Lycan's Affection
A Glimmer of Hope

"What is happening here?"

Shadrach turned, his sword stopping just a few inches away from the barely living body. His eyes met Brandon's and they immediately stepped away, allowing him better view.

"Master," The head soldier started. "We found the body of a wolf on the territory. It was bound in chains and seems to have somehow lost a lot of blood. He is only barely alive."

Brandon's brows furrowed. "A wolf?"

The head soldier nodded, then gestured at the body. Brandon walked closer, his eyes squinting as he leaned to the body, his hands reaching to feel it.

It was cold, but he could feel the wolf essence keeping it alive and the very thin pulse.

He moved his eyes up to his face again, and checked him once more. He could almost recognize him. But this man looked way older than the other he knew...

He closed his eyes, trying hard to put the images together.

"Brother!"

"We can't leave Eleanor, your wedding is only..."

"Please just save my brother."

He gave a small sigh as he opened his eyes. "Matthew."

"You...you know him?"

He raised his head to the head soldier, his eyes thoughtful. "Bring two soldiers to take him to the palace. His highness will see it for himself."

"But master. This could be some Trojan horse. He could be an assassin...." His voice trailed off under Brandon's steeply gaze, and he immediately nodded. "I will..send them immediately."

Brandon stood up, his eyes squinted at Matthew for a brief koment, before he started to walk away again.

"Shadrach, Ron, take the body to the palace. Where is Jamie?"

Shadrach turned around, but Jamie was slumped on the floor next to the body, his lips parted.

"That little..." The head soldier cussed, turning sgarply to the others. "Wake that puny little boy and send him back home. I wonder how he made it to this place up until now."

Shadrach immediately scurried to Jamie's side as the head soldier left, leaving them to take Matthew back to the palace.

Eleanor slowly opened her eyes. Weirdly enough, the drapes were still closed, and there was a small hint of incense burning from somewhere around the room.

She slowly turned, and Conaan was standing close to one of the decorated incense pots, his eyes examining the steadily rising smoke. He looked rather distracted, and she sat up, a small smile taking over her lips. Sometimes, she did wonder why she deserved him.

He was perfection. The most perfect rhing she had ever seen and the second perfect thing did not even come close.

These days, he tended to leave a lot of skin for her eyes to feed on, and if she got lucky, her hands too. She wondered when she would get to feel all of him, because she sure as hell knew she was going to worship it like it was holy.

He moved slowly, then turned to her, his eyes lighting up. "You are awake."

"Look who promised to lay here with me."

He gave a small chuckle. "I did lay there with you, I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

She raised a brow, although her cheeks became tinted a slight pink.

"I have ordered for breakfast for you."

She beamed as he slowly came closer, then sat in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"Eleanor, I have something to tell you."

Her smile faltered a bit. "Is something wrong?"

He laughed. "No. Do not worry. But...would you be able to take a few days without me?"

Her brows furrowed. "A few days? Are you going somewhere?"

He swallowed. He couldn't tell her where, but this morning, right after she had slept in his arms, Meredith's letter had come. Brandon had been looking for a way even with Meredith, and she had invited him to her coven.

She wasn't sure of the method and he didn't want to be too hopeful, but he could feel a bit of desperation coming on. He needed his forever with this woman right in front of him. He hated to think that he would die so soon when she jad just come around, looking at him the way he used to be convinced could only happen in his dreams.

"I need to attend to an urgent matter. I will make my way back to you once it is done."

She searched his eyes, then leaned forward, her hand coming up to his face. "It will feel so empty..."

He nodded. "For me too. And I wish things were different and you and I...we did not need to pay for such little mistakes."

It was true. Ever since she came to him, her warmth, her scent, and then the thing about the poison, he has regretted taking it. It had been avoidable, but then he needed her to see the extent of what he felt for her, without knowing it just might be the reason his fairytale would have an early end.

"You take very good care, my love. I do not want a single scratch on you. I will make sure to check."

He nodded slowly, but she was not quite done.

"Do not lose a single strand pf hair, or a ring, or...do not get into a fight. Do not get dirty and stain your robes, you do not like that. Do not go hungry. Do not eat stale food and..."

He swiftly moved forward, kissing the rest of her words away. Her hands cradled his face like she had needed to, and he moved his hand slowly to her cheeks to wipe the single tear that had refused to be blinked away.

"I will miss you, sweetheart," she moaned into the kiss, and it only prompted him to kiss her harder.

She lowered her head as she broke away, her fingers nipping at each other.

"Look at me, baby."

She looked up, a slight blush on her cheeks, concern in her eyes. She knew how much he wasn't used to endearments and him using one on her just gave her a different sort of butterflies.

"I will come back unscathed. That is a promise on my love."

She slowly nodded, then wrapped her arms around him tight, her face buried in the crook of his neck. "When would you be leaving?"

"By sunrise tomorrroow."

"With Brandon?"

He shook his head. "Brandon will stay here and take care of you for me. I will be fine with another soldier."

She gave a small sigh. "I will wait for you. Keep that in mind."

He gave a small smile. "I will."