Chapter Text
As they approach King John, Prince Dean mumbles, "You would do well not to tell my father you are a servant of Castiel's."
Before Castiel can say a word, one of the Hunter soldiers approaches with his mother. Behind them, two more men pull Gabriel and Hester. Michael is not with them, Castiel notes.
"We found them, Your Majesty," the soldier reports.
"Ah, Naomi. So nice of you to join us."
"That is Queen Naomi to you," his mother snaps.
King John laughs. "What are you Queen of, Naomi? Your people are dead. Your castle lies in ruin. Who do you rule?"
Queen Naomi does not answer, though her jaw tightens.
"We have found and captured your children, with the exception of two. Where are Michael and Castiel, Naomi?"
"I sent Michael away. I anticipated this attack and sent him off, I know not where. As long as he is free, he can always be a threat to your kingdom."
"And Castiel?"
"What use have you of an Omega whelp?"
"Whelp? Your son is twenty, Naomi. He has been an adult for five years now. He can be married, bear children. Where is he, Naomi?"
Naomi looks directly at Castiel for a brief second. "He fled the castle two days ago."
King John laughs, a cruel sound. "Naomi, I know your son is still here within the castle. Your servants told me he went into Heat this morning. If you will not tell me where he is, perhaps I can loosen your tongue?"
He gestures to the guard to bring forward Gabriel.
"Where is your brother, Prince Gabriel?"
"I know not, Your Majesty."
"I wish I could believe you," King John says, gesturing again to his guard. The man hands him a blade, which King John unsheathes. "I do not. So I will give you one more opportunity. Where is your brother?"
"I know not, Your Majesty."
King John clicks his tongue. "A shame." Thus saying, he stabs Hester. She falls over backward with a geyser of blood spraying from her chest. Naomi's eyes pop wide. Gabriel shouts. Castiel swallows back vomit. "Perhaps some time in the dungeon will help you remember where your brother is."
"We sent Prince Castiel off three days ago in anticipation of an attack! Then we released word he started his Heat this morning."
King John's gaze focuses on him. "Who are you? And why do you think you can speak to me?"
"My name is Jimmy, Your Majesty. I was a servant to Prince Castiel. I helped him escape."
King John looks furious but Crown Prince Dean says, "We can find him, Father. Jimmy was the one who sent him off. I am certain Heaven would not let a Royal Omega go through his Heat in the middle of a forest. Whichever inn they dropped him at, we can get him. Jimmy and I can go retrieve him, so I can marry him."
"A wise decision, son. Take the servant boy and get out. I expect you to mate him before you come back."
"Beg pardon?" Crown Prince Dean questions.
"Get out. Find the recalcitrant Prince. Mate him. Then bring him back so we can hold a marriage ceremony."
"Perhaps I should marry, then mate?"
"Perhaps you should DO AS YOU ARE TOLD! I AM KING, NOT YOU!"
Prince Dean bows his head. "As you command, Your Majesty." He grabs Castiel by the arm and leads him away from the throne room, away from Hester's cooling body and the horrors of his kingdom's defeat.
"Pamela, Charlie, Benny, prepare to ride," Prince Dean barks, approaching a group of soldiers outside the throne room. "Jimmy, do you have anything you need to grab?"
"No, Your Highness. Queen Naomi did not believe in giving us multiple sets of clothes."
It is true for the servants. As a prince, Castiel has multiple ridiculous outfits that are unfit for the trek anyway. He has nothing else now, like a true servant. Naomi would be appalled.
"However, if His Highness would permit, I could grab medicinal herbs."
"Certainly. Benny, if you would prepare Impala? I will escort Jimmy to grab his herbs."
Castiel's mind is racing. He would like to grab herbs to render someone unconscious, but he does not know how to get them. If Prince Dean is knowledgeable regarding herbs, he will have to come up with more lies or risk being found out.
He slips into the infirmary. His tutor, Cain, is standing there. He looks surprised when he sees Castiel walking in with Prince Dean, but thankfully he does not address him by name. His eyes skirt Castiel's outfit for a moment before he looks at the Alpha behind him. "Crown Prince Dean, I presume?"
"Indeed. Though you may call me Dean, if I am alone."
Cain's mouth twitches into a barely-there smile. "Did you forget about him?" he asks, gesturing to Castiel.
Prince Dean shrugs. "My brother says Jimmy and I are to be good friends. I imagine we will be on a first name basis soon."
"Bold of you to assume, Crown Prince Dean," Castiel answers, putting emphasis on the title. "You just destroyed my home. You expect me to turn over my charge, a prince who I care for, to be raped and dominated by you," he snaps, furious at even the thought.
Dean winces. He leans forward before biting, "I know what it means to be royal, the sacrifices we have to make. Does your prince?" At Castiel's silence, he smirks before whispering, "Besides, I would make him feel good. I would have him beg me for it."
Castiel feels a flash of white-hot anger shoot down his spine. "Excuse me?"
"You are in love with your prince, it is obvious. But my father will kill you without hesitation if you try to steal him away. I am certain it must be hard to turn someone you love over to someone like me. However, you must. For the sake of your own life."
Cain clears his throat, drawing both gazes back to him. "I have prepared a first aid kit for you, Jimmy."
Castiel takes the bag, rooting through the potion bottles. "Do you have any familiarity with the apothecary, Crown Prince Dean?"
"No. My brother Sam is the educated one. I am a warrior."
Castiel relaxes. He pulls the potions out, categorizing what he was given. Cain supplied him with several bottles of Castiel's Omega-disguising potion, scent-blocking potions, topical antibiotic creams for wounds, anti-inflammatory salves, and several dried herbs to treat wounds and prevent fevers. In addition, there are bandages.
He grabs two potion bottles to block his Heat, and turns to bump into Prince Sam, who has snuck into the infirmary silently. Castiel backs away with a nervous smile. "Prince Sam, my apologies." He is on alert now, knowing Prince Dean has said his brother is knowledgeable and thus may know the potions are not all for healing.
Prince Sam hands Castiel a bottle. "I apologize for interrupting. I saw you needed this, Jimmy."
Castiel glances at the bottle in his hand, and his blood runs cold. The bottle is another of Castiel's inventions, a Heat-blocking potion that he had taken last night before Hunter attacked. It was on his bed stand, abandoned for the battle. Which means Prince Sam was in his room.
Castiel schools his face. "Thank you."
Prince Sam inclines his head. "You are welcome. Both of you, come find me when you get back. I wish you luck." He embraces his brother before he leaves the infirmary again, as softly as he came.
"Do you need anything else, Jimmy? If not, we should be going."
"Thank you, I need nothing else." Castiel claps hands with Cain, before he follows Crown Prince Dean away from his home.
There is a redhead woman and a dark-haired woman already mounted on horses. Benny is holding two horses, a gentle-looking brown horse and a wild-looking black horse. Prince Dean immediately goes to the black horse, crooning, "Hello Baby."
"Dean, do you need a minute?" the dark-haired woman calls.
The horse rears up in response, eyes rolling back in its head. Castiel shrinks back in fear, though Dean doesn't move away. Instead, the crazy man moves closer to the wild beast, reaching for a strap. "Come on, you know Pam did not mean to upset you." He steadies the beast then climbs aboard. And then he extends his hand to Castiel.
"Well?" he demands impatiently. "Come along, Jimmy."
Castiel eyes the beast, which huffs at him. He skitters back toward the relative safety of the palace.
"Jimmy, come on!"
"Dean, he seems afraid," the redhead scolds. She jumps down from her horse, dropping the straps onto the ground. Her horse doesn't move.
"Hey, Jimmy? I am Celeste, though you may call me Charlie. Are you okay?" Castiel pulls his gaze forcefully from the devil horse and insane rider. The redhead is smiling at him. She looks nice.
"I think the horse may be possessed," Castiel confesses.
"We all think so. She likes no one but Dean."
"I would rather walk than ride that! It does not appear safe!"
"Dean would never let you be hurt. Have you ridden before?"
"No!"
Dean dismounts the demon. "We do not have time for this!" he snaps. He walks behind Castiel, and in the next moment Castiel is being yanked toward the fiend.
He panics. He kicks and claws, digging nails into Dean's arms, desperate to get away. Dean grunts and staggers before a sharp slap smacks Castiel in the face.
Castiel stills in shock. He has never been slapped.
"Sorry, Jimmy. I did not know how to get your attention otherwise. I am trying to help you."
"By slapping me and attempting to murder me through demon-horse?"
"I would not let my baby hurt you. Now come with me. Stand tall. You faced down my father without blinking, you can handle a horse." Dean plasters himself to Castiel's back, providing support and takes his hand, guiding it out to the horse. "Jimmy, meet Impala. Impala, this is Jimmy." The horse sniffs their combined hands and knickers.
"Good girl," Dean croons. He lifts their hands higher so Castiel is petting her nose, while Dean's hand is still holding Castiel's. After a moment he says, "Okay, she will let you ride. Go ahead and mount."
Castiel slides his hand off the horse and out from under Dean. He walks to the side of the horse and calculates for a moment.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out how to get up."
Dean snorts inelegantly. "Have you never ridden a horse?"
"I was a servant to the Omega Prince. He was kept in hiding so nothing happened to him, rarely left outside on the balcony. He was not allowed to leave the castle. So no, I did not have the opportunity to ride."
Dean's eyebrows shoot to his hairline. "That is barbaric! How could you leave him alone? He must be so afraid!"
"He is both more courageous than expected and more cunning. I am certain he is fine."
Dean nods, though he still looks upset. "If I link my fingers together and boost you, can you get onto Impala's back?"
Castiel considers. "I think so."
Dean links his fingers together and hefts Castiel up. He clambers onto the horse's back, checking the straps blankly. Perhaps he should pick them up?
In the next moment, Crown Prince Dean is also on the horse. His legs are touching Castiel's, his stomach is pressed to Castiel's back, and his crotch is touching Castiel's behind. "What are you doing?" Castiel demands, attempting to turn to see the man.
Dean stills him. "Riding my horse, what are you doing?"
"Get down!"
"This is my horse!"
"You are far too close!"
"May I remind you that you are basically a prisoner? You could steal my horse and run away. Rescue your beloved prince and flee with him to join Michael. You should have anticipated this."
Castiel has no argument for that, so he grumps, "That is Crown Prince Michael to you."
He feels Dean lean around and grab the straps. Then he clicks his tongue and the devil horse begins to walk. "Relax. Baby will not hurt us." He does something and the horse starts running. The others, Benny and the two women, fall in line behind them.