Lycan's Affection

Eleanor's eyes traveled slowly over Conaan's features, her hand resting delicately on the side of his face.

"Will you just stare at me that way?"

She nodded. "I may not have been staring at you enough. I want this image of you stamped in my memory, so even if I forget everything else, I will remember this."

He raised a small brow, before moving to lay next to her, his fingers running along her side.

"You mean, you want an image of me completely ridden by your desire?"

She gave a small chuckle. "It is not hurting anyone. Besides, I like it when you look at me that way."

"Like what?" He asked, moving slowly.

The spread she had made was still there, running cold, the darkness enveloping them.

"Like if you had your way, we could seal time and end forever right here, in my touch."

He said nothing for the longest time, his eyes taking her in. "Maybe this will make sense one day, Eleanor, even though I hope it would not, but...I have done everything for a forever with you. I hope you will take it from me."

"I do not..."

"I know. It is not meant to make sense right now. But promise me you will ensure that we have a forever."

She swallowed, unable to explain the slight apprehension that rose in her chest. She still nodded however, her hand holding his tight.

"I would do anything for a forever with you."

"I know," he said, his voice a small whisper. "There are still a million things I have not told you, a million pieces of you I have not felt. A million paths to you that I have not taken. Make sure you see to it that I do, Eleanor. Make sure that I leave no part of you unchartered. Make sure I ruin you in every way possible."

He could hear the meanings of his own words, but the oblivion in her eyes somewhat comforted him. At least, she did not have to deal with everything right now. At least, he did not have to make her cry for him now.

Eleanor slowly propped herself up on an elbow, then moved slowly so she was hovering above his side. He looked up to her, his eyes taking her in.

Slowly, she brought her hand to the side of his neck, gently caressing, so her thumb ran along the lines of his jaw. Her eyes met his, and she gave a small smile, one that did not say much, yet spiked his heart rate to a dangerous level.

Slowly, she lowered herself, then left a small kiss on his neck, right below his jaw. It was a little far for any of his collared robes to reach, and it looked like she knew exactly that.

She pulled away, meeting his eyes again. In his eyes was darkness, and the rapid vortices came with losing the reins of control.

She gave a small smile, then went back to the spot, almost like the first kiss had been a marker for the spot she liked the most.

Conaan felt the heat engulf him as her teeth sank slowly, dishing both pain and a twisted sort of pleasure on a dish. He gulped it like a hungry man, and he wanted more.

So much so that when the knocks came, he did not think of answering. Neither did she.

She stayed there, labelling her mark on him, leaving the traces of her lips, and her teeth, and all the reasons why he knew it had to be her on the soft flesh of his neck.

"Your Highness!" Came the sudden yell, and Eleanor turned to the door, just a second before Brandon opened it, his eyes wide.

Conaan sat up, his lips parted, his hair slightly disheveled, his chest heaving.

"B...Brandon?"

Brandon turned to Eleanor who wore a dark red tint on her cheeks, and he swallowed.

"Your Highness, I need to speak with you."

Conaan swallowed, his disappointment showing in his eyes. He gave a small sigh, then slowly stood up, not bothering to adjust his robe.

"What is it?"

Brandon swallowed. "I propose that the security at the palace be tripled, and all of the servants taken away from Anderson's home."

Conaan's brows raised, but he did not reply. He turned to Eleanor who was standing now, a worried expression on her face. It seemed almost impossible to ensure she remained happy, and it only saddened him even more.

He gave a small sigh, then slowly started to move towards the door, Brandon moving out of the way for him.

"Why?" He asked when he was finally out the door, his lips set in a straight line.

He knew the assistant meant well, but he just could not be pleased right now. He had purposely refused to go through the normal route, with Brandon's help, so he could have some time with Eleanor without any interference. Just for Brandon to be that interference.

"I sense a response with regards Esmeralda's death. I am still looking into it, but we have to be careful."

Conaan gave a long sigh, his hand clasping behind him, as he slowly walked past Brandon, then took the stairs. He could hear Brandon's steps behind him, and he raked a hand through his hair.

"You could have taken care of that, Brandon."

Brandon nodded. "I know, Your Highness. But right now, you are most vulnerable. You are sick with a poison and..."

"You think I did not know Anderson would look to ally with Alexander? He tried it the other time, you think he would not do it now that his daughter is dead?"

Brandon's brows furrowed. "So...you did it so they could bring the attack to you? But..."

Conaan suddenly moved further, clasping a hand over Brandon's mouth. Brandon's brows furrowed in confusion, and Conaan slowly shook his head.

Brandon stayed quiet for an excruciating minute as Conaan slowly drew Brandon's knife from around his waist, then without blinking, threw it to the long white drapes that covered the small door that led to the hall of convenience.

Brandon turned sharply as he heard the surprised yelp, and then quickly broke away from Conaan's hold.

A young servant was lying in a pool of blood behind the door, the knife sticking out of his throat, his eyes wide with surprise still, his lips half parted in a word cut short.

"Your Highness..."

Conaan raised his eyes to Brandon, his lips pursed. "I did not find the cure. But as it seems..." he trailed off, his eyes taking in the small indication of ink around the man, and a small feather. "Alexander might help us."

"Your Highness..."

"Keep an eye on Anderson. Look for whatever he seeks and ensure he does not destroy whatever he tries to. He is, afterall, Alexander's link here."

Alexander stood shirtless in the balcony of the Polaris palace, his hand clasped behind him. His injury had only gotten worse, and the highest he could do was sit around and wait on his servants to do everything for him.

He gave a small sigh as he heard a voice, and he turned slightly to the person.

"What is it?"

The man, a tall wolf with rather stony features gave a small bow. "We received a letter from a lycan servant, and then a messenger bird too."

Alexander raised a brow. "A messenger bird?"

The man, Ian nodded, then brought the small letter to Alexander. He collected it, then opened it, his eyes skimming through the letter.

His smile widened as he closed it, his eyes unfocused as humor and evil danced around them.

"So the poison is that potent, is it?" He gave a small laugh, then accepted the second letter.

He read it with joy, his lips now half parted in a big smile, his feet tapping on the tiles.

"Ah, hell. Seems like the moon goddess has abandoned the lycans."

Ian nodded. "What is it?"

Alexander smiled. "Anderson now wants Conaan dead. Funny enough, Conaan just might die without us doing anything."

Ian nodded. "But you would prefer to have his head instead."

"You know me too well. I will not take any risks, so let's start getting ready for war. Anderson intends to open the gates for us on the night of their annual festival in two weeks."

Ian nodded. "And when do we attack?"

Alexander went silent, then gave a small sigh. "We can't afford to lose. So I will give him one more week to grow even weaker on his own. He will not find a cure, I know it."

Ian nodded, then slowly turned away to execute the commands.

"Ian."

He turned, his brows raised. "Yes, Alpha?"

"Send a letter to Anderson. Make him find my brother. If he is dead, discard him. If he is not, make sure he does not make it to Conaan."

"But why?"

Alexander clenched his teeth, his eyes darkening. "That bastard will ruin my plans."