Chapter 452: A red-eyed…bunny?

Cass closed the book with a sigh and Edgar and Byron looked up, confused.

“Is everything alright?” Edgar asked, concerned and Cass stared grimly at the closed book.

“I have to send a letter to Sir Forsythe.” Cass muttered and Byron blinked.

“A long one?” He asked and Cass nodded.

“One that can’t be read with magic.” Cass muttered. “It needs to go directly to Sir Forsythe, and I just-”

“If you write it now, Sir, and finish it quickly, I can take this moment to let Sam know what I need to do and I can go.” Byron told him earnestly and Cass froze. He blinked, looking up at Byron.

“What?” He asked, surprised that Byron would offer. Byron was his aide, yes, but he was his aide because Sam wanted him to be. He didn’t expect this kind of loyalty from him. Or even that kind of offer, especially when Sam was, uh, indisposed.

Byron shifted on his feet, his black gaze narrowing slightly as his chin lifted.

“Sir, if you are planning to send a confidential letter, would it not be best that I go? I would offer Lucian, but it’s not my place to do so.” Byron said. Cass could feel the condescension in his tone when he said sir. Like he was disappointed in Cass and his thought process. Cass huffed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

“Byron, are you sure that Sam would let you go? I’m more worried about how you will fare there than my own concerns. It’s not urgent, even if it is about myself.” Edgar’s expression tightened but he held his tongue. Even Byron looked upset.

“Not urgent? My Lord, we are just getting a grasp on what issues plague you, and have plagued you for ages. I’ve watched you cough up blood. Do not diminish how important it is to get your health under wraps. Both Sam and I are very worried about you.” Byron scolded, his jaw tight. Cass was a little surprised by his impassioned response.

“I didn’t expect that from you, Byron.” Cass confessed before he could stop himself. The energy in the room shifted, the light dimming. Cass blinked, surprised and Edgar glanced around them as the young dragon attempted to control his emotions. He took one step towards Cass, his expression dark.

“Have I not proven that I am loyal?” Byron asked, his body vibrating with tension. Cass felt like if he put his hand up and pressed against the air he’d meet resistance.

“Byron, I’m just…I just thought your loyalty would be towards Sam, not me.” Cass admitted softly and Byron flinched.

“I admit, it’s complicated, but that does not mean that you have none of my loyalty. You gave me a second lease on life, you didn’t kick me out. You connected me with another dragon and helped me step into adulthood. These are things I could never repay easily.” Byron let out a soft breath. “You also helped me connect with the man I want to make my bond partner. The one I am connected to for my whole life. How could I not be loyal to you?” Byron asked, the tension in the room shifting, the lights flickering.

Cass was surprised by the words of the dragon. Byron was normally quiet, calm, collected. Maybe sleeping with Sam had opened him up. Wait, was that even the first time that they had slept together? Cass needed to wipe those thoughts from his head, immediately.

He did not need to know what his aides got up to, as long as it didn’t affect him and his day to day.

“Besides, you should know that Sam would want me to do anything that I could to help you. He might miss me, but he would know that you would order me to go directly to the main estate, speak to Sir Forsythe, wait for his reply and then come back. No time for me to dilly dally.” Byron’s smile was tight and Cass stared at the other man, a man that he hadn’t considered up until now and sighed.

He was right, of course. He’d been observing Cass, learning how to read, learning how to be a good aide and in that time, Cass had failed to realise that he was that already. Loyal, considerate, thoughtful. After all, he had the best teacher as his lover.

“Are you sure he’ll be alright with this? I need you to confirm with him before you do anything because I do not want to be the reason that Sam is in a terrible mood tomorrow.” Cass told him and Byron blinked. The room returned to its normal brightness and Edgar watched Cass, impressed at how he hadn’t batted an eye at the emotional display.

Byron may look like he was a grown up, but he was still a baby. He’d barely been an adult dragon. He had to let some things go, considering how emotional Lucian was and yet how in control of his powers he was. A few puffs of smoke was nothing compared to the chaos that Lucian could cause.

Cass felt his gut twist at the realisation. Shit. Lucian was right to get mad at him. Here Cass was, being considerate of Byron and not of Lucian in the slightest. Fuck.

Byron’s expression was soft as he looked over Cass, unaware of the turmoil that was now twisting inside of him. He gave a soft exhale, watching him.

“I’ll go ask him now. You should write your letter asking Sir Forsythe what you want now. That way, when I come back after Sam has agreed, I can go right away. If I leave at night, then that means that the sooner I can be back.” Byron’s dark eyes were lit from within and Cass couldn’t not find the man cute. Like a little brother.

“Fine. I’ll get started, you go speak to Sam. If he hesitates for even a moment, we’re not going with your plan, at least not immediately.” Cass warned and Byron nodded, glancing at Edgar for a moment before he nodded towards him and left the room quickly. The door closing behind him had Cass putting his head into his hands and sighing.

“I treat Byron and Lucian differently.” Cass admitted to Edgar. Edgar, who had watched the whole interaction, moved closer to Cass at his desk. His hand gripped Cass’ shoulder, giving a squeeze and when Cass slid his gaze up towards the other man, his expression was soft.

“Yeah, because you aren’t treating Byron like you want to sleep with him.” Edgar told him, his blue eyes warm. Cass sucked in, surprised by the tender way that Edgar was looking at him. Feeling his face warm, Cass uncovered his face and began to move around his desk to grab his utensils for writing letters.

Edgar’s hand on his shoulder was a warm comfort, a support he wasn’t expecting.

“While that may be true,” Cass muttered, “I’m noticing I’m…more considerate of his dragon nature compared to Lucian.” Cass felt terrible even voicing it. “Lucian was right to get mad at me.” He admitted. Edgar’s exhale was soft. So soft that Cass was unprepared for when soft, warm lips touched his cheek. Cass jerked, turning his gaze towards the vampire who smiled at him warmly.

“Baby, Lucian has been suppressing a lot of his desires because you reacted negatively to him showing them off. I’d blame him for half of the issues you have with him, and you for the other half.” Cass’ jaw dropped but Edgar continued. “Not that I would fully blame either of you. You had gone through something that I can’t even begin to understand or fathom. You needed time, not a dragon coming into your life, magic blazing, ready to make you his bond partner. Lucy needed to tone himself down.” Edgar’s voice was soft. “And you needed that time.”

Cass had to look away from him, his throat tightening as Edgar spoke to him. It was…hard to feel guilty when Edgar spoke like that.

“Besides, now that you’ve had time to adjust, we’ve all learned that you have no opposition to the more…monstruous sides of ourselves. That’s nice, isn’t it? You can take your time getting to know Lucy’s more draconic side now.” Cass winced, his face warm at Edgar’s words but his mind drifting to his final words.

“I won’t have time. He’s got to leave for two months.” Cass tried not to sound pitiful saying that, trying to be neutral. Calm. Edgar saw right through him.

“You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?” Edgar asked and Cass flushed. Was he allowed to answer that in front of Edgar? It felt…strange. Weird. Edgar let out a chuckle. “It’s written all over your face, Cass.” Edgar teased. “It’s okay. You’re allowed to miss him. I might…even miss parts of him. Aspects.” Edgar admitted begrudgingly. While Edgar clearly didn’t want to admit he would miss anything about Lucian, it was good for Cass to hear.

“This is weird, isn’t it?” Cass mused. “We’re all just…s-sleeping together but we don’t all like each other.” Cass said. He glanced up at Edgar, who had more knowledge about this world, this aspect of it at the very least. “Is that normal? Do…other poly couples not really like everyone? Doesn’t that make others feel left out?” Cass asked softly and Edgar’s mouth fell open.

Cass watched as Edgar stared at Cass, his eyes wide before he raised his hand and covered his mouth for a moment. He looked conflicted for a moment before he let out a sigh and uncovered his mouth.

“Cass, I would very much like to kiss you right now, but I’ll save it for after answering your question.” Cass felt his cheeks heat as Edgar stared down at him. “Most families do not get along as well as we do. As well as we’ve always gotten along, and I’m including the times when the rest of us didn’t get along with you, Cass.” Cass flinched at the hardness in his tone. “It’s a status symbol. Not done out of love, and if that is the case, it’s kept quiet. I was half siblings with my brothers when I was born. My father had three wives. Everyone but him and I are dead.” It was a haunting revelation and Cass’ mouth opened slightly.

Edgar’s hand reached down, his thumb touching Cass’ bottom lip with a slightly bitter look on his face.

“It’s alright. Don’t look at me like that. I don’t think much of it, but generally, we made a huge mess of it when we all married Fiona. It was seen as ridiculous not because she was marrying four men practically at the same time, but because it was seen as a marriage of love, not convenience.” Edgar’s smile was tight. “Whether that was true internally didn’t matter. Either way, the short answer to your question is, no. It’s not unusual for other partners to not like other members. What we’re doing, lying together so frequently, is unusual. However, Lucy and I came to an agreement early when we realised that we might be feeling the same way about you.” Edgar looked embarrassed while Cass felt vindicated that he’d been right in his assumptions.

“What kind of agreement?” He asked, and Edgar groaned.

“He’s going to kill me when he finds out I told you, but I’d rather tell you than make you doubt anything.” Edgar muttered before leaning in, his lips brushing Cass’ ear. “We’d rather have you together with a few days to ourselves, then share you with anyone else. Gideon is putting our plan up in the air, which is probably what he is talking to him about right now.” Edgar admitted.

Cass pulled away, his jaw dropped. Edgar’s finger was still pressed against his lower lip and Edgar looked…a little too pleased to see Cass so shocked.

“Had you not considered it odd that Gideon and Lucy were doing something together?” Edgar asked sweetly. Cass swallowed.

“Uh, honestly? I was more focused on work.” Cass admitted and Edgar bent, kissing Cass over his thumb. Cass blinked. “You look so cute. Like a startled white bunny.” Edgar murmured and Cass flushed. A bunny? Cass? Edgar better take that back.

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