Chapter Text
Dean leaned against the stone wall absently spinning his dagger into the air and catching it. The springtime air was starting to heat up with the impending summer; Dean was grateful for any respite from the sun the shade of the hallway could offer him. No matter how good Dean looked in it, at the end of the day, his armor was leather and metal which were not materials famed for being comfortable.
He could wear the armor for weeks, of course, if he needed to regardless of it being a blizzard or heat wave since Dean was a damn good knight and would do whatever he had to do.
He tipped his head back as he listened to the low murmur of voices drifting from the opened window to his right. He was looking forward to the end of the semester in a few short weeks. His chances of getting his bookworm of a prince to return to the capital for the summer were looking pretty good this year. For one, there would be a royal wedding which was an all-hands-on-deck kind of situation and two, Dean wasn’t above kidnapping.
It didn’t count as kidnapping a prince if the kidnapper was the prince’s guard and the prince wasn’t a child, right? Right. Athria was a hotbed of hurricanes in the summer and Dean wanted no part in bailing out the prince’s underground laboratory (again).
Curious passing students glanced at him as they walked around in the open courtyard. Dean gave them friendly nods but otherwise didn’t engage.
The anxious part of his brain kept track of how many people were currently in the courtyard, twelve, how many of those were students, eight, how many of them were fellow guards, four, and how many could be a threat to him, zero.
Indilla Academy was in the Theocracy of Athria which maintained a fierce stance of neutrality towards any external conflict. The main tenant of the Athrian religion was a strict adherence to equality of all people which naturally lent itself to pacifism. As such, Dean was only allowed to bring his dagger on campus to perform his duties as a guard.
The rest of his weapons were to remain in his chest in his room until he left the country. Another reason to convince the prince to leave Athria for the summer, what self-respecting knight relied on a single dagger in a fight?
Dean straightened up when the noise from the classroom increased as students began to pack away their scrolls and books to head outside. He quickly, but carefully, shoved his dagger back into his boot while he counted the students entering the courtyard.
Third year students wore brightly colored blue robes that swished around their ankles as they walked. The academy required that the oversized robes be always worn by students and professors while on campus. Something about how the Athrian gods loved everyone equally but only if they look equal, Dean’s kid brother would know more, so the robes gave everyone the same genderless formless blob appearance.
Thankfully, Dean’s heightened sense of smell as an alpha allowed him to identify people quickly by scent.
The students chattered amongst themselves excitedly about weekend plans, test grades, project plans, and tournaments as Dean waited. Since it was in neutral lands, Indilla Academy welcomed students from several of the surrounding nations. It was interesting to see which students held fast to their home traditions (and politics) and which were content to embrace the lack of identity the school offered.
Because he was a prince, his charge was one of the students who never managed to relax and enjoy the experience. Dean wished he would but understood why it wasn’t possible for the young omega.
Speaking of it had been several moments since the last student walked out of the classroom and the prince still hadn’t made an appearance. Dean heaved a great sigh and pushed the wooden door open to find his bookworm of a prince.
Academy classrooms were built to accommodate a small number of students. There was a raised podium and table at the front of the room for the professor and three levels of wooden desks placed before. Dean supposed that having each desk be raised above the one before it was another Athria equality concept so that the student in front couldn’t block the view of the student behind them.
When the alpha entered the classroom there was one student still sitting at the very back of the room writing furiously with his pen. He was mumbling to himself, and the hand not occupied with writing was running through black strands, pulling on them and ruining the hairstyle that the maids had meticulously combed it into that morning.
“You look crazy y’know.” Dean said fondly.
The mumbling cut off at the sound of Dean’s voice and the student’s head popped up. Dark eyebrows furrowed over unfocused ocean blue eyes. The student’s nose took several rapid sniffs of the air before looking back down at his paper again. “Hello Dean.”
“Naomi would have your head if she saw you sniffing like a pup.” Dean huffed. “Where are your glasses Cas?” Dean asked, coming up to Castiel’s desk and dug through the leather bag placed at his feet.
Castiel shrugged and continued writing on the parchment in front of him. “Naomi isn’t here is she? Did everyone else leave already?”
“Yup.” Dean located the silk bag that usually housed Castiel’s glasses, but it was empty. Dean wasn’t sure why he even bothered packing the bag for Castiel if he was just going to place his glasses everywhere besides the one place they were meant to go. “Class has been over for a while Cas.”
“I didn’t notice.” Castiel mumbled, his left-hand creeping back into his hair. “I finally solved the grammar problem I was having in my Falverian translation.”
“I thought you finished that last week.” Dean rooted around in Castiel’s mess of parchment, pens, and books looking for the elusive glasses. Castiel sat by himself in almost every class since the omega always managed to cover the desk in his things by the end of the session.
“I did.” Castiel whined. “But when we got our papers back, I had two whole points marked off for having ‘redundant words’,” Castiel abandoned his pen in favor of his signature quotation mark gesture “in the poem’s fifth line. So I asked the professor about it and he said that if I could earn bonus marks if I translate Green’s Buffalo Blossom and Falverian, you know, has more punctuation than Enochian-“
“Yes of course.” Dean agreed knowing that his Falverian was more suited to threats than poems. He found Castiel’s glasses on the floor and slipped them onto the omega’s face. Castiel’s rant was cut off as he blinked at Dean.
“Oh good, you found them.” Castiel smiled warmly at Dean. Dean felt his heart pound a little harder as he took in the gummy smile and soft blue eyes looking so deeply into his own.
“Prince Novak?” Dean snapped away from Castiel and turned to see who addressed them. A sheepish-looking professor was standing at the entrance to the room. “The next class is about to begin.”
“Thank you, Professor.” Castiel nodded and attempted to smooth down his hair with his fingers. Dean moved to gather all Castiel’s school things. When he was done, he moved to the door and waited for his prince to begin walking out of the room before following at the appropriate distance.
“I can carry my bag, Sir Winchester.” Castiel said once they reached the crowded hallway.
“His Royal Highness should not have to carry his own things.” Dean said scanning the faces of the people they passed on the way to Castiel’s next class.
“True, but he is able to if he so chooses.” Castiel countered.
“My prince is the most capable bag carrier in all the lands.” Dean agreed. “I hear that in Eden’s court the bard sings at least two songs every evening about his Highness’ prowess in bag carrying.”
“I doubt they sing songs about me back home. They’re probably out of breath by the time they finish Michael’s battles not to mention the beauty of the Morningstar! The healing touch of the Saint and fantastical wit of the Messenger!” Castiel gestured dramatically with his arms at the nicknames of his older brothers.
“I thought you didn’t want one of those nicknames, your Highness.” Dean murmured keeping close to Castiel’s back as they entered a more populated area of the campus.
Some students would stop and lower their heads deferentially as Castiel passed them in the hallway. Castiel would give them a brief nod before moving on. Castiel was the youngest prince of the Pontiac Empire which spanned most of the eastern continent. When it came time for Castiel to begin his formal education he shocked the court by deciding to attend Indilla Academy instead of Stanford in the capital like the rest of his brothers had.
“I wish to challenge myself and expand my horizons.” The prince had said. Dean heard what he didn’t say, if I stay here I will suffocate under the shadows of my family.
Regardless, Indilla Academy offered a premiere education for anyone who had the funds to attend. Neutrality meant that the exchange of ideas was free-flowing and allowed for advancement to proceed unimpeded. It also gave the prince the chance to connect with people from countries that he may not have been able to before, like the Republic of Cidaria which was a frequent enemy of the empire.
Hence, the need for Dean’s presence. The emperor had no problem letting his youngest son do as he pleased but he wasn’t going to allow for any foolishness either.
Dean could swear that a guard from the Dante Kingdom, another enemy of the empire, spat at his boot once, but he was never able to prove it and Castiel begged him to drop it for the sake of international relations. The alpha let it go but would have made that guard beg for mercy from his horse god if that slobber was aimed his prince instead.
“I’s not that I want a nickname, I just don’t want my people to forget about me. I’ve been gone for a long time. It would be nice to know how they felt about me, that’s all.” Castiel said.
“I could ask Sam for you.” Dean offered.
Castiel snorted. “No thank you, he is more likely to spare my delicate omega sensibilities than tell me the truth.”
It appeared that Castiel was still holding a grudge against Dean’s earnest younger brother for offering to make sure no one brought fresh game to the prince’s tent during the fall hunt. In Sam’s defense, he had just presented as an alpha and was told that omegas didn’t like the smell of blood. Which was a silly concept in Dean’s mind since most of the healers in the Empire were omegas.
“Sam has the deepest respect for your highness.” Dean replied amused.
“Agree to disagree.” Castiel rolled his eyes.
“If you wished it, Sam would have a song about you composed within the hour.”
“There are many things I wish for, Sir Winchester, but that is not one of them.”
“Oh?” Dean replied eager, quickening his step to be next to the prince. “What happened to wanting to know what your people think?”
“Everyone knows that Winchesters care very little for what other people think. If I wanted a true gauge of public opinion, I would need to ask Dame Bradbury.”
“What about these many other things you wish for?”
Castiel gave Dean a dry look over the rim of his glasses. “Why do you ask? Are you going to go on a campaign to procure them for me?”
“I’m offended that my prince has to ask me that.” Dean pressed his hand to his chest. “I am the fierce Hunter of the East and the captain of His Highness’ guard. There is very little in the land that could pose a challenge to me.”
“What if I asked for the ‘very little’?” Castiel asked with quotation marks.
“I said that it could pose a challenge, not that it would.” Dean gave Castiel a cocky smirk. Castiel rolled his eyes at the guard and left the stone walls of the campus to head toward the stables for his afternoon equestrian class. The afternoon breeze ruffled the dark strands of Castiel’s hair and made Dean want to card his fingers through them.
Outside the packed hallways of the Academy, Castiel’s natural honey scent was more detectable. Dean took in as large of breaths as he could without the prince noticing.
“A seashell from Lake Winnow.” Lake Winnow was a large lake located in the middle of the Cidaria Republic because Castiel would never choose something easy.
“It’s not unusual for trading ships to stop at the southern docks, I could buy one from them or bribe an Ingolian to get one for me.”
“Why an Ingolian?”
“They don’t really have any bad blood with the Republic like we do.” Dean shrugged. “I don’t see any reason for them to not be able to travel to the lake and grab one. Probably cost half my salary though.”
Castiel’s head tilted to the side as he considered Dean’s answer. “What if I said that I didn’t want someone else to get the shell?”
Dean laughed. “Then I would climb over the Quartz mountains and run like hell.”
“It’s a good thing I’d rather have Aylesian spices than a Lake Winnow seashell.”
“That’s an easy one, your Highness, Ayles is neighbors with Lawrence.”
“Ayles is neighbors with the Pontiac Empire too.” Castiel brushed his shoulders against Dean’s.
“Yes, but us vassal states must stick together. Aylesian’s love Lawrence wine and have the barest of fondness for Pontiac blends.”
Castiel gasped and spun around to face Dean, his robes flaring out with the movement. “Our grapes have difficulty growing in our climate and you know that!”
“Which is why the Empire should stick to potatoes and apples and leave grapes to those of us without glaciers.” The alpha soothed.
“I could have your head for this insult.” Castiel sent Dean a haughty look.
“And who would you ask to do the honor?”
“I could ask Sir Christian.”
“My cousin?” Dean laughed. “I would die of old age waiting for him to land a blow on me.”
“Sir Garth?”
“Garth is a pacifist and would hate to choose between us.”
“Lord Hendrickson?”
“We found out the answer to that question during the last tournament.” Victor had valiantly fought to the last round and been swiftly dispatched by Dean; it was his fourth year as champion.
“I suppose I will have to let you live then.” The omega sighed.
Dean gave him a deep bow. “Thank you, your Royal Highness Prince Castiel. I shall tell of your kindness for the rest of my days.”
When he straightened up out of his bow, Castiel was looking at him with affectionate blue eyes. His honey scent was tinged with strawberry fondness, Dean felt his own campfire scent be laced with sweetness in response.
The moment snapped when a stable boy walked up to them. “Continental is ready for you, your Highness.”
“Thank you.” The boy bowed once then handed the horse’s reins to Dean before retreating to the stables. Dean held the reins steady as Castiel gathered his robes into his hands to mount the horse safely.
“You would think that we would be able to ride without these things.” Castiel grumbled once he freed his leg enough to step into Continental’s stirrup.
“What would the gods say?” Dean asked with a scandalized gasp.
“They are not my gods so I care very little for what they would say.” The grumpy omega gave Dean a mumbled thanks when he took the reins from him. “Today we are to ride to the Dekus river to practice water crossings. Will you follow with Impala?”
“Would you like me to, your Highness?” Dean moved to the flank of the tan horse and strapped Castiel’s bag into one of his side pouches. The horse flicked his tail at Dean once in greeting.
“Are you busy?” Castiel asked biting his bottom lip.
“What could be more important than you?” Castiel looked away from Dean bashfully.
“Plenty of things, but that doesn’t answer my question.”
Dean gave their surroundings a quick look for anyone watching before moving closer to the front of Continental. “Cas.” Dean waited until shy blue eyes met his green ones. “I would love to ride with you. Wait for me at the hill?”
Castiel gave Dean a wide gummy smile, his cheeks pink. “Of course, Dean.” Dean stepped back from Castiel’s horse and watched as he started Continental into a quick trot. Castiel glanced over his shoulder quickly at Dean before moving onto the hill that had been their standard meeting place on horseback.
Dean watched the young prince fondly for a few more moments before heading into the stables to grab his prized stallion, Impala, and joining him.
X
“Do you want to go to the pub tonight, Dean?” Benny asked his captain later that evening. The two guards were standing outside of Castiel’s chamber door while the maids bathed and dressed the prince for dinner. When Castiel was ready they would escort him to the mess hall and then keep watch over the omega while he ate. After Castiel finished they would escort him back into his room and switch places with the night guards before finding something to eat themselves.
“Sure, I heard from Jo that tonight they’ll have shepherd pie.”
“Any pie is alright with you isn’t it brother?” Benny asked amused.
Dean hip checked his fellow guard. “You know it is. Can’t go too heavy on the drink though, his Highness has a sunrise botany class.”
“You could ask one of us to switch places with you if you don’t want to go.” Benny pointed out.
Dean shook his head. “I haven’t been absent from his side since he started from the Academy and I’m not going to start now.”
The other alpha paused and gave Dean a searching look. “Way I hear it, you haven’t left his side for a lot longer than that.”
“His Highness and I have known each other for a long time.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s a privilege for me to be his guard.”
“Not all guards are as loyal as you are.” Benny hummed.
“Yeah, well maybe they should be.” Dean snapped. “It’s wrong to disrespect the life that is placed into our hands as guards by placing anything above them.”
“Is that what it is, respect?” Benny asked gently. Dean turned to face his lieutenant with a glare.
“Just making an observation that’s all.” Benny lifted his hands placatingly. “The prince is important to all of us, but he’s more than that to you.”
“Do you have some sort of problem with my work as a guard or as your captain?” Dean growled crossing his arms.
Benny tilted his head a little to show his neck to the other alpha. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, Dean.”
Dean deflated and leaned against the wall heavily. “Benny. What is this about? You’ve never cared about me and Prince Castiel before.”
The other alpha shuffled his feet before raising his hand and waving at Dean to come closer. Dean leaned in so that Benny could whisper lowly in his ear. “The maids found slick in Lord Ephraim’s bed sheets again.”
Dean leaned back and closed his eyes against the sudden rush of anger that message brought. His blood boiled in his veins and the sounds of the hallway were blocked out by his inner alpha snarling in his chest. His jaw ached as his fangs dropped down in aggression. He opened and closed his fists within his gauntlets until he felt the rage begin to leave him.
“Easy cher.” Benny murmured when Dean came back to himself and opened his eyes. “It’s not our Prince’s, is it?”
Dean pulled his dagger out of his boot and began to toss it between his hands agitated. “Pontiac royalty waits for their mate.” Lawrence royalty does too, not that he was anymore.
“Well, he is Prince Castiel’s fiancée.”
“A fiancée is not a mate. Not until the mating ceremony.” Dean hissed.
“So, it’s someone else’s.” Benny growled and spit at the ground. “The nerve of the pup, to do such a thing to our prince.”
“Is that why you were asking me all those questions?” Dean asked, searching his friend’s eyes.
Benny gave Dean a sheepish look. For such a burly alpha, Benny was soft-hearted. “I would do anything for you Dean, but now isn’t an ideal time to hide a body.”
Dean gave a short laugh and clapped Benny’s shoulder. “Who else knows?”
“Meg gave his maids five silver coins to keep quiet, which is probably why they came to tell us in the first place.” Benny sighed. “Meg told myself, Garth, and Jo and now you know. I don’t know if Ephraim’s guard knows or not. Any chance his Highness knows?”
“Not unless anyone tells him.” Dean gave Benny a steely look. “Which they won’t.”
“They won’t or we won’t, captain?” Benny asked amused.
“I won’t lie to my prince.” Dean said placing his dagger back into his boot.
“But you won’t offer information either.” Benny mused. Dean chose not to answer his best friend. Benny waited a few more moments then decided to switch the subject to the upcoming expeditions into the northern mountain ranges.
The wooden door creaked open as Castiel emerged ready for dinner. His black hair was combed once again into order and a thin crown made from gold feathers rested on his head. His cheeks were flush from the bath, or from Meg’s teasing one could never be sure. His honey scent floated gently into the air tinged with the clover and lemon perfume that his maids must have rubbed into his wrists and neck. Meg and Daphne emerged from the room after him.
“Ready to eat Prince Castiel?” Benny asked.
“It would be even better if you all would relax for one evening and sit with me.” Castiel chastised as the party began to move to the mess hall.
“Aw, Clarence, you could just ask me on a date if you want to eat with me so badly.” Meg teased.
“I have a fiancée.” Castiel shook his head at his favorite maid. Meg and Benny shared a quick grimace behind Castiel’s back.
“You’re forgetting something more important than your fiancée, Prince Castiel.” Daphne laughed.
“Oh?” Castiel hummed. “What’s that Daphne?”
“Sir Winchester.” Daphne said slyly. “There’s no way the captain of the guard would let you go anywhere by yourself.”
“What can I say? I’m good at my job.” Dean remarked while the maids giggled.
“Which I am grateful for, I can rest easy knowing you’re out there.” Castiel added, then erupted into a furious blush. “I mean- you know, not you you but a collective you. Sir Lafitte too, oh but I guess at night it’s Sir Fitzgerald and Dame Harvelle, so, really, and Meg and Daphne sleep in the other room, uh, well I suppose you all are technically ‘out there’.” He finished lamely. The omega looked up to see Dean looking at him then quickly pretended to be interested in his robes.
The silence hung for a moment then, “Why are the maids on first name basis and we’re not?” Dean teased the blushing prince.
Castiel looked up to shoot Dean an embarrassed glare.
“No, we understand, your Highness.” Dean sighed dramatically and placed his hands on his hips. “Guards rank lower than maids.”
Meg raised her eyebrow. “As opposed to what? Ranking higher?”
Dean wiggled his eyebrows. “How can you say that? We’re in Athria, we should be equal naturally.”
“Hush up and open the door.” Castiel grumbled at his guard.
“As you wish, my prince.” Dean murmured moving in front of Castiel to open the door to the mess hall. Meg and Daphne would retrieve Castiel’s meal while Benny and Dean escorted him to his seat, then the maids would leave to prepare Castiel’s chamber for sleeping before going to eat themselves.
Some students looked up and bowed when Castiel entered the noisy hall, but most were too busy eating to pay him any mind. The two alpha guards gave cursory nods at the other guards that were lining the halls waiting for their charges to finish. Castiel scanned the mess hall for the dark blonde hair of his fiancée, then having spotted him he moved to sit next to him.
Benny squeezed Dean’s shoulder as they moved to follow the omega.
Lord Ephraim was the first-born alpha son of Rit Zein Duchy in the Principality of Vegas, another one of the Pontiac Empire’s vassal states to the north. The emperor decided that he would save the older omega princes’ marriages for creating alliances with non-vassal states and Castiel’s marriage would be to strengthen the relationship between the Empire and its vassals.
A small part of Dean whispered that he could be the one marrying Castiel if it weren’t for the infamous Kansas conspiracy. As per usual he squashed that part down, the past should stay in the past.
“Prince Castiel.” Ephraim greeted rising from his seat as the prince approached.
“Lord Ephraim.” Castiel held out his hand for the alpha to kiss chastely. Ephraim sat back down to resume eating so Dean stepped forward to pull the chair out for the omega. Castiel shot Dean a grateful smile as he pushed him closer to the table.
The prince then turned to his companion, and they began conversing about their day while Meg and Daphne brought Castiel his evening meal. Ephraim had come to the academy last year to be closer to Castiel, however they were in completely different classes, so the couple usually tried to eat dinner together.
Benny and Dean gave Ephraim’s guard short nods as the three guards settled back into the wall behind the engaged couple. Typically these dinners were more like watching enemies than future mates.
“Have you decided the colors you’d like to wear to the end of the year ball?” Castiel asked.
Ephraim shrugged. “I don’t really care. I’ll probably just wear what I wore last year, or whatever my maid lays out for me.”
“That will make it difficult to match.” Castiel said patiently. “Would you care if I picked out the colors?”
“Sure, it doesn’t matter to me.” Ephraim took a deep swallow of his drink, missing the way Castiel’s fists clenched on his silverware. He gave a quick glance of irritation to Dean who rolled his eyes in response.
“Blue and Silver then.” Castiel decided. “Blue for Pontiac and silver for Vegas.”
“Pontiac has silver in its crest too, so that’s really like just picking imperial colors. Why not throw yellow in there too? Honestly Prince Castiel.” Ephraim sighed. “Do we always have to pick from the crests? What about black?”
“You want to wear black to a spring ball?”
“Orange then.”
“Orange is a harvest color, not a spring color.” Castiel sighed.
Ephraim hummed. “Blue and orange would look dreadful together anyway.”
“Blue and white then, since we can’t do orange.”
“I’m tired of blue after having to wear these colors all the time.” Ephraim pulled at his robes.
“You have a lot of opinions for someone who doesn’t ‘really care’.” Castiel said calmly.
“And I don’t.” Ephraim agreed. “Just, you know, not those colors. Pick better colors. Aren’t omegas supposed to be good at this kind of thing?” Castiel’s eyes narrowed and his honey scent soured.
“If I may, your Highness?” Benny interjected. The two students twisted in their seats to face the guards. “Green and blue would be lovely for a spring ball.”
“Fine by me.” Ephraim dismissed turning back to his meal.
“Thank you, Sir Lafitte.” Castiel smiled. “Blue and green will look lovely together.”
“Indeed, they do.” Benny agreed with a subtle nudge to Dean’s side. Dean blushed and avoided eye contact with everyone until the end of the meal.
“See you next week, Prince Castiel. I’ll be leaving campus for a hunting trip over the weekend.” Ephraim said pushing his meal away and standing. Castiel hummed in acknowledgment continuing to eat his meal. As he walked out of the hall Dean watched Ephraim brush his hand along the braid of a pretty omega girl that was sitting at the end of the long table. Dean pushed down his irritation at the gesture.
Hunting trip, yeah right.
Castiel stared down at his meal for a few moments before waving at a servant to take it away and rising from his chair. “I’ve lost my appetite. Sir Lafitte you may retire early. Sir Winchester can escort me to my chambers.” The prince ordered striding out of the mess hall confidently.
“I’ll meet you at the pub.” Benny whispered as Dean went to follow Castiel. The two men walked in silence, Castiel had a crease on his forward and his scent still held traces of burnt frustration. Dean waited until they turned the corner away from the main hallway before checking that they were alone.
“Wedding planning will be strenuous.” Dean teased. Castiel groaned and pushed the alpha’s shoulder.
“I will beg the Golden Lion for strength.”
“It may be easier to send Lord Ephraim away on another hunting trip and have the entire ceremony planned out by the time he comes back.”
“I’ll wear a beautiful silver dress paired with black gloves and have blue table runners with orange banners and an arch of white flowers.” Castiel nodded.
“Aren’t you forgetting green?”
“All the green I need will be supplied from your eyes, Sir Winchester.” Castiel teased.
“Oh? I’ll be at your side then?”
“There’s no one I would rather have stand by me during my wedding.” The prince said softly looking down at his feet. Dean cleared his throat and stepped back from where he had been steadily creeping closer to the omega. His inner alpha bemoaned the distance between them but was pacified by Castiel’s scent going sweet again.
“You better head on to bed soon, your Highness, if you don’t want to worry about missing your class.” Dean reminded him with a nod towards how dark the sky had gotten outside.
“Will you go hunting this weekend as well Dean?”
The alpha paused. “I thought you wanted to pick out a wedding gift this weekend?”
“Yes, that’s right- I did. But wouldn’t going hunting be more fun?”
“Only if you went too.” The omega had freakishly good hearing and could hear a mouse a hundred yards away.
Castiel’s blue eyes glittered as he looked at Dean. “I’ll see you in the morning, have a good evening.” The omega slipped into his chambers.
Dean stared at the door for several seconds feeling like he had passed some sort of test without even trying.
X
“What news of home?” Castiel asked, turning in his seat at his desk as Dean entered his study. Castiel had several rooms made available to him, befitting his status as an imperial prince. The Indilla headmaster justified it by saying that Castiel was treated equally among those who shared his rank. Dean didn’t know if that was true or not since there weren’t any other empires.
Castiel had his personal chambers, which included a sitting room to receive guests, a room for his four guards, a room for his maids, and his bedroom placed strategically between the rooms for his staff for his protection. He had a private study located in an off shoot from the upperclassman library and his underground laboratory space for his magical experiments.
Technically, the prince didn’t have his own space in the Academy’s greenhouses, but no one was going to tell the sassy omega no when it came to planting pollinator friendly species.
“There are letters from your brothers and Duke Gadreel. Prince Raphael and Naomi sent you packages.” Dean looked up from the stack in his hands. “The one from Raphael is probably the prototype you asked for using that new breed of blue lotus roots.” Naomi’s was undoubtedly some new omega dress that was all the rage in the capital but Castiel wouldn’t be able to wear in Athria.
“Place the package on the worktable, I’ll read the letters later.” Castiel said getting up to pull down his notebooks on his apothecary studies. The omega’s scent was full of happiness at the thought of seeing what his brother thought of his new plant.
The alpha felt himself relax as he breathed the scent in deeply. Castiel wouldn’t need to experiment with a new type of headache medicine if he could find a way to bottle his happy scent.
When Castiel reached his hand out Dean placed his black headband into his hands so Castiel could push his bangs away from his eyes. Dean had a small amount of pity for the daily trial Meg went through of trying to battle Castiel’s unruly hair into submission every morning.
Castiel peered into the package eagerly as he took out several smaller boxes containing various bottles, creams, and pills. He opened the first bottle of pills and shook a few out as he began to write in his notebook.
“What else?” The prince mumbled; his blue eyes focused on investigating the small white capsules. “Did you get any letters?”
Dean released his own warm happy scent at the thought of his family. “Sure did. I got some from Sam, Bobby, Charlie, and Ash.”
“Ash?”
“He’s a pretty cool guy. I think you’d like him. He’s a noble from the Naulia Kingdom. We met during Prince Lucifer’s wedding talks.”
Prince Lucifer would be mating the King of Naulia this summer. The first omegan prince’s wedding would seal an alliance between the Naulia Kingdom and the Pontiac empire that would hopefully quiet down their enemies on the western continent. The eastern and western continents were separated by the Cobra Ocean; Naulia was the closest to it and would the first line of defense for the empire.
“Where was I?” Castiel frowned.
“Where else? Stuck in the throne room listening to the council debate the dowry.”
“You ditched me to go exploring while I was trapped in there with my father, Duke Metatron, and Baron Uriel.” Castiel summarized.
“What’s the point of both of us suffering Cas?” Dean ruffled Castiel’s hair playfully. “If I stayed with you, I wouldn’t be able to tell you about all the cool things Ash has been doing with carrier pigeons.”
Castiel perked up, his glasses falling to the edge of his nose as he did so. “Did he find a way to make them deliver to more than one stop?”
“Better.” Dean said, gently pushing the omega’s glasses back. “He was able to train eagles to carry letters.”
“No way!” Castiel cheered excitedly. “Did he say how he did it? Oh, do we have eagles? I think we have eagles,” Castiel abandoned his medicine project and went back to the bookshelf to find his notebook on carrier birds.
“I had wondered if maybe we could make a charm to have the pigeons travel farther, but they don’t have enough magical stores to sustain the spell for long, I never considered switching the bird, oh it’s brilliant Dean!” He turned back to his guard with a big grin on his face.
“Eagles fly farther naturally so if you’re able to train them to deliver messages then it doesn’t matter how much magic they have, but how do you train them out of their hunting instincts?” Castiel gnawed on his lip. “I suppose Ash must have found a way outside of that. Perhaps he…“
The rest of the prince’s thoughts was lost to murmuring under his breath as he took the pen Dean offered and began to write in the notebook he propped up against the bookshelf, totally ignoring the open spaces on both his desk and worktable.
The alpha gave a fond huff as he began to pack up Prince Raphael’s package. Dean placed it off to the side since he knew from experience that Castiel’s attention, while intense, was rather fickle and he would want to come back to the pills and salves before retiring to his chamber for the evening.
He sat down in the open window at the other side of the room to read the rest of his letters, content to be able to see both the door and Castiel in his periphery. During the weekend the academy was practically empty as most of its inhabitants sought to escape from the ancient stone structure, except for nerdy princes who would rather conduct experiments all day.
Dean enjoyed the freedom the lack of a crowd gave him and Castiel. The omega was at his happiest when he didn’t think anyone was watching him and reporting back to the empire.
The guard decided to read the pleasurable letters first before reading any business-related ones. Charlie was busy travelling through the Free state of Horia with her new girlfriend and included sketches of their wildlife for Dean. Beyond playing with eagles, Ash was planning a visit to the city of Montetella in western Pontiac next winter and wanted to meet up.
Dean opened Sam’s letter next. While Dean and Castiel were at Indilla, Sam had opted to study in the capital at Stanford. Sam gave Dean an update on his studies, then spent the rest of the letter gushing about the beautiful omega that he worked with and sharing the latest gossip in the capital. Apparently, Prince Gabriel had managed to scare away another potential suitor and the emperor was close to conniption over it.
Dean was sure that Prince Gabriel’s letter to Castiel would tell a different account of events than his brother’s did. Sam also noted that Prince Lucifer’s wedding planning was almost completed and asked whether Dean would have time to visit their hometown before heading back to the Athria Theocracy with Castiel.
Bobby’s letter, as Dean expected, was all business. Bobby informed Dean about the price of Lawrence lumber, the wine sales, the struggles they’re having with the wheat harvest, and inquiries about what Dean thought they should do with taxes this year. The alpha put the letter down and looked out the window at the trees rustling in the wind.
Despite being Winchesters, none of the brothers were allowed to be the leaders of their home country of Lawrence. Bobby Singer, long-time advisor to the Winchester family, had been appointed by the emperor to govern Lawrence in their stead. The emperor claimed that the boys had to take responsibility and repent for their parents’ sins, which Dean privately thought was a load of shit. He hadn’t even been born during the Kansas conspiracy.
The conspiracy had robbed the Winchester family of their royal status and condemned the brothers into servitude of the Pontiac empire until such time that the emperor released them. Dean wasn’t sure that he, or Crown Prince Michael, ever would. Castiel might, but there were a lot of people that would have to die for the omega to sit on the throne.
Bobby Singer was an honorable alpha who raised Dean like his own son and refused to alienate him from his birthright, which meant that the contents of any letters exchanged between them since he was forced to leave Lawrence were mind numbingly boring. Was it important to make sure his people’s taxes were fair? Of course. Did that mean that he wanted to argue about whether three pounds of meat was equal to two bushels of corn? Absolutely not.
A gentle poke to his shoulder broke him out of his dreary thoughts. Castiel was staring at him and gave him a soft smile when the alpha met his eyes. “Did you get bad news? Your scent went stale.”
“No, everything is fine Cas. Just not looking forward to this years’ harvest reports. Bobby said that the rain’s been a little scarce, so the dirt is too dry for the wheat yields we need.”
“Oh.” The omega frowned. “Will there be enough stores if the weather continues?”
“I think so.” Dean shrugged. “The people of Lawrence are tough and will figure it out.”
“That they are.” Castiel agreed fondly. “Anything else exciting?”
“Depends.” Dean slid off the windowsill to walk back to Castiel’s desk. “Have you read Prince Gabriel’s letter yet?”
“No,” The prince’s blue eyes widened. He had somehow lost his glasses again. “What has he done this time?”
“Nothing much, unless you count him offering to escort the Princess of Hochia on a hunting trip.”
“He did not!” Castiel gasped, covering his mouth. “Everyone knows they don’t eat animals!”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s well aware.” Dean grinned. “Sam said that the Princess fainted, and the emperor had to give the Hochia Khan four of his finest albino horses.”
“Father loves those horses more than the temples of Nauclea.” Castiel murmured opening the thick letter from Gabriel.
“It’s almost time for Prince Lucifer’s mating ceremony.” Dean added, watching Castiel’s face carefully.
“Luc must be excited.” Castiel hummed noncommittedly. Dean continued to stare at Castiel, but the prince stubbornly kept his eyes on the letter in his hands.
“Are you?” Dean asked.
“Am I what?”
“Excited.”
Castiel schooled his expression into a blank mask. “Of course. It is a great moment for the Empire to tie closer bonds with the Naulia Kingdom. We will need their aid if war breaks out.”
“Very prince-like response, Cas.”
“I am a prince. What else could my response be if not prince-like?” The omega sassed. Dean rolled his eyes.
“Cas, it’s just us here. You don’t have to pull that act with me.” Castiel’s scent got heavier with sadness.
“I know, Dean.” Castiel chewed on his pink lower lip. “I am happy for Luc. He gets along well with Nick and I think he’s excited to be closer to the ‘action’.” Castiel gave half-hearted quotation marks. “But it’s the first time one of my brothers is leaving, for good, and I can’t help but feel a little lonely here when I think about all my brothers back in Eden.”
Castiel sniffed, his scent dampening with misery and Dean felt his inner alpha whine in response to the omega’s distress.
“C’mere.” Dean pulled Castiel into a gentle hug, keeping a careful distance between their bodies. Castiel held himself stiffly for a moment before leaning into Dean’s offering of comfort.
“I’m sorry.” Castiel mumbled into Dean’s shoulder. “It’s selfish for me to complain when I know it’s my fault you’re separated from your family right now.”
It would be easy for Dean to take out his frustrations with the emperor out on the young prince, but Castiel was probably the best thing about the empire.
“I’m your guard, I follow where you go. You know that Cas.” Dean rubbed his shoulders.
“I can ask Michael if Benny can take over for you so you can be stationed in the Capital after the wedding.” Castiel mumbled.
“You don’t mean that; you’re just bummed about Lucifer leaving.”
“I don’t mean that.” Castiel agreed, pulling out of Dean’s embrace to look him in his eye. “I want you to stay with me after Lucifer’s wedding, and Raphael’s, and Gabriel’s.”
“If he ever manages to have one.” Dean teased, trying to coax a smile onto the prince’s face.
Castiel snorted. “Eventually father will offer an amount of money that no one would be able to refuse.”
The two men smiled at each other. Castiel’s eyes went distant, and he looked out the window over Dean’s shoulder. Castiel bit his lip and seemed to be weighing his options internally before he opened his mouth to speak again.
He was interrupted by a strong knock at the door to Castiel’s study. Dean cracked the door open to peek outside before allowing Meg to enter.
“I came to fetch his Highness, Lady Rachel and Lord Ezekiel are here for your club meeting.” She paused. “What have you done to your hair?” Castiel shrugged bashfully. The maid rolled her eyes before coming forward to usher the messy prince out of the door.
“Sir Winchester can you find my glasses please?” Castiel called over his shoulder.
“I’ll escort them.” Benny said standing up from his slouch on the wall, giving Dean a bit of a scare. He had forgotten that Benny was guarding the outside of Castiel’s study this whole time.
Dean laughed at himself once the door closed again. The power his prince had over him to forget the entire world when they were together.