Lycan's Affection
Eric's Awakening

By the time Conaan came to the private chambers, Eleanor was sitting close to Matthew, her lower lip sucked in, her eyes low. He walked noiselessly to her, the quickly descending dusk dimming the room.

"Baby." His voice was soft, and she looked up, the ghost of a smile on her face.

"I was just about to come back."

He nodded. "I will be leaving early tomorrow. I cane to see you just in case you wanted to pass the night here."

She shook her head. "You took him in already. There is no greater favour after everything Alexander has done to you."

His eyes thinned slightly. "I believe. He is the reason you kept stalling Alexander's death?"

She sighed. "Now I just know Alexander never deserved all of that."

Her teeth slightly gritted, and Conaan's eyes darted to her now clenched fists.

"I will assign a few healthcare servants take their turns on him. You can always see him whenever."

Eleanor gave a small smile, then nodded and stood up from the small stool. Conaan held her hand gently, but her fingers clasped around hers tight.

Slowly, she made it to his room, and he gently tucked her in, leaving a small kiss on her forehead.

He watched her as she gradually fell asleep, his thoughts swirling around between his illness and the maddening urge to protect what they have found.

Morning soon came, and the light rays of the sun tinted the sky a light orange. Conaan was already outside the palace's grand door, one of the black robes Eleanor had chosen donned on him, his hair up in a messy man bun.

He watched as his caravan was loaded, his trunks of both gifts and clothes put together. Soon enough, they were all set.

"Your Highness, you are set now."

He turned to the door. Eleanor had been asleep, and he did not want to disturb her. Well, at least, the selfless part of his love. The smaller, more selfish part, needed to see her. Just one more time before he left.

"We can go."

"Eleanor..."

"She is asleep. Let us go."

Brandon nodded and stepped away as Conaan got on the ride, then arranged the robe around him. Brandon gave a small smile and raised his hand, waving.

Conaan only nodded as the servants bowed, the sun rising, turning his hair a shiny black as it reflected off the orange.

"Conaan?"

He turned, to the door, stopping his grooming of the ride, his eyes wide and expectant.

Brandon too turned to the the wide open door that offered a view of the spiral stair case. Conaan's brows furrowed when nothing happened.

Had he been hallucinating?

He stayed for a minute longer, before he turned away again, then raised his hand to signal to the caravan.

"My love."

This time, he turned to the door and Eleanor was running down the staircase, her hair boundless and falling down her back, her dress sleeveless aand showing off her fair skin, her lips half parted.

"My love?"

This time, he felt his heart skip another beat as she covered the distance, the white silk of the cape she had wrapped to cover the top part of her dress falling away. She did not bother picking it as she got to the door.

Without stopping, she reached up to him, her arms beckoning to him. He willingly leaned forward, risking a fall, as his hand cupped her cheek, his lips meeting hers.

She swallowed hard, her hand reaching for the nape of his neck, her toes stretching farther.

He slowly broke away, but she didn't let him get too far as she wrapped him in her arms, holding him in place for a few minutes.

"Come back safe. I beg of you."

He nodded, turning to bury his face in her neck. "Anything for you."

Reluctantly, she let him go, her heart acquiring the dreadful weight of sadness as she watched him leave, farther and farther away from the sunrise.

Eric let out a small sigh, then slowly brought his hand to his forehead. He felt a strong headache, and his body felt like dead weight. He swallowed, then tried to open his eyes. The place, wherever it was, was thankfully dim, and he moved his head, his lips parting.

"Where...."

"Jamie! He is awake!" Jenna yelled, then eagerly leaned over him, her light brown eyes big as she studied his face, her hair falling on her side.

Eric slowly opened his eyes, prompted further by the noise, his brows furrowed.

It took him a bit of time to register anything, but once he did, he gazed up to the set of warmest, most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

He blinked slowly, his eyes hardly able to move from Jenna's. She seemed rather stuck too, gazing into his light blue pools, her lips slowly parting.

"Is he awake? Did he say anything?"

Jamie's voice brought her back to reality, and she quickly moved away, clearing her throat.

"Uh...uhm...his...he opened...his eyes. So...uhh..."

Jamie said nothing as he came around to Eric, then felt around his head. "He does not have a temperature. Maybe you should bring some warm water and a towel to clean his wounds up. I will bring some broth."

She immediately nodded, then moved away. Jamie helped prop Eric up on his back, gently setting a pillow to support his back.

"Do you remember anything?" Jamie asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Eric's eyes squinted as he thought of it, then gradually closed his eyes. The memories were in pieces, and he felt his head hurt even more as he tried to remember.

Slowly, they started to fall into place. The letters, Brandon, Alexander's injury.

His eyes went wide as he turned to Jamie. "What...what are you?"

Jamie studied him. "A lycan. What happened to you?"

He swallowed. "I need to see His Highness. My friend, Matthew he is in danger and..."

Jamie gave a a small sigh. "I found both of you. Him, whoever that is, before you. He was taken to His Highness. If he did not discard him, he might be having the best treatment."

Eric swallowed, his chest heaving. "There is a message for His Highness. Matthew really wanted to tell him and..."

"His Highness is not even in the kingdom as we speak. All you can do right now is sit, and try to get better. Everything will have to wait till he comes back."

Eric felt his eyes mist up as he leaned back, his chest heaving with worry for Matthew. Matthew had assured him Conaan would check. It was a war tactic, especially for the lycans when they started to emerge newly.

Matthew, being a voracious reader had found out about it, and it had come in handy. He wasn't sure why, instead of explaining things to Conaan, he had opted to write that, but he knew it as important.

And if Conaan didn't see it...

He swallowed, then closed his eyes, hoping his fears were for nothing.