Upon hearing the rough voice of a soldier, Cas tilted his head just enough to watch the team charge toward them with their weapons drawn. They looked hostile, but at least they were coming closer rather than firing at them right away. He also recognized one of the men: Jacob, the head of the royal family’s security. The sight of a familiar face was shockingly relieving to him. It was a guarantee that he would be recognized and that they were finally safe from their enemies. They finally had skilled guards to protect them from the rebellion and bring them into the sanctuary that was the capital.

However, his initial relief was dampened when one of the men planted his feet and fixed his weapon on Iris, apparently pegging her as an enemy. [color=#b97703][i]Why?[/i][/color] He wondered dazedly. [color=#b97703][i]She helped me get here… She isn’t an enemy.[/i][/color] He wanted to call out to them that she was on their side, but before he could, a shadow fell across his head as Jacob knelt down next to him. The guard had a concerned expression on his face as he looked over his broken body, his features laced with curiosity as well. He wanted to know who had left his future king in such a state, but there was no time for questions. Getting answers would have to wait until after he was given medical attention.

“I already sent for an ambulance, Your Highness,” Jacob informed him. “It should be here within the next few minutes. Just try to stay awake until it arrives.”

Cas ignored him, his dull eyes fixed on the soldier who was pointing a gun at Iris. Before now, he’d desperately wanted to receive treatment for his various injuries, but he was more concerned with making sure she made it out of this alive too. She’d come all this way to make sure he got home, and he wasn’t going to let them kill her for her efforts. Taking as deep of a breath as he could manage, he forced himself to rasp a command, [color=#b97703]“Lower your gun! She’s with me—”[/color] He couldn’t say more before pain wracked him chest, and he groaned.

Jacob frowned, his eyes flicking to the shirt that covered the prince’s torso. He couldn’t see the injury there, but he suspected there was one if he couldn’t even talk. “Your Highness, I would suggest you stay quiet, so you don’t worsen your condition.”

Cas glanced up at him, panting tiredly, [color=#b97703]“Not unless… Not until I know she’ll be taken care of.”[/color] He tried to gather enough breath to go on. [color=#b97703]“She saved me… I want her taken to my home to rest while I’m at the hospital.”[/color] He squeezed his eyes shut as a deep ache resonated in his body, unable to speak again until it passed. [color=#b97703]“Have someone take her there… when the ambulance arrives.”[/color]

Jacob studied him contemplatively. Under different circumstances, he might have followed the order. If the girl had in fact saved his life, then it was worth hearing her out. However, he couldn’t do it this time. Unbeknownst to the wounded royal, his father had already given a far different order that superseded the word of a prince, and he was obligated to follow through with it. “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” he bowed his head respectfully. “But I can’t. His Majesty issued a warrant for the arrest of every rebel involved in your abduction, and security footage shows that she was there that night.”

Cas’s eyes widened at the revelation. He’d thought that the military would listen to him when he arrived because he had so much authority, but he couldn’t override his own father’s wishes. [color=#b97703]“No, she’s not—”[/color] he scrambled to defend her, only to bite his tongue as pain coursed through him again. Helpless, he could do nothing but watch as the guard turned to the remaining freestanding soldier and commanded him to restrain Iris before she could get away. As much as he wanted to leap up and stop them from arresting her, he couldn’t move or speak anymore.

While the other two men dealt with the rebel, Jacob lifted his gaze to the sky as the sound of an aircraft filled the air. The ambulance had arrived. “Just lie still,” he told Caspian firmly but gently. “You’ll be alright soon.”