Chapter 714: Is there even a competition?

They joined Giddy and Lucy back at the front of the group and Cass could feel how his people were watching him. Cass tried not to notice the intensity of their gazes.

"We’re going for a walk. Are you done here? Do you want to join us?" Cass asked, maybe a little too eager from the way that Lucy turned his face away and coughed. It was clear that he was covering up his own laugh and Cass gave him an annoyed look, slapping his arm without much thought.

Giddy watched the interaction, a soft, warm look on his face.

"I’m not sure. The boys know what they’re doing, but-"

"Go, Gideon. I am not the kind of man who would get in the way of the courting of the younger generation. If I did, Ailia would have my head." Sir Forsythe said. "Plus, with the bunch whipped into shape, they’ll follow my orders, or they’ll have to deal with my fist otherwise." Sir Forsythe added. Cass glanced around at the group, wondering if that was the case.

He noticed how the knights and guards around them were chuckling, not afraid, but clearly weren’t going to step out of line. It was a completely different energy compared to the first time that Cass had observed the guards. Cass felt a great swell of pride in his chest.

They had done that. They had changed it. They had changed how things felt in the mansion for Cass and the other’s benefit.

"My Lord? Is that you?" Cass turned, taken out of his small moment of victory by a familiar voice. It was Ava’s Mom carrying an armload of sheets. As soon as she caught sight of Cass in truth, her eyes widened and a girlish smile split her face. "It is you, my Lord! Oh, I had worried you were seriously ill." She let out a big laugh, her brown eyes warm and wet as she hesitated, before approaching.

Cass turned to face her fully, his heart warming as he saw the woman. In the time that he hadn’t seen her she had truly come out of her shell. Her hair which she had tucked away and hadn’t taken care of was now in two rather short braids at her shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkled, and the splattering of freckles across her nose really made her look far younger than she was. She was wearing the uniform of the maids that worked for him, but she was clearly thriving.

Cass was glad that she called out to him, even as she seemed to realise that her behaviour wasn’t normal.

"It’s good to see you well, Mrs. Glendale. Yes, I’ve been ill but I was more worried about getting everyone else sick. Those with strong immune systems against what I had were kept nearby and it made more sense to isolate myself instead of forcing everyone else to deal with my illness." Cass explained. She listened, her eyes wide, before she relaxed.

"How considerate, my Lord. You have a big heart." Cass blinked. He doubted that many would say that about him, but he didn’t refute her words. There was no need to get into an argument after not having seen her for a while.

"Are you settling in well?" Cass asked, stepping away from the half-naked Giddy and the ever protective Lucy. He moved towards one of the open air windows that surrounded the area that the knights worked out in. Mrs. Glendale did the same, wrapping her arms tighter around the fabric she was clinging to.

"I am, thank you for asking. Everyone has been so kind, especially after all of the problems with my husband and son." She said with a smile. Cass froze.

"Has there been more issues?" He asked, his body tensing and she laughed warmly.

"I think, my Lord, your personal beliefs have trickled down to those who work for you. I haven’t had any more issues besides them whimpering every time they see me." She said, a sparkle in her eye. Cass let out a relieved breath.

"Oh good. I was worried for a second." Cass muttered, serious. She watched him kindly.

"How have you been, my Lord? Your illness wasn’t life-threatening, I hope?" She asked, her voice softer. Cass stared at her, and through her he could see the parts of Ava that he hadn’t hated. The parts that had made him promise to himself that he would save her family from his grandfather.

He let out a soft sigh.

"Yes. It wasn’t life-threatening so much as it was life altering. I’m better now, and the doctor has checked on me several times. Tragically, not something that a priest or saint can heal." Cass told her and watched her face fall. "But fixed, nonetheless. Just with old school healing." Cass told her.

She gave a nod.

"I sometimes feel we’ve grown to rely on healing magic too much. I am glad to see that you are well, if a little too pale for a healthy complexion." She frowned, and Cass could feel her maternal instincts showing. Cass let out a soft laugh.

"I’m in agreement. Lucy, Giddy and I were going to go for a walk in the gardens near my office." Cass explained. Her expression smoothed.

"Doctor’s orders?" She asked and Cass shook his head.

"No, I just need a bit of fresh air after being in my rooms for so long. Plus, if I don’t show my face, the others might think that the other men own this house." Cass joked. She laughed far too much for Cass’ joke, but the worst part was that she seemed genuine. Her eyes were warm as she looked at Cass, the brown shimmering from the inside out.

"Yes. Our Lord has to make sure the others know their place." She said, then slid her gaze behind him. "I should let you go, my lord. Enjoy your walk, and I hope to see more of you moving around the mansion." She said, giving a small bow before she left.

A firm, large hand landed on Cass’ shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

"I don’t think she likes me much for you." Lucy muttered and Cass let out a soft laugh.

"Lucy, she probably thought that she would be able to get me to date Ava as well as Fiona." Cass said carefully. He could practically see the gears turning in the woman’s head even as Lucy let out a low growl.

"You? And Ava? Absolutely not." Lucy growled and Cass snorted.

"She doesn’t even like men, Lucy, so that’s not an option. Plus, as much as Fiona and Ava ran away together, I respect my wife’s wishes to be with her lesbian lover, especially since it means I don’t have to be around Ava anymore." Cass told him. "So the idea is moot since we don’t have to consider it. I’m also working so that I’ll be able to divorce Fiona soon anyways, so don’t panic. Ava’s not on the table." Cass said. Lucy’s hand on Cass’ shoulder tightened slightly before he let out a relieved sigh.

"Sorry. I just don’t like the idea. I can’t compete against women. I don’t have breasts." Lucy said.

Cass turned, raising his eyes to Lucy slowly, carefully, pausing at his rather large pecs before sliding his gaze back up to Lucy’s orange gaze.

"You? Can’t compete with women? I beg to differ, Lucy. You’re more than a handful. You’re a great pillow. I’ve never seen a woman as fair as you that I would want to rest my head on." Cass told him. "Now, does Giddy have a shirt on? Can we go for our walk now?" Cass asked. Lucy stared at Cass, at the man who had declared ownership of his heart again, and gave a soft chuckle.

"Does it matter? You’d stare at him no matter what." Lucy teased. "But I think he’s ready."

"He’s right, I’m ready. Shall we?" Giddy spoke up, sliding around the archway and into the hallway, coming to a stop in front of Cass and Lucy. He smiled, wearing an open, flowy shirt like the one that Lucy normally wore, but in the proper size for Giddy. Cass was a bit flustered that Lucy was right about his comments since Cass couldn’t help but feel his eyes be drawn towards the little flash of skin that was visible from Giddy’s shirt. Even though he had just seen him topless, that little tease of skin was....

Cass gulped, nodded, and quickly moved to be on the same side as Giddy. Giddy, as soon as Cass stepped in line with him, slid his hand into Cass’, giving it a small squeeze.

"You’re being rather bold, Giddy." Cass told him, half teasing, half serious. Giddy glanced at Cass, his cheeks warm.

"Am I supposed to not be? Is this a problem?" He asked.

"He’s just embarrassed." Lucy said, speaking for Cass. "I don’t need to be bonded to him to know that. Cass knows that we have to be more honest about our relationships to advance his plan, those cute little pink cheeks tell me that he is just a sweet guy who gets embarrassed easily when his partners call him sweet and cute." Lucy teased, coming to walk with Cass on the other side, slipping his hand into his. Both of Cass’ hands were held by the other men.

Cass could feel the looks he was getting, the sideways glances, and the part of him that was Cassian was flustered, concerned. The part that was Caspian was also a bit embarrassed. He just didn’t like others knowing his business, but...

Lucy was right. He had to be more honest, and Cass knew that just as well.

"I’m not upset, I was just flustered. I didn’t expect you to say that in front of your people, Giddy." Cass told him, ignoring Lucy to look at the other man. Giddy stared down at Cass, a little surprised, before his green eyes softened.

"They’re your people first, but I appreciate you saying that. Also, Cass, we wouldn’t want them around if they were going to judge their Lord for sharing a bed with men." Giddy pointed out. Lucy squeezed Cass’ hand in agreement, a deep, approving grunt coming from his lips.

"Oh." Cass said. He felt a little dumb as Giddy smiled at him. "I can’t argue with that." Cass muttered, and Giddy laughed. He squeezed Cass’ hand in his own, smiling at him warmly.

"Let’s get you to your garden, hmm? You haven’t been out to walk there for a while, so I’m sure you’ll want to linger. Shall I ask someone to send Ember and Sage to bring down a snack for the gazebo?" Giddy asked.

Cass felt his eyes widen and brighten at the suggestion. Lucy chuckled.

"That’s a yes. Let’s get them to grab Eddy as well." Lucy said, and Cass felt relief.

They’d gotten over another hurdle, another big change, and now? Now it was time to finally face the bigger one on the horizon. One that he’d been avoiding since he’d gotten here.