Kallum’s throat was tight as he watched the younger man panic, his grip white knuckled over his fork. “It’s supposed to do that.” He shifted his chair closer to Cass, explaining softly, “Steak is best tender and pink in the middle- and you can clean your plate with bread, I think the extra iron will do you some good.” The servant’s voice was lightly teasing as he looked down at him. “Eat as you please; the most important thing is that you are comfortable, and that you enjoy your meal.”

Cass gave a slow nod, his tight fingers slowly relaxing; though he could feel the others watching him, setting his nerves on edge, he tried to concentrate on the food. Calmer, he could take in the appeal of it; the meat fragrant and tender under his knife, a salad of bright leafy greens piled on the side, bread soft and flaky with a crust that gave a satisfying crunch when he bit into it. It was like nothing he had ever eaten before, Cass lost for a moment to the unfamiliar taste of seasoned red meat seeming to dissolve in his mouth.

Forcing himself to slow down, he looked up to see Raielle watching him with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. A blush colored Cass’s face, bright against his pale skin, as he cleared his throat and reached for the glass of water set at the edge of his tray.

“How is it?” Raielle asked, leaned his chin into his hand as he watched the flustered human press a fine cloth napkin to his mouth.

Cass looked away, his face burning as he muttered, “It’s… very good. Thank you.” Though hushed, the words were genuine, a tremble of emotion in his voice.

“I’m glad to hear that,” the vampire lord said, the kind earnesty to his words making Cass look up at him. Raielle gave him a soft smile, fangs dimpling his bottom lip, deep brown curls cascading over his shoulder as he inclined his head toward the food. “Please, continue. I can answer your questions while you eat your fill.”

He stiffened, his fork paused partway to his mouth, reminded that he had not accompanied Raielle simply for a meal. Taking a steadying breath, Cass contemplated his options for a moment before asking his first question: “Why did you send Arius to help me escape from Sector 1?” 

“Technically, he didn’t,” Arius answered, smirking at Cass’s confused expression. “Raielle didn’t order me to bring you here- it was important to him that he would be honest if he said he had no hand in your disappearance. But Rai told me you would have a place here if you were to leave Sector 1… and that was enough.”

Rai… looking at the vampire’s golden eyes, so vibrant it was as if the sun itself had been trapped in his gaze, Cass found the name entirely too fitting for the handsome vampire noble. “That doesn’t answer my question,” he pointed out, his pulse skipping as he immediately regretted the demanding words.

The lord nodded, Cass giving a slight sigh of relief as he showed no signs of anger over Cass’s response. “I’m aware of what task Emrys gave you in my health center, what he would likely demand from you again. I have seen your kind before, and though I know little of the extent of your power… I would rather have you in my halls than washing blood through the streets of Sector 8.”