Edgar wasn’t even aware of the fact that Fiona was scanning everyone behind him. He seemed fixated on Cass and Lucian, specifically Cass’ mouth and Lucian’s shoulder. Edgar didn’t move from where he was standing in the middle of the room.
"You know I live for this kind of thing. Why wasn’t I included?" Edgar asked, his eyes watery and glowing such a bright blue they were hard to look at. Cass didn’t have a good excuse. Why wasn’t Edgar included? Cass didn’t know. That seemed to hurt Edgar more as the silence dragged on. His face twisted with pain and that made Cass’ heart hurt just at the sight.
It was never nice to see such a pretty man look upset.
"Uh, might it have anything to do with the fact that Lucy doesn’t let you travel alone anymore, Cass?" Fiona piped up from the back. Edgar turned, looking at the only woman around. She looked a little apologetic. "Sorry about this, Eddie, but Lucian when we first started talking about marriage and being partners let me know that he has a hard time not monitoring those that he cares for." Fiona said. Everyone turned to Lucian for confirmation.
Lucian nodded.
"I know where Fiona is by her habits at this point so I don’t need to monitor her. I also usually know where everyone else is as well. Cass, however, has changed in the rankings of those that I monitor and thus I have to adjust his previous schedule. Plus, things aren’t normal right now. I have to be by his side to make sure that he’s safe and taking care of himself. He also just came out of his heat as well." Lucian said. He sounded so casual about the insanity he just said. "Do you want Cass to bite you? Even out the playing field?" Lucian asked Edgar and Cass was surprised by how quickly Edgar moved.
One moment he was on the other side of the room, the next moment he was in front of Cass, pulling at his stuffy collar. He was literally tearing at his clothes, a man who was normally more put together than Cass was.
"I want it in the same spot." Edgar muttered. Cass felt his mouth open in shock.
"W-What?" Cass rasped and Lucian let out a sigh.
"It’s only fair. Can’t show favouritism. Look at him. He’s like a sad puppy who got ignored. Take pity on him, won’t you Cass? Just give him a little bite. I’m sure it’ll taste good to you." Lucian said and Cass stared at the man. "What? Too afraid to do it again? You were just telling Byron that he needed to bite Sam, you can’t chicken out now." Lucian was egging him on. Trying to get him worked up.
It wasn’t exactly like Cass could argue with him about it.
Fiona, however, realized that this conversation should not escape the room and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Cass swore he heard a lock turn as well. She glanced around the room, her eyes wide.
"What in the world is going on? What happened last night?" She asked. Sam dropped his head more, Cass winced, and Byron and the others looked uncomfortable.
"I told my lord the truth." Sam said, not raising his head. "I was hired by the demon king to keep an eye on him. I’m...a demon." Sam told Fiona and Cass watched as Fiona paled of all colour.
"You, Sam?" She asked, sounding about as betrayed as Cass had felt when he heard it the previous night. Sam flinched, before he nodded.
"Yes, Lady Fiona." Sam whispered and Fiona let out a shaky breath. Her eyes when she looked at Cass were filled with sympathy, and even Edgar, who was upset at the biting situation, paused.
"Oh Sam." Fiona said on a sigh. "No wonder Cass was so out of it today. Did you betray us?" She asked him and Sam shook his head violently.
"No! As soon as I got here, I realised that my Lord was a good Lord and my true Master. I would never do that. I just told the demon king that he had some tummy troubles and preferred certain foods. Things that would mean nothing to them." Sam told her, his voice fierce, before he dropped his head. "But my Lord is having some trouble trusting me. I understand. I should have told him a long time ago so now we are working out what I can do to earn his trust. Byron marking me is one of them." Sam told her and Fiona stared.
Her gaze slid to Cass and he looked away. Her judgement burned.
"You...didn’t learn from my mistake?" She asked and Cass felt her words like a punch to the gut. He had no response. The only excuse he could offer was that he wasn’t thinking clearly.
"Don’t speak of him like that." Sam hissed, standing up for Cass even in this situation. "I understand why he suggested it. It’s not as if like how Lord Draken and my Lord were when you forced them to temporarily bond, Byron and I aren’t involved with each other at the time of the marking. It’s a little early, but we can manage. We’ll just abstain." Sam said forcefully and Byron quietly covered his face with his hand, his whole face red.
Fiona’s jaw was on the floor as she stared at Sam.
"Sam, it was only yesterday you were saying we needed to keep our relationship a secret." Byron whispered and Sam’s face twisted. He looked incredibly embarrassed at his partner’s words.
"T-That was before everything blew up, and I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want anyone to not know that you are taken. Especially other males who are showing interest in you. I know you’re attractive, and I would like others to know that you are off the market." Sam sounded embarrassed even saying it, but he wasn’t backing down.
Honestly, Cass was kind of impressed that Sam was able to say it. It was the little glance towards Cass that made Cass realise something.
Sam knew that Cass liked to listen on people’s personal lives. Could he be...?
Cass’ eyes widened as Sam looked back towards Byron, who seemed a little stunned.
"Sam. No one thinks I’m on the market. I make it very clear I have a jealous boyfriend." Byron told him, but Cass and the others could see the little twist of his lips. He was enjoying this version of Sam. The one who was possessive, annoyed, and declaring his intent. Sam frowned, crossing his arms.
"Well, if we go with the Lord’s plan, we don’t have to hide anything. You also don’t have to hide that you’re a dragon either, and I...will just continue being the lord’s closest aide." Sam said, swallowing and Cass felt his gaze soften. That had to be a big part of it, and Byron knew it too. His expression softened as well as he moved around the couch, taking Sam’s shoulders into his hands.
"Darling, I don’t want to force you into being marked. That is the last thing that I would want to do. You’ve been honest with your feelings for me, and I’m glad to take it slow. It was love at first sight for me, but you needed to take some time to think it through. I know that our Lord wouldn’t want to force you into this without your consent." Byron said, glancing towards Cass.
Cass nodded vigorously.
"Byron’s right. I was panicking, trying to think of something that would be a good solution. Don’t feel like you have to do it, Sam." Cass told him and Sam’s eyes watered. He dropped his head, Byron squeezing his shoulders.
"But I don’t want to not be your personal aide. I can’t." Sam whispered and Cass’ heart ached. "That’s who I am, what I’m made for. I don’t want to be away from your side. Who else is going to protect you from these men who are pestering you?" Sam asked, sniffing. Cass felt his whole body stiffen.
Fiona coughed into her hand, her eyes dancing even in the seriousness of this situation.
"Does that mean you don’t want to bond with Byron?" Fiona asked Sam carefully and Sam flinched.
"I do want to bond with him, I think. I...I’m just...confused about my own feelings. I haven’t been allowed to have my own feelings before. This is confusing for me." Sam told her. "Demons, true ones, don’t have a lot of control over their lives. Not my kind anyways. We get told what to do, what to feel until we die." Hearing that broke Cass’ heart. Even Fiona looked upset.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked and Sam looked up, glancing at Cass who gave him a nod and Sam responded.
"I’m an imp. A service demon. I’m the lowest level of the low. Even humans who sign their souls away are at a higher level compared to imps. We get born when a demon is bored and wants something to boss around. I was one of the lucky ones. I was born with a task, and even then..." Sam sniffed. "My Lord is far too kind to me." Sam said softly and Fiona stared at him, her eyes calculating before she let out a sigh.
"Alright. Take your time then. I doubt that Cass needs an answer today. You should speak to Byron about this more, and don’t react in the moment. I did that and look where that got me?" Fiona made a joke. "Cass’ taking all of my husbands." She teased and Cass stiffened.
"You can have them back if you want." Cass deadpanned and heard Lucian suck in. Fiona laughed, waving a hand dismissively.
"Don’t even try. You wouldn’t be willing to hand them back anyways. You’re all talk, Lord Blackburn. After all, you’re just as wrapped around Lucy as he’s wrapped around you." Her eyes were teasing as she scanned Cass and the others. "You should bite Eddie now, so he doesn’t die of jealousy. Once that’s done, we can discuss what to do with my last husband." Fiona was smirking as she spoke and Cass wanted to give her the middle finger.
So he did.
Her features twisted for a moment, confusion there before Cass clarified.
"It means fuck off." Cass told her. She gave a wide grin upon hearing that.
"Oh, I’m going to love using that against nobles who don’t know what it means." She said, her eyes sparkling. Cass hated that she was so damn pretty. Why was everyone in the hero party gorgeous? It made him feel bad being mean to them.
Speaking of, Edgar had turned big blue pretty eyes towards him, begging with his gaze for Cass to bite him. Cass frowned in annoyance. Fuck everything. He was going to have to bite the man. Fuck!