Lucian knew a few things about himself. One, he was fast. Two, he was strong. Three, he had a temper. Four, he was handsome as both a human and as a dragon. Five, he was a good teacher in magic and otherwise. Six, he had a great sense of smell.
So, it wasn’t as much of a shock as it was to him as it was to everyone else that Fiona and Ava were gone. He’d known since last night, he just didn’t know it was such a big deal. How was he supposed to know something like that?
He wasn’t connected to Fiona like that, and while she was his human wife, he viewed their bond now as more of a temporary one, forged out of comradery than anything else. Especially since she was showing all the possessive signs a dragon would with a bond partner when it came to Ava.
Lucian wasn’t an idiot. He knew when to step back, like Fiona had when it came to Cass. Fiona had essentially washed her hands of Cass the moment she had stepped in to beat the shit out of Lucian and Edgar back in the dungeon. She had made it clear during that beating that if they were to bother Cass like they were, she would lay them out flat in his place.
That wasn’t what a romantic interest would say, that was what a broodmother would say. What a broodkin would say.
Lucian had known from that point on that while it wasn’t a green light, Fiona wasn’t going to cause him problems as long as he didn’t upset Cass again. So, he had worked hard not to do that.
Edgar, it appeared, was having a harder time realising that Fiona was gone. Lord Ridgewood seemed to be more on Lucian’s side of things. He didn’t seem as shocked that Fiona was gone, but it was completely different for Cass.
His reaction was like a tail whip to the chest. Lucian had only a few times in his life had his breath taken away like that, which was how Edgar and Lucian had ended up so wet.
Lucian had been attempting magic, but things had gone poorly when the wave of emotions from Cass had knocked him flat on his ass.
Having to see the rage and anger in person had broken something inside of Lucian. He had wanted to go to Cass, but he was giving off clear signs that until Lucian read the letter, there was no way he would allow anyone close.
Lucian fucking hated reading.
He’d learned, of course. He wasn’t going to let anything get in his way when he wanted to do something, but he cursed it every time he encountered it. His eyes may look human, but they were dragon in nature. Interpreting the little fucking marks on the thin paper made him want to growl in frustration. How Cass or Gideon found joy in these things was beyond his comprehension. All it got him was a deep ache behind his eyes if he looked for too long.
That was why it took him so long to read the thing. He also had to focus most of his attention on the stupid things, so it took him a moment to realise that his bondmate had run away. Lucian had cursed, forcing himself to finish the letter, and then fled.
He didn’t give a fuck about whatever reason Fiona gave. He really didn’t. What he did know was that it upset Cass, and that was the only reason he needed to understand why she fled.
Why it upset Cass.
Holding the thin man in his arms, listening to the pain and anger and rage inside of him, Lucian couldn’t help but feel his hearts squeeze. The man had every right to be angry. If Lucian was in his shoes, he would have raged and burned a city down. He would have hunted Fiona down and forced both her and the gods to apologise to him.
Maybe he could attempt to do that still, but for Cass, not as him?
It was a thought to ponder. He had a vacant kind regard for the gods, but if this was how they were going to treat his bondmate? The man who he wanted to tie his soul to for all eternity?
Lucian hoped that they were capable of burning. He’d probably have to ask some more devious demons if that was the case. Would Sam know? Maybe it could be a bonding moment for him and Sam since Byron liked him so much, and so did Cass.
He didn’t view Sam as a threat because of Byron’s attachment to him, and how Cass spoke of Sam. It was more like a broodkin than a romantic interest. There was a moment there where Lucian hadn’t been sure so Sam had been on his threats list.
Lucian, however, didn’t like seeing Cass hurt like this. Cass’ emotions were so aggressive and violent that they tore at Lucian’s insides. He could also tell who had hurt him the most. The gods, Fiona, and Edgar, in that order. There had been a moment of pain from Lucian, but Lucian would never let that stand.
Not ever again.
While he didn’t hate having Cass mad at him, they were not at a safe point where Cass could be mad at him and they could easily make up. Lucian had tried that, and it had failed spectacularly in his face. He just wanted sweet, angry kisses that melted both of their bones into each other.
Cass wasn’t ready for that yet, but he would be. Eventually. Lucian could hope. It was such an important aspect of dragon courtship that he really, really wanted to do it with Cass. He was sure he could make Cass like it too, but...
He wasn’t ready yet. Lucian was learning about Cass every day, and while this courtship wasn’t anything like a dragon courtship, it was still fun.
Even if it was hard in different ways.
When Lucian spoke to Cass about what he was worried about in the bathroom, Lucian thought that Cass was going to kill him. The energy in the room told him that he had to tread carefully. Cass was not in the mood for forgiveness. Lucian knew that. He knew his stubborn little bondmate was good at forgiveness, but after he got his anger out.
Lucian just didn’t want that anger to fester for too long. After all, Edgar was a scaredy cat. If he thought Cass wanted him gone for too long, he would flee.
Lucian didn’t want to have to chase him down. That would eat up into his time with Cass, and that was unacceptable. Especially when he wasn’t sure if Gideon was a threat for just Edgar, or both Edgar and Cass. Edgar was fine since he was a good little bottom, but Gideon?
The man didn’t strike him as the kind of man who would like to take it from the back. He was too...stuck up.
So, Lucian had to put in some gentle words, soft touches, and gentle his sweetness. Cass, thankfully, was receptive to his words. That made Lucian happy, and gave him some peace of mind as he went to tear into Edgar for making Cass even more upset.
The man was a fucking idiot for not groveling as soon as he doubted his sweet, wonderful Cass. His conniving, precious, thoughtful fairy. Lucian waited until the door was closed behind him before he stormed towards Edgar and picked him up by his frilly collar.
"Are you serious, Edgar? What’s wrong with you? Are you still in love with Fiona?" Lucian asked as he slammed the man into the wall opposite of the bathroom. He had to search for a spot where a chest of drawers wasn’t pushed against it.
He was angry, not trying to break the man.
"Lucian, let him go." It was Gideon, but Lucian had no love for the man. He made him feel icky. Reminded him of all the bad things that he had done to Cass in the name of putting distance between them, testing him, and hiding his growing feelings for the man while he was supposed to remain loyal to Fiona.
He didn’t like the slight of him.
"Shut the fuck up, Gideon. I’m allowed to be pissed. Do you know how upset Cass is right now? He’s split in fucking two. Between your betrayal, and Fiona’s." Lucian growled and watched as all the colour faded from Edgar’s face. He looked pale, and confused.
"I-I don’t, I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to-I didn’t mean to hurt him." Edgar whispered, broken in a different but similar way to Cass. Lucian huffed.
"Well, you did. You’re fucking lucky I’m a good dragon because otherwise I would have taken this chance to sever his ties to you." Lucian growled and Edgar looked actually ill.
A hand on Lucian’s shoulder had him growling.
"Let him go, Lucian." Gideon said and Lucian jerked his head towards the ballsy human.
"Or what? What can a human like you do without your little magic sword, hmm? Against me, a dragon?" Lucian felt the fist connect with his jaw only a second later, and was surprised by the force of it.
However, that didn’t mean that Lucian was backing down.
The confrontation with Edgar probably wouldn’t have gone further than Lucian holding him against the wall escalated as soon as Gideon got involved. Lucian was careful in lowering Edgar to the floor before he took on the full force of Gideon.
Lucian would have to give it to the man, he was strong and fast. For a human. Lucian would be generous and say he was probably as strong as the fledgling Byron. That was high praise in his books.
However, Lucian was able to take him as he threw fist after fist, keeping an eye on Cass in the other room and Edgar who was on the floor now, all the while not breaking any of the furniture in Cass’ room.
If Gideon knew how easy Lucian was treating him, he didn’t let it show. It was almost therapeutic to get this physical with the other man.
Lucian let him land a few punches, could tell how much it hurt Gideon versus hurting Lucian, and by the time that Gideon was tired out, Lucian felt better. Lighter.
Huh. That had been nice, even if the context in which it happened wasn’t. Maybe he could convince the other man to get his ass beat weekly. He was more fun to play with than Cass’ little knight since his knight had actually tried to kill him.
Lucian’s chest ached where the sword had sunk dangerously close to his hearts. It was a little funny that he had been weaker than Gideon but had struck more fear into Lucian than Gideon was.
Hell, from the exhausted, annoyed look on Gideon’s face, maybe Gideon needed to move around like this. Look at Lucian!
He was out here helping everyone! Cass, Edgar, Gideon. Who else could he help?
"What are you three doing?" Cass’ sharp voice washed over everyone as Lucian looked over at his sweetness and smiled.
"Just helping Gideon get out some of his anger. Do you want a try?" Lucian offered, willing, always, to be Cass’ punching bag. His smile grew wide as it appeared Cass actually considered it. With his hair still wet, slightly curled around his ears, and the soft looking towel around him, Lucian just wanted to lick him clean.
He was sure Cass would snarl at him and bite him if he suggested it right now though. He kept that thought to himself.