Lycan's Affection
Slow Tempo

"Conaan!" Eleanor yelled, immediately running up to where the lycan king stood, transfixed, blood all over him. His eyes were wide, his pupils stained with blood, his fingers lightly trembling as he watched Brandon's body.

Eleanor reached him, then immediately turned him away, burying his head in her bosom.

"Who did this?" Eleanor yelled, her fingers lacing into his hair to keep him in place. He was completely still, like he had fallen asleep on his feet, his eyes wide open, with nothing reflecting in the green orbs.

"Conaan? Conaan, are you okay? Please, I..."

Slowly, he moved away, taking a step back from her. Her eyes filled with tears that stung hard as she watched him.

He was completely blank. The sort of blank that came with not knowing how to handle so much emotions all at once. The sort that came with and endless depth of grief.

His eyes met hers, and he slowly turned away towards the body. A few soldiers had come around it, others running around the premises to replace out who could have dumped it.

Conaan slowly went on his knees, into the pool of blood. Brandon's eyes were blank, his blood splattered over him.

"B...Brandon."

Eleanor came to Conaan's side, her hand stopping around him. She hesitated, seeing Conaan that way. So broken he was blank. So shattered she could not replace the pieces.

"Brother," he said again, his chest slowly starting to heave, his fingers trembling as he moved to the body, his hand slowly touching Brandon's arm.

His fingers traveled up and down the arm, and with shaky fingers, he reached to his face.

"Who did this? Who dare do this to my brother?"

The palace was deathly silent, and if a pin could drop, it would be heard.

"Conaan. We will..." Eleanor trailed off as Conaan suddenly reached for Brandon's hand, then removed the folded paper.

Without a word, he stood, his body soaked and bathed in his best friend's blood, and he walked away, his hands clenched into fists.

Eleanor started to follow behind him, but stopped, then turned to the soldiers that had been on stand by.

"Take the body and clean it up. Get it ready for burial and immediately announce his death. The entire city should go into mourning."

Jamie walked into the cottage, then have Shadow a small nod as he walked over to Jenna's room. She had regained consciousness, but hasn't said a single word, despite all of Jamie's efforts to talk to her.

Her head slowly lifted as the door opened, and her eyes filled as she saw Jamie's forlorn look, her chest slowly starting to heave.

"The king's closest friend is dead."

Jenna swallowed. Closing her eyes, her body trembling, her head slightly shaking.

"You knew about it, didn't you? You knew what would happen. The king paid the price for your atrocity with his best friend's blood! Do you think he will let you go scot free? Do you think he will let you live if he replaces out you and Eric sacrificed his nest friend for a moment of forbidden pleasure, Jenna, how could you? How the hell could you?"

She was shaking by now, her hand on either side of her head, her tears pouring down in ugly torrents, her nose running the same way.

Jamie swallowed, his hands coming to his head too, small breaths escaping his half parted lips.

"Oh, goddess. Oh, goddess. What do I do? Jamie, what do I do?"

She feebly got off the Ned, her trembling hands grabbing onto his, her eyes filled and looking up to him.

"Do I confess to His Majesty? Do I..."

"Jenna! Do you even know what you are saying? Do you know who Brandon is? Do you know how close they were? I was at the palace when his body was dropped and...His Highness... He looked murderous. I am not... I am not ready to lose you."

Jenna crumbled to her knees, her body shaking terribly as she cried, her hands on her head. "But Jamie..."

"We should run," he said, suddenly, going on his knees in front of her. "You are dear to me and mother and father, they are never here anyway in their service of His Majesty. So I...We should go. Please, I eg of you. Pack up right now and go before the city gates close. The mourning week has been announced and..."

"But I am a priestess!"

"You should have thought of that before you kissed a werewolf, Jenna! You know the enmity between lycans and werewolves and you make His Majesty pay for your kiss with a werewolf? You think he will spare you?"

Jenna swallowed, then nodded, convinced. It was wrong, and if Conaan ever found out...

She stood up, hurrying to the large cupboard. She started to pull out clothes. Time was not on their side, especially since everything would stop once the mourning was declared.

Markets would stop, celebrations, marriages, mating ceremonies, practically everything, even the city gates will be closed.

If they do not get out now...

She piled everything into a large bag, then turned to Jamie.

"You haven't..."

"I won't need it," he said simply. "I can always come back. I just need to make sure you are safe."

Jenna gave a weak smile, then nodded. He took a hold of her hand, then started to walk in front of her, his steps brisk as he led her out of the room.

Shadow stood, seemingly harmlessly by the door, his eyes carrying a blankness. Jamie swallowed, the uncanny semblance to Conaan unnerving Jim. It felt almost like having His Majesty in his home, knowing the sort of problem they had to deal with.

"I...I need to take her to the healer. I will be back."

Shadow did not respond as Jamie walked slowly towards the door, his hand tightening on Jenna's.

He gave Shadow a weak smile, then started to turn the knob. Suddenly, a small kitchen dagger rested on his throat, slightly piercing.

Jenna gave a small yelp that was cut short, as Shadow grabbed her hand, pulling her behind him, his eyes wide.

"So...in the end, I will still have to tell His Majesty about you."

Jamie swallowed, his eyes catching Jenna's as she started to break down again, her body trembling, the bag falling away from her hand.

"Please, I just.."

"You both..." Shadow said, his brow rising. "Will only leave this place the day I completely heal and drag you to His Majesty myself."