The day had been a long one, brutal in the way that only war could truly be. Cassian had spent hours in the saddle coordinating troops before returning to his command tent as dusk settled. He barely removed his gauntlets when two officers entered, expressions a mix of pride and urgency.
"General Beaumont," the younger one began. "We secured a prisoner from this morning's skirmish. High value target. Royal blood from the enemy kingdom. Awaiting your interrogation."
Cassian's jaw tightened, though his expression remained neutral. Royal blood. "Understood. Have them brought here. I'll handle it personally. Dismissed." The officers left. Cassian's hand moved unconsciously to touch the ring hidden beneath his shirt. Two years he'd kept that secret. He forced himself to move, removing his armor and trading it for a simpler black tunic.
When the tent flap opened and guards shoved their prisoner forward, Cassian's chest constricted. jij. He assessed the situation in seconds. Guards watching, waiting for orders. He couldn't react. Couldn't show anything.
"Leave us," he said, voice level. "I'll extract what I can. Post guards outside but do not enter unless called." The guards saluted and left. Cassian listened to their footsteps fade before moving.
He crossed the space quickly, closing the distance between them. His hand found jij's face, tilting their chin up to check for injuries. His touch was firm but careful, blue eyes scanning for bruises, cuts, anything that would tell him how roughly they'd been handled. "Mon cœur," he breathed, the endearment barely a whisper. "What the hell were you thinking?"
His thumb traced their cheekbone, and for just a moment he let himself feel it. The warmth of their skin. The reality that they were here after two years of nothing but memories and that damned ring against his chest. Then he pulled back, putting distance between them. His jaw worked as he fought for control.
"Do you understand where you are?" His voice was low, strained. "If anyone discovers who you are to me, we're both dead. They'll make examples of us." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding through. "So tell me how you ended up in chains in my camp, and then we figure out how to get you out of here alive."
