Chapter 273: Oh no, am I a third wheel?

Cass stood there, Lord Ridgewood pressed against the tiles, water dripping off of him and onto the ground and he remained with his face down, ass up, and Cass had enough time to consider some hard truths.

Did he just like men groveling at his feet? Was that a him thing that he’d never considered before now, or was that a Lord Blackburn thing? Had Lord Blackburn discovered this already and that was why this felt so fucking natural to Cass? Or was that a Cass thing?

Was it a both of them thing?

Cass stood there, the door open, his arms crossed as the light illuminated the scene from behind him. It felt like a damn painting. Out of everything, the one thing Cass couldn’t say was that this wasn’t a pretty picture.

None of the male leads were unattractive, which was how they roped in everyone around them. The contrast between Lord Ridgewood’s pretty pale skin, green eyes and red hair with his dark, damp clothing was…well, Cass could look, couldn’t he?

Cass felt Lord Blackburn grumble inside of him, and Cass let out a long, drawn-out sigh. Whatever Lord Blackburn was grumbling about was something Cass had no control over. He was going to stick to his morals, everyone else could go fuck themselves.

It was like how he promised to himself he was going to save Lady Ava’s family. He was still going to do it, even if Lady Ava had been a fucking monster on and off with him this whole time. He promised Lord Ridgewood clothes, he was going to get clothes. Cass had standards.

He was also getting a little cold as well, standing in the open doorway. He had a feeling he would have been more cold if he hadn’t been able to eat as much as he had when he’d woken up.

As if sensing that, Lord Ridgewood spoke up.

“You…can close the door. I’ll still be here.” He said quietly and Cass stared at the man. He wondered what he was thinking. What had really brought him to this point? Had he been disowned? Had he been tossed aside? Was he trying to get back into their good graces so that he could have a place to land?

Cass felt his mind wander, unsure, as he stared at the other man. When Cass remained silent, and nothing changed, Lord Ridgewood raised his head slightly to glance up at Cass. He stared up at him, realising that Cass was lost in thought as the man’s rather serious expression stared down at him, letting nothing slip through.

Lord Ridgewood dropped his head again, swallowing thickly.

“Lord Blackburn?” The soft call had Cass jerking, remembering that he was technically speaking to Lord Ridgewood right now, and it wasn’t appropriate to get lost in your thoughts. Cass sighed.

“I’m not going back in when you’re like this, plus I’m fine.” Cass said, not giving him a damn inch. Lord Ridgewood didn’t say anything, and Cass turned when he began to hear footsteps approach him. He was expecting Sir Forsythe, and instead saw a rather pissed-looking Edgar storming in his direction.

Cass felt his eyes widen, and felt himself move before he could stop himself from doing so. He blocked Edgar’s movement, opening his arms to block the doorway.

“What are you doing? Let me at him!” Edgar growled, pissed, his blue eyes flashing with anger and rage. Lord Ridgewood raised his eyes, his green eyes filled with remorse as his best friend was held back by Cass. His best friend who was ready to tear his fucking head off.

Edgar was being respectful of Cass, not pushing past his arms, respecting that Cass was blocking his path, but it was clear he wasn’t pleased. He was angry. Honestly, Cass was glad that Sir Forsythe had only run into one of them, since if he had run into both Edgar and Lucian…

Well, Cass felt that Lord Ridgewood being wet would be the least of his worries. Lord Ridgewood knew that as well. Hell, if he ran into Fiona…fuck, Cass wondered how much a funeral for a Lord cost. He would probably have to foot it since it happened on his property, and honestly, he was felt that was the least he could do if it happened.

“Edgar, he came to apologise.” Cass told him calmly and Edgar glared at Lord Ridgewood, before turning his gaze to Cass. It was furious, and so bright and enchanting that Cass had to pause.

“Then reject it! Ignore it! He nearly fucking killed you, Cass! I don’t want to see his fucking face!” Lord Ridgewood jerked from where he was pressed against the ground. It had to hurt hearing that from Edgar, but then again, Edgar had been the one who had been defending him, standing up for him behind his back. Trying to tell everyone that Lord Ridgewood wasn’t as bad as he was being.

Edgar was probably hurt the most by what he had done.

“I haven’t accepted it, Edgar.” Cass told him calmly, and Edgar huffed. He moved away from Cass, pushing a hand through his hair, huffing, puffing, pacing the foyer mere inches from Cass. He was like a caged beast in his anger.

“Then don’t! You can have him leave! He should leave! What more do we have to say to him? What more can he say to us? He betrayed us, Cass! He hurt you! He went-He went behind my back to my father! After everything I told him!” There it was.

The true hurt that was making Edgar react like this.

Cass felt his heart twist for the man as Edgar’s face froze, the anger and rage paused momentarily as he realised what he’d said, how he’d said it, and who was a witness. Edgar looked broken, and Cass…Cass wasn’t enough of an asshole to not comfort the man after being betrayed like that.

Cass moved towards him, not giving Edgar a chance to reject him as Cass hesitantly wrapped his arms around the other man, tucking his face against Edgar’s shoulder. Edgar let out a shaky breath as Cass gave him a gentle squeeze.

It took Edgar a few long seconds before he wrapped his arms around Cass, ducking his head into Cass’ shoulder as well. Cass could feel his shaky breath there, and felt the way that the man was shaking. He was doing his best to remain normal, to appear as if his whole world hadn’t just crumbled.

Honestly, Edgar was one of the people who was having his world change the most. His sister was a fucking lunatic, and she had almost gone off the deep end past a point of no return in religious extremism but Edgar had clawed her back. His best friend went behind his back to rat a friend…a lover out as a demon to not just the high priest, but his father. While probably knowing that Edgar was a demon as well. While knowing what Edgar was going through in that house better than anyone else in the hero party knew.

Edgar had defended said friend to everyone when they were behaving strangely, and the man had also been going through an emotional awakening as well. He’d been realising something about himself, about his relationships, and all while trying to pretend that he wasn’t crumbling inside.

Cass had never…he’d never considered before the exact situation that Edgar was finding himself in until now. He hadn’t needed to.

Edgar had just been a character to him before this, and now Cass was coming face to face with the fact that Edgar wasn’t just a character, he was a real person, he had many facets to him, and this was one of them.

“Edgar, it’s okay that he’s here, and you don’t have to forgive him if you don’t want to.” Cass whispered to him softly. “I know how much you tried to stand up for him. Especially to me and the others.” Cass was quiet, not wanting to let Lord Ridgewood know. It just didn’t feel right.

Edgar’s arms tightened around Cass, and Cass wanted to protest about his strength. He felt like he was being held by a damn snake, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment. Edgar would no doubt freak out if he thought he was hurting Cass.

“What excuse did he give you?” Edgar whispered and Cass took a moment to think about what he’d said, and how to condense it into something easy to digest.

“Hmm. He spoke about his upbringing, blamed it on that, and his own ignorance and delusions.” Cass told him. Edgar’s breath against Cass’ neck and throat was fast, quick, almost alarming to Cass.

Cass wondered if the man was two seconds from a mental breakdown. Cass wanted to offer the ballroom for that. Maybe he could get some plates or glasses for him to throw around. Honestly, that sounded like a great time to Cass.

Maybe he should do that too. Work some of his frustration out.

A rage room. Hell, maybe he should try to make that a thing here. He’d probably make pretty good money on it. All of these fools were pretty stuck up. Discrete lists, money exchanged, no questions asked.

It wasn’t a bad plan.

“That’s all?” Edgar finally asked and Cass turned his head slightly, his lips brushing Edgar’s throat. Edgar shivered.

“Well, I didn’t ask for his life story, Edgar.” Cass told him dryly and Edgar slowly released him, pushing him back. Edgar had this strange look on his face. His lips were smiling, but Cass could tell something was off. Was it something he said? Or was it something deeper?

What was going on?

“I…yeah. You didn’t.” Edgar’s face was a strange mix and Cass didn’t like it one bit. He could feel that if he didn’t deal with this now, it could become worse. Something or someone in his gut was warning him.

Cass glanced at where Lord Ridgewood was. His face was still raised, and he was watching the interaction between Cass and Edgar with a strange mix of emotions as well. It looked like…longing? Sadness? Hope lost?

Cass came to an awful realisation at that exact moment.

These two had been best friends for years before they had joined the hero party, with their own missions and desires. They had also been raised in a society where homosexuality had been frowned upon the whole time, and while Edgar was given a free pass to be a playboy because he needed blood, Lord Ridgewood had not.

Now that Edgar was getting relatively serious with Cass, whether Cass had wanted it or not, had that…awakened something in Lord Ridgewood? Was that the true reason why Lord Ridgewood had reacted the way that he had?

Had he been…jealous?

Cass’ romance reading ass squealed and paled at the same time.

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