Page 13 of Cassian

“I can also see the way he looks at you. That’s more than just a bromance, I’d say.”

“Good thing. I’m not much of a bro.”

Danny smiled at that. “Me neither. Now let’s get you out of here before a doctor finally comes by to check you out. I’m telling them you left against medical advice, so… Apologies for the stain on your medical reputation.”

Cass left the emergency room with a new paper bag, one containing what felt like a conspicuous blood bag Danny had given him to tide him over in case he got hungry again while Blake was gone, figuring himself out. Danny had even ordered him a taxi to the hotel, insisting that he not be out walking around on his own after the revelations of the day.

When he made it back to the hotel room, Cass flung the paper bag into the mini fridge, then sat heavily on one of the beds, the neatly made one he hadn’t slept in the night before. Blake’s bed was still a mess. It always was, back in their dorm room. Cass never minded; he had kind of always thought it made the place feel cozy.

But then again, that was just Blake. Making Cass feel warm and welcome, no matter how different they could be.

There’d been one day early into fall semester. Cass had done horribly on a test, for a prerequisite class he needed to graduate but had zero interest in. He’d been disappointed in himself, plus scared about the risk to his scholarship. He’d come home, and Blake had been watching a movie on his laptop in bed.

Cass had been…not disappointed to see him, exactly—he never minded having Blake around, looking all gorgeous and smiling nicely at him—but a little nervous. They’d only been rooming together a few months at that point, and Cass hadn’t been quite ready to have a full-fledged emotional breakdown in front of him.

But Blake had taken one look at his face, patted the bed with one hand, and ordered him to hop on up and watch the movie with him. Cass had curled up next to him, leaving plenty of space, afraid to accidentally touch, and Blake had immediately put an arm around him, pulling him close enough to see the screen.

After several minutes of holding his breath, afraid to be thought of as enjoying it too much, Cass had finally given in and asked, “You know I’m gay, right?”

He hadn’t exactly been in the closet, but it wasn’t something the two of them had ever talked about either.

“Oh yeah,” Blake had said, not taking his eyes off the movie. “Or at least, I thought. All those rainbow stickers on your laptop.” Then Blake had frowned down at him. “Why, am I making you uncomfortable?”

“No!” Cass had almost laughed out loud at the thought. “Just…You’renot uncomfortable?”

“Nah.” Blake had shrugged, looking back to their movie. “It’s kind of nice. Not a lot of chances to cuddle with dude friends, right?”

Cass had finally relaxed, and they’d both watched the movie in comfortable silence until Blake had broken it. “You okay?” he had asked. “Something happen?”

“Just a bad test.”

“Oh, man, I’ve had lots of those.” Blake had chuckled, rubbing Cass’s arm soothingly. “It’ll be fine; it’s still early in the semester. We could start studying together, if you want. Keep each other on track.”

“Really?

“Sure. I got your back, buddy. What else are roomies for?”

And that had been all it had taken for Cass to fall a little bit in love. He’d known before then that Blake was hot, sure, but that had been the first time he’d realized how fucking sweet he could be.

But there was a big difference between helping someone cheer up after a bad test and being their destined vampire mate, wasn’t there? Like, Jesus.

Cass rubbed at his chest, trying to ease the ache that had formed ever since Blake had fled that ER room. He needed to let Blake go, didn’t he? He couldn’t ask him to turn, to give up his whole human future. And maybe—maybe Blake would be willing to stay roommates for the rest of the year, while Cass stabilized, if Cass promised to keep his hands to himself. Just so he wouldn’t have to run into the woods, protecting society from himself or whatever.

Cass stared over at the mini fridge, the one holding the blood bag he was going to need to drink at some point. The evidence of exactly how not normal he was now.

Was even staying roommates too much to ask?

That new presence inside him shifted uneasily. It didn’t seem to like the thought of Blake leaving their side.

Too bad, vampire brain. We’re going to do the right thing. Which is whatever Blake wants. Got it?

There was no answer, just a strange gnawing in Cass’s gut, one he didn’t think had anything to do with hunger.

Blake

Blake bit into his burger, huddled on the tiny round picnic table outside the fast-food restaurant. It should have been mediocre, but at the moment, it was beyond good. He’d barely eaten today, and he wasn’t usually known for skimping on meals. It made the burger taste like literal heaven.

Was this how Blake’s blood had tasted to Cass? Juicy and delicious and satisfying on some soul-deep level? He’d certainly sounded like it, back at their hotel room—those greedy little gulping noises Cass had made while Blake had been busy coming all over his own fist.

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