Lycan's Affection
Burning Candles, Kindling Flames

Eleanor found herself staring up at the blank ceiling, her eyes blinking rapidly. It didn't help that her heart kept clenching and unclenching, and she wondered how she had even managed to survive that many years of separation. With a small sigh, she sat up on the bed, her hands running along the long strands of her hair.

She shook her head, then stood up from the bed. There was not much she could do, and she found herself going back to the bed.

She didn't want to seem too needy or clingy, especially since Conaan seemed to like to take things slow.

She sighed in frustration, then plopped down on the edge of the bed, her brows furrowing.

"Is he trying to make me feel the same way he must have felt?" She asked the one burning light on the edge of her bed, then shook her head again.

Conaan wasn't really that type of person. He was the type to do one or the other. Never hanging. She let out a small groan, just as the door slowly opened up, a small candle light flickering behind it.

She immediately stood up, her eyes thinning. "Who is there?"

It was dark, and all she could see was the burning candle light, the proximity causing the person behind to be shielded in darkness.

"Conaan?" She asked, hoping to her heart it was him. Not just for safety but...

"Care to share a midnight snack? I have been unable to sleep myself."

He finally walked in, closing the door behind him. She swallowed, feeling her heart immediately lighten up, like the one candle light he brought with him. Without a word, he settled the candle on the floor close to where she was standing.

That was when she noticed he was carrying a tray on his other hand too, filled with locally made sweets and fruits.

"I didn't think you had a sweet tooth."

"No harm in indulging once in a while," he replied as he settled on the floor.

She didn't need an invitation and she sat opposite him, the tray between them. He pulled a sweet, one that was shaped like a little flower, then brought it to her.

She accepted it with a small smile, then immediately ate it, her eyes closing as it dissolved in her mouth.

"You have no idea how much I have missed this!" She said, and he smiled, then gave her another.

"I think I understand. I have once gone to conquer a pack and in the midst of it requested for one of these. Brandon had to make the trip back alone."

She broke into laughter, shaking her head. "I guess you are much worse than I am."

He shrugged. "Maybe. But I do know of your obsession with ice."

Her brows furrowed. "How do you know that?"

Her voice rose a pitch, and her face was set in a small smile, the lightness of the occasion reflecting in her eyes.

He ate slowly, then shrugged. "I might have known how to look over walls and fences."

She thought about it, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Don't tell me..."

"Mhm," he said, a smile curling his lips. "I was caught once or twice, but I did manage to get away."

She laughed, before slow realization dawned on her. "Wait. Does that mean..."

"I didn't see anything," he said defensively. "I didn't come when I thought you would be having a private time. Although I can not deny..."

"Stop!" She yelled, pushing his shoulder playfully.

He laughed, his head low. "I closed my eyes if that makes you feel any better."

"You have to have seen a bit to know you should cover your eyes."

"I did not," he said, then brought a grape to her lips.

Without hesitation, she ate it off his hand, then leaned away again.

"Imagine the crown prince looking over the beta's fence..."

"At his oh so beautiful daughter. How scandalous." Conaan finished, then chuckled at his own tone.

He hadn't felt as light in years, and also hadn't felt as good. It felt like all of his burdens were lifted off him, and he could as well be that boy whose mind was only occupied with one woman.

He looked up to her, a smile playing on his lips. In a way, he still was. He, after all, only had one woman on his mind.

He shook his head then brought another grape. He knew how much she liked them, and he hadn't put together just anything. He had carefully arranged the tray to put in her favorite things, and the small gasps of pleasure she gave on tasting each one warmed him up.

"I wish I had been the one to replace you. It would have been epic."

"I do not want to replace out," he replied, and she laughed again, then reached her hand for the last of the sweets.

She looked up at him, and their eyes met. A silent conversation ensued and they broke into laughter, Conaan urging her to take it.

Eleanor broke it off instead, then dropped the half and pushed it to him. He didn't take it however, and simply watched her as she ate.

"I will be going on my weekly trip to every Lycan city tomorrow," he started, his eyes holding hers.

Silence fell between them, and he swallowed.

"I was wondering if you would like to come with me."

She smiled. "Definitely."

He mirrored her expression, then brought the half sweet to her lips. Her protest was rather weak, and he smiled as she finally took it. He let his thumb slowly wipe off the crumbs from the edge of her lips, his eyes struggling to stay focused on his own hand, rather than her lips.

He withdrew his hand, then gently took hers instead, bringing it slowly to his lips. His lips slightly grazed it, a feathery, delicate feeling as fleeting as the lightness they had just shared, yet as sure as the stars in the night sky.

"Goodnight, Eleanor." He said it against the skin of her hand, his eyes watching hers.

"Goodnight, Conaan."

He finally released her hand, then stood up, taking the tray wth him. And just like that, he was gone, leaving her much, much lighter.

The fantasies were enough, and soon, Eleanor found herself drifting off to a peaceful sleep.

Esmeralda's feet trudged the lonely road only illuminated by the crescent, the silent cusses that left her lips penetrating the quietness of the night. She stopped and gave a small sigh as the large house finally came into view. She made her way to the large gate, then nodded at the guard, tucking a gold coin into his hand.

He cleared his throat, then opened the steel door, and moved away from it to let her pass through.

She walked in, and the elderly man sitting alone in the vast, gold decorated hall sat up, his warm brown eyes widening.

"Esmeralda?"

She smiled, then immediately went on her knees. "I have come to see you, Lucas."

His brows furrowed as he leaned back again. "What are you here for?"

"You are the leader of the Elders council, and I have heard you are going to visit His Highness Conaan once he returns from his short trip."

Lucas examined her closely. "And?"

She beamed again, bowing a little. "I have brought a few gifts for you."