Cas cocked his chin stubbornly when Ethan spat at him. In truth, he was more afraid of the rebel than he let on. He didn’t want to die, and he felt like a caged animal trapped between a wall and its abuser. His heart was hammering, and his palms were sweaty as he stared down the man who wanted to see him dead probably more than anyone else in the world. This was only going to end one way—he was well aware of that—but he wasn’t going to let Ethan control the intermediary stages before he died. He refused to give up any information that the rebellion could use to overthrow the crown, and he wasn’t going to be pummeled without fighting back. If this was to be the place where he was killed, then he was going to make sure he made a name for himself as courageous rather than cowardly.

So, when Ethan swung a leg at him, he was quick to step out of the way, avoiding the blow aimed at his side. Moving in a hurried manner elicited a stabbing pain in his chest though, and he was forced to stop immediately after, clutching at the area that ached and holding his breath until it faded. It was going to be difficult to throw any punches in return as long as he was suffering from the injuries of his last street fight.

He kept Ethan in his sight as the rebel went on to taunt him with lies that Iris didn’t actually love him. Of course, he didn’t believe any of it. Whether she did or did not care for him was something the other man couldn’t know. Ethan might have been the last person she was with, but he hadn’t been present for the forming of his relationship with her, nor the developing feelings that had spawned out of it. However, he gritted his teeth as the rebel went on to accuse him. As much as he loathed to admit it, he probably [i]would[/i] have had her sentenced to death if he’d known she was part of the Scourge when they had met. He couldn’t defend himself without lying.

[color=#b97703][i]But that isn’t what happened,[/i][/color] he reminded himself, internally rejecting the guilt that Ethan was trying to levy upon his heart. Whether it had been God or fate or something else entirely, they had met under the perfect circumstances for him to get to know her as a person, learn the truth about the other districts, and end up falling for her somewhere along the way. He couldn’t doubt her affection for him, and he couldn’t let her ex-boyfriend get inside his head. She was all he had left.

Choosing not to respond to the other man’s jealous words, he kept quiet until Ethan made the absurd promise that he wouldn’t hurt him if he answered his questions. At that, Cas couldn’t help but bark a laugh. [color=#b97703]“I know the [i]drill[/i] is that you’re going to kill me,”[/color] he scoffed, keeping the rebel’s hands in the corner of his eye. [color=#b97703]“Don’t give me that bullshit about mercy. I’m not going to tell you anything, so just do whatever you were planning to fucking do to me.”[/color]

It was a bold dare, but he didn’t regret making it. He had nothing to lose, and he had already braced himself for the pain his interrogator was going to inflect in response to his unwillingness to comply. At this point, he just wanted to get it over with, so the torment of waiting would end. However, when Ethan brandished his gun, the bravery in the prince’s eyes wavered. Gazing upon what was, for all he knew, going to be the instrument of his death sapped at his resolve, and he hesitated as the rebel threatened to use it if he didn’t talk. He’d never been shot before, but he doubted it was a pleasant experience.

Swallowing nervously, he curled his fingers tightly at his sides. [color=#b97703][i]It’s not like I have a choice,[/i][/color] he thought, doing his best to hold fast to his resolution in spite of every instinct he had that was screaming at him to save himself. [color=#b97703][i]I’m going to die. That’s going to happen. So I might as well make it on my own terms.[/i][/color]

Taking a shuddering breath, he stared Ethan coldly in the eyes and sneered, [color=#b97703]“Then do it, bitch.”[/color]