Chapter 60: No knight, but you’ll do
"N-Nice doggy?" Cass tried, hoping that the wolf would somehow be calmed by his powers as an interloper. The giant fucking wolf snarled at him, saliva dripping from it’s teeth. That was exactly as he feared. He could feel the panic taking over his body. This was not going to go well for him.
Now that the kid was out of the way, half of the barrels were destroyed, and Cass hadn’t started running already, he was cooked. The carriage was too far away right now, and Cass didn’t think he could move his feet. His feet felt like he had leaded boots strapped around his ankles, locking him into place. Shit.
He needed to try something, anything, again. Maybe try to do the same attack again?
Fumbling, he tried to summon more water, but his mind was blanking. Every time he tried to chant the spell, his fingers would tremble so much that he couldn’t draw a straight fucking line. His lips felt too big, and he couldn’t get the words out.
What was he supposed to do? What was he going to do? The knights were too far away, and he still didn’t fucking know magic! The frost he’d been able to conjure felt like a fluke, a small blessing for the kid he’d been able to protect, but now he couldn’t do it again. He was a one trick pony.
He had put himself in danger, and now he was going to pay the price.
He watched as the body of the wolf tensed and Cass felt his whole body tremble. Come on Cass, move! Do something, anything! Run! This body doesn’t belong to you!
Spurred on by his own thoughts, especially about Lord Blackburn, he turned and began to race towards the carriage. It was a small hope, and the only one he had. He didn’t dare go for the orphanage, even if it was closer. Magic was real here, and despite that, doors had locks. If they were smart, they would have locked the doors after the kid got in.
Cass could hear the snapping, growling, pissed wolf leaping into action behind him. He swore he could feel the force of the creature snapping its jaws close to him. Fear and adrenaline kept his feet moving and he just prayed to everything unholy that he didn’t trip.
He wasn’t fast, not in this body. Hell, regular Cass hadn’t been fast either. Running had never been something he was into. He could feel his lungs protesting as he tried to breathe and run at the same time.
A shadow crossed overhead and Cass couldn’t afford to look up. It was strange, and sudden, but he didn’t have time to worry about that. Cass could feel his heart thudding in his chest, fear fueling him now that he’d somehow flicked the switch.
He really wanted to call for help, but who the hell would? There was no one around. He was left in the carriage because it was supposed to be safe. He was the one who left on his own. There was no one around who would be able to save him.
Cass jerked back painfully, a scream caught in his throat as the wolf snapped its jaws down on his clothes. Thankfully, it didn’t grab his skin, but a silly, frilly cape-like thing on the back of his shirt, but that was only a small thing to be grateful for.
The air was knocked out of his lungs as his back hit the ground. The wolf wasted no time in circling him, pressing their paws into Cass’ chest to prevent him from moving. Cass couldn’t even get air in as the pressure and weight from the beast’s paws compressed his lungs.
The beast growled and yipped at him from above, the saliva from its mouth dripping and pooling onto Cass’ clothes. The saliva began to eat through his clothes, and Cass nearly sobbed when the corrosive liquid hit skin. It burned, hurting him terribly but he couldn’t even catch a breath. The weight of the wolf on top of him kept him in place and Cass could feel his eyes watering.
Cass wanted to laugh as the beast’s breath washed over Cass’ face. If he could get a breath in, he was sure it would fucking stink. This was the worst fucking thing ever. This was who he went out? This was how he died for the second time?
At least it wasn’t...very villainous of him? The fear coiling in his stomach didn’t feel good, but at least he’d gotten the kid to safety. Fuck. Would those ’gods’ punish him for failing like this? Did it even matter at this point?
Cass closed his eyes. At the very least he didn’t want to see it happen. Fuck, would the creature just bite him already? Or did it like to play with its food? God, that sounded awful compared to how he had died the first time. As some monster’s food.
Cass felt a tear roll from his eyes and he gasped, sucking air into his lungs. Fuck. He was right. The wolf’s breath did stink.
"CASSIAN!" An inhuman voice filled the clearing, and Cass flinched as the weight of the wolf was flung off of him suddenly. Cass could hear the sound of the wolf whimpering as Cass’ air was sucked away from him again. The force of the attack sucked all air away from him, like he’d been in a wind tunnel. Cass lay there frozen as he grappled with what had just happened.
The sound of several trees cracking and falling filled the air. They sounded...fair away. Very far away. Desperate, warm hands grabbed onto Cass’s arms, yanking him up off the ground.
Cass opened his eyes, staring blankly at the man before him. Well, he felt that man was pretty subjective right now. Draken looked anything but human shaped at the moment.
His eyes were bright orange, slitted, and steam was billowing from his lips and nostrils. His touch was almost as hot as the corrosive liquid of the wolf’s saliva, but not quite. He was topless, barely wearing pants and he was shaking Cass. He was sure it wasn’t intentional, but Cass was in shock.
"Cassian? Can you hear me? Damn it! You need to answer? Are you alright? Where the fuck are your guards? What the hell are you doing here?" Cass blinked again, sucking in a deep breath into his air deprived lungs and his body filled with relief.
A few more tears fell from his eyes, the stress from the situation triggering them.
"Draken?" Cass asked, staring into the sharpened features, the darkened expression, and so wholly unhuman expression on his face that Cass wasn’t sure what else to do. Draken’s hands tightened on his arms, his fingers warm, hot, and his nails grazing the bare skin where his clothes had been torn.
"It’s me, Cassian. It’s me. Where are your guards? What are you doing out here?" Draken pushed again, asking questions and Cass felt his lips tremble. Fuck. He’d had so many shocks today that this was too much.
"Carriage. Please." Cass felt his lips tremble and Draken froze.
"A-Are you crying?" Draken seemed appalled, before glancing around and wrapping him in his arms, picking him up and stomping towards the carriage. The ground shook with each of his steps, and Cass couldn’t wrap his head around how a man like him was able to make the carriage shake with a few steps.
Did he...did he adjust his weight or something? Was there a weight scale in real life, like in a video game?
Feeling delirious, Cass started to laugh, and Draken stared down at him, his sharp expression only showing worry. Draken opened the carriage door, the thing nearly slamming into the side of the carriage and breaking before he gently placed Cass inside on the cushion. Draken climbed in after him, and even though in this form he could fit, Cass felt that the space was too small for him.
Draken didn’t complain about it though, closing the door behind him before crawling into Cass’ personal space and wrapping his arms around him, pulling him against his bare, naked chest.
"W-What are you doing?" Cass demanded, feeling a little bit like himself as he was confronted with the pure force of Draken.
Draken rumbled, causing Cass to pause.
"You were in danger. I felt the bond light up like a flame. I raced here to find you in danger. Just shut the fuck up and let me comfort you." He ordered and Cass gulped, before he nodded. Draken wrapped his arms around him, holding Cass against him and Cass couldn’t deny that he didn’t need some form of comfort. He was shaking.
"There was a kid." Cass mumbled. "I wanted to save them." Cass told him and Draken rumbled again.
"So you went outside and fought a dire wolf on your own, without your guard, because of a kid? Cassian, you are barely able to protect yourself right now. What in the world made you think you could protect a kid?" Draken wasn’t wrong to get mad at him. Cass wasn’t sure what had come over him.
He had never been like that in his old world. He hadn’t stood up for people like that. Was it a compulsion on Lord Blackburn’s side? Or was that from him? Did he think that he could do that?
What had made him do that?
"I-I don’t know. It was...by the time I realised what was happening, it was already too late." Cass mumbled against Draken’s skin. Draken’s rumble shook his whole body, as well as the carriage.
"Forgive me. I’m not feeling very human right now. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt a summon like that, and I can’t seem to calm down right now." Draken told him and Cass nodded. Honestly, he hadn’t wanted to call for him like this, but at the same time, he was very grateful that Draken had shown up. So, he should at least say so.
"Thank you, Lucian." Cass muttered, his body still shaking as he held onto the other man. "Thank you for coming to save me." Cass said and Draken froze, before he let out a harsh exhale.
"Of course I would come to save you." Draken grumbled. "And you’re welcome."