Chapter Eleven:

"Release the hunter and prepare to face justice for his kidnapping," said Prince Chuck.

"Hello again, Prince Chuck," said Cas. His tone was pleasant, but his hand flexed over the handle of his sword. His blue eyes were simmering with a barely disguised rage.

Prince Chuck feigned surprise. "Castiel, is that really you? I thought Cain ripped you limb from limb years ago."

"He certainly tried," Cas said. "Didn't take."

Chuck, like Cas, was clearly suppressing his true feelings. The smile on his face was cold, his eyes empty of all regard. "Glad to hear it," he said. "But now, as I've said, you've been accused of kidnapping my betrothed. The sentence for such a crime is death, of course."

"No!" exclaimed Dean. "He saved me from the real kidnappers. He's a hero."

Chuck turned his gaze to Dean, his expression softening slightly. "I see. A misunderstanding! If that's the case, then I am indebted. He has returned you to me, and good timing too, with our wedding coming up so soon!"

Dean flushed, heat radiating from his neck to the tips of his ears. Cas raised his sword. "Didn't get the memo?" he challenged. "The wedding is off."

Count Azazel and the Royal Guards drew their own weapons. The Prince advanced menacingly on Castiel. He was a god. He needed no weapon.

Dean had the Demon Blade in his pocket, but he knew this would not end well. They were outnumbered, and with Chuck, very substantially out-powered as well.

He looked at Cas, and remembered with painful detail the three terrible years in which he thought him dead. Anything, anything at all, was better than facing that again.

"Promise not to hurt him," Dean said quietly, speaking directly to Chuck.

All eyes turned to Dean. "Excuse me?" asked Prince Chuck, at the same time Cas said, "Come again?"

"If you promise not to hurt him…if you return him safely to his ship and let him go…I will return with you. We can get married as planned."

"Dean. Don't." It was a wretched voice, a broken one, and Dean could not bear to look at the pain he was causing Castiel. But this was how it had to be. He could sacrifice his own happiness for Cas's life. He could sacrifice anything for that.

Prince Chuck made a show of thinking it over. "Alright. I'd never wish to cause you distress, Dean. He will be returned to his ship and free to go as he pleases."

Dean nodded. He found he couldn't look at Cas to say goodbye. There was a lump in his throat.

Chuck pulled Count Azazel to the side, away from Dean and the rest of the guards. He spoke very quietly. "Take Castiel to The Pit for questioning. Keep him as long as you'd like."

"I swear it shall be done," The Count replied.

The Prince turned back to Dean and Castiel. He put a hand on Dean's shoulder. "Farewell, then," he said to Cas. "The Count and Guards will stay and see you safely to your ship."

With nothing more than a snap of his finger, Chuck and Dean were gone.

Cas fought the anguish building in his chest, and instead turned to the matter at hand – Count Azazel. His yellow eyes glowed ominously, and Cas tilted his head. "I know someone who'd very much like to meet you," Cas told him.

"It would be my pleasure," said The Count. "But right now, we must get you back to your ship." Even as he said this, the Royal Guards were closing in a circle around Castiel. Most still had their swords at the ready.

Cas sighed. "As a supposedly renounced demon and a fallen angel, we are beyond human subterfuge, don't you agree?" asked Cas. "Lies do not become us."

Count Azazel scowled. He caught the eye of the Guard directly behind Cas, and before the former angel could even turn, he felt the blow directly to the back of his skull. He crashed to the ground, sight and mind going dark all at once.