(BL) The Villain wants a Divorce!-Chapter 406: Sam, take a vacation

The foolery continued into another meal, Ser Hune, Sir Sanders, Byron, Sam and the three men joining them in the dining room to continue this conversation but also make sure that both Ser Hune and Cass were fed.

Cass felt like the space was empty without Sam, and while Byron didn’t say anything, it was clear that he was awkward as well. Cass turned to Byron only a few minutes into everyone settling in and Lucian having disappeared to help with food prep, and told him to grab the other man.

Byron had looked surprised, but pleased, and quickly headed off to go grab the other...demon. That was still going to take some getting used to. He would have to get used to it because he was not about to let Sam leave his side.

After his interaction with the demon king, there was no way that Cass was going to let him go back. Cass remembered how he had easily dismissed Sam and his creation, like it was something simple. Like Sam, as a person, hadn’t mattered.

God, was it fucked up of him if he wanted to continue to force the idea that Byron bit Sam just so that Sam could get out from under the hold of the demon king? That was really fucked up, right? The whole situation was fucked up, but forcing them to bond was even more so.

What the hell had Cass been thinking when he’d suggested that? He clearly hadn’t been. His shock had gotten the better of him and he had reacted emotionally, wanting to lash out at someone, anyone. Make them feel the same way that he had. That he did.

However, it was cruel to force someone to do that. Even if it was to soothe his suspicions of someone. He should know better. Sam had so many chances to hurt him, ruin him, and instead Sam had stood up for him against people who could squash him in both forms. He had admitted, apologised, and while it still hurt to know that he didn’t say anything when he and Cass both thought he should, he owned it easily.

Cass was not going to force him to bond with Byron. They would just have to come to that conclusion on their own, with maybe a bit of encouragement from Cass. For Sam’s wellbeing, Byron could kick rocks.

He was kidding, but only a little bit.

Sam, when he came back with Byron, looked like himself. He was wearing his uniform, his hair ruffled, and his freckles on full display. He was nervous, and when Cass motioned for both Byron and Sam to sit at the long ass table with them, Sam turned as white as a ghost.

"We can’t sit at the table with you." He sounded absolutely horrified at Cass’ suggestion. However, it wasn’t a suggestion.

"It’s an order, Sam. Sit at the fucking table." Cass ordered, and watched as everyone watched him, surprised. Edgar clearly never thought that Cass would speak to Sam that way, nor did Ser Hune. Sir Sanders even looked a little worried. Byron, however, didn’t react at all.

Not even a curl of smoke from his nostrils. He knew that Sam needed this kind of speaking to when it came to this particular situation. Plus, he also knew that Sam liked it when Cass spoke to him poorly. Cass waited until he was pulling himself up to the table in the chair, scooting it against the floor, before he spoke.

"I spoke to the demon king." Cass said casually, and Sam completely froze. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights, and the colour drained from his face further. He looked truly ill, and Byron shifted until his hand was against his shoulder. It was meant to be a sign of support, but it was clear that Sam was viewing it as a threat.

"I-I apologise, my Lord! I did-"

"Sam." Cass cut him off, and Sam gulped. It was visible, audible. Cass tried not to smile. It was so henchman coded that it was almost funny. "It’s alright. Did I expect to speak to him directly? No, of course not. However, that did give me some insight into your situation. You don’t have to do the absurd thing I asked of you. I believe you." Cass told him and watched as Sam’s mouth dropped open, his eyes widened, and tears filled his eyes and spilled over easily.

"What?" Sam whispered and Byron shifted next to him, shocked himself.

"You mean that, my Lord?" Byron asked, sounding relieved. Cass leaned back in his seat next to Edgar and nodded.

"Yeah. I overreacted. I apologise for even suggesting it. I should know better. No one should be forced to make that kind of choice. With that being said, since I don’t need to test your loyalty...you are free to continue your duties in two days. Take an actual rest, Sam. I don’t think you’ve ever done that for a day of your life." Cass told him with a soft smile.

Sam slid his hands up to cover his mouth as his body began to shake. He looked like he was in pain.

"I’m your aide again?" He asked in a watery, weak voice. Cass felt his throat tighten with emotion so he just nodded. Sam bent, pressing his head against the edge of the table as his shoulders shook. Cass swallowed, wanting to get up to give him comfort when Byron bent and wrapped his arm around Sam’s shoulders.

"That’s what you wanted, right?" Byron asked softly and Sam nodded.

"I’m so relieved." He sobbed. "I was so worried he wouldn’t trust me again." Sam sobbed and Ser Hune looked on in confusion.

"Hold on, I’m missing something here." She said slowly, glancing between the sobbing man who was sitting across from her and Sir Sanders and Cass. Cass nodded, tensing up before he was able to relax his throat and speak past the emotions choking him.

"Sam is a demon, an imp, specifically sent by the demon king to keep me alive." Cass said and watched as Lord Ridgewood, Edgar and Cass’ two knights sat there in shock. Byron was grim, but nodded at Cass’ words.

"I knew he wasn’t sent to do anything evil." Byron muttered and Cass gave a dark laugh.

"Well, keeping me alive is technically evil." Cass countered and Sam snapped his head up, his face a mess and shook his head.

"No it’s not! You’re too nice to me!" Sam shouted, sobbing, before his face crumpled as he cried without covering his face. Cass felt his shoulders relax as he stared at his emotional henchmen.

"You and I both know that’s not true. I’m just not ’demon mean’ to you. I’m human mean to you." Cass said and Sam sniffed.

"That’s kind to me. You don’t get to invalidate my feelings on this!" Sam countered, getting bold and Cass let out a quick laugh. He was right, even if Cass thought he was wrong. He just didn’t expect his little imp henchman would say that to him.

"You’re right. I can’t invalidate your feelings, but the facts are different from your feelings. Agree to disagree?" Cass asked, a soft smile playing on his lips. Sam sniffed, wiping at his face with the sleeves of his suit. He looked so small and precious in that moment that Cass wondered how anyone could treat an imp like they were disposable.

Suddenly, Cass got a strange premonition. He was going to be taking in all the imps he could, he felt it.

Sam nodded glumly, still crying and Cass chuckled.

"Byron, help him clean himself up, but come back in a timely manner, would you?" Cass said, before raising his voice slightly. He felt a little ridiculous speaking without seeing the man in the room, but he knew he had good hearing, just like Cass. "Lucian, I know you can hear me, make sure to make something for Sam that he can eat too."

"Got it, Boss!" Lucian called loudly, showing that he heard Cass, and Cass flushed. Byron and Sam exited the room after that, going to a powder room or a bathroom or something to give Sam a moment to compose himself while Ser Hune stared at Cass.

"He’s a fellow demon?" She asked and Cass nodded.

"He’s probably the only reason I’m still alive, so be nice to him. Plus. from my understanding of demon culture and power structures, he’s the bottom of the tier list. Higher level demons can create imps on a whim. They can move between the demon realm and the human realm because they are considered so ’insignificant’. I would never say that Sam is insignificant to me." Cass said and Ser Hune’s expression softened. She seemed like she was about to ask something else, when Lord Ridgewood spoke up.

"What were you going to make him do that you retracted?" He asked, curious, and Cass froze.

He closed his eyes, shame washing over him.

"Something terrible. I panicked, and I was overly emotional at the time. I can’t believe I would suggest something like it to another person." Cass muttered and Edgar raised his hand, squeezing Cass’ hand as he took it. Cass opened his eyes and looked over at Edgar and there was no judgement in his eyes.

"Hey, it’s been a very stressful few days for you. I’m sure Sam doesn’t blame you either." Edgar said and Cass was grateful that the man wasn’t being harsh. Cass sighed.

"I asked him to make a temporary bond with Byron so that I could monitor him." Cass said, wincing at his own words.

However, no one else seemed as bothered by his words as he was. Ser Hune was even nodding.

"Ah. That’s reasonable. Especially if you were worried about what kind of magic he was using, that’s a reasonable ask." She said. Cass blinked, and looked at Lord Ridgewood. While he was frowning slightly, when he felt that Cass was looking at him he raised his gaze and nodded.

"I think, given the situation that you’ve found yourself in, you spoke from a place of wisdom." He said and Cass felt like he was the one who was unstable. That he was the one who found this horrifying. Then again, they were the group of people who watched him get bitten by Lucian and thought nothing of it.

Cass rubbed his free hand over his face.

"I feel like this is a cultural difference." Cass muttered to himself. Edgar squeezed his hand.

"Bites or cuffs from powerful beings help control the powers of others who could hurt themselves or others. It’s common, which is why we were so surprised that you didn’t have any memories of being cuffed as a child. It’s very common. Even I was cuffed." Edgar whispered to him softly. "It was also why no one thought it was strange when Lucian originally bit you." Edgar said and Cass frowned.

Yeah. Definitely a cultural difference for sure.