Cass, somehow, ended up in between a sandwich of men’s chests. Despite how frustrated he was, and annoyed after everything that had finished off the night, this was where he was.
Edgar on one side, and Lucian on the other. Edgar, at least, asked if it was alright. He was worried about Cass, and he was very willing to leave the bed to give Cass some peace of mind. Lucian, however, had waved off Edgar’s concern and told him that Cass needed physical support throughout the night, and a snack nearby.
Cass was angry and flushed at that comment, but somehow, Lucian had been able to calm him down enough that Cass found himself with Lucian’s bare chest on one side, and Edgar’s frilly white shirt on the other.
Neither man had pajamas in the room. Or nearby. Cass wasn’t even sure if Edgar had a room in the mansion. He couldn’t honestly remember. He knew that Lucian didn’t care, but as Cass drifted off, he worried about Edgar’s situation and if he even had a space to call his own here.
It was a frustrating sort of way to fall asleep, which should have translated into nightmares or something.
However, Cass didn’t dream at all. Like always.
~
Cass woke up, his eyes opening as his consciousness snapped into focus. The heavy weight of Lucian’s arm around his waist and his leg shoved between Cass’ was one thing, Edgar’s slender arm around his chest was another.
Both men were pressed against him, their warmth wrapping around him like a damn tempting drug. Cass was awake, but he could see how he could easily fall asleep again now that he was in this warmth. It was like...a nest. A warm, safe nest.
Cass needed to get up.
Cass tried his best to extract himself carefully from the two men, trying to be as careful as he could. He paused as he came face to face with Edgar’s sleeping beauty. It was like getting caught in a snare. He looked...peaceful. Sweet. Like he would wake up with a kiss.
Cass, his stomach twisting with a strange feeling, turned and found Lucian in a very similar situation. Lucian’s hair had fallen, covering some of his face. His beard looked perfect, maybe a little flattened, and Cass could see how long his eyelashes were. It was a fascinating moment, being able to sit there and look at them both without either of them speaking and judging him.
Cass let out a soft breath, examining both of the men, and the peace that there was in this moment. He knew that Lucian would tease him about this, and so would Edgar. He’d just be more hesitant about his teasing because of his fuck up.
Cass’ chest tightened as he remembered that. The feeling that had twisted his stomach outside of his rage at the situation. The fact that Edgar had doubted him for a moment. That had hurt, but...Edgar had seemed quite upset with himself after. Cass didn’t think he’d ever seen him as upset as he had been.
Cass wasn’t sure if he could trust him the same way that he had as before, but...keeping him away from Cass? That...that hurt too.
Cass let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts all over the place as he realised the hell that Fiona and Lady Ava had dropped into his lap. How he was going to have to clean it all up.
He had so much he needed to do.
~
Using magic, Cass had extracted himself further and managed to find clothes that he didn’t need others’ help to get dressed in. Was it more of a simple outfit? Yes. It didn’t really matter to him if he wore something elaborate around the house, or out of it. He had too much on his plate to remain laying down in that trap of warmth and softness.
Byron was waiting outside of his room, and while the man had glanced around, seeing if Cass was alone as he left the room, he didn’t make a comment further. He just followed Cass as he left the room and headed downstairs. Cass, now knowing where Lord Ridgewood worked out and wanting to check to see if someone else was up, checked the clearing.
He was there, swinging a practise sword, sweat beading all over his body. It seemed that he had been doing this for a while. Cass was about to leave when Lord Ridgewood suddenly turned his gaze directly to him and caught his eye. Lord Ridgewood seemed a little surprised, before a careful smile touched his lips. Cass felt like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Cass. I didn’t expect anyone else but the maids to be up at this hour. Coming to warm up?" He asked and Cass cleared his throat as he was well and truly caught. He slowly approached Lord Ridgewood, keeping his gaze up.
He would not be caught looking at the man after their conversations yesterday.
"I was actually just checking to see if you were up. I was about to go grab breakfast and then head to my study to get started on the mess that’s been left at my feet." Lord Ridgewood’s expression shifted to one of sympathy.
"Ah. Of course. I...I am sorry that’s the case. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Running errands or anything of that sort. As I am not even sure if I am still of the Ridgewood family, I might not hold sway in that regard, but I can be useful as a knight. After all, two of those in your service are currently occupied." Lord Ridgewood said, before his eyes widened. "W-With no disrespect, of course! It’s a blessing." Lord Ridgewood stuttered. Cass felt his lips curl into a small smile.
"It’s alright, Gideon. You don’t need to justify yourself. I will call for you if I have need for you. You’re right. Ser Hune and Sir Sanders are occupied and I was a bit worried that I only have Byron at my service. I might call for you sooner rather than later." Cass warned and Lord Ridgewood’s expression softened from the panic he’d had before to an easy smile.
"I will be waiting and ready." He said, crossing his arm over his chest and giving a polite bow. It was a rather strange experience, having Lord Ridgewood treat him like this. Cass gave him a tight smile, nodded, and then excused himself.
Cass was already planning what he would tackle first in his mind as he moved. Byron escorted him to his office and told Cass he would return with tea and breakfast. When Byron came back, Cass was already nose deep in his work.
~
By the time that Lucian and Edgar woke up, without Cass in the bed, Cass had already sent out several letters informing others of Fiona’s state and how she was off for recuperation. Cass made sure to send several around, including his grandfather, Duke Vespertine, Duke Ridgewood, and the King. While he didn’t want to, keeping them out of the loop was in poor taste, and he wanted to cover his ground.
He would not be told that he excluded people. Everyone would know the same information. He even copied and pasted it, but was polite enough that it didn’t look exactly the same. Slightly different. He even included a threat in the King’s letter. Keep everything light and fresh.
He even kept a threat out of the letter for his grandfather. Didn’t need to stir that pot at the moment. He had too much on his plate, and honestly, a teeny tiny bit of guilt. Or sympathy. The man was partially right about his Mom and his origins.
Cass did have Blackburn blood in him, it had just also been offered up to a demon to be converted into demon blood to make a new being. His grandfather’s paranoia had been justified. This was about as nice as Cass was going to be, because everything else he did was bullshit. Cass was big enough of a person to be able to see there were nuances to this situation.
That did not mean he was going to let him get away with the bullshit he was still pulling.
Cass was about to pull on a jacket to head out and go speak to Duke Vespertine in person and go to the temple, when he had the door to his office flung open and a rather flustered Edgar and Lucian came pouring into the room.
"Are you alright? How long have you been awake?" It was Lucian, who looked frazzled, and a little confused. He was still topless, and Edgar appeared to have quickly pulled on his jacket. He was wearing the same clothes and his hair was a mess. A handsome mess, since both men couldn’t ever be considered ugly, and Cass just started laughing.
"I’ve been up for hours." Cass told them and they both looked confused, and ashamed.
"You didn’t wake us up?" Lucian asked, upset, and Cass smiled at him.
"Can I be honest?" He said and watched how Edgar flinched, as did Lucian. "I have a feeling that if I wake up with you, you are only going to baby me. I have a lot of things that I need to get done today. I can’t afford to have someone following me around and treating me like I’m delicate." Lucian opened his mouth to protest and Cass raised a hand. "They do not need to know if that’s the truth or not, Lucian." Cass told him.
He slid his gaze between the two of them and chuckled.
"Go eat some breakfast, though I suppose it is more like lunch at this point. I have to leave the mansion. I’m sure you two can occupy yourselves for a while, right?" Cass said with a smirk and watched as both men grew flustered.
"Who are you going with?" Lucian asked, concern in his every action.
"I’m going with Gideon and Byron." Cass told them, and that seemed to surprise both of them more.
"Gideon? Why are you going with him?" Lucian asked, and Cass just chuckled. He was still worried, wasn’t he?
"I am down two, no, three guards right now. Byron won’t be able to enter certain places because of his perceived lower status. Gideon can. I’ll be back soon." Cass paused as he finished pulling on his coat. "I have to stop by your place, Edgar, to inform your father of what is going on. At least the cover story. Is there anything you need me to grab there?" Cass asked and watched as Edgar’s jaw dropped slightly. Colour touched his cheeks.
"Um, I couldn’t ask-"
"I’m not sending you back now, so just be honest." Cass cut him off, not wanting to beat around the bush. That seemed to make Edgar more embarrassed. He dropped his head, his face flushed. He was twisting his fingers in his hands.
"Oh, uh, maybe some more clothes?" He said carefully and Cass nodded.
"If he doesn’t send me back with more of yours, we can go shopping later." Cass told him and watched as Edgar’s cheeks warmed further.
"Oh. Thank you." Edgar said. Lucian made a soft growling noise and Cass scoffed.
"You don’t wear clothes, otherwise I would buy you some." Cass scolded, and Lucian shut up immediately. Cass had no idea why he was able to predict why the man was going to be upset, but he used it to his advantage. Cass swept past them and out into the hall, heading towards the front doors. "Be good, you two! I don’t want to hear about any arguments, you hear me?" It was a warning for them as he left.
He didn’t think that they would get into an argument anyways, but it was always good to cover his bases.