On the drive to the Kinders’ estate, Cas kept the car stereo turned off and checked his rearview mirror continually, paranoid of any signs that he was being followed. A part of him was still in disbelief that he’d actually gotten away from the royal family’s security team and worried that he would be caught before he made it to his safehouse. If he managed to make it all the way to Miles’ place without being surrounded by squad cars first, he would have to move as fast as possible to get Iris out and get on the highway that would take them to the northern edge of the capital. It was a fairly long drive from where she was now, which meant she would be exposed for upwards of forty-five minutes. If they were found together on the road, he didn’t even want to think of what the soldiers would do to her.

Hurrying as quickly as he could without speeding to draw attention to himself, he pulled up to the front of his friend’s home and jogged up the steps to the door. After ringing the doorbell, he stood back, shifting his weight restlessly from his left foot to his right until a maid answered the chime. She bowed politely and opened her mouth to greet him, but he brushed past her before the words could leave her lips. [color=#b97703]“Sorry,”[/color] he muttered, feeling a little guilty for being rude, but he didn’t have time for niceties. Every second that passed was a second that his father could decide that he wanted him to come back or that a guard could notice the lacking signals on his phone and car. Even though it was unlikely that someone would realize what he was doing—because he’d never rebelled before, none of the servants or guards had seemed suspicious when he’d left—he wouldn’t let his guard down until he was safely inside the suite he’d booked at the resort.

He stepped up to Miles’ bedroom door just as his friend opened it to step into the hallway. The other highborn jumped in surprise as they nearly collided, meeting his gaze with raised brows. “Cas?” he said, backpedaling to let the prince into the room. “What’s up? We were just gonna order dinner—”

[color=#b97703]“Change of plans,”[/color] Cas shook his head as he stepped around his friend and closed the door behind him. Immediately after, he turned to find Iris and faltered when he saw the little black dress she was wearing. If he hadn’t been crunched for time, he probably would have stopped to stare, but he had to keep moving. [color=#b97703]“Iris, grab as many of your things as you can. We need to go,”[/color] he instructed curtly, closing the distance between them as he strode over to where she’d been sitting.

“Hold up,” Miles blanched. “What the hell is going on? First you send me a cryptic text and now you’re moving Iris? I need an explanation. Did someone find out she’s here?”

[color=#b97703]“No, but they’ll know soon if she stays,”[/color] he exhaled, dragging his fingers tensely through his hair. [color=#b97703]“I… My dad and I had a fight… I don’t have time to tell you everything, but I have to leave, and once he realizes I’m gone, he’s going to send soldiers out to look for me. If Iris is still here tomorrow, they’ll find her.”[/color]

“[i]What[/i]?” Miles squawked, all color draining from his face. “You’re [i]leaving[/i]? W-Why? If it was just a fight, can’t you just wait until he calms down…”

Cas shook his head again, a pained expression darkening his features. [color=#b97703]“He told me he’s going to admit me to Eternity Meadows tomorrow morning,”[/color] he confessed quietly. [color=#b97703]“If I don’t go, I could be locked up for weeks or months, and I just can’t—”[/color] He took a shaky breath. [color=#b97703]“I can’t stay, Miles. I’m sorry, but this is going too far. I need to get out of here… at least for a while.”[/color]

“Jesus,” Miles breathed, unsure what else to say. “I had no idea things were getting so bad… Where are you going?”

[color=#b97703]“I can’t tell you,”[/color] Cas frowned. [color=#b97703]“If the soldiers question you, it’ll be safer for both of us if you genuinely don’t know anything.”[/color] He turned back to Iris solemnly. [color=#b97703]“I’m sorry I’m dragging you into this, but we need to get going. Is there anything here you want to take with you? We won’t be able to make any stops once we leave… Everyone in the capital knows my face, and yours has been displayed on the jumbotrons around the city because you’re wanted. If you’ve got toiletries or anything else you’ll need, you should grab what you can now.”[/color]