With Edgar up and about, the fairies were very excited to get moving as a unit to go see Taniora’s resting place. Cass wouldn’t lie and say that he wasn’t interested either. He was.
He had never been to this lake, where it was clear in Edgar’s wheeling and dealing ways, that he had. Now that he knew Edgar better, like Fiona had known Edgar better in the novel, he knew why Edgar had done what he had.
He had needed to survive, and he had very little support from his family to do so. To what extent?
Cass was pretty sure he would be too upset if he found out the depths of which Edgar’s lack of support went. He already had an inkling, and he couldn’t fully cut all ties with Duke Vespertine yet. He still needed to go to the main temple, he still needed to speak to the gods. After all, he hadn’t gotten his chance to see his sister and her family yet.
He had to keep his knowledge to the bare minimum for his own sanity, and then he could cut them off. Maybe.
Fuck, this was so damn complicated. Cass had essentially cut all ties with the Ridgewood family, and he would have cut all ties with the Blackburn family, but he had a feeling his grandfather wanted him to do that. Cass was enough of an asshole to not do that yet for that old man’s satisfaction.
He couldn’t cut all ties with the royal family because they were indebted to him, so Cass had to hold them to that. He also couldn’t until the fairies enacted their plan.
Cass felt like everything was very go, go, stop. Go, go, stop. With a heavy emphasis on the stop parts.
Cass pushed his negative thoughts to the side. He was busy getting ready to go with the rest of the fairies to the lake. Edgar and Gideon were obviously coming, Gideon in his full knight regalia.
Cass wanted to complain, tell him that they were fine, but Byron and Sam were staying back at the mansion to keep it protected.
Sir Sanders was coming with them since Ser Hune would not miss this moment for anything. She’d already gotten permission from the nursery tree. She was ready to go.
Taniora hadn’t wanted to risk disappearing, so she was traveling in a cleared out blue bag, filled with blankets and other comfortable items thanks to Sam. Cass had decided that the rest of the group would be traveling in the carriage whose interior Cass had expanded with magic a while ago.
Cass was glad for it, as Cass had begun to notice about midday that he was feeling a little more drained then he was used to. Not anything obvious, but it kind of felt like how Cass had felt when he had first arrived in this strange place.
It was an oddly familiar feeling, even if it was uncomfortable.
So, like a clown car, the fairies all piled into the expanded carriage, Cass, Gideon and Edgar being the last to pile in. Ser Hune sat in Sir Sanders’ lap, and Cass found himself across both Edgar and Gideon’s lap as well. His arm kept him stable, and he could feel the pleased, amused smiles that everyone was giving him as the only person of the trio who didn’t blush was Edgar.
The drive to the lake was filled with chatter, and as the city moved by, Cass could see how the streets changed.
It appeared that they weren’t all that far from the lake, as the houses around them were about as bougie and as well taken care of as the Blackburn estate. In fact, Cass was pretty sure that they were heading towards the Vespertine estate, but away from the temple.
"Is this in your neighbourhood, Edgar?" Cass asked and Edgar gave him a small smile.
"Hmm, yes. It was a nearby hunting ground for me." Edgar told him, and Cass understood what he meant. The others were a little bit confused, while Gideon shifted under Cass’ legs, his face stoic. He’d been opening up more, but now that they were outside, his expression was closed off. Cass was thinking of it as his customer service expression, because as a knight, he had to be intimidating. Cass felt a small pulse of warmth under his skin for both men. This was probably an awkward topic for both of them, and he was glad that they were both coming with him.
When the carriage finally came to a stop and the door was opened, Cass let the others leave first. He didn’t have much of a choice. The fairies were a lively bunch, full of laughter, chatter, and joy. Cass was almost surprised that he shared the same blood with them. He was not that kind of personality, but there was no way to deny their connection.
He could feel it pulsing under his skin, a connection that could not be denied in the same way that he knew Sam was of the same blood as Cass as well.
He watched them leave, Ser Hune and Sir Sanders taking their time. It wasn’t obvious that she was pregnant, not to those who couldn’t feel magic, but there was a glow about her that just screamed that something was happening inside of her, and that it was a positive change for her. She smiled, winking at Cass as she got out, Sir Sanders waiting below to catch his lovely wife. Then, it was their turn.
Gideon got out first, gently shuffling Cass’ knees off of his lap so that he could do so, waiting and willing to catch both Cass and Edgar below. Cass let him take his hand, escorting him down the steps, and stood by watching as he did the same for Edgar. He was wearing his signature hat, his outfit that of a beige suit, making him look like a handsome, bright prince. Cass could feel the attention that they were drawing with Edgar alone.
Then, Cass turned his attention to the area around them.
It was suffused with birdsong, the laughter and chattering of others, the smell of flowers, trees, plants. This area was full of life, and yet...Cass could feel that something wasn’t quite right.
When he looked over the bright lake, glittering beautifully, a teeming spot of life and love for others, it made his heart feel full. The grass was green, the trees swayed in the breeze. Life was good here, growing, thriving. Yet...when Cass glanced at the other fairies, he could tell that they could sense that something wasn’t quite right either.
Cass wasn’t even aware he was frowning as he looked over the beautiful place until Edgar slid his hand into Cass’, the brim of his hat tapping the top of Cass’ head.
"What has you frowning like that, my sweet bunny?" Edgar asked. The pet name was a shock to Cass’ system, making him jerk his attention towards the handsome man. Edgar’s expression was serious, not even a sparkle or twinkle in his eye at the gentle way he had called him. He wasn’t teasing him, he’d meant his words.
That was somehow almost worse for Cass’ heart. It was organic.
Gideon came to stand behind Cass and Edgar, a protector in the truest sense. Cass swallowed.
"Something feels...wrong. While this place is beautiful, thriving...it’s wrong." Cass couldn’t find a better word to describe the feeling he had. He reached for the blue bag at his hip, flipping open the flap and letting the sunlight pour in. "Taniora, do you want to come out? Or do you want me to tilt the bag so that you can see?" Cass asked, ignoring the way that Edgar’s hand tightened on his own, interlocking their fingers in a way that felt far too intimate for Cass while there were so many people around.
Edgar didn’t even seem to notice, the man also turning his attention towards Taniora inside of the bag.
"Hmm, I don’t feel like I’ll be able to remain outside of the bag. Turning it should be fine. I can be passed around easily that way." She said, sounding pleased. Cass felt a soft smile warm his own face at the eagerness in her voice.
"I will make sure that the others know that." Cass told her, before he carefully tugged Edgar towards the direction of the gathered fairies. Cass easily explained the situation to the others, all of them frowning for a moment at the wrongness that they felt in the area before Taniora was yanked from Cass’ hand and she was passed off to the fairies.
"Enjoy your date, Cass!" Ser Hune called as she left with the others. Cass felt his jaw drop as Edgar squeezed his hand, knowing that Cass would attempt to pull his hand from his as soon as attention was drawn to it.
"Ignore her." Edgar whispered, his breath warm against Cass’ ears and neck. The man was too damn close again. "You know she likes to rile you up. You’re cute when you react." Edgar reminded him and Cass shot him a glare.
"That’s damn near impossible when we’re here. We’re supposed to be here to find out how Taniora was removed from the area. We aren’t supposed to be on a date." Cass muttered quietly, embarrassed as he felt the others move away from them. He could also feel the curious gaze of a few others who were walking around the area, enjoying the life and vibrancy around here.
Cass knew that there were nobles and commonfolk alike, and that was making Cass more self-conscious. There were also big dogs racing around, and Cass felt a small desire to go greet them, but couldn’t.
Edgar turned, grabbing Gideon’s hand as well, tugging him closer until all three of them collided. They had to grab each other, keeping them safe from falling. Edgar’s hat almost fell off, and while Cass and Gideon were panicking about that, Edgar was laughing, all smiles.
"This is so lovely." Edgar said, his eyes sparkling. "I couldn’t even dream that I would be here with the two of you like this." Edgar’s smile was so damn pretty that Cass nearly forgot to breathe. Cass could tell that Gideon was frozen for the same reason. "Not in my wildest dreams." Edgar continued, and damn it, Cass felt a strong, strong desire to kiss the smile off of his lips. Even in public, the desire stirred in his stomach, churning until Cass felt his face warm.
Cass let out a shaky breath, and thought, fuck it.
He’d never wandered a park with others before, they could make this into a date and also check the area to see where Taniora had rested. They already could tell that something was wrong, they just needed to find the source of it.
There was no harm in humouring Edgar in this moment, and it would also piss off several nobles. Cass liked that kind of thing. It would be fine.
Cass threaded his fingers through Gideon’s, his face burning as he did so. Gideon flinched, surprised, his gaze flying to Cass’ while Cass refused to look at him, his face burning with heat.
"We also have to keep an eye out." Cass mumbled and Edgar’s eyes widened before he bent, pressing a kiss against Cass’ cheek.
"I promise my head will be on a swivel." He told him. "But I can still hold your hand?" He asked, all big blue eyes and sweet, kissable lips. Cass felt his own lips thin into a line as he controlled himself. He’d never felt urges like this before, and he was fully blaming his second nature.
Cass raised his other hand that was interlocked with Gideon’s. It wasn’t like they were the only couple of two or more around, they just happened to be the only same sex couple. Edgar’s expression brightened, his eyes darting to Gideon’s flushed face, to Cass’ and then to the scenery around them.
"One lap around to enjoy ourselves and then we can get to work?" Edgar bargained, his expression bright, and there was no way that Cass would be able to say no to him when he was like this. He hoped Edgar didn’t know the power he had over him. Or Gideon. Or Lucian.