Page 12 of Cassian

“Well, most mates don’t stay human.” Danny continued his education, he and Cass both oblivious to Blake’s inner freak-out. “They’re turned. The bond isn’t even solidified until they are. It’s actually pretty cool that he’s stabilizing you even while human. I can’t wait to tell the others.”

They kept chatting, their words occasionally piercing through Blake’s new brain fog. Danny was telling Cass something about his new ability to do compulsion, something that sounded an awful lot like mind control.

Blake stared at Cass while they spoke. He looked so…adorable. Not like something that needed human blood to survive; that was for sure. His pale-blue eyes were wide, taking in all that information, and his freckles stood out under the bright hospital lights. He seemed to be taking it shockingly well. But then, he didn’t have a choice, did he? He’d been changed forever. Forliteralever, if this nurse was to be believed. And that could be Blake too.

Most mates don’t stay human.

Blake was jumping up from his seat before he knew it. “Um, Cass? I’m gonna… I’ll meet you at the hotel. I need to grab some food. Human food. Feeling a bit off, you know?”

Cass and Danny looked up at him in surprise. “We’ve got Jell-O, or sandwiches?” Danny offered.

Blake shook his head, backing up to the glass doors. “No, I need something, like, hot. Something real. I’ll—I’ll see you later?”

He tried not to notice how devastated Cass looked, way more devastated than when Danny had told him he was a for-real vampire. Danny for his part looked as kind as ever but…knowing. Way too knowing. “I can make sure Cass makes it back okay,” he reassured Blake.

“Thanks.” Blake was already opening the sliding door. “Thank you. See you later, buddy.”

five

Cass

“Buddy.”

It rang through the air as Blake made his hasty exit. Cass wasn’t “baby” anymore, then. Back to good ol’ “buddy.” Should he really be surprised? A gay identity crisis was inevitable, wasn’t it? Even without all the vampire stuff added to it.

Vampire.

Cassshould be the one freaking out, not Blake. He’d just found out his entire existence was forever changed. Except… He’d already gulped down Blake’s blood like jungle juice at a frat party. It was hard to be in proper denial after that, no matter how much he’d wanted to placate Blake by going to the ER in the first place.

He realized Danny was looking at him with something awfully akin to pity in his eyes. Cass straightened his back, trying to exude less of a pathetic vibe. “I guess the ‘fleeing from my side’ part of that exit was pretty obvious, huh?”

Danny winced in sympathy. “Just a little. This thing between you two is pretty new, huh?”

“As new as being a vampire is,” Cass admitted. “Blake’s straight. He’s not really my boyfriend; he’s my roommate.”

“Oh. Well, damn.” Danny’s eyes widened in understanding. “That’s a lot at once, isn’t it?”

“Tell me about it.”

Danny took a seat on a stool to the right of the gurney. “You’re awfully cool about the supernatural part of this, you know. Have you thought about what it means? Never aging? What you’re going to tell your family?”

“Oh, it’s just me and my grandpa. I’m not sure he’ll be around long enough to notice.” Cass felt a sharp pang at the thought, but it was a reality he’d come to terms with a long time ago. “Anything else I need to know before I head out?”

“I’ll give you my number.” Danny reached out a hand. “I’m sure a lot will come up.”

Cass gave him his phone without a fuss, watching as he punched his phone number in. For the first time since this whole ordeal had started, he was feeling truly…low.

Danny looked up from the phone knowingly. “You miss him already, don’t you?”

Cass held back a sigh. “That’s weird, isn’t it?”

“For normal people, maybe… For mates?” Danny shrugged. “Not weird at all. He’s probably missing you too.”

“I doubt that. Straight, remember?”

Danny bit at his lower lip, seemingly conflicted. “Not to speak for someone else, especially with something as complicated as sexuality can be, but… I’ve known several fated pairs at this point. It never seems to be wrong, no matter how unlikely it looks in the beginning. So…I’m guessing Blake is at least a little…”

“Curious?” Cass asked, trying not to sound bitter.

---