(BL) The Villain wants a Divorce!

The next morning was quiet. Not because nothing was happening, but because that was how many people had fled. Evidently, people didn’t fully trust Cass when he said that he wouldn’t harm them if they groveled, and instead believed in him when he said he would make them fertilizer.

Cass didn’t know if he was pleased, or upset about that.

Most of the staff that didn’t have any affiliation with anyone stayed, but the barebones staff was even more barebones. Cass made the call to not clean a few of the wings, or delegate people away from that for the time being right away in the aftermath. He knew that the staff were on high alert, especially with those who had remained behind glancing around like they were worried Cass was going to strike them down.

That, or another power, and Cass couldn’t feel bad for them. They had made their bed, and if they slept a little less and twitched every time someone walked past their shadow, they had made that choice.

Cass didn’t delay getting a tally of who was left. Sam and Gideon helped, since Gideon had the guards keep an eye on those who fled during the night, and Sam was, well, Sam. Cass was already setting up the orb after breakfast to speak to his Aunt again about what he would need, who he would need, and what positions he was fairly certain he could get filled from the nearby town. He had a list of what shops were there, what surpluses they had of skilled workers, things of that nature.

There was also the fact that there were a lot of orphans nearby and while Cass felt a little weird about hiring children to work at the manor, he shouldn’t turn his nose up at it. It was how he was able to support him and his sister, and he should allow those skilled and determined enough to gain money and experience in a place that he knew would be safe for them.

So, he didn’t rule out the orphans, and even the other children of the town nearby. He had a lot of money, but parents and other adults could be proud. This might be the only way to infuse money into households that needed a little extra money, and while they didn’t know that Cass had a soft spot for kids, he knew that they would be safe.

Cass knew that his day would be busy again, full of going over places that Sir Forsythe had mapped out as a potential spot for the nursery tree. Cass didn’t want to have to hide this one like whoever had hidden the one in the capital, but he did know it needed to be somewhere protected.

After all, it wouldn’t do if he planted a new tree and then someone hurt it. It had to be protected. Which got Cass thinking. Could he plant the new branch into a pot and keep it near him until it was ready to be transplanted into the ground?

Sir Forsythe thought that was very plausible, and so did Byron. When Cass spoke to his Aunt before lunch, she thought that it was a great idea. That way he’d know that the roots had taken, it would give him enough time to find the perfect place without rushing it, and the nursery tree would know that it was loved. Cared for.

It was a great thing that Cass was doing, and she was very grateful. When Cass gave her the list of what he needed, she was very excited about the growing community of fairies he was going to have, and the diversity.

It would grow the town too, since the fairies wouldn’t all be able to stay at the manor, and that was what Cass was banking on. Cassian had wanted to grow the town around his home too, essentially becoming its lord. He’d had big ambitions, and while Cass didn’t really want the same responsibility, he did agree it was a good idea to breathe life back into the town instead of bleeding it dry.

By the time that lunch had rolled around, Cass felt like he’d already accomplished a lot for the day. So much so that he felt that he had really earned his afternoon walk in the gardens below. It was beginning to grow colder, the warmer months that Cass had first arrived in slowly turning towards autumn. Cass had a feeling he would have a bit longer here, in the fairy forest with the pretty summer weather, but he could also tell that the forest here liked its rest.

Cass was walking with Sam at his side, Edgar and the others working away inside as he walked the gardens with Sam. They were quiet, taking in the sound of the birdsong and the flow of the water feature. They had decided to go for a walk at the perfect time, the sun high in the sky. Cass only paused to sit on the edge of the fountain, reminiscing on when he’d run into Fiona and Ava out here, and Lucian.

He was smiling to himself, wondering what the garden would be like, covered in snow, when he felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn’t need the sudden silence from the animals around him to know that something had changed.

It was the long, loud call of a monster that had Cass’ whole body on edge.

He stood quickly, rushing towards the doors. He just knew that that wasn’t any monster, but the beast that he had been waiting for their return. Cass rushed through the halls of his needlessly large house, racing towards the front doors. He got there just as Sir Forsythe, Byron and Gideon got there, Edgar racing down the upper halls, almost at the stairs.

Cass bolted for the front door, throwing it open to catch an almost unimaginable sight before him.

If he hadn’t seen Lucian in his dragon form before, he might have fainted. The giant beast blotted out the sun. In fairness, the sun was hung low in the sky for late afternoon, almost appearing lazy, as if waiting for something as big and bad as Lucian to pay a visit.

He wasn’t too close, but Cass, with his heightened hearing, could hear each pulse of his wings. The force behind each pull. The weight. The way his muscles strained, the skin stretched, and his scales rustled in the wind. He was barreling towards them, his face hidden in shadow because of the position of the sun. He looked menacing, as if he was going to burn them all down. The sun caught between the delicate skin of each wing, bathing the area below him in a red glow.

He looked like the apocalypse descending on the area, not a man who everyone was happy to see.

Cass felt the dumb, stupid smile spread across his mouth as he watched the terror grow closer and closer. The sound of rocks crunching under his feet as he stepped down from the steps and into the area where the carriages pulled to a stop didn’t even register in his mind. He was too focused on the looming body getting closer and closer.

Lucian let out another roar as he got closer, covering up the sky even more until Cass was almost certain Edgar could have come out without a hat on, that was how dark the word around them was. The air was still, animals quiet in the face of such a large, obvious predator. Cass couldn’t stop grinning.

He was finally close enough that he could make out details on his face, his body in clear outline, his scales glimmering with a red hue that looked expensive. As if each scale was a garnet or ruby or a piece of obsidian along his spine. Cass gasped as he made a nose dive for the manor.

Cass knew he wasn’t going to hurt himself, but he couldn’t stop the small, worried gasp from leaving his lips. He looked huge in this form, and the silent, ever present reminder from Byron that he didn’t just look bigger, he was bigger, echoed in the back of his mind.

The ground shook as the dragon landed, trembling under the weight. It was probably a bit like an airplane coming to land, the whole earth around them having to brace for impact. Surprisingly to Cass, he had landed quite a ways away from him. If Cass was near the doors of the manor, he was around the circle that the carriages circled and closer to the gates of the estate. Cass frowned.

Was it because he would shrink down and be closer to the front of him? Was he worried he was going to misjudge his landing and run into Cass or the house? He was magical, he could easily repair it. Cass would let him.

Cass didn’t really care what his reasons would be. He could hear them from his mouth once he got his hands on him. Cass felt his feet begin to move before he even ordered them, picking up speed as he raced towards the beast that most people would flee from. A mixture of his own glee, and that of Cassian’s, making him begin to sprint towards the giant beast.

There was a moment, only a brief one, where Cass had to wonder if the man was going to transform back into his human form or not, and if he would have to hug the giant beast’s head? Was he going to be hot? Dangerous? Cass was debating in the time that it took to race towards him what he would do if that was the case, but Lucian answered that for him.

The dragon shifted, his body going to a more approachable, normal human appearance that he was used to. Cass noticed a few changes, like longer hair, a few sprinkles of what some might consider silver, a taller height and broader shoulders, but none of that mattered when he met the glowing, orange gaze of the man who had held him like he was precious from the moment he was given permission.

Cass launched himself at the man, wrapping his legs around his waist, much to the surprise of Lucian as Cass locked his arms around his neck. Lucian’s hands fell to Cass’ ass, either on instinct or desire, Cass didn’t care. He didn’t want to care. Lucian looked like he was going to say something cocky, but Cass silenced him.

His lips met Lucian’s, silencing him in a forceful, emotional kiss. Cass held onto him like a lifeline, trying to convey just how much he’d missed him in the time he hadn’t seen him. How much he’d needed him, but knew that Lucian couldn’t be there with him.

How much he had wanted to turn to him during the confusing, painful time, seek comfort from his pecs and rumbling voice, but hadn’t been able to because he was gone. How he had worried something bad had happened, but how he had faith in the dragon and his strength.

How he was terrified that now that Cass and Cassian were fully one, he might not want to still mate with him.

All of his worries were pushed to the side as soon as Lucian’s grip tightened on him, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. They were washed away further as a deep, rumbling purr came from the monstrous man, vibrating Cass to his very bones. The way the man pushed his mouth open with his tongue, giving a demanding sweep of Cass’ mouth before he kissed him like a man starved.

Cass melted, forgetting the fact that they had onlookers, that anyone could watch them and they were technically, married to someone else. None of it mattered in the moment. All that mattered was the fact that Lucian was home, safe and sound, and in Cass’ arms.

When they had finally had their fill and Cass was busy trying to imprint the feel of Lucian’s face with his fingertips, Lucian’s own eyes scanning Cass’ face, Cass gave a breathy, pretty sigh.

”Welcome home.” Cass said and watched as a giant, glorious smile touched Lucian’s lips.

”I’m home.” Lucian responded, before a deep, belly laugh left his lips. He pulled Cass in for a hug, spinning around with him in his arms. ”I’m home! And you’re home! What could be better!” He cried, his bellows speaking to the beast he’d been only moments before. Cass clung on for dear life, his own laughter torn from him in the face of the pure joy Lucian was experiencing.

Finally. Finally everyone was all in one place. They were home, they were safe, and they could finally begin the next phase of the plan Cass had to create, otherwise the world could cease to exist.

Nothing too crazy, of course.