Of course Cass didn’t let Mr. Collins or Christopher pay after that. There was no way in hell that he was going to allow that to happen.
He’d invaded, with Lucian in tow, he owed them at least that much.
It was strange that even Lucian got upset that Cass was going to pay and Cass just stared at the dragon. He wanted to smack him. Objectively, Cass should always pay.
How else was he going to get all the money that he owned back into circulation?
Thankfully, it was just a quiet protest, the man didn’t actually kick up a stink and Cass and Lucian were able to part with Mr. Collins and Christopher without incident. The staff were still being rather strange, but Cass couldn’t do anything about that. It was like they were jittery around him. Afraid that he was going to attack them or something.
Cass wasn’t known for attacking random people on the street. He had attacked a demon at a ball, but the man was going to steal their saintess. Cass couldn’t have that, plus, Cass hadn’t known he was a demon at the time.
It was just convenient for Cass that he was.
They parted ways at the door, Mr. Collins and Christopher had something else that they needed to do, both waving at them with different levels of enthusiasm that told Cass a lot about their personalities. Mr. Collins’ whole body nearly shook with his effort, while Christopher’s was more subdued.
"They make an interesting couple, don’t they?" Lucian voiced once they were fair enough that their human ears couldn’t pick up on it.
"I didn’t think Mr. Collins went for older men, but it strangely...suits him." Cass muttered. Lucian chuckled.
"Sweetness, I’m older than the country you’re standing in." Lucian told him and Cass scrunched up his face. He glanced up at Lucian’s dancing, warm orange gaze and scowled at him.
"Dragons can’t be compared to humans like that. Or even fairies." Never mind how old demons got. Cass had no fucking clue about that. It wasn’t mentioned in the book. "Byron has been living as a teen for...what? A century? That’s my guess. Your timelines aren’t comparable, and you decided to pursue me. I have no doubt that Mr. Collins got to Christopher first." Cass added, surprising Lucian.
"Why are you so certain?" Lucian asked, hunching over so that his face was closer to Cass’ shoulder. It made the conversation feel more intimate, close. Cass tried his best to ignore that, and ignore the feeling of his breath against the finer hairs of his neck and face.
"Well, just look at them. Christopher seems rather...straight-laced, and despite it all, Mr. Collins is rather self-assured. Mr. Collins probably saw Christopher, thought that he wanted to get closer to him and then did so." Cass said. He had no clue if that was the case. They had not discussed that in the slightest.
Lucian’s hand landed on Cass’ waist, pulling the man closer and Cass realised that Lucian was practically wrapped around him in broad daylight. He could feel how others were glancing at them, scandalised by Lucian’s actions. Lucian didn’t give a care in the world. In fact, Cass felt the man pull him tighter against him.
"Lucian, this is not appropriate behaviour outside of our house." Cass muttered. Lucian chuckled.
"I’m not doing anything inappropriate. My hands are above your clothes, and besides, I have bad hearing. I’m just making sure I can hear you properly." No one would ever believe that. Cass didn’t even believe that, and from the sparkle in Lucian’s gaze, he was daring anyone to call him out on it.
"Right. Okay. Well, I’m not comfortable with this, so please get off of me." Cass told him sternly and Lucian chuckled.
"If that is what my Cassy Baby wants, then I guess I have to let him go." He gave a bitter sigh, but the light didn’t leave his gaze. "Well, if we’re done with lunch, we should get moving onto the next part of our date." Lucian grinned, and Cass swallowed.
Well, he’d done a good job planning the first half of the date, so...Cass was sure he’d done a good job with the second half.
"Where are we going?" Cass asked as Lucian shifted around him. He let go of Cass’ waist, pulling back to his full height. He smiled broadly, grabbing Cass’ hand and holding onto it tightly. Cass would have snapped at him in annoyance if he didn’t notice that Lucian’s fingers were a little cold.
Lucian, the fire dragon, had slightly cold hands.
Cass frowned slightly, glancing up at his smiling face.
"That’s part of the surprise. We do have to walk aways. Maybe we should grab the carriage again and drive there..." Lucian trailed off but Cass looked around, sighing. He had seen very little of the capital, if Cass was honest with himself. If he was further honest, he kind of wanted to see more of the city too. He had spent so much of his time trying to wrap his head around being like Cassian that he hadn’t really enjoyed the fact that he wasn’t in his own world anymore.
It had been hard for him to enjoy it since he’d been so bogged down by his own emotions, his own fears. The fact that he was never going to see his family again and the complicated relationship that Cassian’d had with the hero party, plus trying to get back at Cassian’s family the further he learned about him.
While Cass didn’t regret that, didn’t regret what he’d done to learn about the world that he was in, he hadn’t experienced it. He’d barely explored the town around their actual home.
So the capital was a completely different beast. One that he was actually glad that Edgar and Lucian were taking him around town to experience it. They might have been aware of it, but even Cassian barely left his home. He hadn’t been allowed to when he was younger and old habits died hard when it came to him.
Seclusion was what Cassian had known for all of his life, and Cass had a feeling that once his ’heats’ had arrived, he had wanted to limit his contact with others for his own peace of mind. So, he didn’t see the cities around him, and he was probably the kind of guy who closed the curtains on the windows of his carriages as well.
Cass sighed, glancing around the area where they were standing. It was strange. The city felt completely alien, but also familiar in a strange way. There was a distinctive lack of concrete, but there was stone, wood, and other materials that Cass wasn’t as familiar with. The streets were wide enough to let carriages through, but cobbled and well maintained. Magic replaced electricity and while it was strange, it wasn’t odd enough that it confused Cass completely.
It was...exciting. Cass was excited to be out in the streets. The feel of everyone moving around, life flowing around him made Cass’ chest tight but in a good way. It reminded him that he was alive. He had been given a second chance, and even if that also came with a healthy serving of guilt, it wasn’t deep enough to stop Cass from enjoying himself.
"I think I’d like to walk. We spend so much time in the mansion that I feel I’ve lost some of my stamina." Cass admitted. He didn’t want to voice all of the complicated feelings that were also inside of him, but he was sure that Lucian was aware of them. Lucian glanced around the area too, before he let out a loud cough, seeming to surprise not just Cass, but also himself.
"Stamina? You? Mm, I doubt that, sweetness." Cass turned his gaze away from Lucian. Damn it. Cass knew exactly what he was talking about and fuck, it was frustrating that he couldn’t argue with it either.
"M-My cardio, Lucian. I can’t walk a lot." Cass mumbled, flushed. Lucian squeezed Cass’ hand tightly, almost painfully before he released it. His fingers stayed interlocked with Cass, happiness practically radiating off of him.
"Ah, well, that I can’t argue with. Though you do manage to keep up with us in dungeons." Lucian pointed out. "I will, however, not protest you getting some more strength for yourself. It will only benefit me if you put some more muscle on. You’ll look even better when you’re undressed." Cass swore he heard a shocked gasp behind him and Cass couldn’t stop himself.
He tugged Lucian away, his face flushed. They were never coming back to this restaurant ever again. Cass couldn’t even consider showing his face here again.
"Wrong way, sweetness." Lucian said, tugging Cass in the opposite direction and Cass had to walk past the scandalised women who were staring at them with wide eyes and flushed faces. Fuck fuck fuck. Cass hated moments like this.
"You’re trying to kill me." Cass muttered. "With embarrassment. That’s what you’re trying to kill me with." Cass accused. Lucian burst out into laughter, releasing Cass’ hand so that he could wrap his arm around his shoulders to give him a squeeze.
"That would be the last thing that I would want to do. My sweetness is just too sweet for me to keep my hands and mind to myself. Forgive me?" He asked, sticking out his bottom lip, quivering with big, orange eyes. He looked ridiculous and for a moment, Cass considered it.
He truly considered forgiving Lucian. For his behaviour, for his actions, for everything. Cass wavered, his heart tight as he stared up at the man who was joking. He was joking about this and Cass?
Cass let out a shaky breath. He turned his face away, his expression serious and his face warm.
"I wouldn’t still be at your side if I didn’t." He muttered quietly, swallowing thickly. He knew he was taking this too seriously, knew that but couldn’t stop himself. Lucian was able to sense the shift, his body tensing for a moment.
Then, he tugged Cass tighter against him, his breath warm against Cass’ throat as he tucked his face against Cass’ shoulder.
"I’m trying my best to fight against my urge to just take you home and taste you." Lucian breathed. "Gods above, I am doing my best to make this a good experience for you, but I just want to bury my tongue inside of you until you scream." Cass was thankful that he was being quiet as he said those words. They tickled him, and Cass felt the hair rise on all of his body.
"I wouldn’t scream." Cass argued, knowing that would only flip his switch. Lucian let out a deep, dangerous chuckle.
"Oh, Cassy Baby, you know better than to challenge me. But, I have self control. I’ll wait until after our date is finished to make you scream. Look forward to it."