Cass woke up to gentle jostling and some soft, but firmly spoken words.
"You woke him up!" It was Edgar’s hissing voice and Cass blinked slowly, blearily looking around him. Where was he? Was he home now?
"Eddie?" Cass called softly and felt someone squeeze him.
"I’m right here, Cass. We’ve arrived." Edgar’s voice was soft, warm, and Cass slowly sat up.
They were in the carriage still, and Cass was in Edgar’s lap. The man had wrapped his cloak around him, keeping him nice and warm. Cass found that the carriage was pretty plain, but it got the job done. There was a small crest of the temple, so Cass had a feeling this was probably supplied by the temple. Maybe it was for Priests? Cass didn’t dwell on it for too long.
He turned to look towards the door as the carriage shifted slightly and who Cass had no doubt Edgar was whisper-yelling at.
Lucian.
He had a rather severe expression until he noticed that Cass was looking at him. As soon as he realised, his expression melted into a soft, warm smile and an even warmer orange gaze.
"Sweetness, did you sleep well?" He asked and Cass licked his lips, swallowing. He wanted to speak, wanted to say something, but he felt his eyes water without his control and Lucian’s face blurred.
"I found out terrible news." Cass whispered and the carriage shifted as Lucian moved into the carriage. His big hands cupped both of Cass’ cheeks, his palms radiating heat.
"Oh Cass. It’s okay. Please don’t cry. You’re breaking my hearts." Lucian begged, his voice rough and Cass tried. He really did. He was honestly surprised he still had enough liquid inside of him to cry.
"I just feel so lost. What is the fucking point when I thought I was doing everything right but I was wrong the whole fucking time? I was marching towards my own fucking end and I didn’t even know it?" Cass said. He dropped his head, and Lucian’s grip was loose enough that he could do that, but he didn’t let go of Cass’ face. A warmth pressed against the top of Cass’ head and Cass heard himself whimper.
"It’s okay. We’re here to help. That’s the whole reason you went to visit the temple after, right?" Edgar said and Cass wanted to scream.
"They can’t fucking help me. They didn’t even know what was going on, what happened, until I found out! They were as blind as I was!" Cass wanted to shout, wanted to yell. Hell, he wanted to smash and break things. Too bad he was too weak to do that.
"They were blind?" Lucian asked softly and Cass nodded. "How were the gods blind, Cass?" Lucian asked. He was genuinely confused and Cass let out a wet laugh. He wanted to answer, but Edgar spoke before he could.
"We can ask that after we get him inside and upstairs, Lucy. He’s had a long day, and I think he deserves a warm bath and a glass of wine. Don’t you?" Edgar suggested and Lucian rumbled.
"Of course. Cass, do you want me to carry you or Edgar?" Lucian asked and Cass froze. He wasn’t sure. He had a feeling if he made a choice, it would be a big deal. He didn’t want anything to be a big deal right now.
"I can walk by myself." Cass said miserably and both men spoke at the same time in response.
"No." They said firmly and Cass flinched. Lucian’s hands stroked Cass’ cheeks.
"We won’t take it personally." Lucian said and Cass let out a huff.
"I...I don’t believe you." Cass told him and Lucian let out a huff, sounding offended, before he laughed.
"Well, that might be smart. I might be a little upset if you don’t let me carry you. I mean, look at Eddie. He’s a stick. He might drop you." Lucian teased and Cass sniffed, reaching up to wipe at his eyes. He’d stopped crying for a moment, which was a blessing. It was all because he got angry.
Yay anger.
"He carried me all the way from the demon temple to the god temple." Cass told him and Lucian paused. The silence was pregnant with something and Cass’ vision was too blurry to catch the looks that Edgar and Lucian were giving each other.
"Then he must be tired. Let’s let him have a rest, hmm?" Lucian suggested and Edgar loudly cleared his throat.
"I am in no way tired after carrying Cass. He weighs next to nothing. Maybe you should feed him better, Lucy." Edgar said and Lucian rumbled. Cass swore he heard something clicking.
"Stop. Why are you two fighting more now than you were fighting before? You should be getting along better. We all saw each other’s dicks." Cass mumbled, embarrassed as the words left his mouth.
Edgar slid his arms around Cass, giving him a hug as he chuckled. He pressed his lips against Cass’ cheek and Cass made a weak noise in protest.
"Hmm. You’ve made a good point Cass. So, I’ll concede this time. Lucy, you can carry Cass up to his rooms. I’m going to go get us some real wine and a few snacks and then I’ll be back. Am I okay to ask Sam to help me select safe foods, Cass?" Edgar asked and Cass nodded.
"As long as Byron says it’s okay." Cass told him.
"Perfect. Alright, transfer time." Edgar said and Lucian’s hands slid away before Cass found himself moving from one lap to another’s arms. Lucian was significantly warmer when compared to Edgar. It was surprising, but Cass somehow thought that Edgar would be colder than a human, but he wasn’t. He was just...human temperature.
A human had nothing on a dragon’s body temperature.
"You’re like a damn furnace." Cass said quietly and felt Lucian bend, pressing his nose against Cass’ cheek before rubbing his cheek against Cass’. It was an oddly affectionate gesture, and Cass wasn’t sure what to make of it.
"What’s a furnace?" Lucian asked, a purr to his voice. Cass flushed.
"It’s a...thing used to keep houses warm." Cass explained and Lucian chuckled. He was smiling down at Cass and Cass glanced behind him to find that Edgar was getting out of the carriage as well. Edgar chuckled.
"Well, I bet half of a dragon could keep a house warm for a decade." Edgar said and Lucian grumbled.
"Half of a dragon? There aren’t a lot of half dragons out there, Eddie. They are hard to give birth to. Since dragons usually are born from eggs." That was new, and terrifying information. The fact that there weren’t a lot of half dragons, not that they came out of eggs.
Everyone knew that.
"So you’re all dragon?" Cass asked and Lucian turned a cheeky grin towards him.
"I am. Does that please you? If I wasn’t, you wouldn’t get twice your meals, Cass." Lucian said and Cass gasped. Edgar also gasped and Lucian grinned at the two shocked men. "What? It’s common knowledge that half dragons lose their second dick. Didn’t you know that?" Lucian was clearly pulling their leg.
Cass could tell because of how his eyes were sparkling. Cass reached out and smacked his shoulder. Lucian was unrepentant.
"Look at you. You’re behaving normally. I just had to tease you a bit." Lucian said and Cass had nothing to say in return after that. Instead, Cass looked away from his face and towards the front door.
"We should get going. We have no idea who is listening in on us at any point." Cass said and Edgar coughed.
"I agree." He said and Lucian began to move. It felt like Cass blinked and then suddenly he was in front of his bedroom doors and Lucian was opening them with magic.
"Do you need help undressing, Cass?" Lucian asked. He wasn’t teasing, he wasn’t even making fun. He was rather serious instead. Cass swallowed, looking around the room that he had already gotten used to Sam helping him around. The man hadn’t even been by his side long, but that was just how easily he fit into his life.
After all of the information he found out, it didn’t even make sense for Cass to ask him to do something so serious. If it was the demon king who had asked him to help Cass out, and he had meant what he said, Cass should be able to trust him.
Did he think the demon king was telling the whole truth? Absolutely not. He should never trust someone who was such a good liar. But, he also had told him the truth without much prodding.
Plus, he just wanted his Sam. Someone comforting to be around.
"I need help." Cass admitted softly, feeling vulnerable and Lucian didn’t make a big deal of it. He closed the door behind him, humming a tune to himself softly as he carried Cass to his bed. Cass felt his heart race since the last time that he had been on the bed with Lucian he had been naked.
Lucian, however, didn’t even seem to bat an eyelash about it. He quietly began to take off Cass’ clothes, speaking to him softly and asking him easy questions. Things that would take his mind off of what was going on. What his favourite outfit was, his favourite colour. What his favourite scent was.
Cass wasn’t even sure what he answered with as he felt Lucian’s hands on his body. He wasn’t touching him sexually. Honestly, it felt like Lucian was undressing a child with the casual way that he was treating him. Cass wasn’t sure if he was happy with his treatment, but he did feel his shoulders relax at one point.
Cass was stripped down to nothing, sitting bare-assed on the bedsheets when there was a knock on the door. Cass jerked his head up, looking towards the door and Lucian chuckled. He reached out, ruffling Cass’ hair.
"I’ll get it. Can’t have anyone else seeing you like this." He said, kissing Cass’ forehead before he turned and headed for the door. Cass held his breath as he answered the door and then Edgar entered with a tray.
"Did you get the water started?" Edgar asked as soon as Lucian opened the door for him.
"Cass was my priority." Lucian told him warmly and Edgar rolled his eyes, sighed, and shoved the tray gently into Lucian’s hands.
"Then take this. I’ll be right back." Edgar said and Cass watched as he moved towards the bathroom. Lucian looked towards Cass and gave him a look like, ’you see how he’s treating me?’ before he grinned.
"Come on, sweetness. Let’s get you feeling better."