That day was a good day. The fairies set their plan into motion, finishing up a letter to send to the King to let him know that they were coming. Cass’ Aunt Alysora was chuckling to herself with glee for two reasons.

The nursery tree confirmed that afternoon that after all the time and dedication that Ailia and Sir Sanders had put in, it had finally happened. Ailia was with child. The fairies were exuberant and Cass couldn’t contain his excitement for the couple either. Cass had even hugged Gideon, his excitement surprising even himself.

What surprised him more was how easily Gideon took Cass’ affection, hugging him back fiercely. He was happy for them as well, and when Edgar woke up, he was delighted for the couple too. He promised to give them lots of blessings, and only the good ones. That had made everyone laugh.

Aunt Alysora was also excited about how she was about to make the King scramble and freak out because was going to send her letter. She was coming to check up on Cass, and the King was terrified about that. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out. The King also had no idea that Cass was hosting them, and that she already knew of the crimes that he had committed against her kin.

She was floating on cloud 9. Not only had she found out that was officially a grandmother, but that she was about to start her long term plan to get back at one of her greatest enemies. With her nephew’s help, no less. It was a great day to be a fairy.

News easily spread to the other fairy communities, Aunt Alysora not keeping her mouth shut. In fact, even the nursery tree was in on it with her, showering the newly pregnant Ailia with tons of pretty, lovely flower petals. It was truly something out of another world and Cass felt his chest tighten.

Normally, these moments would make him feel regretful, full of pain, but for the first time he felt that if his sister was here, she would be just as happy as he was. In fact, these would be her family too. That thought, even fleeting, made Cass’ eyes water but in a good way.

Cass excused himself to his office early so that he could collect himself. He didn’t want anyone to think he was upset, and he didn’t want to ruin the mood. It was Taniora who caught him, Sam not saying a thing about his behaviour.

When Cass met the gaze of Lucian’s old friend, her eyes held a truth that made Cass let out a shaky breath. She didn’t criticize him, nor called him out. She just gestured for him to join her on the couch in the office Cass had claimed. Sam made tea for Cass and hesitated about what he could do for Taniora.

She just smiled, asked for a cup to at least hold. Sam gladly made her a cup as well.

Then, the two were alone, Sam going to see Byron out in the hallway to give them a small moment of privacy. Edgar and Gideon were tucked away for a holy powers lesson, so it was truly just Taniora and Cass.

"I’ve been slowly adapting to this new body of mine." Taniora began slowly. Her eyes weren’t focused on Cass, instead scanning the area around them with a soft smile. It was kind, warm, very much in reflection of the woman she was when she was alive and who she had become in death.

"I’m glad to hear it." Cass said, meaning his words. She turned her gaze to him, her eyes crinkling as she smiled deeply at him.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me that you have welcomed me so easily and have shed tears for me as well. Truly, while you two aren’t fully bonded, I am still glad that the red-er, Lucian, has someone like you around him." Cass felt his cheeks warm. She kept saying that, kept saying that he was a boon to Lucian. A boon to everyone.

That was what Cass had wanted to do when he first got here. Change the image that Cassian Blackburn had in the general public. He just didn’t know that the first person who would be his number one fan in the general public was a dead fairy who had lived centuries ago, but hey, a win was a win.

"Well, when Lucian gets back you can ask him if that really is the case." Cass said with a chuckle. She smiled, shifting. She picked up the teacup, both of them pausing to watch. It was still strange to see her interact with real objects. Cass wondered if it was a bit like a poltergeist situation, but he wasn’t sure. This was a different world, and he hadn’t really read up on supernatural beings.

This might be normal for a being as old as she was.

She raised the teacup to her lips, inhaling deeply before she let out a deep, pleased sigh.

"The tea that your aide brews always smells so good. It makes me wish I could drink it." She said, giving him a look as if they were sharing a secret. Cass wanted to open his mouth and encourage her to try, but he stopped himself.

He didn’t want to hurt her with the reminder that she couldn’t drink.

"I’m glad you think that. He’s very good at his job." Cass said instead and she nodded. She held the cup for a moment and Cass realised that her hands were shaking slightly.

"Cass, I’ve been getting used to this place, and also getting used to what my body is like now that I am...untethered to the physical realm." She said carefully. Cass was actually quite happy that she was getting used to everything.

"That’s a good thing, right?" Cass asked and she nodded. Her gaze flickered to Cass quickly before she dropped her gaze again. She carefully put down the teacup so that she didn’t spill anything.

"It is, in a way. It’s, um, good but I...I’ve noticed some things." She said. Cass furrowed his brows, wondering what she had noticed that had her this nervous.

"Anything bad?" He asked and she shook her head.

"No, I don’t think so." She told him before she took in a deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. "Cass, you don’t belong here, do you?" She asked. Cass felt the air still. His eyes widened slightly and he felt the colour fade from his face. She panicked immediately. "I-I’m not upset! I just noticed some things!" She said, her voice rising.

Cass let out a shaky breath, putting down his own cup. He’d already spilled a bit of tea, and with a wave of his hand, he somehow managed to pull the liquid out of the carpet and he squeezed his hand to make the liquid disappear.

"W-What do you mean I don’t belong here? What are you saying?" Cass’ lips trembled slightly. This was not the direction that he expected this conversation to go, and it was clear by the distress in Taniora’s eyes that she didn’t expect it to go this way either.

"I-I think I’ve just gotten used to being here, around all this magic. I’ve adapted and...I can see that you’re different from the others." She said cautiously. She lowered her voice. "I can tell that you’ve...died, like I have." She told him.

Cass had to sit back, his throat tight. He wanted to fight her claim, wanted to push back against it. He wanted to say something, anything, but instead it felt like his energy was sucked out of him. Taniora looked visibly upset. She even got up, moving to sit down next to him.

She hesitated, but then placed her hand on his shoulder. Her touch was cold, but Cass could still feel it.

"I’m not saying that you being here is wrong. I would never say that because that would make me a hypocrite. I was just...curious. How you were able to be here, in this body. You don’t seem out of place." She then paled. "N-Not that I am looking to take over a body! I just-oh no, I’m making a mess of this." She muttered, and Cass didn’t even know what to do.

Should he laugh? Cry? Why hadn’t he even considered that the ghost haunting his house, the one he had allowed to do so, wouldn’t be able to find out he was two souls in one body? He’d been naive.

Foolish.

"The gods." Cass whispered, then swallowed. "The gods did this." Cass admitted. Then, it was like a dam broke.

Cass began to explain everything to Taniora, not holding a single thing back. He told her about his world, a completely different world devoid of magic and fairies and everything else that was real here. About his sister, his life before this, how he even knew about this world.

His mission, everything he’d been through, everything.

Cass couldn’t keep it inside of him anymore. Taniora had no idea what she had stepped into, but as Cass continued to speak, she didn’t react negatively. Instead, her expression softened with kindness and a bit of pity as Cass continued to speak.

Cass knew he shouldn’t tell her this. Knew that it was too much to tell anyone, but who else could he tell? She was one of the few people who knew exactly what Cass had gone through, even if she was on the other side of it. She’d been summoned by demons, he’d been summoned by the gods.

Two sides of the same coin.

When Cass finished, his breath raspy, but his chest feeling lighter than Cass had ever felt, Taniora gave a soft breath before she reached out her hands and carefully wrapped her arms around him.

It was a shockingly cold hug. Like Cass was being hugged by an ice sculpture but the intention was there. Cass felt his eyes begin to water.

"It’s alright, Cass. I don’t judge you. You’ve done nothing wrong." Taniora whispered and Cass reached up, grabbing onto her silky outfit and sobbed.

~

Cass was embarrassed by his outburst, but Taniora didn’t care. In fact, as a fairy, she was fascinated by Cass’ story, what had happened to him, and the idea that there were different types of gods. She had waved off the fact that fairies were created by an older god, as if that was obvious, and asked him about the ’newer’ gods.

Cass answered as best as he could, more relief filling him because he could talk about this and the absurdity of it. So far he’d only had Cassian to talk to about the true horror of this situation. Now?

Now he had someone else he could talk to. Someone who...got it, and didn’t judge him for his choices, his anger, or his frustration. She had great sympathy for him, and expressed anger on his behalf.

Cass could have kissed her if that wouldn’t have been impossible, and would have made him ill to his stomach. Even thinking about kissing a woman, dead or alive, didn’t interest him.