Lycan's Affection

"Have you seen Coulter?" Eleanor asked Jenna, her hands going on her waist, her brows furrowed.

She was all dressed up for the birthday celebrations later, but the celebrant and his father were both missing, and she felt like she knew exactly where they could both be.

Jenna gave a small chuckle. "Have you asked His Majesty?"

"Well, guess what? He is missing too!" Her voice was breathy, exasperated.

Eric smiled, holding Jenna and carefully placing his hand on her baby bump. She was almost due now, and Eric made sure to treat her like an egg.

"He is probably teaching him archery this time."

Eleanor closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I am killing your king tonight. He refuses to stop taking Coulter to learn archery, sword fighting, and all sorts. The last time I found him trying to give Coulter a dagger."

Eric gave a laugh, and Jenna smiled. "When I give birth, I am going to want His Majesty to teach him sword fighting. He would be learning from the very best."

"It will be a firl, Jenna. I want to have your eyes."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and walked away as the couple kept going back and forth, with Eric talking about how their child would be a girl and she would have Jenna's pretty eyes.

Eleanor ran around the palace and crashed into Matthew, who seemed like he was in a rush, too.

"Do you know whete Coulter is?"

He swallowed, breaking a sweat on his forehead. "Uh... I... well, I..."

"Where is he?"

"I am..."

"Where are you going to?"

"To His Majesty."

"Where is His Majesty?"

Matthew swallowed. "Out."

"Out? Out where?"

He bit down on his lips. "Out with... I am not sure, but he is in the archery grounds."

Eleanor's eyes widened, and she turned to the door, then with brisk steps, ran out and towards the archery grounds.

Conaan was leaning low on the floor, his right eye closed as he took aim in the small post he had made.

Coulter watched, his lips parted, saliva dangling off his plump bottom lip.

"Very precise. Now, this is how you shoot. Like this."

"Conaan!"

Conaan gasped, then straightened, throwing the now and arrow away, his hands going behind him.

"Yes, my love?"

"Do not dare! Where is Coulter?"

He looked above her shoulder to Matthew, who was making faces, his hand dangling over his neck.

"Uh... I thought you were dressing him up."

"It is not like a king to lie, Conaan. Where is our son?"

Conaan sighed, then slowly picked the child up and brought him to his chest. "Oh, please. I am teaching him how to shoot. It is never too early."

"Conaan. He is two!"

"Old enough for us to consider giving him a companion, but that is not the point, I guess."

"Conaan!"

Conaan sighed. He had gotten into trouble with her so many times that he knew the only way to avoid it was to deflect. It did not seem like it was working, however.

"Here is the child. I am sorry."

Eleanor glared at him, then stomped over to him and stretched her hand to collect the baby. Just before she did, however, Coulter turned to Conaan and grabbed his cheek, a laugh escaping him.

"He definitely approves of another baby," Conaan said under his breath, holding Eleanor's eyes.

"You are quite the model father for a two year old."

He laughed, shaking his head. "The boy is old. He certainly approves. Honestly, I have been thinking about it. It took me all the men in me to not move this child over last night."

"Conaan," Eleanor cautioned but laughed still.

It had been a brilliant two years, and she had watched Conaan go from being a king to being a husband and then a father, and she had never lived seeing anything more.

Coulter gave a small laugh again, his lips pursing. "Pa pa!"

Conaan turned to the child, the same time Eleanor did. "What did you say?"

Coulter giggled, like he knew how important hearing him talk was to his parents. He was slower than normal, and even though the physicians had assured that nothing was wrong, they both couldn't help being anxious.

"Pa pa!" He said again, turning backwards, almost like he wanted to tumble out of Conaan's hands.

Conaan grabbed him, then turned to Eleanor, whose eyes were wide with surprise.

"He called me first!" Conaan said with a laugh, and all the servants around him started to clap, sharing in his joy. "You heard that. He said papa. Me."

Eleanor turned to Coulter, her eyes wide. "How dare you betray me like this. You already look like him, and now you chose to..."

"Shh," Conaan said with a laugh. "Don't yell at my little prince. He is my bloodline. My little lion."

Eleanor rolled her eyes but then smiled as she collected Coulter, who seemed to enjoy the back and forth between his parents.

"I will dress him up. You should get ready too."

Conaan nodded. "Yes, my love."

She smiled, then kissed Conaan's cheek before she walked away, all the while trying to convince Coulter to call her name too.

"Your Majesty," Matthew said, his tone serious.

Conaan gave a sigh. "Have you checked on her?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The child is fine. Are you sure 4 letting her go?"

Conaan nodded. "No child deserves to grow up on darkness for her father's sins. Have her escorted to the working women village on the outskirts. There, she will be well fed and accepted."

Matthew nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will escort Jane. You should get ready too. Her Majesty seems like she would have your head if you are late for the ceremony."

Conaan chuckled. "Do not be late too, Matthew."

Matthew bowed, then walked away, leaving Conaan gazing in the direction in which Eleanor and Coulter had gone.

The ceremony was big, and Conaan kissed Coulter's forehead as he balanced the small crown on his head. He laughed as the boy turned around, giggling.

The crowd started to clap, and Eleanor rocked Coulter back and forth, her eyes filled with adoration.

Jane walked slowly, her eyes thin as she watched the lavish ceremony. Her child was cradled in her arms, her eyes thin with hatred.

"That is the child we shall plague, my dead. The child we shall destroy."

The child moved as Jane adjusted so she could see Coulter. Just before she did, however, Jenna moved to where Coulter was lying in his decorated cot, her baby bump shielding him from Jane and her daughter's view.

Jane's eyes thinned as she turned away, then left the palace, her spite fuelling her away from it.

Conaan slowly leaned to Eleanor, his lips lightly pecking just under her earlobe.

"Thank you," he said, his voice low.

She smiled. He always thanked her for Coulter and for everything like he hadn't fought to see them through.

"Can I make love to my wife later?" He asked, his voice low, a small smile playing on his lips.

"If you behave," she replied, laughing.

He nodded, then gently turned her fully to him and took her lips in his.

"I love you," he said once she broke the kiss, his hand holding hers tight.

"I love you too," she replied, meaning it like the very first time.