He teased and Cass cast a glare at him.
"I’m still catching up." Cass told him and Lucian’s gaze narrowed.
"I see." He commented, but Cass could tell that he had more that he wanted to say. Thankfully, he was holding himself back around everyone, so Cass didn’t have to be as tense as he felt. Lady Fiona chuckled.
"Are you sure you’re okay sharing a tent with Gideon? You can change your mind. It must be awkward right now." Lady Fiona said, worried and Cass chuckled.
"When have I ever allowed an air of awkwardness to stop me? I joined the hero party after no one wanted me here, didn’t I?" Lady Fiona froze, as did Lucian. Then Lucian glowered at Cass.
"None of that. You are a competent mage, and we were not the people who protested your joining. I only gave a small objection because I thought that was too many people for a small group. After seeing you in action, I never protested your being here." Lucian said, pissed. Cass was surprised that he was so upset.
Cass had kind of been joking, but Lucian didn’t like it at all. Nor did Lady Fiona, but she didn’t react with anger. Instead, she looked distressed.
"I didn’t know anything about your family or why people didn’t want you in the group either, Cassian. I just...I was in the same camp as Lucy. I felt like five was enough, and six was a lot. Clearly, we were both wrong as you have helped us out in dungeon after dungeon. This is the first dungeon where we don’t need your mage capabilities as much." Lady Fiona said and Cass nodded. He knew that. He knew that going forward there were going to be dungeons and that they were going to need Lord Blackburn’s skills to conquer them.
He was just trying to poke at them a little. He didn’t think that they would have responded the way that they had.
He stared at the two mostly upset heavy hitters of the hero party, and let out a small chuckle.
"Alright. You two don’t need to defend yourself. It’s fine. I was just trying to make a little joke, but clearly it was in poor taste. I was just trying to say that awkwardness has never turned me away from a situation." Cass told them and Lucian growled.
"Don’t make jokes about who wanted you here again. I don’t like it, and I’ve made my stance clear before. If I had my way-" Lucian cut himself off, turning his face away, his jaw tight. His hands were clenched, his muscles tense as he was upset himself. Cass didn’t know of anyone who tensed their whole body when they got upset, but here was Dr-Lucian proving him wrong.
Gods be damned, the man looked like a piece of fucking art. Michelangelo, move over. Just make a cast of Lucian’s body and there you fucking go.
Cass had to control himself as the other man stewed, knowing he’d be in trouble if he caught Cass looking at him. Cass knew he was in danger. He’d seen the sly way Lucian had been looking at his lips whenever he could.
It could have been flattering if they weren’t both married to the same woman. The same woman who Lucian treated like his wife.
The same women who might only be attracted to women? That part still wasn’t clear. Cass slid his gaze towards Lady Fiona who was also looking at Lucian, a soft look on her face before her gaze slid towards Cass and she gave a tight smile.
"I hope you have a good rest. Please let me know if there is anything that you need. I’ll be the second tent from the end. Lady Ava is on the furthest side from you, and Lucy and Vespertine are between your tent and mine." Lady Fiona told him. Cass nodded.
"Don’t be afraid to sneak into my tent if you get scared or need anything. I’ll be waiting with open arms." Lucian offered Cass, turning towards him with bright, orange eyes. Lucian slid his gaze to Lady Fiona as well. "If you would like the same-" He began to offer but Lady Fiona raised her hands, chuckling and shaking her head.
"No no. I’m fine, but I appreciate your concern. I can just cry into my sword." She said, joking, but Lucian frowned.
"Swords are too hard. You should cry into my chest if you want to. Cassian himself has said it’s soft." Cass couldn’t remember ever saying that. Not out loud.
Cass let out a soft gasp, realising that he hadn’t, but Lucian had heard it through their bond. That little sneak!
Lady Fiona’s face turned pink as she took in the words that Lucian said, and Cass reached out and smacked Lucian’s bare shoulder. Lucian took the hit, laughing. Cass could feel everyone looking at them, and he hated that. He really wanted to have as little attention on him as possible.
"I am sure that Lady Fiona knows that better than I do." Cass muttered, flustered, and Lady Fiona let out a snort.
"I’m sorry. I’ve only been princess carried once or twice, Cassian, and I was partially unconscious, so I don’t have a clear memory." Lady Fiona said, apologetically. Lucian grinned.
"And once was Gideon. Hmm. Should we have Gideon carry you as well and you can tell us who wins? Obviously, since Fiona has carried you before, she is the obvious winner. Not many men can win against actual breasts." Cass swallowed, hard.
Yeah. Not many men could.
Feeling like the wind was knocked out of his sails, Cass forced a smile, but he knew it held a bitter tone to it.
"Yeah. I agree." Cass muttered, before he sighed. "I should head to bed. Goodnight, everyone." Cass raised a wrapped hand, giving a small wave as Lucian stared after him, frowning in confusion as Cass practically fled.
Cass was a little concerned about why he fled too. It wasn’t as if he was expecting everyone to be like him. Never sleeping around, never having any experience. It wasn’t fair for him to have that belief. Especially Lucian who had lived far longer than Cass cared to think about. The man had to have been fucking for years. Decades, actually.
So why didn’t he like to hear about him comparing male and female chests? Why did he dislike that so much?