Chapter 37: Open your mouth, Lord Blackburn
"Those twigs don’t even look like they could carry a matchbox." The rough, grumbly voice from across the table spoke up, and Cass coughed up more blood. He was honestly surprised that Draken was even speaking to him.
"W-What?" Cass muttered, his heart pounding in his chest, his insides twisting. Cass watched as Draken winced, cupping his stomach and Cass felt his eyes widen in shock. Oh. Oh.
Draken was feeling what Cass was feeling. Maybe not to the full extent, but he was clearly able to sense that something was wrong. Cass couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled out of him, even as it splattered more blood onto the nice white tablecloth.
"I said that those two helpers aren’t going to be enough to get you back to your rooms. I’ll help." Draken pushed his chair back, much to the surprise of Lord Vespertine and Lord Ridgewood.
"You’re going to help him?" Lord Vespertine asked, clearly confused and offended. "He and his damn servants insulted Ava. Does that not matter to you?" Lord Vespertine took the duty of being a big brother rather seriously. It was hilarious, because Lady Ava already had an older brother.
He had just been abandoned like the rest of her family back at her hometown. Tucked away in ’safety’. Mm, maybe abandoned was the wrong word. Lady Ava certainly wouldn’t view the way she left as abandoning her family, even if they did. There was a reason that they died around this point in the story. The older brother was one of the main reasons.
He made a deal with someone who he shouldn’t have. Someone by the name of Duke Blackburn.
"Honestly, no, it doesn’t. I only protect Ava because she’s weak, and Fiona likes her. You can’t tell me that Lord Blackburn isn’t weak right now." Lord Vespertine was stunned, upset, and sputtering.
"That’s why you protected Ava? Because she’s weak?" Draken shrugged, patting Lord Vespertine on the shoulder as he passed him.
"What? It’s my duty while as the head of this clan to make sure that the weaker members are well taken care of. Even if it is in name, and for a short time, I currently have two partners. One is in perfect health, while the other feels like he’s dying. I am going to make sure that one is taken care of." Cass was surprised by the words leaving his mouth.
Out of everyone, Cass did not expect Draken to be honour bound in this way, but he should have anticipated this. At least in some regard.