Lycan's Affection

Conaan fought a small wince as Esmeralda wrapped her fingers almost predatorily around his hand, her fingers slowly caressing his skin.

His expression didn't change, even as she smiled, her eyes darkening with the extent of her lust.

With no pride whatsoever, she leaned close, letting her lips slightly brush his hand. She could taste his skin, and she finally leaned further, kissing his skin properly, her eyes closing.

He immediately pulled it back, then grabbed a napkin and wiped his hand. She smiled, and if she noticed how disgusted his actions suggested he was, she didn't care to acknowledge it.

"I didn't think you would want to see me so fast, Conaan."

He tilted his head to the right as he filled her glass again. "Is that so?"

She nodded. "No one who has seen the extent of your hatred would believe you would turn around so fast."

He chuckled. "You mean the same extent you stretched by burning the children's village?"

She swallowed, searching his eyes to see exactly what he thought of it. His expression gave nothing away, and she grabbed the cup of wine and downed it.

"I have proven to you just how much I can do for you, just to have you. I don't care if it's a children's village, a lycan city or..." her voice trailed off, and she met his eyes, the determination in her eyes, clouding them. "Or Eleanor. I will burn it down."

Conaan smiled, then twirled the cup in his fingers. "It should be about time."

Her lips parted to ask him what he meant, but the sharp pain in her head stopped her, her hand immediately going to her forehead. It felt heavy, and suddenly, everywhere looked like a blur, a haze covering everything.

Conaan gave a lazy chuckle, then sipped from his wine. The silence dragged on, as Esmeralda struggled to fight through the haze in her head, her chest starting to heave slowly.

"Conaan.."

He sat up, then refilled his cup. "It should render you weak and helpless. Like those children. Trapped somewhere. It might sting."

She swallowed, feeling her strength leaving her.

"Conaan..."

"How does it feel?" He asked. Hia voice low and dangerous.

She swallowed, her eyes closing. Conaan had given it to her. It wouldn't matter how it felt. She liked it.

"It hurts..." she said, trailing off. "I like it."

He nodded. "I like it too. Now enough. Come with me."

He slowly stood up his hands going behind him. She stayed seated on the spot, dizziness washing over her in waves, the world spinning before her very eyes.

So much that she was almost unaware when Conaan pulled her into his arms, then carried her up bridal style.

"Conaan!"

He turned swiftly to Eleanor, who looked short of breath, her lips parted so she could breathe. Her hair fell in intended curls down her back, her eyes wide.

"What are you doing here?" He sounded a little surprised.

He had made a big deal out of his meeting with Esmeralda, but he had known somewhere that Eleanor wouldn't go out of her way to stake a claim on him.

Seeing her here like this. Dressed up for him...

She swallowed. "Don't go. I don't care what, I haven't been the best mate out there, but I won't be able to watch you go somewhere else with someone else. Call me selfish, but I want your heart for myself even if I can't give you mine."

He raised a brow, just as Brandon walked forward, then accepted Esmeralda from him. No words were exchanged, and he left with the now weak Esmeralda towards the impromptu shed.

"Am I supposed to be happy, Eleanor?"

She swallowed. "I know..." she trailed off as she covered the distance, her breaths coming in short bursts, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"I know this is the bare minimum a mate could give, but..."

"I don't want bare minimums, Eleanor. I am patient. And I will be waiting. However long you need me to. Just bring all of you along."

She swallowed. She couldn't lie that she could promise him. She had given too much to Alexander and loving Conaan immediately...that wholly, she wasn't sure when it would hapoen.

"What if I am never able to come?"

His eyes thinned a bit. "That is what lifespans are for, Eleanor."

Her eyes widened a bit, but before she said anything, the hut suddenly caught fire, the large orange glow illuminating the night sky, sending large cackles to the otherwise silent night.

"Conaan," Eleanor said, her feet moving towards it.

Conaan suddenly wrapped his hand around her, bringing her back to him, his eyes boring into hers, dark and intense, and very much determined.

"Let her burn. She deserves to."

"Conaan..." Eleanor said, her eyes darting back to the hut. She thought she could hear shrill screams, and it unnerved her more.

"You deserve to burn too, Eleanor."

She turned to him sharply, her eyes wide. "What?"

"You deserve to burn," he repeated, his eyes taking her in. "For me."

She swallowed as he leaned to her height, his hand caressing the side of her neck, his breath caressing her skin.

She could feel her insides slowly start to be set ablaze by the slow movement of his fingers on her neck.

"Let us burn, Eleanor."

She swallowed, before he slowly covered the distance, his lips taking hers. He moved one step even closer, her eyes drifting to a close, the cackle of the fire forgotten.