(BL) The Villain wants a Divorce!

Cass was going down the steps from the temple with the help of Byron and Edgar when the carriage pulled up at the bottom. The carriage had barely come to a stop when the door swung open and Gideon was bolting out, racing towards the trio in a display of athleticism that made Cass annoyed.

Gideon’s expression was full of emotion, his eyes watering as he came to a stop before them, his chest heaving. He glanced between all of them, his lip split open and dried blood there, before he reached for Cass and gently cupped his face. Cass could feel the holy power that was coming off of him like a wave.

Cass realised that it wasn’t just because Byron was a dragon and Edgar was a demon, Cass was just very sensitive to all powerful beings right now. He flinched when Gideon touched him, but Gideon didn’t take it personally. He just smiled at Cass sadly.

”Are you okay?” He asked, worry coating his expression. Cass nodded.

”I am. It went well, I’m just tired now.” Cass admitted. ”I want to go home.” That phrase seemed to have them all on alert.

”Home?” Edgar asked carefully and Cass slid his gaze towards the blonde. His face was carefully composed, like he was afraid if he made the wrong expression Cass would explode on him. Cass frowned.

”Yeah. I’m sure I’m pretty gross and I want to go to sleep.” Cass said. ”Aren’t you tired too? None of us have gotten any proper sleep for days.” Cass pointed out and Cass could feel how his words made all of them relax. Gosh, it was pretty fascinating that he was able to feel what they were feeling, or at least get a read on them just from how their power felt after he spoke.

Cass glanced down the steps and noticed a small form standing outside of the carriage, but wasn’t taking a step closer. He didn’t need to feel the demonic power coming off of them to know who it was.

Sam gave a small wave and Cass felt a smile cross his lips. He slid his gaze to Gideon.

”I heard you two had a problem to clear up?” Cass asked mildly and Gideon nodded, his expression hardening.

”We made sure that when we cleaned it up that it wouldn’t come back and harm you later. Don’t worry, it’s their fault for thinking that I would stand back and let them get away with this any longer.” Gideon’s eyes had a glimmer to them when he spoke that made Cass pause for a second. He looked...proud. He looked very proud that he’d been able to stand up and defend Cass, and that he had done it in a way that wouldn’t blow back on him as well.

If he had a tail, Cass was sure it would be wagging. Cass gave a soft laugh.

”I see. Well, I’ll ask you for more details later. I can barely keep my eyes open right now.” Cass admitted, feeling a little embarrassed. That got everyone moving again. Cass felt like he blinked and he was only halfway down the steps and then the next second he was in the carriage, Edgar and Gideon holding onto him tightly as Sam and Byron cuddled up on the other bench. The carriage began to move and both men tucked Cass against themselves tighter.

Cass just sighed, letting the carriage rock him, his mind drifting elsewhere as he tried to stay awake. The longer he was surrounded by the weight of the magic and different beings around him, the easier it became to breathe. The only thing he could think of was the fact that Caspian had never had any interactions with beings like them so his body, his blood, had to adapt to what was going on around him.

Cassian never surrounded himself with normal people. He didn’t trust humans, and he trusted everyone else even less, but he expected them to be more honest with him. It said something that Mr. Collins was the only human that he kept around. Cass should have expected something like this, but it honestly hadn’t ever crossed his mind.

He hadn’t considered that he’d have a reaction to the magic that the others had. He’d just gotten so used to it that it had never been something he’d even considered. Why would he? He’d woken up in this body in the first place with no damn issues with magical beings, and now, all of a sudden, he was having issues? He would never want to admit to that, even if the others could feel it.

It was bad enough that he’d flinched a few times, he didn’t even want to consider how he’d react to Lucian once he came back. He’d have to fix that before he came back. He did not want to see the way the other man’s orange eyes would fill with tears if Cass flinched away from him because of his power level.

Cass let out a sigh, leaning against Edgar’s shoulder as the carriage rocked. His legs were across Gideon’s lap, both of their hands on his hip to keep him in place.

”Something wrong?” Gideon asked softly and Cass let out a low laugh.

”I feel weaker now.” Cass admitted. ”Damn human blood.” Cass joked. No one else found it funny.

”It’s okay if you are. Maybe that’s a good thing.” Edgar said quickly, and Cass wanted to roll his eyes.

”Being more human is probably not going to help anything.” Cass told him honestly. ”I also don’t even know if this is because I’m more human, or because of the fact that merging souls just takes a lot out of a person.”

”I would go with the latter.” Byron said casually. ”It was a rather long experience, and you feel different now.” Byron told him. Gideon grunted.

”Your soul looks a little different now, too.” Gideon confirmed. ”Not bad, just different. Bigger.” Cass had no idea what that meant. Or why that was important.

”Okay.” Cass said, not sure what else to say to that. The silence carried on, or dragged on as no one else had anything else to say to that.

~

When they arrived back at the mansion it was to find that the trees welcomed them. Branches moved, roots groaned, and Cass felt his eyes water as the dawn began to crest across the skyline. The mansion and trees were backlit with the pretty, orange and blue colours of dawn and Cass felt very emotional.

The forest was welcoming him, even after he changed.

Ailia was waiting at the door, Sir Sanders behind her. She was smiling, her eyes kind.

”Someone wants to speak with you before you go to bed, Cass.” She said, and it didn’t take much for him to figure out who. Gideon took the lead, Byron at his side while Edgar and Sam promised to clean up the room and draw a bath so that he could clean himself up once they came back.

They accepted that it wasn’t a place for them, but there was no anger. No upset feelings, just a soft, caring look. Cass was grateful that there was no animosity about it, but he’d also never asked them about it before. He would need to do that in the coming days. He needed to because now that he was here, he had to set down his own roots.

The nursery tree was a part of that, but so were Sam, Edgar, Byron and Gideon. Lucian wasn’t an issue because he had a feeling he would make a den with Cass wherever he decided. He had a separate den that he could call his own, that he kept his secret valuables, and he would just be excited to be included in Cass’ den once he decided on it.

Cass flushed at the thought.

Making his way down the steps with the help of Byron and Gideon, Gideon waited outside of the special area, smiling as Sir Sanders did the same and Ailia and Byron helped Cass into the warm grasslands.

The flowers swayed, welcoming him, as the nursery tree shook their branches in greeting. Cass felt the wide smile touch his lips, his own feet picking up the pace as he tried to move faster. The hug, the feeling of the warm bark against his face was a welcome that he would never be able to give up.

They embraced him back, their welcome warm, without anything asked in return. Cass knew he was crying the moment that they took some of the weight off of his shoulders. They recognised him for him, greeting both Cassian and Caspian and telling them that they had merged beautifully. They also said it was still a little delicate, but as long as Cass or Cassian didn’t experience any great emotional turmoil over the next few days, everything would heal well.

Cass was grateful for the insight, and the touch that felt like a kiss to his forehead. They were so sweet to Cass, so welcoming. Cass solidified his stance that he was going to help other nursery trees form. His next destination? His other home. The one that Cassian had built. He was sure he could help one grow there, maybe next to the gazebo outside? Those gardens were pretty, and would be even more stunning with a nursery tree growing there as well.

They laughed, fluttering the area with petals. They were clearly happy with that, and told them that they would be happy to help. They would give Cass more knowledge once they were better, stronger, and all they asked for in return was good fertilizer.

It took Cass a long moment to realise what they were truly asking, and when he did, Cass laughed.

The nursery tree was asking for the death of those who had harmed fairies, and wanted them planted in the garden.

”Soon.” He promised warmly. ”Aunt Alysora is working on it.” He told them. The tree hugged them closer.

They didn’t correct Cass, didn’t force him to accept anything else. A promise was a promise, and they knew that Cass would keep it. They had come back whole, after all, and took wonderful care of the body they had helped heal.

They had even given them more human blood for the fairy blood to absorb and grow stronger. That was all the nursery tree could ask for, and let Cass know it too. Cass’ body would change more, shift more, and Cass heard them, and braced for it.

More change was coming, but the nursery tree didn’t seem concerned. That helped calm Cass down as well.

Cass didn’t want to stay too long and leave Edgar, Sam and Gideon out of the moment. The nursery tree understood, and even told Cass that the demons could come visit them. They understood that they weren’t the ones who had hurt Cass, and it wasn’t as if they were enemies.

In fact, they wanted to thank them for their jobs, especially the one that had bonded to their dragon child. Byron overheard their conversation, the nursery tree letting him hear, and Byron grew emotional. That was a big deal, Cass knew, and Cass laughed warmly.

”I will let them know.” He told them.

Then, he pulled himself away from the nursery tree, Ailia and Byron still helping him to the doorway before Ailia and Sir Sanders branched off. She was all smiles, welcoming him home herself before she yawned. Pregnancy was making her more tired and while she had forced herself to stay up while he was gone, she needed to get her rest now. Cass said he would see her at lunch and they both grinned at each other before they split at the top of the stairs.

Cass made his way towards his rooms, Gideon just picking him at one point as Cass didn’t have the energy to climb all of the stairs anymore. Cass let him, resting his eyes for a few seconds as he did so. Today had been...a lot, but it was over. Two souls, merged into one. He was Lord Cass Blackburn now.