Chapter 210: A good hero?
Lady Awa was put to bed rather quickly, much to her complaint, but Cass heard her soft snores only a few minutes later. Cass set about making camp after that, Vespertine and Fiona doing the same. Vespertine was conjuring up some benches while Fiona kept watch, making sure that nothing terrible came up while Lady Ava was sleeping.
Thankfully, or unthankfully, it was rather peaceful. So peaceful that Cass could tell that Fiona wanted to fill the silence that was wrapping around them like a second skin.
Cass was fine with it. He liked the silence. Even if his mind was going a mile a minute and Vespertine’s every fucking move had him on edge. He was fine. Him not talking to him was better than if he was, because that would involve Cass opening his mouth.
Who the hell knew what was going to come out of him then?
"So...how are you feeling Cass?" It was Fiona. Damn it Fiona! That was the wrong thing to ask!
Cass had been busy taking his time setting up the tents, drawing it out, playing with the magic to make sure that he fully understood it. Nerd shit. With Fiona asking her question, the tent stopped mid air, and Cass felt his face heat.
He cleared his throat, making sure his back was to everyone as he slowly lowered the tent he’d been playing with to the ground.
"What do you mean?" Cass knew there was a sharpness to his tone. He couldn’t exactly hide it. He had no idea what she was asking, or why she was asking it. He heard footsteps approach him, and a sense of unease filled him. It wasn’t Vespertine, that was for sure. It had to Fiona. They were too heavy, too hard in the heel to be Vespertine.
He had a gentler step then Fiona. Probably due to Fiona being a sword wielder, and a front liner.
"Cass? Why are you so tense? Did something happen?" Why now was she using her fucking observation skills? She’d been oblivious to fucking everything else, and now she decided to smarten up?
Cass wanted to throw a tantrum. He didn’t though. He took a deep breath, and turned to face Fiona.
"Honestly, Fiona, so many things have happened in just a few days, I think it would take me a full minute to list what was wrong with me right now." Fiona blinked, before her worried expression morphed into something else. He was worried she was upset, but instead, there was a hint of kindness and concern that filled her gaze.
"Yeah." She said softly. "That’s right. You have had a really rough few days. That’s why I wanted to check in. Away from the others. Away from Lucian and Lord Ridgewood." Fiona looked over her shoulder at Vespertine. "Move further away! I know you can hear us!" She raised her voice slightly, and Cass turned his head to watch Vespertine shuffle away. Cass realised with a pang that Fiona was behaving as if she...knew.
How hadn’t he noticed that before? She wasn’t supposed to know yet! Maybe...maybe when Fiona and Vespertine were going on those date-like outings he told her, but he couldn’t be sure.
He gave Fiona a strange look, curious, cautious, and Fiona let out a heavy sigh. She placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head with a sigh before she raised her head.
"Are you doing okay?" She asked and Cass felt his throat lock up. Was he doing okay? Could he be okay?
"I’m holding it together." He admitted past the lump in his throat. "I’d really like it if you stopped asking me that though." Cass told her quietly and Fiona softened further.
"Okay. I can do that. Sorry. I just noticed how today and yesterday you had that...mask on again and I just grew worried. Plus, you were alone with those...two last night, and any fool can tell what Lucian has planned for you. I’m not sure what Eddie’s deal is." Fiona said and Cass felt his face warm.
Her eyes narrowed and she stepped closer.
"Has that fool made a move on you? That asshole!" She exclaimed, and Cass was worried it was because of him, but instead she huffed. "I can’t believe he would dare lay hands on you. If he wanted a rebound, there are plenty of other crying maidens that would love to let him cry in their bosom." She rolled her eyes, as if she wasn’t the reason her husband was turning to him.
That felt a little unfair. Vespertine had already kissed him long before Fiona had basically come out to him. Cass should make sure that kept in mind that Vespertine was supposed to be loyal to Fiona, or at least that was what she perceived.
Whether or not that was true, well, only Vespertine knew that. And Cass had a little bit of first hand experience with that ’loyalty’ of his. Cass was pretty sure the man was a chronic kisser, and maybe more from his behaviour that he’d shown the night before.
Cass felt his face warm.
Vespertine thought he had a big dick. That was something he hadn’t even considered.
"Cass?" Fiona’s voice had him jerking from his thoughts, and his whole face going red.
"Uh, oh, uh." She stared at his reaction, taking in his expression, the flush of his face and a slow smile began to split her face. She leaned in closer.
"Did something happen last night?" She asked. As if it wasn’t her fucking husbands bothering him. Cass was flustered, glancing at Vespertine to make sure that he wasn’t nearby.
"Nothing happened." Cass muttered, and even he knew that he didn’t sound believable. Fiona leaned in further, her eyes brightening as Cass felt his pulse race in his body.
"I’m sure nothing did happen. Now why don’t you tell me about what didn’t happen?" She leaned in more, so close that Cass took a step back. Why was she so excited? This was...slightly uncomfortable.
"I-it really was nothing." She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. Right. Nothing at all. So you blushed like a bride over nothing." She said and Cass felt his face warm.
"You didn’t blush like this." Cass accused, since she had been the bride at their wedding, and while Cass hadn’t been there personally, he had Lord Blackburn’s memories of that day. She had looked...happy, but not what she was describing Cass as.
Fiona grinned, her eyes creasing as she smacked Cass’ back.
"I was! You just didn’t remember." She told him. "But this isn’t about me. This is about you. Lucy came out of your tent for the second night in a row without a shirt on. What has that man been terrorising you with?" She asked and Cass coughed.
He was certainly a terror, that was true. The previous, previous night had been...fine. Relatively. It was just this one that had been such an issue.
"He just likes to sleep without a shirt on." Cass mumbled and Fiona nodded.
"I know that. Who do you think it was that convinced him that he needed to wear human clothing? The man was as naked as the day he was born when I was first travelling with him. Had just woken up, a total menace to society. The others thought he was a lunatic, and honestly, I still haven’t made up my mind on him." Cass hadn’t heard that story before.
It didn’t surprise him that Fiona had said that he had worn no clothes when she first met him. The man barely wore his human skin well.
That did surprise him that he had opted for such fucking tight pants, and the light, flowy top. Had he stolen that concept from the shirts that girls wore in this era? Or had they visited a town near a lake, ocean or otherwise and had went ’I like that’, and stole it? That did make him wonder something else completely.
Did...did Fiona know? She must, right? It wasn’t like you were able to hide that if you were fully naked. She had to know.
Cass opened his mouth, shut it, and then just said fuck it and let the words escape.
"Do you know?" He asked quietly and Fiona jerked. She gave him a confused look.
"Know...what?" She asked. Cass shuddered, closing his eyes. He held his breath before he opened his eyes and scanned around them. Lucian couldn’t be nearby, Vespertine was far enough away that he couldn’t hear and he was going to speak quietly enough that only Fiona could hear.
"That...That Lucian has two dicks." Cass whispered and Fiona coughed. In fact, it sounded like she had choked on the words out of Cass’ mouth. Cass felt an immediate wave of horror cover him as he realised from her reaction, the pure shock on her face, that she hadn’t known.
"What? What do you mean? Are you serious?" She asked and Cass covered his face. He’d fucked up. They had been talking about Vespertine and instead he had revealed something so much worse. Fuck. Fuck!
"Forget what I just said." Cass muttered and she scoffed.
"Oh there is no way I am forgetting this! Are you sure? How did-oh my gods. Did he show you?" She whispered fiercely and Cass wanted the ground to swallow him up. He’d so terribly fucked up.
"No! Of course he didn’t show me!" Cass hissed, immediately defensive. His face had to be as red as a damn beet.
"Then how do you know?" She asked and Cass shut his mouth. "Cassian Blackburn. What the hell did that damn dragon do to you?" She demanded, a sense of warning in her voice. Cass felt a shiver run down his spine when she said his full name. Lord Blackburn’s full name. "Don’t make me say your other name." She warned and Cass truly felt a little threatened.
"Nothing like...like what you’re thinking happened. They just...he just touched me." Cass mumbled and Fiona caught the fuck up.
"They? They touched you? Yesterday? You don’t sound like you agreed. Did they force you? Cassian! You always should tell me this kind of thing! Those damn fucking scumbags!" Fiona was furious, filled with rage. "You’re fucking sleeping in my tent tonight, everyone else’s complaints are fucking void. I don’t give a damn. If they’re more dangerous to you then the damn monsters in this dungeon, I am not having you near them." Cass felt conflicted.
On one hand, it was nice that she was becoming so protective of him. On the other hand, it was this nature, this aggression that made Cass’ throat tighten. Fuck. She sounded just like his sister right now.
"I’m okay. I’ve given them a talking to." Cass told her and her gaze narrowed.
"Did you?" She asked and Cass nodded.
"I just don’t like talking about it, but I told them that night, and this morning. It’s why Lucian looked a little beaten up. Vespertine showed some sense of guilt, while Lucian didn’t. Vespertine beat him up for me." Cass said and Fiona cracked her knuckles.
"I’ll get them both. Just to prove a point. While we are married in name only, I do consider you part of my family. That’s unacceptable. They wouldn’t have behaved that way with a woman, that’s for fucking sure, and I’ll make damn sure that they know it’s unacceptable for them to treat a man like this too." She said, her voice thick with threat. Cass grabbed his chest, a pain lingering there.
"I don’t-"
"Just say thank you, Cassian, and stop fighting me on helping you. I’m not backing down now that I know what happened. It’s not right, and I’m going to put my foot down. I’m sorry that this is how you told me, but tell me this shit, Cass. You can trust me." Cass couldn’t help it. He gave her a look, as if asking if he really could. She winced.
Cass dropped his gaze, feeling a little embarrassed and jumped when she put her hand on his shoulder.
"You can. I promise. With stuff like this, absolutely." She said firmly. "While I am not great as a friend or even a family member sometimes, I am good as a hero. I know that much at least." She said softly, before sighing. "Now let’s go. I’m going to hold off beating the shit out of Edgar until everyone’s back, then I’ll steal both of them and beat their asses." She said and Cass chuckled.
"Lucian said ’no normal man’ could beat him up." He said and she snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah. I’m not a man."