Cass was in a tough spot. He didn’t want to do what everyone expected him to do, but he also felt guilty for two reasons. The first one? Not including Edgar in this conversation in the first place, and two, for biting Lucian. Why did he feel guilty?
He wasn’t quite sure if he was honest. It wasn’t like he had planned to bite Lucian, and he also had intended to have this meeting alone. Without him around. That did not mean that he could overlook the fact that Lucian was at his side and Edgar was upset.
"Did you seriously have to encourage this?" Cass asked, glaring at Fiona who just stood there, smiling softly. It annoyed Cass more because she looked a little bit like his sister when she stood like that. All soft smiles but mischievousness in her gaze.
"Encourage? I’m looking after your mental health, Cass. After you bite Edgar, we can help you solve your issues with Sam, and then we can go over what we want to do with Gideon." Fiona said and Cass narrowed his gaze at her. He had a feeling she just wanted to watch how messy Cass’ life was.
How annoying.
He had wanted to observe her, and now he was the observed.
Cass turned to face Edgar who was standing before him, his throat on full display. This was a ridiculous act, and far too intimate to be performed with so many people watching. It was not helped along by the fact that Edgar was all flush-faced. Eager with wet, glistening lips.
He just knew the man was going to moan.
Cass swallowed, glancing towards Lucian who was watching with this particularly pleased look on his face. Cass felt naughty just looking at him. He had to turn his gaze away quickly in fear that something else would stir.
Cass reached a hand up slowly, nervously grabbing onto the back of Edgar’s neck, pulling him in closer. It was an awkward hold, given that Cass was sitting in Lucian’s lap and where Edgar was standing now was the closest Edgar could get without hunching over.
Cass pulled him down, the man’s eyes widening as he licked his lips in anticipation. Cass grew even more nervous about what kind of noise the man was going to make. He’d already pulled on his hair once and he’d moaned like a whore. Cass had a pretty good idea that this was going to make it even worse.
So, once Cass was in position, his lips pressed against the delicate skin of Edgar’s throat and shoulder with his hand and arm kind of making a protective barrier so that others couldn’t see what he was going to do. Cass used his other hand to reach up and cover Edgar’s mouth, his grip loose.
"So you don’t make a lot of noise." Cass whispered and Lucian started laughing. Edgar stiffened and Cass gave him a second before he opened his mouth and bit down.
He didn’t make it a slow process. He’d basically locked his jaw on Lucian’s shoulder when he bit him, but Cass wasn’t going to do the same to Edgar. It was a quick bite, and Cass was surprised by the strength of his jaw for the second time. Blood flowed into Cass’ mouth as he sunk his teeth into Edgar’s skin. Cass could feel the man shuddering, Edgar’s fingers sliding into Cass’ hair, holding him in place.
It was a good thing that Cass covered his mouth.
Edgar caught himself as he made a tiny noise and that set Lucian off. He was laughing, causing Cass to shake as he was in his lap. It essentially broke Edgar’s little bite session early as Cass had to pull away in fear of hurting him more. Cass looked even more insane, more blood around his face and chin as he licked his lips of the blood.
Fiona and Sam were staring at him, while Byron remained nearby. Watching.
Edgar was flushed, his chest heaving, looking every bit like a fancy noble on the edge of lust. With the blood and bite mark on his pale skin, blood staining his shirt? The man should be arrested for public indecency.
"Pretty Eddie." Lucian rumbled and Cass didn’t even realise he was nodding. Lucian’s hand came down on Cass’ shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "You did that to him, you know?" It was a tempting whisper, an intoxicating seed planted in Cass’ ear. Cass blinked slowly, staring up at the man who stared down at him like he wanted to eat him alive. Cass’ face flushed as he found himself licking his lips.
"Not that I don’t think it would do me any harm watching you three uh, do whatever you plan to do, but we really need to discuss what happens to Gideon." Fiona sounded apologetic as she interrupted and Cass flinched.
Fuck.
He was done with his heat, he should not be having these kinds of thoughts. He shouldn’t be having these kinds of feelings. It was okay to consider them attractive, since they were. All of them were objectively attractive, but this...tension? Hesitancy? Like they were all waiting for something else to happen?
That wasn’t normal. That only happened during his heat. That could only happen during his heat.
"You’re right. We need to discuss Gideon." Cass repeated. His gaze turned to Fiona and she winced. Cass had no idea why she was doing and she seemed to be able to sense it.
"You look like you just ate raw meat, Cass. Give me a sec. I’ll see if I can source-" She started when Cass shook his head.
"If I’m dirty, I can fix it." Cass told her, waving a few of his fingers in a similar motion to how he’d first summoned water and created a little ball. Using his own magic and a little bit of patience, Cass maneuvered it over his lower face. Touching his skin, but not popping the bubble. He watched as the water slowly turned a pink shade and then a deeper red tone. Cass hadn’t realised he’d been disgusting until she pointed it out.
Lucian and Edgar looked severely disappointed. Like their favourite toy had been taken away. Cass refused to look deeply into that.
Fiona crossed the floor, sitting down on the couch that she had shared with Lady Ava the day before, waiting for Cass to finish cleaning up. When he was done, she smiled at him warmly.
"Let me guess, you want to keep Gideon close." Fiona said as soon as he was done. Edgar shuffled to the side, sitting down beside Lucian and Cass but not cutting off Cass’ line of sight to the woman.
"You want to send him away?" Cass asked. "And risk him getting kidnapped by someone antagonistic towards us and having him spill all of our secrets?" Fiona’s smile faded quickly.
"Do you think that they would do that?" She asked and Cass nodded.
"I would, so I know it’s not safe to send him away." Cass said. He meant it. If he could think of it, he had no doubt that the others had. Gideon was their weak link right now, a chink in their armor. It was a little funny to consider that it used to be Cass, and now it was the ’righteous one’ who was causing them problems.
"I can’t argue when you say it like that." She muttered, annoyed. She crossed her arms, sitting back against the couch. For a moment, Cass could imagine her sitting at a throne, crown on head, glaring at him like he was an advisor that made a suggestion she didn’t like. "I hate it. I don’t want to keep someone nearby who not only betrayed you, but tried to kill you. I know you’ve said your peace about this before, but it still bothers me." Fiona told him. Cass sighed.
"Fiona, everyone around me has-" Lucian’s hand slid up and over Cass’ mouth, silencing him. Cass’ eyes widened as he turned his gaze towards the dragon, rage burning in his gut at the simple act. This motherfucker.
"Fiona, is there anything you could do that would limit the danger Cass faces if we keep him close? I want to eat him, of course, but I know neither of you will let me do so. Poor Eddie over here would have a heart attack over it too. I do feel a slight bit of affection for the man, but not enough for me to feel comfortable with him remaining around Cass. Even with his magic." Cass was pissed that he’d silenced him.
Lucian removed his hand after he’d finished speaking, giving Cass a smile. Cass glared at him.
"Is there something I can do? Mmm, nothing comes to mind. Edgar?" Fiona asked, everyone avoiding the bomb that was Cass’ emotions. It was hard to do given the fact that everything in the room was centered around Cass and he was practically vibrating with rage.
"Blackmail." Edgar said calmly, his eyes a little dimmer now that he was calm. He coughed as Cass turned to look at him, curious. Edgar slid his gaze away, a little shifty. "I have a few things. Honestly, he’s more like a beaten down dog at this point, or a dog that has lost his master. Fiona really took the wind out of his sails and he doesn’t really have a purpose anymore. You could use some classic manipulation to make him feel like he matters and I’m sure he’d become loyal to you." Edgar sounded like he was speaking to Fiona, so Cass assumed that was the case.
"Classic manipulation? Are you using those kinds of tactics a lot, Edgar?" Cass asked and Edgar smiled.
"When I need to. I’m sure you’re familiar with them too, Cass." Edgar said. Cass would have been offended if it wasn’t true. Lord Blackburn had been known to save people and use their weaknesses against them. Take that hussy, Mr. Collins. That was a prime example of Cassian saving someone and then using their weakness against them.
It didn’t always have to appear to have a negative outcome.
"I will neither confirm, nor deny that accusation." Cass said primly and Edgar laughed. "So, blackmail and manipulation. You all seem worried that he’s going to kill me. You forget that even though his family swears to protect the royal family, he’s also a holy knight. He can’t exactly harm one of the heroes, can he? Not when it’s been proven I am one." Cass said and Lucian pouted.
"So? We just let that fucker go? He was so mean to you even after you were nice to him!" Lucian complained and Cass snorted.
"You were rude to me across the board." Cass pointed out.
"Because I thought it was hot when you were angry! I still think that too!" Fiona grinned at Lucian’s loud words. Cass rolled his eyes.
"Oh yeah? Then I bet you’re just throbbing." Cass deadpanned and Fiona did laugh out loud at that.
"Stop flirting in front of me. Avie’s asleep right now until we go out for our date later. I want to make sure that the Gideon problem is dealt with before I leave this afternoon." Fiona said and Cass rolled his eyes, huffing.
While he was glad that everyone was here, and he was glad that he was able to behave normally, he was still feeling a little out of sorts. A little jagged around the edges.
"He’s just a fucking man. I can handle him if he tries anything." Cass mumbled and Lucian growled.
"That’s what I’m worried about! He is just a man, and I think he’s already started to notice how pretty you are." Lucian was off his fucking rocker.
"He has no time to think about me when his head is full of thoughts of Edgar, Lucian!" Cass said, loudly, before gasping and looking towards Edgar.
Edgar, who had managed to keep himself composed, turned as bright as a tomato at Cass’ words.
"Y-You knew?" Edgar stuttered and kind of shrugged, feeling bad.
"Uh, well, sorry Edgar." Cass mumbled. Shit, this was why Byron had tried to keep them away for a little longer. Cass needed some time to get his shit together.