Cass couldn’t make eye contact with Lucian when he came back into the room. In fact, he could barely breathe with each step he took closer to the bed.
Lucian, clearly able to tell through multiple avenues that something was wrong, moved closer. That only made Cass more nervous, especially since he wasn’t alone this time. Sam, Byron, and Ser Hune had entered with him, and when he went to touch Cass, Cass smacked his hand away.
Everyone froze, Lucian looking the most shocked. Until he took in Cass’ expression.
Cass was flushed, not just across his face, but up to his ears, down his neck and anywhere else that was exposed. He looked like a damn tomato. His eyes and skin matched, he was so red. He wouldn’t make eye contact with Lucian, and he was shaking. Trembling, more like it.
It took Lucian all of two seconds to put two and two together, especially as he was reading the complicated emotions coming off of Cass. Then, he dropped his arm, took a step back, and grinned like a maniac.
"No need to be alarmed, everyone. Looks like someone remembered what we did for 12 hours." Hearing him say the words out loud made it even more real. Like a child, Cass covered his ears, too late in doing so, and glared at the smug dragon who now had his arms crossed, his grin toothy and wide.
He was so proud, so smug, and Cass could almost detect...a bit of disappointment in his look? What the hell was he disappointed about? That they hadn’t done enough?
They had done plenty, as far as Cass was concerned! Cass had-Cass had-
Cass had even sucked his dick! Fuck, he’d been up close and personal with them. Them! Plural!
Cass wanted to scream. Hell, nothing was preventing him from going outside and doing that still. Or going to that ridiculously large ball room and doing that.
"Oh? My Lord, is that true?" Sam asked, his gaze concerned, empathetic, and he placed a familiar drink down on the nightstand.
One Cass hadn’t had to take in a while. One that everyone had been avoiding Cass taking. Cass swallowed nervously.
"I...don’t think I’ll need that, Sam." Cass told him carefully, and Sam blinked, turned his gaze towards the glass of water and the tin of powder, before a calm, easy smile touched his lips. He didn’t look upset, he didn’t look angry. In fact, he himself looked relieved.
"Oh good. I am glad to hear that. Sir Sanders, along with one of the maids, is grabbing your food. It’s from the beast that Draken hunted." Sam told him, and watched as Lucian twitched. He didn’t like being called Draken. Had told Cass as much.
Cass’ lip twitched at the random bit of disrespect that Sam wasn’t hiding. He was being bold, honest, and showing that he didn’t forget what the other man did, even if Cass was forgiving him. Cass also felt relief that he didn’t force the healing tonic on him either.
It was a test, even if Cass hadn’t meant it to be that way, and he had passed. Cass noticed how Lucian’s shoulders had dropped slightly, and when he glanced at him, obviously without meeting the other man’s gaze, Lucian’s expression was on Sam. He looked...torn.
Cass wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
"Oh good. Did Lucian tell you about the tea?" Cass asked and Sam laughed warmly.
"Water is being boiled for that as well. I believe Lord Vespertine is coming up with that." Sam said, another quiet act of defiance and Cass just nodded. There was an awkward, long silence after that before Ser Hune let out a sigh.
"Well? Do you feel better? Is this going to work?" She asked, popping the tension bubble that everyone was in. She might not know the exact situation that was going on, but she was far from an idiot. She could connect the dots that the others were laying out in front of her. It also wasn’t like it was unknown that Lord Blackburn disappeared for a week at the end of each month.
It was kind of hard to hide that kind of thing for long.
Cass opened his mouth, hesitated for a second, then sighed.
"I’m...unsure, but I think we’re on the right track. I want to see how long this lasts, just to know my limit." Cass said carefully, thoughtfully. Ser Hune nodded. She crossed her arms, tilted her hip and nodded again.
"Smart. Have you been keeping track?" She turned the question towards Lucian, who gave a nod.
"I had a feeling that was what he wanted, so I’ve been doing so. It’s been about 45 minutes since he’s really been awake." He told the group. There was a small part of Cass that was weirded out that he was keeping such a tight observation on him, but Cass had to remind himself that he needed that level right now.
He could ask him to tone it down later.
Sam did not look amused, and Byron, who was also a dragon, looked mildly concerned, but wiped it from his face rather quickly. Cass would need to ask him about that.
Cass wasn’t able to ask about it further since Sir Sanders came back, and so did Edgar at the same time. They were only using one trolly, so Cass thought that they must have run into each other early on. Then he wondered why they were using one.
They were on the third floor.
Everything was answered as Cass felt a small pull of magic, and everything made sense then. Edgar had used magic to carry it up the stairs. Cass blinked, realising that he hadn’t felt this kind of awareness since his time in the dungeon. Magic had pulsed under his skin like it was a part of his nervous system, or something as deep.
It had faded over time once he had left the dungeon. It was interesting that he was able to pick up on things again right now. He couldn’t recall being able to the last time he’d come out on the other end of his hell week, but then again, he wasn’t exactly done, and he hadn’t been in the best condition last time either.
He also hadn’t been around active magic users. Cass had a lot of things he had to test. Fuck, it sounded exhausting. He had to make it through this first task of the ball first.
Edgar’s expression was tight as he stepped into the room. He glanced around, his head on a swivel, and his hat on his head. That told Cass it was at the very least, day time now. Edgar’s expression softened slightly as he saw how alert Cass was, and that he was in a good condition. His eyes had been glowing before, and they slowly dimmed, going to a normal, human shade of blue.
"Cass." Edgar said warmly. "Are you feeling better?" He asked, his voice gentle and Cass felt his face warm. The more people kept asking about his condition, the more Cass had to think about how he had gotten to this state.
It was embarrassing, and made him flustered. Lucian laughed.
"He’s doing fine for now. He’s just embarrassed because he is remembering what happened." Lucian told him, catching Edgar by surprise. Edgar, for his part, wasn’t able to hide his jealousy for a moment, but he covered it up quickly.
"Well, that’s good. Sam, I’ve brought the water and tea, as you requested, and left them separate. Cass prefers your tea to mine." Edgar said, his smile tight. Cass wondered for a moment why he was so upset, and then recalled how he had chased him out and had demanded Lucian instead.
That...would upset anyone. Cass hesitated. He didn’t want more people to know what was going on. Not really. While he was slowly letting the others in, this was...this was enough for now. Having Lucian aware already felt like a lot. If Cass had two men to harass and bother?
Cass felt his face turn red even imagining it, and unable to control himself with his emotions so raw, he grabbed a pillow and shoved his face into it. Sam gasped, clearly worried, while Lucian’s warm laugh filled the air.
"He’s fine, Sam. He isn’t trying to hurt himself, just embarrassed." Lucian’s voice washed over the room and Cass wanted to groan. This was not what he had planned, what he wanted to happen.
He had kind of been banking on the fact that he wouldn’t remember! Fuck! Damn Lord Blackburn. This was one of the first times that Cass was actually getting mad at him! Couldn’t he have lived in blissful ignorance for a fucking minute?
"Cass, you need to eat." It was Edgar, and he was speaking from the other side of the bed. Everyone had mostly gathered on the left, given that was where Lucian had been standing before. Cass turned his head, facing Edgar partially, his face still buried in the pillow. Edgar gave him a tense smile. "Please? You need your energy." Edgar said softly and Cass gulped.
This was fucking torture. Not only did he feel embarrassed, he felt guilty for two damn reasons. Sam and Edgar. Sam, because he hadn’t confronted him, and Edgar, because he was keeping things from him.
Cass turned his head into the pillow, sighed so heavily his shoulders dropped, before he pushed the pillow to the side and sat up, a grumpy look on his face.
"I am regretting that I have to do important things." Cass grumbled, catching most of the group by surprise. Edgar’s tense smile relaxed, and he chuckled.
"I apologise. Shall I go tell Ava to suck it up and take one for the team?" Edgar asked. Cass blinked as the man slowly got him set with a meal in bed. No questions asked, and like he had a great deal of experience doing so. Even Sam seemed impressed.
"I would rather not be killed by my wife." Cass muttered and Edgar’s smile grew more sincere. His eyes smiled when they met Cass’, even if there was a more complicated emotion deeper within his gaze.
"I agree. It would be rather unfortunate if the public hero went on a killing spree." Edgar agreed, and Cass gave a snort.
"She’ll have my backing at least." Lucian said, and both Cass and Edgar gave him a pitying look. While he was a big bad dragon, that was hardly the point. It would be an incredible public image switch if Fiona started killing nobles. Forget saving Lady Ava, she would find herself caught and hung rather quickly.
A big sword could only get you so far.
Cass sighed, staring at Lucian with pity, and Lucian just shrugged. He didn’t seem upset as Edgar set a large, steaming plate of meat, potatoes, and carrots in front of Cass.
Cass stared at it, and realised while the food was safe, he had no fucking desire to eat it. There was one thing that he wanted, and Cass felt his eyes widen in horror as he realised it.
He turned to Edgar, his cheeks pink.
"Uh, Edgar, is there a way you can source me any of that...wine you normally drink?" Cass asked, nervous, and Lucian watched their interaction. Edgar glanced at Cass, his gaze flickering to the large plate of food, and then over to Lucian.
"Is this...not appropriate anymore?" He asked softly and Cass shivered. He didn’t like that, he didn’t like having to come face to face with the hunger that was clawing at him. He liked the smell of the food, wanted to eat it, but there was this...something in his throat that was preventing him.
"I, uh, I-" Cass stuttered, unsure how to answer his question. Lucian cleared his throat, and everyone turned their gaze to him. His gaze was narrow, and there was a hardness to his jaw that Cass noticed hadn’t been there before.
"If I may have a word, Cassian? Without anyone else in the room." Lucian said. "Keep the food here. Maybe you’ll want a bite, but I think you need to hear this before you continue this conversation with Eddie." Lucian’s words felt loaded, and Cass wondered what on earth he was going to say when he looked like that.
Like a barely contained storm.
Everyone slowly left, leaving just Cass and Lucian in the room. Cass didn’t even have time to worry about his memories, as Lucian took several steps towards him, getting down on his knees so that he wasn’t looming over Cass, and spoke quickly, urgently. Cass listened in shock.