Lycan's Affection
A

Eric trudged the slightly damp path that led to the dungeons, his head snapping back once every two seconds to make sure the coast was clear. A hood was over his head, and he walked briskly, a white envelope sealed tightly was just under his arm.

He walked quick, and soon got to the door, then looked over it, his eyes squinting.

"Eric?" Matthew suddenly asked, and Eric gave out a smalll breath.

"Yes, it's me. How are you?"

Matthew simply shrugged, then came over to the cell. He lookeed haggard, his face now clouded with dirt and facial hair, yet his bones somehow protruding from it.

"Did something happen?" He asked, eyeing the letter.

Eric nodded and moved closer. "Alpha Xander has prepared this letter for a traitor in the lycan kingdom. Apparently, he is going to help him conquer Conaan, but Alpha Xander is going to betray him too."

Matthew swallowed. "Let me see."

Eric nodded, then moved it through the cell, as Matthew collected it on the other end. He watched as Matthew slowly read the contents, his eyes squinted.

"They want to mix werewolves in the lycan army with this man's help, so that they can betray Conaan when they go to war."

Eric nodded. "Conaan is a little too powerful to be faced fairly. Alpha Xander knows that."

Matthew swallowed. "I need you to do something for me, please.."

Eric sighed. "We are friends, Matthew. It is a shame this is what Alpha Alexander has turned out to be, but...well. Tell me."

"I want to send a letter. To Eleanor or Conaan. Ensure it reaches one of them, please."

Eric watched him for a very long time, his eyes darting across both of Matthew's. "Are you going to sell your brother out?"

Matthew nodded with wistful, helpless eyes. "Yes. I need to."

Brandon ran into the bath house, but stopped in place, causing the guards behind him to stop too. His eyes scanned the environment. Conaan behind Eleanor, his face still slightly surprised as he dripped water, Eleanor now gently poking Alpha Michael's limp body with heer foot, her brows furrowed.

"I was about to come tell you that he escaped but apparently, one of you already caught him."

Conaan pointed at Eleanor, his eyes umreadable.

"She killed him?" Brandon asked, amusement seeping imto his voice.

He moved, and two guards came forward and took the body away.

Eleanor gave a long sigh. "How did he know the layout og the palace? How did he escape?"

Brandon looked at Conaan for a brief second, his eyes a little confused.

"We were rounding them up, and chaining them to be kept in the slave dungeons. Before the guard could lock his chains, he injured him and ran away."

"Has the guard been taken to the healer?" Conaan asked, his voice low.

"Yes. Appaarently, he also put a knife to a servant's neck and she told him where to find you. It was the servant who was about to clean your hand earlier, and she was the only one who knew you had gone to the bath house and that it was unguarded."

Conaan nodded slowly. "Is she injured?"

"I do not think that is what you should care about right now, Your Highness." Eleanor interjected, her hand going to her waist in a defensive manner.

Brandon raised a brow as Conaan looked at her, his initial shock still on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"She should be sent out of the palace, or even the kingdom."

Conaan's eyes thinned. "Why?"

"His Highness laid down his life to conquer a pack and extend the Lycan's rule. Anyone who is not willing to lay down their lives to protect him should not be kept so close. Besides, we do not know when she will start acccepting gifts in exhange for her loyalty. Do you not agree, Brandon?"

Brandon nodded slowly, flicking his eyes to Conaan. "It is true. If we look at it, she did sell the king out in order to save her own life. That is not the proper way for a palace servant to behave."

Conaan said nothing as he watched between them, a small lopsided smile on his face.

"Your Highness?" Brandon prodded.

"Do as Eleanor says. She is queen anyway."

Eleanor did not refute it, and Brandon gave Conaan a small look. Conaan returned it, an agreement passing between them, before Brandon turned away and left, leaving them both again.

Eleanor let out a breath, then turned to Conaan.

He watched her with admiration in his eyes, his initial resolve of becoming cold permanently forgotten.

"Can I take a bath now, Eleanor?"

She tilted her head to the side. "To wash off the blood?"

"I think. Should I not?"

She gave a small shrug, as she slowly covered the distance between them, her eyes darkening a little she had never been as sure of her feelings as she was right now. And maybe she had stayed ignorant, going back and forth with him, but she knew it was the end now.

She would do what she had to do to protect him, to protect her place beside him. If he thought she deserved him and the world, then she would give him the world too.

He instinctively leaned close to her as her left hand slowly wrapped around his shoulder, her fingers reaching up to the nape of his neck.

"Just so you know, Your Highness..." she trailed off, her slow breaths reaching his ears, tingling his skin.

He missed her. Her scent, her hair, the way she tempted him and left him yearning.

"The only reason you need to clean off this blood...is because I prefer your skin under it."

His brow raised as he turned slightly to her, a pleasant smile lighting up his eyes. They reflected the fire around the room, the fire around his heart.

"Careful, Eleanor. I am trying not to lose control."

She shrugged. "Who says I do not want you to?"

She let him watch her eyes and absorb every drop of sincerity in them, before she finally moved closer, placing a small, delicious kiss on the corner of his lips, her fingers drawing small designs on the side of his neck.

His eyes closed, and he swallowed as she slowly moved away, his eyes staying closed for a short while longer as he savored the feel of it.

"Congratulations, Your Highness," she said finally, before turning away, a lot happier than she had come, and also a lot more definite.

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