Cass awoke with a start. For once, no one else was in his bed. What had awoken him was the gentle shaking of his shoulder and the soft, brown gaze of a man who he had doubted merely days before in his intentions towards him.
Startled, Cass stared at him for a long moment before he sat up quickly.
"Sam!" Cass cried, reaching out and gripping the other man’s shoulders. "Are you alright? How are you feeling? Byron was strutting around like a proud peacock yesterday. Should you even be up?" Cass asked, the words spilling out of him and Sam broke out into a huge grin.
"I’m fine, my Lord. Truly. Never been better. What Byron and I did was...a long time coming, I think, but I don’t regret it. Nor did he force me, I can see that question in your eyes." Sam teased, his expression bright. Cass scanned the other man, taking in his freckles, his brown hair, brown eyes. Every little aspect of him.
"Well, as long as you say you’re okay." Cass breathed out slowly and Sam got a little naughty smile on his face.
"I should be asking you the same thing, my Lord. I’ve been hearing rumours around the manor, and Byron has been bringing back the most interesting conversations he’s overheard." Sam’s eyes sparkled as Cass felt his face flame.
Yeah, there was no way he was getting away from this.
Cass blushed down to his roots, and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment as he tried to collect himself. Sam’s soft laughter made the moment worse.
"I have no excuses." Cass eventually admitted and Sam’s laughter filled the air.
"I can detect three heat signatures here. You haven’t been sleeping alone, have you, my Lord?" Sam teased and Cass flushed more.
"I’m not answering that when you have powers to test that already." Cass muttered and Sam shook his head, still smiling.
"Thankfully, Lord Lucian stayed outside of your room last night to keep you safe, and Lord...Edgar remained on the lower levels to protect you in that regard. You are...well taken care of. So much so it makes me feel redundant." Sam muttered, before he gasped. "Please ignore my words. I just got so used to talking to myself that I-" Cass reached for Sam’s hands, taking them in his own and squeezing.
"You are not redundant." Cass told him softly. "You never could be. You are far too important to me for that to ever happen. Besides, Lucian is going to have to leave for a while, about two months, and while Edgar is a great help, he is not you. I’ve missed your tea, Sam." Cass told him, meaning his words. Cass watched as Sam’s eyes watered.
"My Lord." Sam sobbed. "I would like to apologise, once more, for keeping who I am from you. I never meant to hurt you. I will spend my life making it up to you." Sam bowed deeply, still holding onto Cass’ hands.
Cass hadn’t been around Sam for a while and had forgotten how emotional the other man was. Cass’ shoulders softened, his expression following suit.
"Sam, stand up. I’ve forgiven you ever since I met with the Demon King himself. I could tell that you couldn’t have told me anything, not with a father like that." Cass’ eyes widened. "Wait, does that make us siblings if we have the same father?" Cass asked. Sam nearly choked.
"N-No, my Lord! A being such as I could never be called that when compared to you! I am nothing like you! You feel like-like a tempest compared to me!" Sam protested and Cass blinked, surprised that Sam had said that.
"I feel like what?" Cass asked and Sam kept talking.
"I-In fact, it’s gotten more potent since your, uh, heat? You’ve gotten stronger. I’d say you are one of the most powerful sex demons out there on the human plane now!" Sam said it with pride while Cass felt his head swim.
What? On the human plane? How many demons were there? That was something that Cass had never considered and now? Now he was going to find out, personally.
"Is there a way to hide that?" Cass asked and Sam paused before his whole face went red. He coughed, looking away from Cass for a long moment.
"There is only one way to do that, my Lord." Sam admitted quietly and Cass could suddenly hear his heartbeat in his ears. He had a terrible feeling he knew what Sam was going to say.
"What’s the way, Sam?" Cass asked, knowing he probably didn’t want to know the answer.
"W-Well, um, since I was created by an incubus, it was presumed that I would be serving one." Sam started. Cass let him talk, not wanting to cut him off because this was important stuff for him to learn, however he did want the other man to get to it quickly. "I get information thrust into my mind when I am created. Because I was created by an incubus, that’s information related to them. It’s the same for most imps." Fascinating information.
Where was the part that he needed?
"Um, usually when sex demons reach the age of majority they begin going through what you call heats. Usually they only go through a few before they give into their base needs and uh, copulate. As far as I can tell, that’s when they are able to control their powers. For sex demons, completing that action is what brings a child into adulthood." Cass blanked.
"I’ve done a lot of that." Cass muttered, confused. Sam blushed.
"Yes, my lord, but you, um, haven’t gone the whole way?" Sam suggested mildly. Cass swallowed. Oh. Right.
"Am I still a child then?" Cass asked, confused and even Sam looked unsure.
"I don’t know. This isn’t an area I have expertise in, especially since you are regarded as not a child as a fairy. I don’t think that the situation that Byron found himself in is similar to your situation because you were holding back the whole time, while Byron didn’t know what to do." Sam offered and Cass chewed on the words he’d been given.
Not a child, not a teen, not an adult. Still an eldritch being. Great.
That, and he’d have to have sex completely before he’d be able to control his demonic powers completely. Great. Lucian’s time away might kill Cass for a completely different reason.
As if able to sense when Cass’ mind drifted from the topic that they were discussing to the dragon himself, a knock sounded on the door.
"Cassy Baby? Are you alright? Can I come in?" Sam stiffened at the way that Lucian called him but Cass let out a soft sigh. He released Sam’s hands, running a hand over his face. He’d made this mess, he’d lie in it and honestly? It was just good to get some honest information from Sam about what was going on.
"Come in, Lucian." Cass called at a normal volume and Lucian stepped in. He was hesitant at first before he pushed his way in, chest forward. Cass had no idea why at first, until he realised that something was different.
Lucian was in a different outfit.
He was wearing black pants, but they weren’t the tight, thigh-hugging pants that Cass was used to. They were softer, looking more like dress pants. He was also wearing a belt of sorts, with delicate golden accents running up and down the pants themselves. Golden thread that glittered in the sunlight pouring in through the flimsy curtains. Cass blinked, startled, but that wasn’t the most amazing part.
He wasn’t wearing his white pirate top. He was actually wearing a proper shirt, with a vest, and a jacket overtop. The shirt underneath was a deep blue shade, complimenting his skin tone and hair colour. It was almost black, but in the light, the blue came through. The vest had golden buttons and elaborate golden shapes stitched into the black fabric. It framed his body, accenting the ridiculous difference between the broadness of Lucian’s chest and the thinness of his waist.
The jacket? That was just the finishing touches. Black with small golden accents and a red pocket square. Cass felt his cheeks warm as he realised that the colour would match his eyes. Lucian was also wearing nice shoes, his hair was combed and he was shining. He had braids in his hair and pretty, glittering gems rested in the braids.
He looked...He looked ridiculously handsome.
Cass sucked in a deep breath, his words escaping him as Lucian came to a stop next to Sam, towering over the shorter man. His facial hair was even trimmed, taken care of. He’d...he’d preened for Cass. That’s what this felt like. Gotten all pretty for him and their date.
Cass felt ridiculous for throwing out the suggestion in the heat of the moment when Lucian responded like this.
"You’ve cleaned up well, Lord Lucian." Sam told him, the coldness mostly gone from his voice. Lucian grinned.
"Thank you, Sam. You look to be in good condition as well. I am glad that Byron learned from my mistakes." Lucian told the other man with a grin. Sam flushed, then glanced to Cass and back to Lucian.
"Shall we get ready for the day, my Lord?" Sam asked and Cass was still a little dumbstruck, staring at Lucian. Lucian puffed up his chest, looking extremely pleased with this outcome.
"You like what you see, Cass? I’m glad, but you should get dressed. We’ll have plenty of time to look at each other later." Lucian told him, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss against his forehead. "I had to get up extra early to get dressed, so I left your bed cold. I hope you’ll forgive me for that." Lucian sounded genuinely sincere and Cass had no idea what to say.
"Uh, it’s okay." Cass mumbled, not even certain what he was saying. Lucian smiled again.
"You’re so kind. Sam, make sure he’s comfortable today, alright? It’s my job to be pretty today. Cass asked me out on a date, so I must be handsome as the one who was asked." Lucian told him. Sam’s eyes went wide before he turned, raising a hand to his mouth discretely.
"O-Of course Lord Lucian." Sam managed and Lucian didn’t seem to notice the subtle way that Sam’s shoulders shook.
"Is that what it was like in your time when you were dating before this?" Cass asked, somehow able to find his voice. Lucian blinked, before he nodded with a grin.
"Whatever party accepted the invitation had to dress up." He told him and Cass was glad to hear that now.
"So if you invited me...?" Cass trailed off questioningly and Lucian nodded.
"You would have to be the dressed up party. The pretty one, though, that wouldn’t be hard for you. Rags wouldn’t be able to mask your beauty." Lucian meant his words and Cass needed a break.
"Would you mind waiting? Sam’s just going to help me get dressed." Cass muttered and Lucian grinned.
"I’ll go wait on the loveseat then. Take your time. I made no reservations since I just wanted to enjoy our time together and not worry about time restrictions." Cass felt confused. If he was the one who invited him, shouldn’t he be the one making reservations?
"Um, wouldn’t that be my job?" Cass asked and Lucian blinked, then shook his head.
"No. I’m the dragon. I make the reservations. Pretty fairies just get to be pretty." He said it like it made sense after what he’d just said. Cass couldn’t find the logic in it for even a minute and the confusion was obvious on his face. Lucian bent, pressing a kiss against his cheek again. "Don’t think too hard. I can practically see you trying to find similarities to my life, your life, and this one. Just focus on me today, alright? Just me." Lucian’s voice was a purr, a plea and a demand all wrapped in one.
Cass nodded slowly. Lucian’s responding smile made Cass’ stomach fill with butterflies. Was he going to survive today in one piece?