A knock sounded at the door and Cass flew into fight or flight.
Within seconds, he was out of Lucian’s lap, stumbling back as his eyes widened and he nearly fell into the coffee table. Lord Ridgewood caught him from the other side, his hands firmly on his back and keeping him from falling over completely and crashing into the coffee table.
"My Lord? Are you alright in there? Am I allowed to enter?" Byron asked through the door and Lord Ridgewood helped Cass stand on his own while Edgar simply slid to the side of Lucian and out of his lap.
Cass knew he had reacted poorly, especially from the smug looks on both Lucian and Edgar’s faces. Not caring much for his image at the moment, Cass brushed his hair out of his face, nodded thanks to Lord Ridgewood, and gave a finger to both Lucian and Edgar.
Both men smiled as Cass huffed.
"Come in, Byron." Cass called. Byron slowly opened the door, and Cass realised he wasn’t alone.
"My apologies. I am not alone. Ser Hune and Sir Sanders are with me as well." He said cautiously and Cass understood why in just a moment.
Sir Sanders looked like a damn feral dog, his arm wrapped tightly around his wife’s waist, his eyes darting around the room tensely. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, not days, and Cass didn’t need to have working eyes to tell that something was up.
Part of that had to do with Ser Hune. The fairy was...different. Cass could tell. Her scent had changed. Cass wasn’t even sure if the others were aware.
While she looked tired, she didn’t look as tense and anxious as Sir Sanders was. In fact, she was zen, a complete opposite to her husband. She was standing tall, looking a little worse for wear, but happy. Smiling.
When she met Cass gaze, her expression faltered slightly, guilt filling her expression. She bowed slightly to Cass, raising her head quickly.
"My deepest apologies, my Lord. I was tasked with helping you as your guard and I have failed my job. I tried to send him away but he just wouldn’t leave my side." Ser Hune said, patting the side of her husband’s head. Sir Sanders seemed to calm down slightly at his wife’s touch, but Cass had no doubt that he would turn vicious if Cass stepped too close.
Cass knew. Ser Hune had changed. He could tell that the other men in the room couldn’t tell, not even Lucian. That did surprise him slightly as Cass sniffed the air. His action was obvious and Sir Sanders tensed, while Ser Hune’s smile grew. Lucian and the others stared at him.
"Are you smelling something, Cass?" Lucian asked as Byron closed the door behind them, standing guard silently.
"You aren’t able to smell it?" Cass asked, glancing at the most animalistic out of all of them. Lucian’s nostrils flared as he inhaled, paused, and then exhaled. He shook his head slowly, a look of confusion clouding his expression before Ser Hune laughed.
"It’s a fairy thing, Cass. Not something that even a dragon would be able to pick up on without proper training. Dusty, let Lucian come close for a second." Ser Hune suggested and it was clear that the knight did not want another man close to his wife. Lucian chuckled.
"I won’t raise a finger. I wouldn’t hurt one of Cass’ kin." Lucian swore and while that seemed to calm the other man down, he was not backing down. Not against something that was such a threat to his wife.
"If you hurt a hair on her head, I’ll kill you." The man threatened and Lucian grinned.
"Good. I would expect nothing less." Lucian said as he slowly stood up, his hands raised where Sir Sanders could see them as he slowly approached Ser Hune. He was sniffing the whole time, taking deep gulps of air. It was only when he was a pace away from her that his expression shifted.
He paused, sniffing deeply a few times before something rippled across his skin. Scales, maybe? But Cass couldn’t be sure.
"What am I smelling?" He asked and Ser Hune gave a soft giggle accompanied by a smile.
"My body has taken my husband’s seed. Soon, we are to give birth to our baby." Ser Hune said and Cass let out a gasp.
"That soon?" He asked, taking a hurried few steps towards Ser Hune. He realised too late that it was probably dangerous for him to do so, but the tension was quickly cut as Ser Hune reached for his hands, linking their fingers. All Sir Sanders could do was mutter darkly as he watched Cass like a hawk.
He had no interest in Ser Hune. She was very much ’not his type’.
"Cass, fairies are different. We pass our baby off early to be tended to by our nursery tree." She said warmly and Cass began to piece together the pieces.
"The tree agreed, didn’t it?" He asked and Ser Hune nodded, her eyes watering.
"My tree back home was badly damaged, so I didn’t think I would ever be able to be a mother. Nor did Dustin think he would be a father. This is a rather large moment for us. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I gathered you had already made some assumptions and I’ve been so sick from the magic that I haven’t been able to leave the bathing chambers." That explained the lack of colour in her normally dark skin. Cass gave her hands a squeeze.
"How is your body feeling? Do you need to rest? Any medication to help? Any cravings?" Cass asked and Ser Hune seemed a little surprised by his questions, as did everyone else.
Lord Blackburn had never had any run-ins with people who were pregnant. Cass, however, lived with his sister through her first two trimesters.
She did not have an easy go of pregnancy.
"I’m okay. In a few weeks I will hand this little bundle over to the nursery tree and they will tend to it. Until then, I must remain barefoot to keep a connection to the tree. A grounding. They are helping with any of my cravings." Ser Hune told him and Cass thought that was a damn miracle. He’d never heard of something like that before, and he was glad that Ser Hune was able to experience it.
He did not wish morning sickness onto anyone. Nor the swelling, bloating, or overall discomfort he’d watched his sister go through.
Shit, and then she had to deal with his loss too.
Cass swallowed thickly as tears threatened to take him under, but he somehow managed to keep his composure as he spoke to Ser Hune.
"So you’re here to say that you and Sir Sanders won’t be going back with us when we head back to our mansion, aren’t you? And to also ask permission to stay here, correct?" Cass asked and watched as Ser Hune smiled warmly.
"You’ve always been smart, my Lord." She teased and Cass chuckled.
"You don’t have to ask. Of course you are welcome to stay here. Do you want to ask anyone else to come support you? I have no issues with other fairies coming here, as long as they don’t harm the property or the tree." Cass said, stating the obvious. Ser Hune’s smile grew. She reached out, cupping Cass’ cheek with her rough hand.
"You are a sweet boy. I’ll send a letter, but I doubt anyone from my family will come. Dustin is an orphan, but some of his siblings might want to come." She said, glancing at her growling husband. "But, knowing what some of them were like when their partners got pregnant, they might stay away until the coast is clear." Ser Hune said. She was smiling, but something crossed her expression. "This might take a while." She admitted softly. "Some fairy births take up to two years." She told him and Cass shrugged.
"So? Does it look like I care how long you stay here?" Cass asked her and Ser Hune scanned his face. Really looking at Cass before she smiled.
"No. You don’t appear to care at all. You’re more worried about my condition, aren’t you?" She asked and Cass nodded.
"I really am. Are you sure you have everything you need? Do you want softer pillows? Is it like human pregnancies where you can’t lie on your back or stomach as you progress?" Cass asked and that seemed to surprise the others.
"What? Humans can’t do that?" Sir Sanders asked and Cass nodded.
"You could smother the baby. They could not get enough oxygen to their brains. At least, that’s what I was told." Cass said, looking a little embarrassed for a moment before he met Ser Hune’s gaze. She was watching him with soft, silver eyes.
"I’ll be okay. I’ll make sure to ask the maids if I need anything. That, and Dusty here has been more than willing to get anything for me." She said, deep affection in her words and gaze. Sir Sanders glowed under the praise.
"You are my wife, and you have agreed to carry my child. It is my greatest honour to tend to your needs." He sounded so serious and solemn. It was so stinking cute that Cass felt his lips curl up. Ser Hune’s laughter filled the air.
"My hero." She said, and Cass didn’t think she was teasing him.
"Don’t be afraid. I’ll let my people know that you have access to anything you want. As long as you are here, you are my people. I also have practically unlimited money, so please, don’t feel bad for using my resources. You’re doing me a favour by staying here and keeping my grandfather in check." Cass told them, smiling warmly at Ser Hune.
She was unable to resist her urges and Cass found himself wrapped in her arms, squeezing him tightly. The new smell of soft sunlit meadows and fresh rain filled his nostrils, calming him slightly.
"You are such a gem. Thank you, Cass. Now, what were you all talking about that had such severe looks on all of your faces? More secrets?" She asked, slightly teasing, but Cass felt his whole body tense.
There were some secrets, and some that...honestly, Ser Hune should know. One big one that while Cass knew she wouldn’t judge him, he was a bit worried how she would take it. Especially given her delicate disposition now.
Cass pulled back, taking in her still smiling expression and realised he really didn’t want to take that away from her.
"If you lie to me, I’ll be very cross." She warned and that only made Cass feel worse. Sir Sanders would kill him if he made her upset, but Ser Hune would kill him if she didn’t find out something that was related to her. To them. To the fairies.