Chapter 203: A pact with yourself
A light tapping was heard and the soft voice of Fiona echoed on the other side of the tent.
"Are you two awake? We’ve made breakfast and are planning to get up and going soon. Um. I’d also like to speak to Cass, too, if that’s okay." Cass felt every muscle in his body tense. So, it was time. Time for him to face this, without any damn answers.
Well, he had a few, but he was left with more questions than answers. He had a feeling that Fiona was going to ask him things that he wouldn’t know.
Cass let out a shuddering breath, his lungs feeling paralyzed. At least he didn’t think he was going to cry. That was something he should make into a pact. He should do his best not to cry three days in a row. What a fucking concept.
He’d never had to make that kind of a pact with himself before, but look at him go. Look at him having to adapt to new situations.
"Just...give me a minute to get dressed." Cass told her quietly and listened to her shuffle outside. He’d never questioned it before now, but why was he able to hear things so clearly? Why had he been able to hear things that only dragons and Vespertine had been able to hear before? He might have thought it was a fairy thing, but he’d only had Ser Hune as an option to refer back to.
He hadn’t interacted with her enough to find that out.
Letting out a shuddering breath, Cass tried to gather himself up. He’d been falling apart for two days. He needed to figure his shit out. The more he fell apart, the more ’they’ won. Who the fuck were ’they’? That didn’t matter. Not right now.
He just needed someone to be on the other side of this. He couldn’t let ’them’ win. He needed to harden himself, pick himself up, and prove that this wasn’t going to be what took him down. It wasn’t like Lord Blackburn wasn’t used to being accused that he was a demon. Or from a demon worshiping family.
It was just...true, now. And he just needed to wrap his head around it, push it down, and process it later. Away from Lucian and his tempting arms.
"Of course Cass. I’ll speak to you in a few minutes." Fiona’s voice was warm, soft. Not at all like someone who was planning to kill him in a few minutes. He really hoped that wasn’t the case.
"Are you sure?" Lucian asked and Cass let out a sigh. He closed the book, since it was missing some of the information that he wanted anyway, and tucked it back into his bag.
"Am I sure what?" Cass asked, intentionally playing dumb as the man’s arms tightened around his waist, pulling him closer.
"Are you sure you want to get up? I’m not going to judge you if you stay down. I can just carry you around today. We have two front liners, I can hang back and be with you." Lucian’s tone was serious, and Cass felt himself pause.
"I’d still have to get up if we went with that plan." Cass said and Lucian snorted.
"No you wouldn’t. I’d wrap you up in one of these blankets, keep you all nice and warm and just carry you around." Lucian was suggesting that he...burritoed Cass and carry him around through an undead dungeon? This man was insane.
"No, we aren’t going with that plan." Cass told him and Lucian made a noise.
"Why? It was the perfect plan after abandoning everyone else to their own devices." Lucian mumbled and Cass chuckled.
"Fiona didn’t sound like she wanted to kill me." Cass said tentatively and Lucian grumbled. His arms were tight around him, so Cass couldn’t even get up.
"She knows better than to sound like that to you." He said bitterly. "You’re a badass. You could destroy us if you wanted to." Cass looked back at him, with a raised eyebrow. Lucian looked down. "You could destroy them." He corrected and Cass chuckled. He reached behind him, hesitating before he touched the top of Lucian’s head. Lucian leaned into the touch, sighing softly as Cass’ hand sunk deeper into his hair. "Harder." Lucian murmured.
Cass sunk his fingers deeper into his hair, his nails scratching against his scalp and Cass swore he felt Lucian begin to purr. It was...Cass didn’t hate the idea that he made the man make that sound.
"You need to let go of me so I can get dressed." Cass told him softly and Lucian complained.
"No. I don’t want to. You’re soft, and I like holding you." Lucian was behaving like a kid throwing a tantrum. Like he was about to lose his favourite toy. Cass found himself smiling at the audacity.
"I’m not yours." Cass told him and Lucian grumbled.
"You could be. You’re just being stubborn." Lucian replied quickly. Bitterly. Cass found himself laughing at that.
"It’s not legal." Cass told him and Lucian grumbled. "It’s also technically cheating as well. And I don’t like that." Cass told him.
"You always bring up how it isn’t legal, but have you ever considered that some people hide that they like the same sex within marriages? Like a cover? And also, it’s not cheating. Fiona green lit it." Lucian was pouting, the purring still going on as Cass continued to scratch his scalp. "I’m going to eat the damn King at this point. Maybe that would make both you and Fiona happy. We can all get gay married or whatever the fuck it’s called." Cass nearly choked, before he burst out into laughter.
He extracted his fingers from Lucian’s hair, much to Lucian’s complaints and raised his hands above his head, linking them together to stretch. Lucian’s gaze was dragon bright as he watched him.
"You’re too pretty." Lucian complained and Cass froze, his cheeks going pink.
"I am no such thing." He replied and Lucian’s gaze narrowed.
"Yes you are. You are as pretty as a flower. A poisonous flower, but still pretty." Lucian said, a smirk on his lips. "I’m building up an immunity. So come here, I want a taste." Lucian bent, his mouth opening and Cass only had a second to brace himself as Lucian sunk his teeth into his butt. Cass let out a screech that had Lucian releasing his hold, laughing.
"You’re a damn beast!" Cass said angrily, furious as he weaseled out of Lucian’s hold. Lucian sat up, wiping his bottom lip as he grinned smugly at the flushed face of Cass. He licked his lips.
"Tasty." He said and Cass stared at him, before he huffed.
"Get out." Cass growled, getting to his feet and holding the spot where Lucian had bit. Lucian pouted.
"But I’m not dressed." He complained and Cass rumbled.
"You don’t give a shit about that. I’m also pretty sure you don’t sweat. Get out, Lucian. Or I’ll go back to calling you Draken." Lucian’s eyes widened and he scrambled, getting to his feet and racing out of the tent, his chest bare. Cass could hear Vespertine laughing at him and then the loud sound of skin meeting flesh. Cass shook his head.
Taking the time to rub the pulsing bite mark that was on his ass, Cass made sure that the flaps were closed before he started pulling out his outfit for the day. He was determined not to ask for help, so while some things that he would normally wear as Lord Blackburn were missing, he still felt like he was fully dressed. Sam might have a heart attack, but he wasn’t here right now.
This had to be what it was. He also was a bit too worked up to use normal magic. After all, who the fuck bit someone’s ass while they were sitting down? He didn’t even get a good-
Cass shut that thought down immediately, his own eyes widening at where his thoughts had been going. Not fucking way was he giving Lucian any more space in his head right now. He was supposed to be speaking to Fiona right now.
Opening the flap of the tent, Cass stepped out, adjusting his collar. Fiona turned to look at him, before she blinked.
"My goodness. You look...good, Cass." Fiona said, scanning him. Lucian was glowering at him.
"You should go change. You look too pretty." Lucian said and Cass snorted.
"Who are you to call me pretty, and also, the undead don’t care how I’m dressed." Cass snapped and Lucian crossed his arms. He’d somehow found a shirt from somewhere, but it looked extra slutty right now. He practically saw a nipple when he folded his arms across his chest, plumping them up. Cass scoffed, turning his head away to meet Fiona’s slightly sparkling eyes.
She gestured for Cass to join her a few steps away. Where Lady Ava was also waiting. Lord Ridgewood was...near Vespertine, and wasn’t meeting his gaze. Cass swallowed.
"We just want to have a few words with you, Cass." She said. Her eyes were warm, showing that she held no ill will. Her arms were wide, her palms up. Like she was gentling a scared wild animal.
Cass swallowed, not really liking the comparison, but it was also...reasonable. Cass had thought about fleeing. That was something an animal who was cornered would do. Cass inhaled and exhaled, before he nodded and made his way towards where Lady Ava was. He could feel both Lucian and Vespertine watching them. He was sure both of their eyes were glowing, and with the confirmed knowledge that Cass had, his gut churned.
Did Lady Ava know that Vespertine was a demon? Was he being called something else? Was there a reason a demon was in the family that ran the temple? What was he about to walk into? Were they going to ask him to leave the hero party?
He probably would like the last outcome, but he wondered how far it would go. Would they ask him to sell the house to them? Or ask for it as compensation for lying to them? Was it lying if you yourself didn’t know? Cass was confused, concerned, and even with his quick breaths to try and calm himself, he could feel how damp his palms were.
Get it together Cass. You are not crying for three days in a row.