Chapter 205: Poking the bear
Cass felt like he was a little bit in a daze as he left the small meeting he’d had with the girls. He could tell that Lucian and Vespertine were staring at him, both watching him as the trio came out from behind the tents.
"I’m sorry that I blessed all the food we brought with us." Lady Ava whispered behind him, and Cass nearly jumped out of his skin. He raised his hands, placating her as he felt an awkward smile touch his lips.
"It’s fine, Lady Ava." Cass said, trying to sooth the woman whose eyes were already swollen red from tears. She shook her head, looking miserable.
"No. It’s not okay. You...You’re trying to teach me how to use my powers better, and it’s not as if we can ignore the fact that they hurt you." Lady Ava said, her bottom lip trembling. "I can’t believe...I’m sorry again." Lady Ava apologised again and Cass wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to do about this.
She was going to feel guilt about this for a while, but Cass? He didn’t really feel like he had the patience for this. It was fine if she felt guilty, she’d been causing him, and others pain, for a long time. Thinking about when Sam had exploded on her because she had begun to pray over all of the food?
Cass hid the fact that he wanted to smile by covering his mouth, pretending to be thoughtful while he kind of wanted to bask in her apologies for making his life difficult.
"It’s okay, Lady Ava. For normal people, it wouldn’t hurt them." Cass said gently and Fiona sighed.
"Exactly. Cass is also going to find it annoying if you keep crying and apologising to him every time you see him. That, and others will catch on that something happened between you two." Fiona said and Lady Ava sniffed.
"I can’t help it! What am I supposed to do when I just found out I was practically killing someone without being aware that I was? Wouldn’t you be crying too?" Cass was surprised at the tone that Lady Ava took with Fiona. He’d certainly never heard it outside of when she was spiraling, but she didn’t have that crazed look in her eyes. She actually seemed...normal.
So this was just a woman pissed off at a...former lover? Oo. Cass felt his lips twitch again. It was nice to be able to watch this instead of being a participant in it. Cass watched as Fiona’s face fell slightly. She looked shocked. Like she couldn’t believe that Lady Ava was talking to her like this.
Cass could believe it. There was a reason he wasn’t telling Lady Ava to fuck off. She was in shock, like Cass was. Cass just also had two days of crying and feeling bad for himself, so he was a little sick and tired of being a weepy idiot. Lady Ava hadn’t ever had that same kind of belief. She rocked being a crying, weeping, bleeding heart. It suited her image as a saintess. Got her some good brownie points. Kudos to Lady Ava for actually meaning it, and not just putting on an act.
"Oh! Uh, well..." Fiona was pretty bad at this. Cass almost felt like stepping in and comforting Lady Ava in her place. Almost.
Instead, Cass headed towards the bench closest to Lord Ridgewood and sat down, just to spite him. He began pulling out his food supply, feeling everyone stare at him as he did so.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lord Ridgewood exclaimed and Cass blinked, turning towards Lord Ridgewood. He was still rustling through his bag when he met Lord Ridgewood’s angry gaze. He looked pissed. It was one of the few times that Cass had seen the man show a full, real emotion on his face.
Cass couldn’t help the smile that touched his lips.
"Oh? Does this bother you? Why?" Cass asked, a devil in him. Lord Ridgewood looked disgusted, and when he raised his gaze, it didn’t change.
"I’m sure Fiona already told you why this bothers me." Lord Ridgewood ground out and Cass let out a snort.
"I don’t think that’s really a valid reason, Lord Ridgewood. Stop being such a bigot. Even Lady Ava isn’t as harsh as you are." Cass said and watched as Lord Ridgewood’s nostrils flared. He bent, leaning down until their faces were closer. Cass took this moment to examine him.
It was the first time he’d seen his face this close. Lord Ridgewood had kept his distance thus far and it was only when he was filled with righteous anger that he got this close. It made Lord Blackburn’s fear and unease around this man feel...justified?
"Lady Ava was raised to be kind and forgiving. I wasn’t raised to believe such values." Lord Ridgewood said slowly, and Cass stared into his green eyes, scanning them.
"Wow. I’m amazed. It was only a few days ago when you were pestering me about what it was like to be visited by the gods, and now you’re like this. I feel apologetic to Fiona who has to be married to a man with such a short fuse." Lord Ridgewood’s eyes widened.
It was a hilarious thing to say when Lucian was nearby. The man flew off the handle all the time, and frequently it was Lord Ridgewood or Lord Blackburn who would have cleaned up his mess. It was why Cass had said it. He knew it would upset him.
Cass wanted to see how far he could push him before Lord Ridgewood put hands on him. How far he could go so that he knew his limits. Lord Ridgewood’s face twisted, pure shock and anger there.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Me? A short fuse?" Lord Ridgewood repeated and Cass raised an eyebrow, pulling out a piece of jerky and biting into it casually. He could feel the anger radiating off of him like a wave. He was sure that if he reached out he would be able to touch it.
"I said what I said. Why? Does that upset you? I don’t understand why it would? Or maybe I didn’t say it the right way. You’re very...hot and cold? Moody? Does that sound better?" Cass asked and watched as Lord Ridgewood desperately grabbed into his knight training to calm himself. "See? Look at how you have to calm down. Just call me slurs, Lord Ridgewood. I know you want to." Cass said casually, watching as Lord Ridgewood’s face dropped slightly.
"I don’t-I would never-" Cass waved a hand dismissively, looking away from the other man. He stared at the small firepit, still able to see the man who was reeling from Cass’ attack in his peripheral vision.
"Don’t lie. I can see it in your eyes that you want to call me nasty names. Say I’m a liar and a cheat. I’m sure you’re just itching to have me burning at a stake like the old days." Cass said, chuckling. "It’ll be good for you guys too. One less Ducal family to worry about. A bloodline that ends with me." Cass’ lips turned up, but it wasn’t a happy smile. It was painful, harsh and he could feel how Lord Ridgewood was staring at him.
"That’s not true. Your grandfather has-" Cass slid him a look, full of dark humour.
"There is no one, Lord Ridgewood. Trust me. He didn’t let me live out of the goodness of his heart." Cass told him and Lord Ridgewood seemed...genuinely surprised. Cass ate his jerky. "It comes as no surprise now that I know some of the truth. He probably didn’t want demon blood in his family line. Jokes on him, I have no intention of carrying on the bloodline anyways." Cass said, shaking his head as he got up, deciding to leave Lord Ridgewood alone.
The man showed him he could poke him this much without reaching for his sword or strangling him. He felt a little bit better.
"W-What?" Lord Ridgewood said, shocked, and Cass gave him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"I’m one of those people my grandfather is trying to eradicate from the country, Lord Ridgewood. So, don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair for real in probably...20 years? Who knows how long my life span will be?" Cass said with a shrug. Lord Ridgewood looked...like he’d been hit by a truck.
He was slack jawed. He clearly hadn’t expected Cass to say any of that. Cass didn’t care. The man had already changed his opinion over something as simple as his race. What was one more reason to hate him?
Cass made his way towards Lucian and Vespertine. Lucian was frowning, but he reached out and grabbed his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"You didn’t have to do that." Lucian said and Cass shrugged.
"I thought it was necessary. To see if he was going to fly off the handle and kill me ’by accident’ in the dungeon." Cass said casually, as if it didn’t involve him and terrified him. Lucian frowned more.
"Then you really shouldn’t have done that. What if he decided you weren’t worth the trouble?" Lucian growled and Cass looked up at his face. His angry orange eyes, his brows that were drawn together, the clear concern on his face. Cass felt his lips twitch as he tilted his head to the side slightly.
"I have you though, don’t I? Or was that a lie?" Cass said and watched as Lucian’s body stiffened and he swore smoke poured out of his nose for a second. Lucian’s gaze brightened to the more dragon than human side and his grip tightened on his shoulder.
"You damn demon." Lucian growled, before he pulled Cass closer, wrapping his arm around him. "Just see him try. I’ll flay him alive. I’ll be nice about it, for old time’s sake." Lucian said and Vespertine cleared his throat.
"I would ask that you don’t kill my friend." Vespertine said beside them. Lucian grumbled. "He’ll come around. I told you, he was just raised really strictly, like I was." Lucian snorted.
"Yeah. And you turned out great." Lucian deadpanned and Vespertine exhaled.
"I did, given my circumstances. Now let the man go so he can eat more than one piece of jerky before we get moving." Vespertine said and Lucian loosened his grip on Cass.
"He’s right. Eat more." Lucian ordered and Cass kind of felt like he was still dreaming. They were...bickering, but the tension...had shifted? That had every romance book coded bone in his body tensing. That didn’t spell anything good for him.
Cass, however, took advantage of the situation and shoved his hand into his bag, pulling out a cookie. He did need to eat.