Lycan's Affection
Loyalty

Conaan slowly turned to the wielder, his brows raised, his lips parted in a smug expression. He came face to face with a servant. He was tall, dark haired, and tried as hard as he could to hide the small tremble in his hands.

Brandon started to cover the distance, but Conaan raised his hand, stopping him in place.

“I do like a good display of loyalty.”

The servant moved a step further. “Let my master go.”

Conaan raised his brow even higher, dropping his sword from Lucas’s throat. Lucas gave a relieved sigh, then broke into a proud smile.

“I bet you do not have anyone like that, Your Highness. No one who is willing to defy the odds for you, or be as loyal.”

Conaan gave a small nod, then suddenly, like a flash of lightning, he passed the thin edge of his sword through Anderson’s jugular vein, piercing so the blood burst out, staining the walls, the drapes, and even Conaan’s clothes.

Lucas froze, then choked on his own blood, his feet immediately losing the power to keep him up. He lost balance, then fell to the floor, the gurgling sound from his blood filling the entire hall.

The rest of the councilmen stepped back in naked, unmasked fear, some barely breathing from the nervousness and shock.

The servant yelled, but was immediately held back by two soldiers, holding him upright.

Conaan gave a small laugh, then brought the stamp. Using Lucas’ spilled blood as ink, he dabbed the stamp in it, then signed on the papers. The council was dissolved, the elders would go rogue.

Well, except for Lucas. Hell was more befitting.

“I will kill you! You are a monster!” The servant yelled as he was brought to his feet, struggling hard against the soldiers. Conaan passed the documents. Over to Brandon, then brought his hand behind him, his eyes squinted at the servant.

“Let him go,” Conaan said, slowly squatting in front of the servant.

The servant stayed surprisingly still even when he was free, even though his hand reached and clasped around the hilt of the sword.

“What you have just done...is foolish loyalty.”

“You are only a monster who kills everyone in his way. How would you know what loyalty is?”

Conaan raised a brow, then slowly moved, dabbing his left hand in Lucas’s blood. Gently, he ran his fingers along the length of the servant’s face, his smile small.

“You put your master in my way. Live with the guilt.”

The servant swallowed as he was dragged away, his body cold from the realization.

“Your Highness...”

“Leave.”

The councilmen stayed only a second longer, and they trooped out of the hall, leaving him to himself. The blood was at his feet, and he swallowed, his eyes closing.

He had not planned on losing his temper this morning.

“Your Highness?” Brandon said, returning. “How are you?”

Conaan nodded. “You did not leave.”

“Well, I thought it would be inappropriate to leave without informing you. I will leave by evening.”

Conaan nodded. “Come back by the festival.”

“Definitely. Also, last night...Anderson received Alexander’s letter.”

Conaan turned to him now, as two servants got rid of Lucas’ body. “And?”

“Anderson has not made a move yet, but I have planted Shadow around there. He will inform us once we have a lead.”

Conaan forced a small smile, then started to walk away.

“Your Highness?”

Conaan stopped, then turned to him. “Yes?”

Brandon swallowed. “I will miss you.”

Conaan’s eyes thinned. “You will be gone for only four days. Do not act like it is the end of the world.”

Brandon gave a faint smile. “Still, Your Highness. I will miss you. And...I wish you all of the happiness there can be. You, more than anyone deserves it.”

Conaan let his eyes dart across both of Brandon’s. “Okay,” he said finally, but did not move, his eyes fixed on the other man.

Brandon’s smile grew even wider, and he slowly turned away, leaving Conaan standing there.

Conaan watched Brandon’s back for the longest time, and something in him, something that had never been wrong, whispered to him that it would be the last time he would see his best friend.

He pushed it away, a slight tremble shaking his heart in anticipation of how much that would break him, and he turned away, hoping for some sort of distraction.

Eric kept his head low as Jenna walked in. She kept the food in front of him, then started to walk away, her eyes barely meeting his.

“Jenna...”

She didn’t reply, and she walked to the window, opening it up to let the faint light from the grey skies filter in the room.

“What do you want?” She asked suddenly, turning to him, her hand on her waist.

Ever since the arrangement to meet, Eric had not been able to make it. At first, Jenna understood, but she had finally run out of patience, and was giving him the cold shoulder.

“It is just that..your parents are always around and...”

“I am an adult.”

“They do not like it when I so much as touch your finger.”

“Are you going to agree with their gibberish? They did not even let me be around boys growing up. Even Jamie does that now.” Her face turned a little sad, and she gave a small sigh. “I was really hoping it would be different with you.”

Eric blinked as she walked away, leaving him alone in the sitting room, his heart heavy. He had taken a liking to her too. The subtle way she ensured he was fine, and the way she didn’t care that he was not a lycan shifter and till the very last minute, he had been looking forward to that day. But he could not tell her. That night...when he had stood her up, Jamie had come to him.

She was destined for other things, Jamie had said and those other things...those other things would only be hindered by a man.