Cass was only saved by the fact that Lucian truly did just want to be his cushion. The man didn’t push Cass further, just tucked him against his chest for a moment longer, hugging him, and then settled into making Cass a cup of tea while Cass scrambled to find his book.
It was in the bag that acted as a huge storage unit, and Lucian, his magic teacher, was kind enough to remind Cass how to use his magic to get his things once he was already settled. Cass was just too used to not using magic in his day to day life that it was still hard for him to remember he could.
Lucian didn’t tease him about it, his smile kind and his eyes warm in a way that made Cass uncomfortable as he settled into his lap. Lucian was a good pillow and cushion. He was muscly, but still soft. Cass didn’t feel like his butt was going to get sore, and Lucian even offered his arm and chest as back support.
There was the small fact that his longer hair would tickle his neck, or Lucian’s stubble would make Cass twitch, but beyond that? This was working out for Cass.
Lucian didn’t ask too many questions either, and Cass realised he was reading over his shoulder at one point.
Cass started out in the basics. He wanted to know more about Sam and imps since that was closer to the front of the book, but at this point, he’d skimmed over the beginning part so quickly last time that he needed to read over it again.
It didn’t take long to read over the introduction and the beginning of the book. Most of it was about care and maintenance for your demon when they were in the human realm. Nothing he learned in the first part of the book was unfamiliar to him. Even the soft grunt from Lucian told him that he was familiar with it at this point as well. It was all stuff he’d learned through trial and error, and with a little bit of gentle nudging from Sam as well.
Cass took his time with each demon after that, trying to imprint them into his memory. He knew that this one time read wasn’t going to be enough, but hey, he could try. He would be the first to admit that once he’d finished his second cup of tea, he was getting a little antsy.
He had a few targets he needed to meet. Imps, vampires, sucubi and incubi, and the demon king again. If there was a Chapter of half bloods, he should also read that as well. Cass wasn’t a half blood, maybe, but he was something close to it. Enough that his body was affected the same way that a half blood demon would be.
Like everything Cass was coming to understand when related to him, it was complicated.
Thankfully, imps came up rather quickly.
"Good." Cass mumbled out loud to himself and felt Lucian shift behind him, but remained quiet. He didn’t say anything, but Cass could feel how the man was smiling to himself. He knew the man wanted to call him cute, he could feel it. He was smart to keep it to himself at the moment.
Imps, like Sam had explained and what he had found out from the demon king, were created from a higher level demon’s magic. They were the lowest of the low, but the only reason they weren’t at the front of the book with some of the lower level demons was because they had purpose for the higher demons. Usually they were given tasks and served their lords.
They could move through both realms because they were so insignificant that even the gods didn’t notice them. Unless they were given power or signed a contract, then they were granted a higher status. Imps were also ranked by who they were created by.
Sam, being an imp created by the demon king, actually had more authority than most mid level demons. That was also something that they could sense. Demons were actually very attuned to what kind of blood flowed through another demon’s veins.
It was a power thing, a magical ability unique to demons. Cass was sure the only reason he didn’t have it, or wasn’t aware so far was because he had avoided activating his demonic blood for this long.
Cass was very displeased as he realised he would be able to sense those things soon. How soon? He didn’t want to find out. He didn’t realise that was an aspect of Ava that he was going to replace.
Either way, the book then went on to list a few levels of care that an imp would need beyond basic care that you would provide with any and all demons. Very simple things, like soft environments, soft bedding, and a loud voice that met their needs. The list included tending to kinks that imps had in relation to the demon that created them. Cass felt a little awkward at that.
Good thing that he had a Byron for that. It also explained Sam’s outburst that one time. Cass had a feeling that was linked to his creator being an incubi. Funny enough, it later clarified that that was the case. Those imps that were created by demons of anger normally wanted shouting matches or pain while those created from sex demons were a little more diverse in their desires.
There were also a few identifiers to figure out if someone was a lower level imp, but it would be hard to find higher level imps because of the higher level demons who had created them. They blended into human society quite well, and often worked jobs in mansions or restaurants, places that would get them the most contact with who they were after.
Well, Cass couldn’t disagree with that.
Finishing up the info on imps, Cass moved past that Chapter and then...got bored and wanted to look into vampires. Well, not bored per se, more that...he had a strong investment in wanting to learn more about vampires.
Especially given the afternoon he had spent. The mark on his throat pulsed and Cass swallowed thickly.
"Feeling okay?" Lucian asked quietly and Cass nearly jumped, forgetting that he was behind him. He’d been so quiet so far that Cass nearly forgot that he was there.
"Yeah." Cass told him, glancing behind him briefly. Lucian chuckled.
"You felt an emotion earlier, maybe pain? Are you hurting somewhere? Or did anything in that Chapter hurt you?" He was being so careful with Cass that it honestly made him a little uncomfortable. He didn’t know how to handle it.
"Ah, I just, the marks on my neck hurt." Cass mumbled, ducking his head in embarrassment.
"Oh, are they? Can I have a look?" Lucian asked. Cass wondered why he needed to look closer, he was practically pressed against his neck.
"Go ahead." Cass mumbled. He found Lucian’s hand coming around to his chin and gently taking it in his hand. Carefully, he angled Cass’ head back so that Lucian could get a clear view of his throat. Lucian made a soft hum in his throat.
"Hmm. It does look a little red. If we aren’t careful, this could scar. That silly Edgar. He should know that your skin would bruise easily." Cass felt his body warm at the gentle way he was speaking. He shifted uncomfortably, Lucian’s breath fanning over his throat.
"Everyone bruises easily." Cass countered and Lucian paused, before he laughed.
"I suppose that’s the case, isn’t it? Both you and Eddie as such light shades. I’ll have to make sure to take care of how much sunlight you get, since Eddie isn’t allowed in the sun." Lucian sounded pleased, and Cass felt even more uncomfortable with how he was leaning back, laid out against Lucian while he...moved him around as he pleased.
Cass let out a small sound when he felt Lucian’s tongue dart out and press against the mark that Edgar had made earlier.
"Eek!" Cass froze, while Lucian just chuckled. "W-W-What are you doing?" Cass squeaked and Lucian paused. He pulled his tongue back and then pressed his lips against Cass’ throat.
"I...forgot to tell you. My saliva has healing properties." Cass paused, his brain freezing, before he felt every neuron begin to fire. Was that true? Did Cassian know that? Did Lucian say that to Fiona before? He wasn’t even sure that he could argue with him because he didn’t know enough about dragons in the first place.
There was silence for a moment before Lucian started laughing. Full on belly laughing. He pressed another kiss to Cass’ throat, over the mark that Edgar had made.
"I’m joking. You looked stricken for a moment there, as if you had missed a critical piece of information somewhere. Dragons don’t have healing abilities through their saliva. That would be crazy." Lucian continued to laugh while Cass felt his face turn bright red.
"You little-" Cass started, turning and poking Lucian hard in the chest. Lucian continued to laugh.
"I deserved that. Sorry. I just wanted to make you feel better." Lucian told him, still laughing. It was Cass’ turn to grumble.
"That wasn’t very fucking nice." Cass grumbled and Lucian grinned, taking Cass’ hand in his own and pressing his lips against his fingers.
"I apologise. I just wanted to tease. I kissed it better, didn’t I? Do you want me to kiss it more?" Lucian asked, a sparkle in his eyes.
Cass gulped, his eyes widening slightly. What?
"I-I’m supposed to be reading." He told Lucian and Lucian purred. Cass watched as his pupils elongated and he blinked slowly.
"You can take a break. Just a little one. A few smooches. I can have a few if Eddie can have a few, right?" He was pulling on Cass’ heartstrings, teasing him. Cass let out a shuddering breath.
"I don’t trust you to stop at a few smooches." Cass told him, his voice breathy. Lucian grinned.
"You can push me away if I get carried away." He leaned in, getting closer and closer to Cass’ face. The problem was, Cass wasn’t sure he could push him away.