Seeing Iris smile again gave Caspian a brief flicker of hope that she was coming around. He knew he couldn’t erase the trauma that the soldiers had put her through with words alone, but he was glad that she seemed to be comforted by him for the moment. With any luck, he would be able to do even more to help her aside from just holding her in his arms and making promises. Everything he said to her was empty until he actually thought of a way to get her away from the penitentiary, after all. As determined as he was to protect her, he knew it was going to be an uphill battle when everyone else in the capital was against her. He doubted they would find allies like Maisie or the man who had helped them escape from Ethan’s prison this time.

[color=#b97703]“I know it won’t,”[/color] he agreed with her when she said it wouldn’t be simple. Well aware of the obstacles they were going to face, he didn’t expect that he would be able to come up with a foolproof plan to help her get away that same day. He didn’t expect that he would be able to help her without facing any consequences. The chances of getting away with it without his father finding out were slim to none, so he would just have to hope that the king wouldn’t be too severe with his punishment when that time came. No matter what happened to him, though, he felt like it was worth the trouble as long as he knew she would be safe from harm.

As Iris lifted her hand to touch his cheek, he leaned into her fingers, frowning as she spoke about her past wrongs as if they were impossible to overcome. He didn’t care that she had been involved in the rebellion’s plans to kill him. At one point, he’d held a grudge against her, but since then, he’d realized just how much she regretted what she’d done. He couldn’t hold it against her when he knew she felt genuine remorse. Besides, he also knew that Ethan and the others had manipulated her into going through with it. She had been a victim through it all, just like he had.

So, when she confessed that she wished the soldiers would just kill her, he inhaled sharply and pulled her into a firm embrace, pained by the knowledge that she felt like death was her only option. [color=#b97703]“They’re not going to kill you,”[/color] he told her sternly. [color=#b97703]“I’m not going to let that happen.”[/color] Pulling back just slightly, he pressed a fervent kiss to her lips and then met her gaze earnestly. [color=#b97703]“I’ve already forgiven you for what happened in the woods, Iris. It isn’t something you have to live with. Your mistakes aren’t what define you either. You’re an amazing, incredible, beautiful woman, and you deserve to be seen for that, not the things you’re ashamed of.”[/color]

Before he could add more, a knock sounded on the door followed by Jacob’s voice, “Your Highness, is everything alright in there?”

Cas swore under his breath. For a few minutes, he’d forgotten that the guards were outside the room. He glanced at the door and then back at Iris, wishing they could have more time alone. However, he knew that if he delayed letting Jacob and Harry into the room for much longer, they would start to seem suspicious. Reluctantly, he called back, [color=#b97703]“Just give me one more minute.”[/color]

“Okay, Your Highness,” Jacob replied.

With a sigh, Cas touched one more swift kiss to Iris’s lips and met her gaze again, offering a halfhearted smile, [color=#b97703]“I love you, and I know you’re strong. Please just trust that I’ll find a way to get you out of here, okay? I promise you’re going to be alright.”[/color]