Chapter 713: Catch me

Cass swallowed, embarrassment filling him as he considered what he was about to do.

"Don’t freak out." Cass said quietly to Lucy.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked and Cass gave a small sigh. He was still smiling at Eddie and Sir Forsythe and Cass felt his hands twitch with nerves.

"I’m going to do something unlike me. Don’t freak out." Cass repeated and Lucy grumbled.

"Is it going to hurt you?" He asked and Cass scoffed.

"Not if Giddy catches me." Cass told him. Before Lucy could ask more questions, Cass took off. Lucy let out a small shout, surprised, as Cass put on his best excited face, jumping towards the shocked Giddy with his arms out.

He slammed into the surprised man, Giddy’s arms clamping around Cass tightly as Cass locked his legs around Giddy’s hips. He stumbled back a few steps before he got his feet under him.

"Cass?" Giddy sounded shocked as Cass pressed his face into the nook of his shoulder. Ah, sweaty man. Fuck, Cass was a damn pervert without being part demon. Cass nuzzled in, his face warm as he behaved like a damn lovesick fool.

"You weren’t there when I woke up." Cass pouted, raising his head to meet Giddy’s wide, green eyes. His cheeks flushed at Cass’ words, and damnit, it was worth it all to see him so damn flustered.

His grip on Cass’ ass as he caught him was firm, and having the man press himself against Cass was nice. He radiated heat, and Cass couldn’t stop smelling him.

"I’m sorry. I knew Lucy would be looking after you so I took the liberty to go check on the guards and relieve some of Sir Forsythe’s tension. I didn’t mean to upset you." The fact that he was sincere was...Cass’ face warmed further and he dropped his head, pressing his face against Giddy’s shoulder.

Cass heard Lucy approach, the dragon chuckling.

"Good catch, Giddy horse." Lucy said, amused, and Cass could feel the ripple that went through the others at hearing Lucy’s nickname for the man. Giddy gave a soft, embarrassed chuckle in response.

"I would never drop him. He’s too precious." Giddy replied, as if it was obvious. Lucy chuckled as Cass twitched. God, this was embarrassing. "Cass? Do you want to be put down?" Giddy asked. Cass, flushed, nodded and fuck, the man slid him down his body before placing him on his feet.

He was worse than Eddie showing off his damn ass. Cass’ face burned as he raised his head to meet those warm, green eyes that stared at him. Giddy was a beacon of happiness and light, and Cass was a bit afraid to meet the heated gaze of Sir Forsythe. He was staring at him like he needed to have a word with him, immediately.

Cass looked away, giving a slightly nervous laugh.

"What brings you two out here? Not just me, I hope." Giddy joked, and Cass turned his gaze towards Giddy and glared at him.

"Why would you say that? Of course you’d be a reason to be out here." Cass was needlessly angry, and both Giddy and Lucy seemed surprised. Sir Forsythe, however, seemed to understand where his anger was coming from. He gave a soft chuckle, his lips even curling up slightly.

"I’d be careful, Gideon, and Lucian. My Lord comes from a long line of possessive lovers." Sir Forsythe warned. Cass felt his face warm.

That was news to him, and to Giddy and Lucy.

"I’ve never heard nor seen my grandmother." Cass commented and Sir Forsythe chuckled. He checked his practise sword, fiddling with the handle as he spoke.

"She’s been dead for 20 years, so of course you hadn’t seen or heard about her. Before your grandfather grew into the twisted, bitter man that he is now, he was in love with her. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t an asshole then, but she did make him better. Marginally." Sir Forsythe added with a small huff. "Your father loved your mother too, in his own way." Sir Forsythe said, his eyes growing distant. Cass wasn’t quite sure what to say, given that he barely knew either man. His father the least out of the two.

"Anyways," Sir Forsythe started, giving Cass a pointed look, "may we have a word, my Lord?" Cass felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Now?" Cass asked, not caring how that made him look to the others. It was Sir Forsythe, after all. Not some random knight he didn’t know well. It was a man who had kept an eye out for him most if not all of his life. Of course he was nervous to be alone with him given what he’d just done.

"Yes, now, my lord." Sir Forsythe said with a small, amused smile. Cass frowned, glancing at either Giddy or Lucy to help him but both men backed down. Cowards. They were throwing him to the wolves and bitterly, Cass let go of Giddy to move towards Sor Forsythe.

He led them away from the others. Still in the line of sight, but far enough away that they had some privacy. He was silent for a moment, staring at Cass, observing him before he finally spoke.

"How are you doing, my Lord? Any discomfort? Any issues? You appear to be back to your old state, but I’m worried that you are out and about right now." Sir Forsythe said, his brows drawn together in concern. He crossed his arms, his body shifting. Cass realised that he was covered in scars, more so than the others. Cass tore his eyes away, once more reminding himself that he should not be looking at him like that.

"I’m fine, Sir Forsythe. It appears that I...fed enough that I should be okay for a while. Still malnourished, but I’m better." Cass explained. Sir Forsythe didn’t appear to be happy with that answer.

"You’re still unwell? What are those men doing?" He asked. Cass felt his face warm. It wasn’t like he could explain what they were doing nor that he’d literally drained two of them and only one was able to keep up with him because he was an ancient being.

"They are keeping me fed and safe." Cass argued. "They are, Sir Forsythe." Cass repeated when the older man looked skeptical.

"And yet they are out here making you act a fool? Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked pointedly. Cass felt his stomach drop as embarrassment filled him. So Sir Forsythe did not view what he did positively. Cass couldn’t exactly argue with that. He came up with that idea and it was...it had been based off of something Fiona had done in the book.

Cass sighed, covering his face with his left hand.

"He didn’t plan that, he slipped up. I was the one who decided to use the moment instead of making it awkward. The people are going to have to know for sure what’s going on between us instead of whispering behind hands and closed doors, Sir Forsythe." Cass pointed out. "Especially if I am planning to ruin the legacy that my grandfather has been building." Sir Forsythe frowned, adjusting his stance until his legs were spread wider, sturdier.

"You don’t need to run towards it." He argued. "You have more nobility in your blood than that, and I’m not speaking of the Blackburn blood. Your aunt very well might faint hearing you launched yourself at another man where others could see." Cass felt his jaw drop. He was-he was using them? Seriously?

Cass was pissed that it worked. He clenched his fists as his body warmed again. Damn it all, he hit a nerve.

"What was I supposed to do? Have more decorum? Be the bigger person? Where has that gotten me so far, Sir Forsythe? Spied on, neglected, nearly killed by the people who were supposed to care for me? Never meeting the family that would welcome me with open arms because of dumb rules and beliefs? I’m tired of it. Why should I keep up appearances when they mean nothing in the bigger picture?" Cass didn’t raise his voice, even as anger fueled his words.

He wasn’t mad at Sir Forsythe, not really. He was only saying this out of concern for Cass. He had to be old school. He had to try to keep Cass grounded. He also knew his words didn’t come from a mean place, he was concerned for Cass.

There had been so many times that he had held his tongue before this so Cass could be forgiving at the moment. Even if it made his body twitch, his jaw clench, and the old anger that was his constant companion before Cass arrived boiled under his skin.

Sir Forsythe watched him quietly, staring at him with cold eyes. Then, he let out a light laugh. Before it would have set Cassian off, flying into a rage but Cass stared at him, his fists white from effort.

"You’re right." Sir Forsythe agreed. "You’re just right, my Lord. Why should you hold yourself back just to please others?" He bent, a bright, dangerous smile on his face. "I’m glad that we were able to have this conversation and that you were able to push back like this. I’m glad that you’ve changed, and for the better. Even if it makes my skin crawl to see you throw yourself at a man who tried to ruin you and still could." Sir Forsythe said.

Cass felt the anger pause, confused at Sir Forsythe’s response and words.

"Giddy? But he’s changed." Cass said. Sir Forsythe frowned.

"He’s still the saint. And then you have the vampire and the dragon. Honestly, I think none of them are worthy of you. If I had it my way you’d settle down with a good, worthy fairy and they would take you away from this damn human realm, but that’s my bias showing." Sir Forsythe’s words surprised Cass to no end. He’d never spoken like this before to Cass. To anyone around him, as far as he was concerned.

"A fairy?" Cass repeated and Sir Forsythe nodded.

"The humans have hurt you too much and they don’t deserve you, the demons are demons and really don’t deserve you, and the gods can disappear for all I care. The fairies have welcomed you with open arms, regardless of who you’ve been. They mourned your pain, they celebrated with you. I would choose them in every life time." He sighed. "But, you are your own person, regretfully. I cannot influence you, my Lord, just stay by your side and voice my opinions once in a blue moon." He grumbled, annoyed. Cass watched him, shocked.

"One man wouldn’t satisfy my true nature." Cass admitted, even if it made him embarrassed. Sir Forsythe chuckled.

"And I would never want to force my wishes onto you. I will not be like the other older men in your life, my Lord. These are just the grumblings of an old man. I just wanted to make sure you were alright, the choices were your own, and I don’t need to wet my sword with the blood of mythical creatures and saints." Sir Forsythe said. It was sweet, in a twisted way. That was how Sir Forsythe showed his care.

"I’m of sound mind, Sir Forsythe, but...thank you for checking." Cass told him, a little shy. Sir Forsythe smiled, reaching out to ruffle Cass’ hair.

"You couldn’t stop me from caring, my Lord."