Cass stepped out of the magical space first, Byron fast on his heels. When he caught sight of Gideon, Edgar and Sam, he could tell that the energy between them had shifted.
For once, it wasn’t in a negative direction. Cass was pleased, but he wondered what they had chatted about. Gideon looked like he was excited, or more like, determined. When he caught sight of Cass, his eyes lit up from within and he moved before Sam or Edgar could stop him.
"Cass, I’m determined to know more about you and your condition. While the book that you lent me already has been a great source of information, Sam and Edgar have informed me that you have other books that are rather informative. Sam mentioned a book that had a priest and a demon as main characters. Would you be willing to lend that to me so that I can get a better understanding?"
Cass felt his jaw drop, and the warm, fuzzy feeling he’d felt shift slightly.
What?
He turned his gaze towards Edgar and Sam and found that both looked like they were feeling rather hopeless, but that they were both fighting laughter. The fairies continued to exit the space after him so he had to shift to allow them to exit without running into each other.
Cass ended up tugging Gideon over towards the other two troublemakers, Byron following behind him as Cass felt his body heat, not just his face.
"What do you want to borrow?" Cass asked, unsure if he’d heard correctly. Gideon spoke again, his eyes bright with determination.
"I am lacking significantly in several areas, especially as someone who wants to support you in all of your changes and in your growth. Edgar mentioned that you had a few books, and Sam clarified that he was sure a specific one might help. A story between a demon and a priest. I think it could be educational, since seeing a relationship, even if fictional, between a demon and a priest could help me understand how I could be of help." Gideon said.
Cass stared at him blankly, almost a little helplessly. He knew his mouth was open, but hell, what the fuck was he supposed to say in the face of a man who had no idea what he was diving into?
The story was...too hot for Gideon to handle. Then again, he’d listened in on Cass, Edgar and Lucian before, so maybe not...but!
That story was too advanced! It just was! He would faint before he got to Chapter 3!
"Um, uh, maybe let’s not start with that one." Cass whispered. Edgar turned his head to the side, snorting, and Cass wanted to flip the man off for giving him this problem. Gideon wouldn’t have appreciated it, since he was being so sincere and serious.
Sam kept his expression flat, but Cass could tell his eyes were dancing too. Those damn schemers had put him in this position. Cass was going to tear into them after this.
"Is there something wrong with it?" Gideon asked, before his eyes widened. "Or, is it back at the house? If that’s the case, I’ll gladly take anything else you might suggest. I just want to be of some help to you and to Edgar but I don’t want to burden you with having to educate me. I would rather borrow materials that you use to educate yourselves and I can put in the work myself." Gideon said, and Cass had no idea what they had been talking about, but using smutty gay romance novels and educational materials was not something that Cass expected from the man.
Cass shot Edgar a glare and the man put up his hands in defense. He was taking his hands off of this, and he made sure that Gideon couldn’t see him as he did it.
They would be having words later.
"Well, it might be. We can check after I show Taniora around the mansion. She’s asked for permission to wander the house while we’re asleep, since she doesn’t need to." Sam’s eyes widened.
"My Lord, do you want me to inform the other staff so they don’t panic when they see her during the night?" He asked. Cass thought it was a convenient was to escape right now, but it was also the right thing to do. He nodded.
"Please go do that Sam. Byron can show her your room in case she can’t get a response from us." Sam flushed, nodded, bowed to everyone and then scurried off.
"Eager, isn’t he?" Taniora asked with a chuckle as she came to stand beside Cass, Gideon before both of them now. Cass grunted.
"No and yes. He also knows he’s in trouble." Cass muttered. That made Gideon and Taniora frown, but Edgar flushed, and Byron laughed.
"He knows." Byron confirmed joyfully. Cass grunted again.
"Good." He sighed. "Now, everyone else has rooms assigned to them?" Cass asked, turning to the other fairies. Everyone nodded with smiles. He nodded in return. "Good. I’ll see you all in the morning then. Good night, everyone." Cass worried for a split second that they would think he was being dismissive, but they all seemed to understand.
They all had smiles on their faces as they came to him, patting him on the shoulder or side, all touching him with affection, and surprisingly, doing the same to Edgar and Gideon. All three men seemed rather confused, while Taniora watched with warmth in her gaze, and Cass realised, so did Byron.
It was after the fairies had left that Byron explained.
"That was their way of showing respect to you and those you are involved with." Byron told Cass. Cass felt his face warm.
"I’m...involved with?" Cass repeated and Byron chuckled. His black gaze was warm as he looked at Cass, and Cass could tell that Edgar was catching on. Gideon was the only one who wasn’t.
"You think they didn’t notice? They immediately noticed how protective they both are of you. Edgar might be more of a face, but I noticed how Lord Ridgewood went for his weapon when he noticed strangers getting too close to you. So did they." Byron said with a smirk.
Cass wanted the ground to swallow him.
"I’m the hero." Cass reminded him and Byron gave him a smile that was completely inappropriate to give him as he was his servant. It was not inappropriate for a man who was close to Lucian, and of the same race.
"Mmhmm. That’s exactly why they react the way that they do, my Lord. You’re the hero." Cass wanted to flip him off, and decided, fuck it, he would. He gave both Byron and Edgar a middle finger, making both men laugh. Gideon and Taniora were at a loss, unsure what that motion meant, but Cass didn’t want to explain.
Instead, he made his way towards the stairs going to the main floor, leaving the others to explain his actions while Cass cooled his head.
~
They somehow all managed to keep themselves together while they showed Taniora around. It was a quick tour, which Cass apologised for more than once, but she waved her hand. She knew how exhausting going through dungeons were, even if things had changed between her time and his time as heroes. She didn’t need to hear his apologies, she just appreciated the tour so that she didn’t get lost.
They stopped at several points of interest, like the ballroom, the small library, the baths (that Cass had no idea about but Gideon and Edgar did), and then Sam and Byron’s room, and on the third floor, Cass’ room. It was essentially Cass and Edgar’s room, but Edgar let Cass save enough of his face that he didn’t bring it up.
The tour ended at Cass’ room, and she peeked around, looking at all of the new things, especially the bathroom. She was so excited at everything, and promised that she would pester him with questions in the morning.
Cass smiled, looking forward to it. It would be nice to answer her questions instead of being the one confused all the time. Plus, maybe Cassian would help him with the answers. He was probably fascinated with Taniora, and he might have his own questions he would want to ask.
Speaking of, Cass really hadn’t felt a lot of movement from the other man in a while. It was concerning, but Cass would wait. His next heat, like clockwork, would be coming soon anyway. He could see the man after his heat was over. He just wondered how the fairies would take to the fact that he would have to be indisposed for about a week without contact with them.
After all, while Cass had planned to go back home, he couldn’t exactly leave when Taniora was uncertain about what she was going to do, who she was going to be, or if she was going to go back to rest again. Cass couldn’t leave her until she’d made her choice.
It wasn’t right to her, and it wasn’t right to Lucian either. She deserved the best care Cass could give her for his sake, and for Lucian’s.
So, his plans to go back were put on hold, temporarily. Hell, she might even decide to come back with him to the mansion. To their home. He wondered if there was a space filled with enough fairy magic that she would be able to exist on her own.
That was something Cass was going to have to write to Sir Forsythe about and hope that he could get the help of a few of the fairies nearby to help out with. Ugh, he was also going to have to purge half of the help he had too.
He would not allow his grandfather access to the fact that he had an ancient hero back from the dead. That would be detrimental to everyone. He was going to have to put that in the letter too.
Damn it, his work was cut out for him tomorrow.
~
Taniora and Byron left, Sam having joined them and let everyone know that the employees were aware, and excited to help Taniora if they saw her. Taniora had lit up upon hearing that they were willing to chat with her and answer her questions. Some of the fairies worked at night, so this was a true excitement for her.
Cass waved to them, now left alone with Gideon, and Edgar. Gideon had been eagerly waiting for his book, and Cass now had to go through his drawers and the blue bag to see what kind of books he had with him.
Thankfully, he was right in thinking that he had left that book behind, and damnit, the only other one he had outside of the one he was reading was the demon and dragon one. The one that Lucian had caught him reading in the previous dungeon.
Cass handed it over, not making eye contact with Gideon as he did so. Much to Cass’ surprise, Gideon sat himself down on the couch in his room, his eyes bright.
"Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye out while you two sleep. I’ll sleep once the morning comes. Byron deserves a rest." Gideon said, then held up an arm, flexing. "I’m well rested from the fact that we didn’t have to take turns keeping watch in the dungeon, and on the last night there were so many mercenaries around that I could rest as well. One night won’t hurt." He told them with a grin.
Edgar and Cass shared a look, and Edgar knew that his punishment was pushed back. Lucky man.