We'll sneak as far as we can into their capitol. Hopefully we'll get into the castle before we're spotted. We'll fight our way to where they're keeping Jade and escape with her.""That doesn't sound very well thought out." The general comments and John swings his blue gaze on the man. He shrinks under their intensity. John's voice is cold."We cannot prepare for everything when no one knows what their castle looks like or how their security is planned out. I will take with me only the best and we will figure it out as we go." John looks back to his father. "Dad?" He's seeking approval. His eyes are begging for it."You majesty?" You say, your voice cutting through the thick silence. Eyes turn to you but you're looking at the king. "I will go with him and I promise, on my honor, to protect his life with my own." You feel John shiver from the intensity of your voice, as quiet as it is. "Both your son and your daughter will return safely."The king nods at you. "I trust you, sir Dave."==> Cuddle Your HeirThe rest of the day was spent making the necessary preparations. You will leave at dawn. After it got dark, the king commanded everyone going to get some sleep. They would finish the preparations without them. They needed to be rested. As soon as you were able, you snuck into John's room. He was waiting for you. His arms wrapped around your waist and his face nuzzled into your chest the moment you were under the blankets.He had kept his determined prince aura up all day, but it fell as soon as you were alone."Dave?" He says after a long silence. He'd been so still you thought he was asleep. Apparently not."Yeah?""I'm scared." He admits, and he sounds so small. Your heart aches. You tighten your arms around him and he scoots closer. You envelop him in your warmth."I know." You say, resting your cheek on the top of his head. Your breath brushes against his hair and you breath in his scent."What if we can't do it?" When you sleep together, you usually sleep in just your undershorts. With his face so close to your bare chest, you can feel him nibbling on his lip."We can and we will." You say, trying to give him confidence. His legs tangle with yours. His head rests on one of your arms, which then wraps around his shoulders. Your other arm is around his waist."I think we can, it's just…what if we can't?" He's silent for a moment, but you don't say anything, sensing that he's not done. Your fingers idly rub circles into his back. "But…I have to try. Even if we can't, I have to try, you know? I can't just leave her alone…I have to try to get her back…She's my sister…""I know, bro. I know." You say soothingly. The hand that was wrapped around his shoulder moves to run through his hair. "We'll get her back. I won't let anything happen to either of you." You say with more certainty than you've ever felt.His fingers dig into your back. "I don't want you to get hurt…""John-""But there's no one else I would rather have with me." He finishes. A small smile curves your lips."We do make a pretty awesome team. We're unstoppable." He giggles. It's subdued and muffled by your chest, but it's there. "Get some sleep, my lord." You whisper. He makes a soft humming sound and melts into you.You run your hands through his hair and trace circles on his back until his breathing relaxes and you're sure he's asleep. You hold him in your arms, memorizing the way he feels, inhaling his scent. You don't know what's going to happen when the sun rises, but right now, in this moment of darkness, you have the boy you love in your arms and that's enough.