CASSIAN

Combined with the absence of music and the general desolate nature of the house, the silence screamed at Cassian. He sat at Iris's desk, flipping through papers, and moving around books he pulled previously. Then, out of nowhere, he'd remember the miserable look on Luke's face, and he'd forget himself. With a curse, Cassian stood. He had already lost the skeleton key Luke found in a tomb the other day.

Out of all the house plans, some being fake and some being real, Cassian believed he figured out the destination of a secret passage into the basement. He would ask Astrid about it, but she ran from him like he planned to swallow her whole if she got too close.

The door opened and Cassian without realizing it was a relief to think Luke there. However, it wasn't Luke at all. Some older gentlemen walked inside with a surprised look and a twirly mustache better fit for cartoons. "Oh, my apologies. Ernest Gellar." The stranger pointed to himself with a jolly smile. "Luke let me in. I used to work with Iris—"

Cassian withheld an eye roll, leaning back in the desk chair. "So did everyone apparently. What do you want?"

"Astrid, actually. Have you seen her?"

Cassian's brow narrowed. "No."

The man stared back, unblinking. After a beat, he asked, "You wouldn't happen to have a single clue where she might—"

"No."

"Right, well thanks so much for your help. Might come back around. Just to warn you."

This time Cassian just stared, waiting for the man to get out already. He was too busy glaring at Ernest's aura. Bubbling from Ernest's chest was a dark green, almost black color. Greedy. Nasty. His edges were sparking purple. A witch. The greedy witch nodded and finally left.

This aura wasn't odd for Cassian to see in man. He'd seen it time and time again. Settling back in his chair, Cassian moved papers thoughtlessly. Something tugged at the back of his head. Between embarrassing Luke and a stranger in the Whitlock home, Cassian couldn't sit still.

Standing, Cassian swept the room and carefully opened the door to avoid making any extra sound. Luke's piano had stopped. No sound of Astrid's voice or the pattering of her feet. Cassian focused more. Somewhere, someone in the house was making a mess. Cassian knew it to be a mess based on the clattering, the banging, and the harsh tone of voice.

Trudging through the house, Cassian followed the commotion, pushing the door open to the full library, a thing of abundance with two stories full of books and a huge stained-glass door towards a sunroom. In the center, Ernest Gellar was bent at the bottom of one of the green pillars, having opened a secret door. Boxes were scattered across the black and white checkered floor. "It's not here. It's not here."

"You're lying, aren't you?" Ernest snapped at Astrid at his feet.

"I-I'm not! I swear it was there!" She jumped, quivering with her hands up.

"Oh, shut up." Rolling his eyes, Ernest backhanded Astrid across the cheek, sending her to the floor. Enraged, Cassian threw the door open and burst into the room.

"Well, damn," Ernest said with that damn sunny smile again. "I thought I fooled you."

"Then you're the fool," Cassian said and flexed out his hands. The scales just below his mortal skin were flickering out, simmering to the surface like bubbles in boiling water. "Astrid, go find Luke. He might need help."

Whimpering, Astrid nodded and scrambled to her feet. She dashed past him for the exit.

Ernest stood to his full height, reaching for a small knife in his pocket that made Cassian smirk. Ernest explained, "I had heard about your outburst during the reception, but I just couldn't believe a dragon would stoop to living in anything less than a palace. Who's protecting your horde, Lord Alwyn?"

Shaking his head, Cassian couldn't help but smile. The heat was building more and more, threatening to burst out of him before he permitted it. This was perfect. Cassian needed to get his aggression out. "You speak like you understand dragons, but what you fail to realize that everywhere I live is my horde and you're trespassing."

Ernest smiled back, nodding like he did understand. Swinging his small knife, a flash of light changed the air, making it crackle as the knife expanded into a full sword. Cassian kept from guffawing with his full chest and lunged for the wizard. He dodged Ernest's first swing and slugged him across the cheek, it being ripped by his scales and closely cauterize after. He grabbed Ernest's collar, ready to toss him through the sunroom.

With a grunt, Ernest swung his sword up, catching Cassian's clothes and slicing across his chest. The touch of the blade was ice cold. Colder than cold, seeping into Cassian's skin and he stumbled back out of shock. The air caught in his throat and Ernest kicked Cassian back and off him. Cassian bared his teeth, letting his fire burn and yet, the cold remained. The cold continued to spread and Cassian's bones quaked. It was making Cassian's heart race.

"Neat trick, right?" Ernest bragged in his excitement and twirled his sword again.

Hunkering down, the fire licked the top of Cassian's mouth, but he remembered where he was and if he burned down the library, Iris would kill him... then, reality crashed into Cassian as Ernest swung again and he almost didn't dodge out of the way in time. He was distracted. If he could expand his wings, if he could pull out his true form, he could crush this man, but he couldn't. Cassian couldn't do anything he wanted. Frustrations growing, Cassian struck Ernest back, getting too close again and getting nipped on his shoulder. Cassian blew backwards in gust of hot air strong enough to fluster the books off the shelves.

It was like ice water spilled into his veins, causing Cassian's flame to flicker, threatening to be extinguished and every muscle in Cassian constricted. He faltered and Ernest just smiled wider.

"Cass! Get down!"

Cassian whipped his head at Luke leaning against the doorway. By his word, Cassian dropped, and Luke popped open what looked like a mailbox cut off at its neck. It unleashed a vacuum of air, sucking into dozens of books right off the shelf and more importantly, Ernest. He screamed being hoisted off his feet and he was pulled inside, changing size. Luke snapped the lid closed and all the books dropped.

Groaning and cursing and whining, Cassian turned onto his back and held his wound. It was icy to the touch and Cassian scowled, trying to start the fire inside again. Breathing heavy, Luke handed the box to Astrid who had been cowering behind all along.

"Cassian," Luke huffed and hurried to his side. He slid across the floor to reach him, his hands hovering over Cassian's cuts with that familiar wrinkle in the middle of his forehead. Leaning over him as the cold had its clutches inside of Cassian, angelically Luke's bright white aura haloed around his head. Cassian must be delirious. 

Luke snapped his head around. "Astrid, please go get some towels. Get me the first aid kit or whatever we have in this house that could help fix a dragon!"

Taking off his sweater, Luke pressed it to Cassian's greatest slash, and he cursed at the touch, feeling his fangs return. Smoke wafted off his scaley skin like a snuffed-out candle wick. Something wasn't right with his blood. It was running icy cold down his sides.

"I'm sorry," Luke whispered, his voice wobbly. Cassian peered up at him, noticing his paler than usual complexion.

Their eyes met.

And Luke ever so slightly smiled.

The dying heat inside Cassian sparked.

Precious warmth began to rekindle.

The worry still there, Luke whispered softly at Cassian. "Listen to me, I need to tell you this before we start fighting again—"

Cassian grimaced. "Damn. Now why would you start it like that?"

"Because that's the only thing we do Cassian. We fight—" Luke glanced back his wound and his brow twitched. He shouted behind his shoulder. "Astrid, please bring me towels. Any towels! The good ones, the bad ones, or the beach towels, any of them. We can buy new towels! I'll sell one of the cars and we'll buy brand new towels!"

Unable to help it, Cassian chuckled and groaned when the movement sent another pang through his body. Luke brushed Cassian's hair and Cassian flinched, confused by the touch. It was gentle, simple, and small, but Luke didn't stop. Secretly, Cassian didn't want him to stop either. He held the warmth Cassian longed for in those slender fingers.

The look in Luke's sapphire blue eyes seemed genuine. As if he actually cared if this killed Cassian or not. He didn't understand Luke. Didn't understand him at all. He might've been shivering, freezing cold, but his curiosity for Luke burned white hot. 

"Thank you for keeping your promise. Thank you for caring about this house enough to not destroy it," Luke said, his voice soft. "I know you could've burnt him to a crisp. You could've crushed him in one claw." His small smile returned briefly just to be twisted into sorrow. "Thank you and I'm so sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing? You didn't ask for this. He did something to you too, right?" Cassian wasn't convinced Luke willingly let that man waltz inside this house to cause mischief.

"I'm sorry because these things just happen around me."

It took Cassian a moment to understand.

The curse.

Luke was talking about the curse.

"Luke," Cassian started to deny it when Astrid reappeared. "H-here!" She pushed a box, but it barely moved a foot. Luke's shoulders dropped.

He said, "Astrid. He's not going to do anything to you. Come in here and help me get him onto the couch."

#

LUKE

From Iris's First-Aid kit, Luke found strange salves and odd gemstones. It took a little convincing for Astrid to join them to at least tell Luke what to use. He kicked himself for just letting that guy inside no questions asked, for letting himself be tricked. His chest still ached. Astrid had found him on the ground, bringing him back to consciousness with his pills in hand. He had to take them dry and could still feel the impression of the pills in the back of his throat.

Sitting on a stool, Luke finished using a tube of liquid spider silk to patch over the gash in Cassian's chest. Everything else, Luke had no problem using. He hadn't like how cold Cassian skin was to the touch. It was unfamiliar, so they were crowded near the fireplace in the library to warm the dragon back up. His color was slowly returning to that golden tan and a light blush from the heat.

"You know..." Cassian said, his voice a low gravel and so much closer than Luke was used to. Luke's edges were rattled with goosebumps. "You're pretty good at this." Cassian actually complimented him, examining Luke's handiwork on his shoulder.

"Wow." Luke smiled, raising his eyebrows as he continued to wrap the bandage around Cassian's bare chest. He was muscular and toned that was littered with scales that slowly disappeared the more he warmed up. Every now and then, Luke's cheek would brush against Cassian's skin, and he had to hold his breath.

"A compliment from Lord Alwyn himself?" Luke mumbled. "How will I ever recover?"

Cassian rolled his eyes. "Fine. Next time, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Smiling wider, Luke was surprised the dragon would be so quick to pout. "Sorry, you're right. Thank you..." Luke explained as he was finishing up, trying to ignore how intense Cassian's stare could be. "I used to go to an all-boys boarding school. You fought everything. You fought teachers. You fought your enemies and your friends." Luke shrugged and sat back to examine his work. "You just kind of pick this stuff up."

His eyes flickered up just as Cassian grinned. He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position, hanging his arms off the back. "You're trying to tell me you got into fights?"

Luke grinned back, a flicker of competitiveness flaring up inside of him. "Stop underestimating me, Lord Alwyn. I'm scrappy if you hadn't noticed."

"You're something alright." Cassian leaned in, his eyes searching Luke's face right back. Luke stopped himself from moving any closer, ripping himself from the spot and stood up.

"Do you... do you want help to your room?"

"No." Cassian sighed and looked at the fire. "I'd rather stay here and be by the fire, but we'll be back to work tomorrow."

Luke straightened. He had forgotten about everything about their deal for a brief moment. "Right. Tomorrow, then." Lowering his head, Luke gathered his supplies. It was silent again and Luke wasn't sure what else he should say or what he should do. He was still worried about Cassian. "If you don't mind..." Luke worked himself up to ask, "Could I stay and monitor you? Until you feel warm again?"

Luke looked at Cassian, whose eyes hadn't left the burning fire. "That's fine by me."

Smiling a little, Luke set the box back down and took up the spot at the end of the couch by Cassian's feet. Cassian looked over at him and it was a stare that covered Luke's entire body. Swallowing nervously, Luke tried sinking into the couch to hide, but Cassian wouldn't let him.

Cassian asked, "So, tell me more about this all-boy's school. Ever knock someone's lights out?"

Luke grinned out of surprise, and he told his stories. He even showed him some music he helped produced and scenes in movies where you could hear him playing piano. Luke also asked about Cassian's life, about his life in a deserted part of the UK, living alone in a castle that the locals assumed had been abandoned a long time ago and how he traveled for work. Cassian told Luke about magic, about flying and the thrill of feeling like he was on top of the world.

When Astrid called them both for dinner, it had come as a surprise.

Night had befallen the Whitlock home and a part of Luke didn't want the day to end. He assumed once he went to sleep and woke up, Cassian would reset and start being cold towards him again. He didn't want to go back now that he knew Cassian Alwyn knew how to smile.

And even worse that Luke could make him smile. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

HMMMM?? Are we friends now maybe? I guess we'll find out next chapter! 

Let me know what you think about the chapter! And the book so far! Were you worried about Cassian? Do you think Ernest will be back? Wonder what he was looking for 🤷🏻‍♀️ And do you think Luke's worries have some truth? Will Cassian continue to be cold again? 

See you guys next time! If you like this book, check out all my others!