CHAPTER 225: BIG, BUFF, MACHO GUYS

Cass went with something rather casual, easy to put on, and easy to transition into night clothes. He did have to use magic to clean some aspects of his outfit, but when he stepped out, Lucian gave him a one over before a small smile touched his lips.

"You know, I’m always surprised that you never ask me for help to get dressed. Not because I don’t think you are capable of getting dressed on your own, but because I just never think that you’ll be able to dress yourself. Granted, before your...vacation as Fiona put it, you weren’t really able to." Lucian’s expression was warm as he looked over Cass. Cass shifted uncomfortably as he learned that Lord Blackburn, even while mistreated, wasn’t really able to dress himself. Was that because he was neglected, or because he was an heir to a dukedom?

Cass wasn’t sure if he would ever find out, or if he wanted to find out.

"That’s kind of rude." Cass said as he made his way towards the door. Lucian beat him there, opening the door for him and making a grand gesture of holding the door open for him. Cass gave him a suspicious look as he stepped out into the hallway first and Lucian gave him a big, charming smile.

Cass suspicions grew even more.

"I didn’t mean it that way. I was just commenting that I was disappointed you didn’t ask for help." Lucian said. Cass opened his mouth to respond but someone else beat him to it.

"Forgive me for saying so, but why would my Lord ask you for help?" Cass stopped, his heart in his throat as Sir Forsythe spoke up. He had blended into the hallway, so Cass hadn’t noticed him. He had been waiting outside of his room which was just next door, and he had changed. He was in casual clothes, loose-fitting, his sword still at his waist. He was ’off duty’, but Cass didn’t believe it for a moment.

Neither did Lucian.

His smile didn’t fall from his face, he instead just chuckled, meeting the glare that Sir Forsythe was giving him.

"Who do you think helped him in the dungeon?" Lucian asked and Sir Forsythe narrowed his gaze, shifting until he was standing upright instead of leaning against the wall like he had been.

"Lady Fiona was supposed to help him. Did that happen? Were your hands wrapped every night, my Lord?" Cass felt his face pale as he recalled that no, it wasn’t done every night and he’d even forgotten to take his medication. In his defense, a lot was going on. Sir Forsythe’s expression darkened. "My Lord," he started, ready to nag him and Cass let out a soft sigh.

"There were some situations that meant that my health was considered, but some things had to be put on the wayside. It wasn’t intentional." Cass told him but Sir Forsythe didn’t seem pleased. Lucian chuckled. The way the man’s normally neutral face was twisted, his eyebrow twitching in anger and annoyance told Cass the man was on edge.

"You are very protective of your lord. I’m glad to see it, but still, Sir Forsythe. Isn’t this a bit...much?" Why the hell was Lucian provoking Sir Forsythe? This was not the time nor the place. Plus, they had already fought. Why was he provoking him more?

"Respectfully, Lord Draken, my relationship and my concern for my Lord is none of your business." Cass had to turn his face away to hide his smile, suppress his laughter, and the pure joy that filled him at hearing Sir Forsythe tell Lucian to back off. Lucian let out a soft huff of laughter.

"Hmm. I wonder for how long you’ll believe that?" Lucian muttered and Cass thought that this posturing had gone on long enough. He started moving past the two men, making both of them turn towards him and begin to follow him. He heard the two men scramble, the soft exhales behind him telling him that they were both still pretty upset.

Cass thought it was adorable that the two men were so emotional about Cass, and taking care of him that they were throwing barbed words at each other instead of fists. That, or Lucian wasn’t doing it out of respect for the fact that Sir Forsythe was human.

Cass was doing his best to compose himself as he walked down the hallway, his lips twitching, but Lucian was grumbling.

"Hey. Don’t be so happy he told me off." Lucian muttered, able to sense it from their bond and that sent Cass over the edge. He couldn’t help the smile that touched his lips as he turned, about to head down the stairs. He grinned as he looked back at Lucian, his eyes curling up at the simple fact that someone was defending him without any ulterior motives.

"Don’t make it so easy for him to make fun of you, and get this result. Sir Forsythe and I haven’t had time to debrief about the dungeon yet, Lucian, so keep that in mind. Wait until Sam hears about this." Cass meant it in a teasing way, but Lucian’s expression darkened completely.

"Are you sure you want to tell Sam about this?" He asked and Cass’ eyes widened. What on earth was he saying? Who else was he going to tell? It was Sam of all people? Cass was only a few steps down the stairs and Lucian stared at him, before he closed his eyes, shook his head and waved a hand. "Never mind. Tell him whatever you want. You clearly don’t suspect him." Cass blinked, before a wave washed over him.

Oh. Right.

The medicine.

Sir Forsythe’s expression grew confused and Cass met his gaze, shaking his head. He then turned and continued down the stairs. He wondered if some of the other buildings used anything similar to an elevator to get up and down. Maybe...he should hire someone to research that. He was weak enough as it was.

"We’ll discuss it later, Sir Forsythe." Cass told him and Lucian nodded.

"Yes. We’ll have to. Someone tried to kill Cassian." Lucian said and Sir Forsythe was immediately on guard.

"What? How? In the dungeon?" He looked horrified and Lucian chuckled.

"It wasn’t one of us, I can promise that." Lucian said and Cass sighed.

"Yet." Cass commented dryly and Lucian growled.

"No, not yet. Not ever." He said defensively and Cass chuckled. He continued down the stairs.

"Sure. You tell yourself that. I can think of one person who might want me dead on the team." Cass said and Lucian’s growl grew louder.

"Stop it. No one wants you dead, and plus, they can’t get through me." Lucian said. "I’m a boss battle all on my own." Lucian defended. Cass couldn’t exactly argue with him. They did have to fight a dragon at some point in one of the dungeons. A corrupted dragon. Thankfully, not someone that Lucian knew, because he would have read the touching scene after with Fiona if that was the case.

"Enough of this. No more talk of it. We have lots of time to talk tomorrow. I doubt that the temple is going to take up all of our day with the meeting, and if they did, well, we have the evening." Cass said, ending all further conversation on the topic.

When they got to the main floor, Cass glanced around the overflowing restaurant side and noticed how many of the patrons were staring at him like he had three heads, not just two, but he wasn’t looking for them.

The exuberant hand motions caught his attention, if the shouting didn’t do the trick.

"My Lord! Over here!" Ser Hune shouted, waving her hand and Cass felt his lips curl up as he noticed that she had, indeed, sat next to a planter at a long table in the middle of everything. Not the place that Cass would have chosen, but he was fine with it.

He was about to move towards the table when Lucian grabbed his wrist, halting him, and Sir Forsythe stepped in front of him. Then, Lucian let go of him and Cass so badly wanted to roll his eyes.

They were treating him like he was a delicate flower. Sure, physically he was pretty delicate, and maybe emotionally, but he had magic now! Magic that he was pretty fucking good at now!

Cass didn’t make a big deal of it, and instead let Sir Forsythe escort him with Lucian at his back, feeling everyone stare at him as he passed. Ser Hune insisted that he sat next to her, his back near the planter and Lucian insisted on sitting on his other side. Sir Forsythe didn’t say anything about that, sitting across from them with Sir Sanders.

The bench creaked when Lucian sat down and Cass turned to stare at the man. Lucian cleared his throat.

"Sorry. I’ll adjust." He muttered, and suddenly his presence shifted and it felt like Cass could breathe a little bit better. He hadn’t even realised that Lucian had been exerting that much of his dragon half until he pulled back and Ser Hune let out a chuckle.

"The flesh suit getting too tight?" She teased, her eyes sliding to the man who barely contained he wasn’t a human. If anyone else had said it, he could have gotten mad. Since it was Ser Hune, and her people had raised Byron, he didn’t mind.

He just gave her a tight smile, his eyes a warm, bright orange.

"Eh. Soon I’ll need to go for a little...walk." He said and she laughed.

"You’ll let me know when you do, won’t you? I’d love to be there to witness it." She said and Cass felt a little thrill run up his spine.

"I...think I’d like to be there too." Cass told him and watched Lucian’s eyes widen in surprise.

"Really? What an honour. I would love for you to see me in my true form." Lucian said, and Cass felt a little uncomfortable with how sincere he was being.

That was when the older woman came over, looking a little nervous. That was when Cass realised that Ser Hune and Sir Sanders had a few drinks in front of them.

"Can I...get anything started for you?" She asked, glancing around the table and Cass turned to Sir Forsythe. He could order, but he worried that if he did, it wouldn’t sound like him. He would sound like Cass, not Lord Blackburn.

Sir Forsythe noticed Cass’ look and nodded ever so slightly before he took over for the table, speaking for everyone, not just Cass. Lucian sat back, reaching up and locking his fingers behind his head, watching the room with the quiet patience of a predator laying in wait.

They really thought someone was going to try and hurt him. At an inn. They were fools. Lord Blackburn hadn’t lived this long for nothing.