Lycan's Affection
Ashes and Treason

The greetings came one by one, starting from the lycan dignitaries, councilmen, and even surviving friends of Conaan's father. Eleanor watched him closely, her hand clasped in his as he spoke to them, saying nothing more than three words.

It almost felt like he only spoke around her, while he avoided doing it with others completely.

Soon enough, they all sat back, Eleanor taking a seat beside Conaan as the performances came on. Dances, songs all dedicated to Conaan's praise. She peered at him to see if he liked them, but his face was rather neutral.

"Do you like it?" She finally asked, leaning close to him.

He shrugged. "The crowd makes me dizzy."

Her brows furrowed playfully. "Where would you rather be? It is your birthday."

He shrugged simply, but didn't reply, his attention going back to the performance. Everything was beautiful, and the banquet started in an elegant manner.

The halls were set in to a table of three, each table ladden with a variety of food. There was also a large buffet with different assorted delicacies for whoever cared. The hall was big enough to carry thrice the amount of people, and the servants worked endlessly, until Conaan ordered them to go take a break too and enjoy his birthday.

Alpha Alexander strolled around the hall, his eyes thin. Eleanor had not even bothered with returning an answer to his request of seeing her, and had not even made an effort. Like someone who was possessed, she stuck by Conaan all through, her hand clasped in his.

It was a sickening sight, and he downed another glass of drink. It would help him keep his mounting anger at bay.

A few alphas were standing around, a glass each in their hands as they spoke calmly about everything that had led up to the evening. Alexander slowly joined, his eyes thin.

"I think they are pretty beautiful in their own way. I wish we could establish the sort of ties that would allow a werewolf come here for a vacation." An alpha said, earning a few nods from the rest.

"In this place? Why would I ever want to come here?"

"Alpha Alexander, you are in their territory. And you know king Conaan well enough."

He gave a snicker, patting the alpha's shoulder as he leaned forward. "You all don't know this, but...you see his queen? She was with me up until a few months ago. She was in love with me. She refused to go to him, until I forced her to. King Conaan? I reduced him to a mere body with my poison the last time he visited. All of this glamour is just..."

"Xander!" One hissed, his eyes wide. "You are going to get us all in trouble with your mindless talk! Who cares who was with you?"

He laughed again, shaking his head. "Exactly why I hate being around cowards. So what, you bunch of incompetents? What will he be able to do? I have a poison as potent as anything, and I have tried it on Conaan himself. There is a factory back in my pack currently working to produce it in large scale. Before you know it, I will wipe them out and give the dominance back to the werewolves."

Silence reigned, as each alpha let it sink. The idea of being able to wipe out the lycans was just as absurd as believing Conaan wouldn't decide he wanted to drink wine out of a werewolf's skull. Each one was just as uncertain too.

"Does alpha Alexander have some complaint about the banquet?"

They all turned, and Conaan was standing behind them, a small smile lifting up his lips, his hands clasped behind him. He was now wearing a white robe, with the same deep embroidery, and his crown still atop his head.

The other alphas murmured quick pleasantries and backed away, leaving both of them.

"Your Highness," Brandon came suddenly, then leaned over to Conaan. "You can countdown a total of ten minutes to your gift."

Conaan nodded, then took a glass of wine, and slowly made his way to Alexander.

"It is nice to see you again, Alexander."

"I wish I could say the same, Conaan. A lot of things here seem...well, pre owned."

Conaan laughed, his eyes lowering as he dropped the glass on a nearby table. "Better preowned silk than never owned linen, do you not agree?"

"My mate is not..."

"What is her name again?" Conaan interjected, bringing the glass to hover around his lips. "She was pretty good at going on her knees to beg. Did you teach her?"

Alexander swallowed, trying to keep his anger in check. He moved even further to Conaan who towered above him quite effortlessly.

"I can have your mate whenever I want."

Conaan smiled again. "Guess what I can have whenever I want. Your entire pack. And your mate? I do happen to have taste, Alexander."

Alexander pulled back, his hand tightening around the glass he held till he felt his knuckles almost go weak. Conaan still had the same disgusting smile, his hands roaming around the rim of his glass.

Suddenly, Brandon walked in, a huge smile on his face, just as Miles too came. They both headed the same way, and Miles went to Alexander's side, while Brandon stayed by Conaan.

Brandon leaned over to Conaan, his eyes holding Miles', a small, devilish smirk on his lips.

"There is news from Shadow, Your Highness."

Miles swallowed. "There is a problem, Alpha."

Alexander's brows furrowed as he turned to Miles, dropping his glass. "What is it?"

Brandon swallowed, excitement showing in his voice. "The factory has been burnt down to the roots with nothing but ashes. Shadow also tracked down the only field where the flowers are grown, and guess what it is now."

Conaan's smile brightened up, his eyes thinning with pure evil. "Ashes."

Brandon smiled too, then gave a flourishing bow, right in front of Alexander. He was still struggling to make sense of what Miles had just told him, his body hardly able to stay without trembling.

"Please, Your Highness, accept my humble gift."

Conaan patted his back, his eyes holding Alexander's. "Thank you, Brandon."

Brandon stood up, then throwing a dirty look at Miles and Alexander, walked away, his smile big. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I will go and see what else I can do." Miles excused himself, then walked briskly away, leaving them both again.

A moment of realization passed. It wasn't so hard to put the pieces together.

"Conaan!" Alexander suddenly yelled, his face red with anger. He turned, then grabbed the sword of a guard walking by, his hand wielding it across the air.

Suddenly, he felt something stop the sword in place, holding it behind him so it never made it to Conaan.

"Remember, Alpha Alexander," Came the voice.

He turned, his eyes wide to Eleanor. She was holding the blade by her hand, her expression stoic, her eyes dark.

Conaan's smile found a hint of surprise, his heart beat suddenly slowing down.

"You are in the lycan territory," she continued, taking small steps, the sword still in her hand. Slowly, she walked to the other side where Conaan stood, standing in front of him almost protectively.

It amused Conaan as much as it warmed him up, his smile returning to his face, this time a lot more tender.

"And to point a sword at the king...is treason."

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