Chapter 267: Breaking him down with human decency
Cass emerged from his bath, a towel draped around his waist and tucked loosely together. He hadn’t realised that someone had left him a towel, but then again it was a bathroom and he should have thought that.
He honestly thought he might have to go out and ask for a towel. That was very romance novel coded, and it felt like the plot had slipped a bit since he’d arrived. Maybe not completely, Cass thought, as his face flamed in memory of what he’d just done on the bed, but still.
He took a few seconds to gather himself, listening to the tub drain as he stood almost naked except for the towel around his waist and he stared into the mirror that sat above the sink. Unlike at his own home, the mirror was where it would normally be in a regular house.
Where it was for everyone else in the mansion Lord Blackburn had built. That meant that Cass could see how tired he was. How much this was weighing on his body, his soul.
Cass looked like a damn stick. This body wasn’t well, and therefore it showed easily that things weren’t quite right. Between not being able to eat much, and the fact that he was a magic user and it took away from him in different ways, Cass looked sickly thin. His eyes were big red pits in his face, dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he’d fought a demon and lost.
That was a shame. Since he had won. Even if it had probably cost him something.
Despite the harsh examination, and the way that Cass could easily poke at his ribs in the mirror and feel them immediately, he felt better.
His muscles were soothed from the warm water, his hair damp, and felt like his body was infused with energy that he’d been lacking before.
When he opened the door to the main chamber of the master bedroom, he found Edgar staring at an outfit on the bed with his back turned to the door. Edgar looked focused, his one hand on his hip and the other under his chin. Cass could only see him from the side, unable to see all of his expression.
Lucian lounging on one of the couches in the room staring up at the ceiling. His arms were spread along the back of the couch, showing off how long his arms were, and his hands clasped onto the cushions, his grip tight enough that the plush was pillowing out from between his fingers. Despite that, it seemed like a casual hold. His expression was flat as he stared up at the ceiling.
Neither man was talking to each other, leaving Cass all alone until they realised he had finished his bath. The door closing behind him with a rather loud sound seemed to stir both men. Cass had been rather quiet when he’d opened the door, but they were both not quite humans so he had thought that they would hear him. Clearly, he was wrong.
Both men jerked towards him, Lucian coming up off of the couch quickly before he caught himself. Edgar turned, a giant smile on his face and Cass paused in the doorway.
He felt naked, and unlike when the two of them had been helping him get undressed to get into the bath, he was aware of it now. Aware of the way the two of them were looking at him. His pale body, how thin he was. He was embarrassed, not enjoying the way that they were looking at him.
"How was your bath?" Edgar asked softly, approaching to lead him gently towards the bed. Cass wasn’t sure how he felt about the fact that Edgar’s clothes were against his bare skin. He begged and prayed that his towel would stay up.
While the two men had...uh, felt him before, they hadn’t seen him. At least he hoped that they hadn’t. There were some things that were just...Cass was fairly certain he wouldn’t give a shit if they didn’t make it obvious that they had an interest in him. He wouldn’t be this self conscious if he didn’t know that the men derived pleasure from seeing him naked.
"It was relaxing." Cass told him, nervous as Lucian came over. He was trying to be casual, but Cass could feel his gaze on him. Cass refused to look at him, instead turning his attention to the outfit that Edgar had made for him and laid out on the bed.
"I’m glad to hear it. I hope you don’t mind that I mixed and mingled your clothing to make an outfit. I felt that this would suit you more." Edgar said, and Cass was impressed that he agreed with him. He’d managed to make an outfit that was more subtle compared to the outfits that Lord Blackburn would normally wear.
It was white, grey and a darker shade of grey. There weren’t that many accent colours, just a bit of black or gold for buttons and the like, but beyond that, it was...lighter. Cass actually liked it.
"Thank you Edgar. This looks...good." Cass said, turning to meet Edgar’s gaze. Edgar grinned.
"I’m glad you approve. Do you need help to get dressed?" He asked and Lucian stepped in.
"He told me he just needed help with his buttons. We’ll keep to that." Lucian said, and Cass was surprised that he hadn’t forgotten what Cass had said.
"Ugh, then are you two leaving the room?" Cass asked and both men gave him a strange look.
"Why would we leave the room? That wouldn’t help you, would it?" Edgar said softly, and Cass felt like he was tripping over himself a little.
"So you aren’t leaving the room?" Cass asked. He felt like he was wading into a situation he’d never been in before. It was Edgar who’d walked in on him changing before and had made fun of how pale he was. Now he was speaking to him like this? Cass was out of his depth.
"We can just turn our backs." Lucian said, his voice leaving no room for negotiations. Edgar gave a quick nod.
"Yes, that’s what we’ll do." Edgar told him. Cass slid a suspicious look between the two men. Could he trust them? To keep their backs turned?
Cass looked around the room trying to see if there were any reflective surfaces he needed to worry about. He took a few minutes to scan before he looked back at the men who were staring at him innocently.
"No peeking." Cass told them, and watched as both men twitched.
"Of course we won’t. Not when you’ve told us not to." Lucian said, all smiles and polite body language. That made Cass more suspicious, but at this point, he was getting a little cold.
"You can turn around now. I’m getting cold." He told them and both men grew concerned and turned their backs to him. They even took a few steps away from Cass, giving him a bit more space.
Cass turned to the bed, staring at the clothes for a minute. He’d gotten dressed by himself before, but the pieces that Edgar had selected...
Cass wanted to sigh. They were pieces that were hard to put on by yourself. It was only now that Cass was attempting to do so that he realised this. It was a sneaky thing, and mostly harmless, but Cass wouldn’t forget it.
"You’re sneaky." Cass said out loud as he reached for the underwear, bending so that he could slide them up under his towel around his waist. Edgar chuckled.
"I don’t know what you mean." Edgar said, but there was a smugness in his tone. Cass sighed.
"You know exactly what I mean." Cass mumbled, dropping his towel so that he could tie the cord of his underwear. Then he reached for his pants and undershirt.
It was after he’d pulled on his first layers that he had to ask for help. Edgar turned with a smile on his face, Lucian doing the same only he wasn’t smiling. He was watching what Edgar was doing with an intense stare, as if he was trying to absorb everything that he had done into his memory. Cass didn’t bother having them turn around again after he was mostly covered, and Edgar essentially turned into Sam for a few minutes.
He was professional, calm, and collected. When he was done, he stepped back, smiling as he scanned Cass. Cass adjusted the collar he’d tightened until it was comfortable while Lucian stared at him.
"This was what I wanted to do when we went to that clothing store before." Edgar admitted, his smile a little bitter. "I wanted to show off how well I could dress you. Instead, you showed me that I shouldn’t underestimate you. You just choose to dress terribly, play into what everyone assumes of you. You are capable of dressing properly." It was a burn, with a grain of truth.
He was sure that Lord Blackburn did dress the part. Did play into rumours. One thing that was also true was the fact that he also liked to dress that way too. Lucian gave him a look.
"You went out with him?" He asked, a warning in his tone. Edgar wouldn’t meet his gaze.
"We were fighting." Edgar said and Cass blinked. Who was he fighting with? Cass, or Lucian? Never mind, he didn’t need to know the truth.
"Did Sir Forsythe come by while I was in the bath?" He asked and Lucian’s smile grew predatory.
"Oh yes he did, and with wonderful news. Your food has arrived, and so have a few guests. They are scattered throughout the lower levels, and Sir Forsythe looked tickled that they were here. The road in and out of this place hasn’t stopped receiving carriages. Ser Hune has taken to receiving the letters, and sending others away since we’re full." Lucian said, not a bit upset that they’d left nobles sitting.
Neither was Cass.
They’d made their bed. It was time to lie in it.
"And Fiona? Does she know?" The men seemed surprised that Cass was asking about her.
"Uh, well, I assume so?" Lucian suggested. "I haven’t spoken to her since last night since I haven’t left your side. Edgar?" Lucian asked and Edgar shrugged.
"I haven’t spoken to her since last night either. I’m assuming she’s with Ava right now." They said, like Edgar hadn’t been going through it in the dungeon only a few days ago. Amazing what a few revelations did for one’s heart.
"Well, I’m just worried that she’s going to try to speak to them since the whole reason they’re arriving is because I cut them off financially." Cass said calmly. Both men, who Cass was fairly certain he’d briefed, stared at him in surprise, before Lucian burst into laughter.
"That’s my boy! Sneaky and sexy!" Cass felt his face warm at the way that Lucian said it so loudly that he felt that others heard him two storeys down. Edgar’s excitement was quieter, but still obvious.
His smile was so bright and pretty that Cass almost had to shield himself. Holy shit. His looks were a weapon. Cass thought he could go blind if the man looked at him for too long.
"You put it into practise while we were in the dungeon? That is sneaky." Edgar agreed, brimming with something that Cass didn’t want to look at too clearly. Cass cleared his throat.
"Well, let’s go grab something to eat. I’m sure your famished." Cass said gruffly, brushing off their praise. Edgar chuckled.
"Oh yes. I’m starving." Cass didn’t think he was talking about the same kind of food Cass had suggested. Cass flushed, but ignored the implications.
"Well I’m sure we have something for you downstairs. If not, we can figure something out." Cass said and Edgar let out a soft chuckle while Lucian let out a louder laugh.
"So accommodating, Cassian. It’s nice to see how you have so many layers." Lucian told him, beating Cass to the door to open it for him. Cass glanced back at him, his face warm as Lucian smiled down at him. HIs orange gaze was hypnotizing, and Cass had to force himself to move forward.
The men could lock him up in his room and Cass wasn’t even sure if he’d throw that much of a fit right now. He needed to get his shit together. Otherwise, that teasing that Fiona did yesterday? It would be factually true.