Dean paced with short steps, hands balled into fists and shoulders tense. He was such a gentle emperor, it could be easy for one to forget his size and power. It was not long ago that he wore a uniform and was one piece of a human machine.
A pale, golden glow filled the room. Dust motes swirled in the disturbed air with Dean’s every step. The morning sky was serene as the sun began climbing over the treeline in the distance. It was too beautiful a morning for such rage, but Dean had long ago learned that crisis never chose to show up during a storm. The storms just followed. Natural consequences to disastrous actions.
“What should we tell your brother?” Charlie never feared him and he loved her for that.
He stopped and took a breath, watching a flock of birds swirl above the forest. They crossed directly in front of the sun and their small forms were lost to the light.
“Tell Sam I’m coming to see him. We can discuss the declaration then.” Dean closed his eyes and pushed away the memories of his old battalion.
Benny cleared his throat. “And what do we tell the... future emperor of the twelve kingdoms?”
Dean opened his eyes as the memory of his commander on his knees played out. Your imperial highness, we must get you to safety.
Seventh in line. He was the seventh in line, and suddenly he was the emperor. Mother, father, uncles, cousins. Everyone who had been in line ahead of him, gone. A war zone should never have been the place to preserve a soldier’s life.
“Tell Azazel I keep my promises,” Dean said.
The door opened and Cas entered quickly with his guard behind him. He touched the side of Dean’s face, his brows drawn together and mouth turned down.
Dean waved Benny and Charlie away, preferring a moment with his husband alone. The guard left last, closing the doors behind herself. Tension bled from Dean’s muscles as Cas stepped in close and kissed him.
“Dean, I’m so sorry.” Cas wrapped his arms around Dean’s shoulders and held him tight.
“We’ll get through it, we always do.” Dean buried his face into Cas’ neck, his hands resting just above Cas’ hips.
“The civil war only ended seven years ago. He won’t even give us a decade of peace.” Cas ran his fingers through the hair at the base of Dean’s neck.
The morning sun kept rising over the forest, reflecting light off the snow in the northern mountains. Wind blew in from the southern sea and ran through chimes hanging all over the city. The bells of peace. Dean was going to have to tell his citizens to take the chimes down. There would be no more peace.
