Chapter 40: Isn’t this too big of an age gap?
Cass felt his whole body chill as the words left Draken’s mouth. How did he-? Did his bond let him know that? How the fuck had he found out?
Cass had been so careful, so sure to keep it to himself. Did fucking Fiona tell him? Did she betray him again?
Draken noticed how Cass had stiffened, and glancing around the room, he made a dash for Cass’ bedroom and slammed the door behind him.
"He’s fine!" He shouted through the door. "Just a private conversation!" Draken at least had the sense to realise that Cass was about to have a full blown melt down.
Because of the damn bond.
That was forced on him.
Cass wanted to strangle the man.
Draken rushed to place him on the bed, his expression filled with worry. He laid Cass against several pillows, keeping his body angled so that he wasn’t fully extended. He wasn’t quite laying down, not quite sitting up.
"Fuck. I didn’t mean to make you hate me more. I just, well, I guess I connected the dots? Why else would Lady Fiona ask me to bite you if you could control your magic? I feel like the others would have noticed it too, if I had. Maybe not Lady Ava, since her magic is different from ours." The words spilling out of Draken’s mouth calmed parts of him.
The anger directed towards Lady Fiona dimmed, but only slightly. Draken’s awkward expression on his face only made Cass tense more. Cass reached out, grabbing onto Draken’s collar and pulled him close.
"What aren’t you saying?" Cass demanded angrily as a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Lord Blackburn?" Sam asked tentatively, clearly worried even after what Draken had said. Sam won more points with Cass for checking on him.
"Lord Draken is correct! We’re having a private conversation!" Cass called before turning his angry red gaze towards Draken again. Draken’s awkward expression had shifted into a thoughtful one.
"Huh. He didn’t trust me." He said and Cass laughed cruelly.
"Why would he? He’s not your aid, he’s mine. He shouldn’t take your word over mine." Draken gaze warmed as he stared down at Cass, a slight smile touching his lips.
"Ah. So you aren’t completely alone. I stand corrected. No wonder you got mad about that." Cass felt his face flush at the way Draken was looking at him, and the words he was speaking.
"We are still talking about the other thing, Draken. Stop getting distracted." Cass ordered and Draken leaned in, causing Cass to loosen his grip on his shirt.
"Your magic is fluctuating strangely. It’s...unusual for you." Draken whispered. "I doubt anyone else would notice, not even Edgar. Maybe Lady Ava, but I think she has a different trick up her sleeve. Haven’t cracked that one yet." Draken told him, and Cass swallowed.
Wow. He was strangely observant about certain things. Or maybe it was just the years he’d been alive compared to their puny human lifespans. Either way, Cass wanted him to move back a few inches. Cass could feel his breath on his face.
It was...Cass didn’t like it.
"What do you mean fluctuating strangely?" Cass asked and Draken huffed, washing Cass’ face with more of his air. It smelled slightly of sulfur, and felt warm. Like heat rising from a kettle.
"You had more warm energy before. I wouldn’t say you had a preference for it, but it was what I would say you had an affinity with. It’s changed. I would say you have more affinity with water or cold magic. I don’t know what could cause this." Draken’s orange gaze darkened slightly. "Well, I have a theory, and if it’s true, I owe you far more than an apology."
It was decided.
Draken could never find out what he had done. Otherwise, Cass would never be able to leave here without being followed by him. Holy fuck.
Cass was not going to confront what those eyes darkening did to him inside. That was getting pushed to a place that even Draken wouldn’t be able to feel.
"I-Is that a bad thing?" Cass asked, slightly breathless as Draken’s breath continued to fan his face. Draken shook his head, his eyes blinking slowly.
"No, it isn’t. It’s not...normal in any sense, but it does happen. Did you have a great shock recently? Fuck, what am I saying, of course you did. We found out that your Grandfather was involved with the illegal trade of slaves." It was a new piece of information, but not a surprising one. Especially since it was written about in the main story.
"O-Oh. I mean, of course that’s shocking, but..." Cass trailed off. He closed his eyes, focusing on centering himself. He was too shaken up. He needed to gather himself. Draken was all over his personal space, talking about topics that felt like he was digging daggers into open wounds. He needed to take a second for himself.
"Lord Blackburn?" Draken’s voice was a whisper, and when Cass opened his eyes, Draken was even closer. There went any second of effort he’d put into place to center himself.
"D-Draken? Why are you so close?" He stuttered and Draken frowned before pushing Cass’ hair out of the way and pressing his forehead against his own.
"I was told that humans sometimes check their temperatures this way." Cass felt his face flush unintentionally. Who the hell had told him this?
"F-Family members!" Cass sputtered and Draken snorted, rolling his eyes.
"We’re married." He told him as if it was obvious.
"S-Same sex marriage is illegal!" Cass knew he sounded desperate. He was. He wouldn’t lie to himself. The man was too fucking close to him.
And his shirt was too far open for Cass’ peace of mind. Fuck. Fuck!
"I was born in a time where that didn’t matter, Lord Blackburn." Cass wanted to scream. Abort! Abort! Get the fuck away from him!
"T-That’s not this time. M-Modern time frowns upon it." Cass was fighting for his life. What the fuck was Draken meaning by his words? He was the one who’d freaked out previously when Cass had teased him, and now he was the one saying such provocative things? What the fuck?
Draken chuckled, the warmth from his forehead pressed against Cass’.
"Ah, well, that is one way to view it." He replied, a smile in his voice. "But, I also think I run a bit too hot for this to work. You feel cold compared to me." Draken said. "Hmm, maybe your magic changed to suit your new personality? No, that wouldn’t make sense. You’d still be fire based otherwise." He replied, and Cass felt his heart race in his chest.
"Draken, if you’re done testing out what humans do, can you back off? You’re too close." Cass finally said and Draken chuckled.
"Am I? Aren’t you the one who threatened to kiss me? And flirted with me?" Cass gasped.
"I did not flirt with you! I already told you that!" Draken chuckled at Cass’ response.
"Why? It shouldn’t matter anymore. We’re married now. I’m generous, and giving. I’m sure Fiona wouldn’t mind." Draken was bragging about that. To Cass! Cass was floored.
"You don’t like men." It was a declaration on Cass’ part. Cass was sure of it. Draken tsked.
"When did I ever say that? I’m loyal, there’s a difference, Lord Blackburn. But Lady Fiona told me to bond with you, therefore approving of our relationship." Draken sighed before pulling back, giving Cass some space. "I won’t forget that you didn’t say you didn’t like men, Lord Blackburn, but I will respect your boundaries." Oh, now he was going to respect his boundaries? Where the fuck was that before?
"Are you only going to respect me because we’re bonded?" Cass asked, clenching his fists tightly at his side and Draken stared down at him in surprise.
"No. That would be pointless, wouldn’t it? I’ve been respectful of you this whole time." Cass scoffed, his whole body on edge and unable to stop himself.
"That’s what respectful looks like to you? Draken, do you not remember how you’ve treated me thus far?" Draken blinked several times, staring down at Cass.
"Yeah? Of course I do. We were competing for the same woman, that’s different. Of course I viewed you as a threat, but after that, I treated you with respect. We would spar before we all became Lady Fiona’s husbands, and after. That is a great show of respect for my people. For you to be considered a worthy sparring partner? There is no greater honour for someone like me." You know what? This might be on Cass.
He was trying to negotiate human behaviour out of a beast who only wore a human skin. At least he knew that Lady Fiona was filled with some kind of remorse, but he probably wasn’t going to get what he was looking for from Draken.
Not until he was able to put it in his perspective. But how the fuck was he supposed to do that?
They didn’t have dragons back on earth.