Lycan's Affection
The Challenge

Conaan woke up to the loud cheers coming from downstairs. He turned, his eyes squinting against the early morning sun, his hair falling behind jim. He somehow always rose after the sun these days, and he knew exavtly what to blame it on. Sometimes, he could just blame it on Eleanor, though, with her endless probing around his face, stealing kisses while he was asleep and rendering him with no options but to wake up.

He gave a small sigh, and flipped the sheets off. He was shirtless, and he walked barefoot across to the window, his eyes taking in the view below.

Eleanor was in the middle of it, with a few other maids around her as they did the ceremonial decorations with flowers for the annual festival. He had almost forgotten about the event, but seeing Eleanor so excited for it, it was weirdly contagious.

His fingers moved to the glass, exactly where she was standing, her smile big, her eyes lit up almost as bright as the sun itself. Or the sky, so to say. It matched her eye color better.

"Your Highness?"

He turned, the little spell broken as he moved away from the window, towards Brandon.

"I overslept again."

"I understand. Eleanor insisted I let her assist with the festival preparations."

He nodded, his hand playing around with the waist band of the white slacks he was wearing. "As long as she is not in any sort of distress. Is there any news?"

Brandon shook his head. "None yet, but I will be keeping an eye on Anderson myself, just to make sure he would not be able to bribe anyone."

"Ask Shadow. It could get dangerous."

Brandon nodded. "I know. Shadow is essential, has always been. This one just needs my very close attention."

Conaan raised a brow. "I said, put Shadow on it. If anything happens, he can report to you."

Brandon gave a small sigh, but he knew. Arguing with Conaan was a waste of time. The man was as hard as nails.

"By the way, I checked on Alexander's brother earlier. He seems to slowly be recovering."

Conaan seemed rather nonchalant about it. "I hope he does," he answered simply, then walked away, towards the large room that held his trunks of clothing.

Brandon came in behind him, his eyes inquisitive. "What do you need?"

He shrugged. "I want to practice archery and spend a lazy day out."

Brandon nodded, then immediately went to work.

At Anderson's manor, he was sitting behind the single wooden table, his legs straightened under him, his eyes thin as he looked up to the servant.

"So you only barely managed to get the message delivered?"

The servant nodded, taking a frightful step back. "Someone..."

"Someone? Have you forgotten what you are, you imbecile?! Why did I send you in the first place? To wear a woman's dress and frolick or to fight through whatever adversary to get that letter delivered?"

"I did," the servant said, going om his knees, his fingers clasped around his knee caps. "I swear. Just that...Brandon, the king's assistant was right there, waiting. I did manage to escape him."

Anderson's eyes thinned as his chest expanded with a slow breath, his fingers hitting the table in a sort of distorted rhythm.

"Brandon? Thet means Conaan may already know. Dammit, you bastard!"

The servant flinched, his eyes trained on the floor, a slight tremble in his body.

"Get out of my presence!" Anderson yelled again, his chest heaving.

The servant did not need another invitation and he scurried out of the room. Anderson took a few minutes to calm his anger, his veins popping out of his forehead. Slowly, he let his hand down and took in a deep breath, his head falling back as he rested on the wall.

"Anyone there?" His voice was low and tired, typical of a low after an anger high.

There was no one, and he gave a silent cuss, straightening again.

"Anyone there?!" He yelled again, his anger threatening to boil over once more.

The same servant ran on, and quickly went on his knees. "My lord, there are no servants around anymore. I am not sure why but...it seems they have all gone."

Anderson's brows furrowed. "Gone?"

"Yes, I am not..."

He sighed, leaning back, his right thumb and index finger massaging his forehead. "So this is their response, huh? Cutting off everyone so I can't get my message across. Damn, I hate that bastard, Conaan."

The servant stayed quiet, his eyes still trained on the floor.

"Go into the palace immediately. I know you will not be able to kill him, but before you leave, make sure the king is with an injury."

"Yes, my lord."

At the palace, Conaan straightened the bow again, his fingers curling around the end of the arrow, his left eye slowly closing. He released the arrow and it swished through the air, then hit the red spot right at the center.

"Bull's eye!" A servant yelled, and the claps and cheers followed.

Conaan took another arrow, then got ready to aim again, his chest slightly expanding as he sucked in a breath. Another bull's eye, and claps.

And another, and another, till he started to get bored of it.

"Looks rather boring," Came a breathtakingly familiar voice, and he turned to his right.

Eleanor was wearing an identical archery suit, her hair up in a ponytail. It gave a delicious view of her neck, and the work of art he had left of it the previous night.

He gave a small smile. "Do you have a better idea?"

She smiled. "So many servants. Let's bet on their lives."

His brow raised. "On them?"

"I do not believe you would be worried. You have perfect aim, anyway. " There was a challenge in her voice.

Conaan laughed, then nodded, obliging her. "Sure. Been a while since I gambled with a life."

He turned to a servant, who brought a small basket of apples. Two servants had then strapped right on their heads, and they lined up, waiting.

"Ladies first," Conaan said, stepping away and handing her his bow.

She accepted it with a small smile, then took her stance, aiming. The servant started to run around at top speed, never breaking the circle.

She took an aim, then let go of the arrow. Conaan watched with a small smile as it swished through the air, then went right through the apole, breaking it in perfect half.

She turned to him, a triumphant smile on her lips, and he returned it.

"Now I am nervous," he remarked, as the second servant started to run, this one a lot faster than before.

"Well, you should be. I fully intend to distract you."

Before he could ask what she meant by it, she moved forward, snuggling her way in between his arms, so his arms were around her shoulders and he was holding the bow behind her.

"This is cheating."

"No one made the rules."

His eyes thinned, as his grip tightened, forcing her even closer to him, so she was right in front of him.

She gave a small chuckle. "You will not hit the apple that way."

"Hm. Stake higher."

She raised a brow, feeling slightly competitive. "You may be able to do it now, but not while you kiss me."

He let his eyes meet hers. "Full attention. My eyes closed."

"Sure. And I will give you a gift."

"What is this gift?" He asked, feeling his nerves spike.

"A wish. Whatever you want."

He broke into a smile. "Perfect."