CHAPTER 41: FORGET THE STUPID PARTY

Morning came too soon.

Cassian hadn’t slept. Not really. Every time he’d closed his eyes, he’d seen Lucian’s face in the moonlight calm, smiling, terrifying. Felt the ghost of that forehead kiss like a brand. Heard the whisper: "You don’t know how fucked up the shit I’ll do to you all."

He’d tossed and turned until his sheets were tangled, his hair a mess, his mind racing in circles. He knew he should tell them. About the photo. About the balcony. About Room 73. But every time he imagined their faces Leonel’s fury, Aiden’s hurt he choked on the words.

What if they think I’m hiding something? What if they think I still have feelings for him?

So he stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, pretending sleep was possible.

Then knock knock.

"Cassian?" Leonel’s voice came through the door, low but alert. "It’s been forever. You not awake yet?"

Cassian scrambled, voice thick with forced sleepiness. "Just... six more minutes! I’ll be there!"

He heard Leonel sigh a soft, familiar sound and footsteps retreating down the hall.

Cassian exhaled, dragging a hand over his face. Six minutes. That was all he needed to pull himself together. To pretend last night never happened.

But it had.

And Lucian was waiting.

He dragged himself out of bed, splashed water on his face, ran fingers through his tangled hair, and headed downstairs.

Leonel and Aiden were already in the living room, sprawled on the couch, scrolling through a movie app on the TV. Empty cereal bowls sat on the coffee table. Sunlight streamed through the windows, warm and lazy.

Aiden looked up first. "Took you long enough. We were about to send a search party."

Leonel turned, eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Cassian’s pale face, the dark circles under his eyes, the way he kept his arms crossed like he was holding himself together. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Cassian said too quickly, dropping onto the armchair across from them. "Just... bad dreams."

Aiden studied him for a beat, then tossed a throw pillow at his head. "Well, stop dreaming and help us pick a movie. Leonel wants to watch a documentary about ants. Actual ants."

"I said it looked interesting!" Leonel shot back, but his eyes never left Cassian.

Cassian tried to smile. Tried to lean into the normalcy of it the bickering, the bad movie choices, the way Aiden stole the remote the second Leonel looked away.

But beneath it all, one thought pulsed like a heartbeat:

Seven o’clock. Room 73. Lucian’s waiting.

And he still hadn’t told them a thing.

They finally settled on a dumb action-comedy explosions, one-liners, and a dog that somehow knew karate. Cassian helped scroll through the options, half-heartedly arguing for the one with the talking raccoon, just to feel normal for a few more minutes.

Aiden, ever observant, had already grabbed a plate of leftovers from the kitchen and set it in front of Cassian without a word. "You haven’t eaten," he said, nudging Cassian’s knee with his foot. "Eat."

Cassian gave him a small, grateful smile and picked at the food, the warmth of their easy rhythm almost enough to drown out the dread coiled in his stomach.

The movie started. Leonel snorted at the hero’s ridiculous haircut. Aiden threw popcorn at him. Cassian laughed really laughed until his sides hurt and tears pricked his eyes.

Then came the scene where the dog accidentally launched a drone into a wedding cake, and Cassian lost it. He doubled over, wheezing, clutching his stomach and in his laughter, he leaned sideways without thinking.

His head landed right against Leonel’s thigh.

His hand braced on Leonel’s leg for balance.

And his fingers?

Right there.

On the firm, unmistakable outline of Leonel’s growing arousal.

Time stopped.

Cassian froze. His laughter died in his throat. His face burned hotter than the sun.

Leonel went completely still. Then, slowly, his head dipped down, eyes wide, cheeks flushing deep red as he looked at Cassian really looked at him like he couldn’t decide whether to shove him away or pull him closer.

Cassian yanked his hand back like he’d touched a live wire and sat bolt upright, spine rigid, eyes glued to the screen like it held the secrets of the universe.

"S-sorry," he mumbled, voice strangled.

Leonel cleared his throat, shifting slightly, but didn’t say anything. Just kept staring at the TV, ears still pink.

Aiden, absorbed in the movie, missed the whole thing. "Dude, did you see that? The dog just backflipped over a tank!"

Cassian nodded numbly, heart hammering.

He hadn’t just touched Leonel.

He’d felt him want him.

Then after this, the movie finally ended, the credits rolling as the sunlight outside dimmed into soft orange. Evening was coming fast, the kind that made everything quiet for a moment before the noise started again.

Leonel stretched his arms over his head, yawning. "Okay, that was... actually not terrible," he said, even though his expression said he’d never admit he enjoyed it.

Aiden snorted. "Not terrible? You literally laughed when the dog threw the grenade."

"I did not -"

"You did."

They were back to bickering in seconds, voices overlapping, popcorn everywhere, Aiden poking Leonel’s shoulder until Leonel threatened to tackle him.

Cassian sat there between them, smiling faintly but it didn’t reach his eyes. His mind wasn’t here anymore. Every passing second dragged him closer to seven o’clock. To Room 73. To Lucian.

He could feel it, that creeping unease slithering down his spine. His chest felt tight. He’d spent all day trying to forget, but he couldn’t.

Lucian’s voice still echoed in his mind "You don’t know how fucked up the shit I’ll do to you all."

His palms were cold.

Aiden threw a handful of popcorn that hit Leonel’s face, and Leonel swore, grabbing a cushion like he was about to launch war. Cassian watched them for a moment their noise, their warmth and realized just how much he didn’t want to lose this.

He swallowed hard.

"Hey," he said suddenly, his voice quieter than he meant it to be.

Both Leonel and Aiden turned to him at once. "Yeah?"

Cassian hesitated, fingers twisting in his lap. "I don’t... want to ruin the moment but..."

The fight stopped. The air went still.

Aiden frowned, his playful grin fading. "What is it?"

Cassian took a breath. "Lucian’s been messaging me."

That was all it took.

Leonel straightened instantly, eyes darkening, all traces of humor gone. "What?"

Cassian’s throat worked. "Since last night. He’s been sending me things. Pictures. Of... of us."

Aiden’s brows furrowed. "Pictures?"

Cassian nodded, pulling out his phone with trembling hands. "Images of all three of us. I don’t know how he got them." He showed them the screen a few grainy shots them walking yesterday, Aiden laughing, Leonel beside him, Cassian a few steps behind.

Aiden went completely still. Leonel’s jaw clenched.

"That bastard," Leonel muttered, running a hand through his hair. "He’s stalking you."

Aiden’s tone hardened, something protective flashing in his eyes. "You should’ve told us sooner."

"I was going to," Cassian said quickly, guilt flooding his voice. "I just... didn’t know how. It sounded crazy."

Leonel exhaled through his nose, sharp and controlled. "No, Cass. You should’ve said it. He’s crossing a line now."

Aiden nodded, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. "We’re not letting you go anywhere near him tonight. Forget that stupid party."

Cassian froze. "What?"

"You’re not going," Leonel said, decisive. "If he’s sending stuff like that, he might show up there. It’s not safe."

Aiden looked at Cassian, eyes softer now but still serious. "You don’t owe anyone your presence, Cass. Screw him and his games."

Cassian looked between them the worry in Aiden’s eyes, the quiet fury in Leonel’s and for a moment, he almost agreed. Almost.

But then he remembered.

The way Lucian had looked at him last night. The way he’d said, "come to room 73 at 9."

The promise in it. The threat.

If he didn’t go... what would Lucian do then?

Cassian lowered his gaze. "We should still go."

Aiden blinked. "What?"

Leonel’s voice sharpened. "Cassian, did you not hear what we just said -"

"I know," Cassian cut in, voice trembling but steady. "But if we don’t show up, he’ll just find another way. I’d rather face him there in public than alone."

Leonel’s expression hardened. "You’re not facing him at all."

But Cassian shook his head. "I’m not asking to be alone with him. I just... think we need to see what he’s planning. You both will be there. Right?"

Aiden looked at Leonel, conflict written all over his face. "If he’s really going, it could be a trap."

Leonel exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. "I know. But if he’s that bold... he’s not going to stop unless we show him we’re not scared."

Cassian looked up at them then his two constants both trying to hide their worry behind frustration.

Leonel finally sighed, resigned. "Fine. We’ll go."

Aiden frowned. "Leonel -"

"If we don’t, he’ll go alone anyway," Leonel said, looking at Cassian. "And I’m not letting that happen."

The words hit Cassian harder than they should’ve. The protectiveness in Leonel’s voice the quiet certainty of it made his chest ache in a way he couldn’t name.

He nodded, whispering, "Thank you."

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, "You owe us big time after this."

Leonel smirked faintly, but his eyes lingered on Cassian a moment longer sharp, unreadable. "Stay close to us tonight. No wandering. No talking to him alone."

Cassian met his gaze and nodded. "I won’t."

But deep down, he knew he have to meet Lucian