Chapter 209: Alarmingly normal behaviour

Cass almost thought that everything was normal. Almost.

He’d come out of the tent, dressed in a similar fashion to yesterday and found that Lucian and Vespertine were still absent. Lady Ava and Fiona both gave Cass tired smiles. Cass joined them, pulling his own food stock out of his bag while Lord Ridgewood sat off to the side, being a loner. A moody one at that.

Cass would have called him a moody teenager to his face if they had been even a bit closer, but considering that the man probably wanted him dead? Maybe he’d already poked the bear enough for the dungeon. He should just leave him alone for now.

“How was your sleep?” Lady Ava asked and Cass froze, mid cookie bite. Don’t blush. Don’t blush. Don’t you fucking blush, Cass!

“Uh, good. You?” He asked and she sighed. She was poking at a sausage and Cass watched as it dripped oil and fluid onto the plate. Damn he wanted that. His stomach rolled at the thought. Yeah, of course it was blessed.

“Well, not as good as I wanted. I think because we’re getting closer to the big boss of the dungeon I’m having a harder time. Are you noticing a difference?” She asked and Cass had to think about it.

“I’m…not sure. I don’t think I had any kind of reaction prior to this in any dungeon we’ve been in before, but this is our first time in an undead dungeon, unless I’m remembering that wrong?” Cass suggested, turning to confirm with Fiona. She nodded, chewing her food before responding.

“Yeah. It’s our first time. Maybe you’re having such strong reactions because of your…blood? We know you have fairy blood. We do know that, yes?” She confirmed, worry filling her expression and Cass let out a soft chuckle.

“Yes. Other fairies have confirmed that part of my lineage.” Cass confirmed. “Also, I don’t think I would have been granted the land that I was if I didn’t have fairy blood in me.” Cass said it, dark humour in his voice and Lady Ava frowned.

“Why wouldn’t they? Wasn’t it part of your Mom’s legacy?” She asked and Cass stared at her.

“Well, if it didn’t appear that I had any of her legacy in me, why would they had granted it to me?” Cass asked and Lady Ava looked horrified.

“How would that have happened? Of course you have her legacy, the same way you have some of your father’s legacy in you! How else are you able to be Lord Blackburn if that isn’t the case?” She asked, unaware that it was a sensitive topic. Because who knew how Cass got that demon blood? Was it from the Blackburn’s? Or from his Mom?

He didn’t know, and he was pretty sure that Lord Blackburn didn’t know. Or if he did, now was not the fucking time to be keeping it from him.

That was directed at Lord Blackburn.

“Lots of families adopt kids. Especially if they appear as if they are going to benefit the family. Duke families do it too. With that being said, I am from the direct family line, so…but there has been a lot of contention about my birth and my Mother.” Cass said quietly, politely, and Lady Ava swallowed.

“Oh. I feel like…I’ve benefitted from that.” She said and Cass nodded.

“Yup. You were adopted by a Duke household because of your holy powers.” Cass said and she nodded. She looked…embarrassed.

“I’m sorry. This is probably a hard topic for you. I’ll drop it. Uh, um, what do you think will be in the chest after we defeat the boss?” She asked and Cass turned back to his cookie, tuning out the others for a moment.

Lord Blackburn hadn’t said anything, nor had any more memories surfaced. He hoped that was his answer, but there was also the chance that the dungeon was making their communication fucked up.

He didn’t know. He wasn’t sure. He would wait before drawing any conclusions on that part for when he got out of the dungeon. Then he would consider that a response from him, and he would have to start looking more into his Mother. Lady Blackburn.

And his grandfather.

Maybe it was time to get Byron to start doing what he wanted to hire him for originally.

~

It started off so subtly that Cass didn’t notice what was going on at first. But Cass noticed how the energy in the camp changed when Vespertine and Lucian came back. Both men were a little on the somber side.

Lucian had a giant mark on his face and his chest. Cass was finally able to watch him get dressed, and it was what he thought. He just…created clothes out of fucking nothing. What a privileged life.

Both of them looked at Cass and the ladies, smiled and nodded, before heading over to grab some breakfast. Fiona went over to go speak to them about something involving the dungeon, whatever since it didn’t involve Cass, and he turned back to Lady Ava.

At some point, both men came over to sit down to eat while Fiona went to speak to Lord Ridgewood and start packing up. As did Lady Ava. Leaving Cass alone with the men again.

Vespertine started it.

“Oh, sorry Cass. Is it okay if I touch your shoulder?” Vespertine had asked. He’d sat down on one side of him, their shoulders brushing since this bench was on the smaller side. Cass thought nothing of it, maybe that it was a bit odd, but just nodded and let him continue. Then it was Lucian.

“Cass, is it okay if our thighs touch while we eat?” He was always invading his personal space, so why was he asking now? Cass had just nodded, not realising the series of events he had set off.

Honestly, Cass was just happy that they were acting relatively normal after what had happened the night before. He had worried that it was going to be so awkward when he got up, but that wasn’t the case. They were…normal. Very, very normal.

Alarmingly normal.

They were behaving like they hadn’t had a steamy moment last night. Like Cass hadn’t been moaning like some kind of cheap whore, rubbing his ass and hips against both men like a man without morals.

Cass felt like he was the weird one for being so self conscious of them, so them asking him if their actions were okay was only making this even more difficult for him. Especially after the conversation that they had in the morning. They were behaving like…they hadn’t had it.

Well, outside of the bruise that was slowly forming on Lucian’s face. Cass wondered briefly if that was intentional, and then decided that he didn’t care if it was or wasn’t. He wasn’t getting any sympathy from Cass. As everyone had agreed, he’d earned it.

It also appeared that no one else had heard them last night. Which Cass was grateful for, but holy hell. Cass felt like he was walking on pins and needles before they had even packed up for the day and started their movement though the dungeon.

Cass’ heart was tight, tense, racing in his chest.

It only got worse when they started moving through the dungeon. He hadn’t been aware of Vespertine at all prior to this. Didn’t care that the man had been behind him, keeping an eye on the back of the party, but now?

He could hear him with alarming clarity. Every step, every breath, every shift of clothing. He felt like he was in fight or flight the whole time they had walked through the dungeon and was almost grateful when they came across some undead.

At least it justified why he was so tense.

In fact, as soon as they left their camping spot for the previous night, Lucian was tense. He told everyone that they were getting close, so the fights were likely to be more intense.

That was music to Cass’ tense ears.

It meant he had to fight, had to help out, had to manage other things so he didn’t have time to dwell on what had happened the previous night. Nor the outcome of that night. He could just…fight undead and support Lady Ava when she got too tired from using her powers.

Vespertine made sure that everyone’s mind was protected, while the three front liners sliced and hacked through everyone and everything like it was nothing. Cass wondered if it was easier for them because they were undead, or if it was harder because they were that.

He wasn’t going to ask them. He wasn’t that curious.

Cass felt a bit more like support then normal since they were in such tight quarters that he couldn’t really cast any spells that would have a great effect. He was acting more like an assistant for Lady Ava while Vespertine focused on making sure they were okay from behind, and everyone else handled…literally everything.

He was okay with this. He was actually fine, besides the slight draining feeling that he got when he touched Lady Ava, and how it got worse when she used her power around him. He could tell that she was apologetic, especially when every other word out of her mouth was ’sorry’.

At one point Cass wanted to smack her and tell her to shut up, but he figured that wouldn’t go over that well. And it wasn’t like he hated hearing her apologise. She did have a lot to make up for.

Cass just wasn’t prepared for, after the fucking hell he’d gone through, that they would get to the boss doors today. It wasn’t on his bingo card, and when he glanced around the party to get their opinions, even they were surprised that they had come up to it so quickly.

“Lady Ava is in no state to be taking on a boss right now.” Cass told them, speaking before anyone else could. Lady Ava sputtered.

“N-No! Don’t listen to him! I can do it!” She was being carried by Cass. There was no way in hell she was going to be able to help in the boss room. Fiona frowned.

“It feels like we haven’t been moving long.” She muttered and Vespertine sighed. Cass jerked as he felt the man move past him, coming to stand in the circle that they were forming naturally. Lord Ridgewood was at his side, even if the man looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Lucian and Fiona were across from them, with Vespertine between Fiona and Lady Ava.

“We haven’t. Compared to yesterday, it’s only been a few hours. We’re not even close to night time yet.” Vespertine said. Fiona furrowed her brow more, taking a moment to think.

“Well, we should set up camp here, no matter what. I think we should send a few people out to explore, probably Lucian and Lord Ridgewood since they are our strongest right now, and Cass, Vespertine, Lady Ava and I will remain at camp. If you notice anything, let us know.” Fiona told the two men.

Lucian and Lord Ridgewood nodded.

“Sounds good. We’ll head off now. Any directions you want to explore first, Lucian?” Lord Ridgewood asked and Lucian glanced around. It was a clearing of sorts, with several entries into this area. Besides where they had come from, and the boss doors, there were four other paths.

“This way.” Lucian finally said, pointing to the right, the pathway closest to the boss door. “I feel…something there.” He muttered and Lord Ridgewood nodded. He glanced at the group.

“We’ll be back soon.” He promised before they left. Fiona sighed.

“Cass, could you set up Ava’s tent first? She needs to get her rest.” Lady Ava was about to protest Fiona’s words when all three of them gave her a look and she shut her mouth. Cass was delighted to have a distraction, since he could feel the looming sense of quiet that was going to be the rest of his night.

Anything to keep the thoughts away.

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