Chapter 69: A bad habit
"Who’s the cute kid, Cassian?" Cass did everything he could not to flinch as he heard Draken speak to him over his shoulder. He hadn’t even heard the guy sneak up on him as he was about to step into his carriage. Cass shot a glare at him over his shoulder, and Draken grinned at him. Cass hated that they were wearing the same outfit, even vaguely.
He could feel everyone looking over at them, including Lady Ava. He could feel that she could sense something was up, and he watched as she began to shrug off the kids. Fuck. Draken really was bad news to him.
"You don’t need to worry about him." Cass replied and Draken chuckled.
"Already defense about him? That’s cute. Are you going to adopt him to be your sidekick? Maybe a mini...Sam?" Draken suggested. Cass hated that Sam perked up at that immediately.
"I would never treat a child like that." Cass knew he was being a little snippy, but he’d had a long day, made even longer and more exhausting because of the dire wolves. Draken also took a lot out of him.
Fuck. That wasn’t even considering how is day had started with Vespertine.
"You wouldn’t? I’ve seen you treat adults like that. What makes kids different?" He asked, clearly trying to tease him but Cass rolled his eyes, annoyed.
"Obviously it’s because kids are innocent and untainted. They aren’t like adults yet." Draken watched him, grinning. He bent, leaning in closer to Cass who flinched away, giving him a nasty look.
"Aren’t like adults yet? What have adults done to you, Cassian?" Cass was very, very sure that he didn’t want to know the answer to that. Between his own awful interactions with shitty adults, and Lord Blackburn’s hidden memories, Cass had a feeling he had enough to upset any normal person.
Granted, Draken wasn’t a normal person. If he recalled correctly, most dragons were abandoned as eggs and forced to get good or die trying. Cass could say that he’d basically had the human version of that. Lord Blackburn basically had the same start as well.
Fuck. A lot of the hero party, except Vespertine and lord Ridgewood had that kind of upbringing. Lucky bastards. Mm, Lady Ava could be added to that list too. She didn’t have to get good, it just benefitted her when she did.
"What haven’t adults done to me?" Cass replied tartly, glancing around the clearing again. He felt the tension leave his shoulders as he noticed that Tyler was speaking to a few of the kids. Hell, even Sir Sanders was over with him, talking to him.
He noticed that Lady Ava wasn’t the only woman making their way towards him. Ser Hune was doing the same as well. Oddly enough, both women had a rather similar smile on their faces.
A sense of unease filled Cass.
"Well, my hope is that they helped raise you, support you and clothe you." Draken spoke softly. Cass assumed he was going for sultry, but Cass laughed in his face.
"Oh, well, sure. They did that." Cass said, smirking, and Draken froze. He looked over Cass, the way he was shaking his head and laughing at Draken, and furrowed his brows. He knew that he was going to ask a more probing question, but Ser Hune had reached them before he could.
Honestly, he had time to ask a question, but Cass had ignored him. Draken frowned further, but for once, held his tongue. Especially when Ser Hune reached out towards Cass and yanked him forward, hugging him tightly.
Cass, Sam, Draken and Lady Ava were all surprised by her actions, and Cass could hear Lady Ava move closer towards them as Ser Hune laughed, squeezing Cass. Cass could feel his bones crunch, and worry filled him that she was going to hug him too tightly.
"You are far better than the rumours say, my Lord. I was worried how you were going to help, but I have just spoken to the Director. You’re going to get them teachers? That’s wonderful." She pulled back, slapping Cass on his shoulder. He should have known better.
Despite her thin frame, she was a knight who had gone to school with Sir Forsythe. She had to be strong. Cass had thought that there was a chance he was weak because of his bloodline, but it clearly didn’t come from his fairy blood, that was for sure.
"Yes, well, I didn’t like seeing that they had different options compared to others. That shouldn’t be the case, and I have extra money. It never hurts to invest in the future, especially when as the heroes we are working to make sure that there is one." Cass thought that he had done quite a good job speaking.
Especially when both Lady Ava, who was close enough to overhear him, and Sam, started tearing up. Ser Hune smiled down at him, squeezing the shoulders she still held.
"Yes, and we are grateful that you are doing so. All of you, of course, not just Lord Blackburn. These children couldn’t even have the chance to live this well without your help." Her eyes creased as she smiled down at Cass. "Though, I will admit, it is nice to know a fairy is on the winning team, you know?" Cass swallowed, staring at the pretty woman speaking to him.
Damn. That was a nice thing to say. He hoped Lord Blackburn liked hearing that.
"Thank you." Cass told her, meaning it. Ser Hune grinned down at him, her teeth a flash of white against her skin.
"Man, I know I shouldn’t, but I really want to ruffle your hair. You get that from your Mom, don’t you?" Everyone froze at Ser Hune’s words. It appeared, from their reactions, that she shouldn’t have said that. Sam went white, Lady Ava went white, and Draken tensed. Sir Forsythe seemed the worst off, because Ser Hune was one of his friends. Cass, however, didn’t care. He wasn’t Lord Blackburn, and he didn’t know who his real parents were. Whoever they had been had abandoned him and his sister before they were even a day old.
Cass shrugged.
"I get told I don’t look like my Father, so yes." Ser Hune’s expression froze, and Cass laughed. "Don’t worry, I am my Father’s child. Otherwise, my grandfather wouldn’t have put up with me. My Mother was insane, not unfaithful." He laughed, enjoying how uncomfortable everyone else was. Hey, it wasn’t his issue.
He wasn’t the one who killed himself after causing great damage to his husband’s family. Honestly, if she was still alive, Cass might have respected her. Maybe. It would depend on why. Because his care for Lord Blackburn didn’t extend to her. If she was the reason, or if he found out that she was the reason he had become the secret villain directly, he might just turn to dark magic to fucking berate her.
"Ah, well, that’s good to hear." Ser Hune was awkward, and Cass couldn’t blame her. He had kind of fucked her over just to watch everyone else’s reactions. He reached up, patting her on the shoulder.
"It’s alright. Honestly, everyone just gets so stiff sometimes that after my injury I thought it would be fun to poke at it a bit." He told her with a grin. "While it was great meeting you, I do have to get back to work. You are more than welcome to come visit the mansion, of course. I plan to give Sir Forsythe a bit more time off since he’s been such a loyal knight for so long, so expect to see him around more." Sir Forsythe went white as if that was the worst thing he’d ever heard, while Ser Hune’s expression brightened.
"Oh really? That’s wonderful, Forsythe! You’ll be able to have some days off!" Ser Hune was excited, celebrating, while Sir Forsythe looked like he was going to collapse. Cass was a little worried about why he was behaving the way that he was. He thought that he would be overjoyed to have more free time.
The man spent far too much time around Cass. He had noticed that even if Sir Forsythe wasn’t always at his door, he was still working. Cass had neglected that. He needed to reward their loyalty or else they could turn against him. He couldn’t have that while he was still clearly in the villain category. This orphanage visit was his first step towards rectifying his image.
Ser Hune grinned, pulling Cass in again for a hug.
"You, of course, must come out with us at some point, my Lord. Can you hold your drink?" Cass opened his mouth to respond, but it was Sam who spoke up.
"Unfortunately, our Lord has a rather strict diet, so he is unable to drink." Ser Hune’s face fell.
"Oh. it would feel rude to invite you out and you would be unable to do anything." She muttered and Cass found that he couldn’t hate her enthusiasm. Even if it turned out that Ser Hune wasn’t who she said she was, Cass found that he liked her spirit. He chuckled.
"I can drink tea. If I bring over some tea leaves, I can at the very least do that. It will have to be a while from now, as I truly am quite busy and the end of the month is coming." Ser Hune had no idea what that meant, but Lady Ava’s eyes widened slightly and she nodded, understanding filling her features.
"I hadn’t realized that much time had passed. Are you prepared?" She asked and Sam answered for him.
"We are always prepared for what my Lord needs, Lady Ava, but thank you for your concern." Cass almost wanted to laugh. It felt like he had a small, angry dog defending himself from a clueless bigger breed. It was quite cute.
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Ava, but Sam is right. We have everything under control. See you next time, Ser Hune, and I will see you at the mansion, Draken, Lady Ava." Cass turned to get into his carriage again when he heard the awkward throat clearing from Lady Ava.
"C-Could we speak in private, Cassian? I promise I won’t take up more than a few minutes." She was begging him. Cass wanted to say no. He should say no.
He had every right and reason to do so. But. he kind of wanted to hear what excuse she would say, and his own personal curiosity got the better of him. He could tell that Sam was pissed that he turned around, and even Sir Forsythe seemed unimpressed. Draken, however, remained. His expression was stoney, and his arms bulged from where they were crossed. Cass had to make sure his gaze didn’t linger on the little opening from his loose laces in the front.
Damn it, he could see his pecs. If he bent over he was sure he could see a nipple. If only he was taller.
"If it’s only a few minutes, I can spare those. Shall we speak a few steps away from the carriage?" He offered and Lady Ava brightened slightly.
"Oh, thank you, Cassian. That works for me."