Lycan's Affection

Eleanor watched Conaan, her eyes wide. His eyes were open, his lips parted as he tried to catch his breath, his fingers lightly gripping the sheets.

"Conaan?" She managed to say, her chest heaving with anticipation, tears burning at the back of her eyes. She was almost sure she had heard him call her name as he woke up. She was almost sure....

Slowly, he started to pull himself forward, to a sitting position. She moved, wrapping her hands around him, then helped him sit up. He looked up, his eyes boring into hers, their faces only a mere inch away from each other.

His lips parted as he slowly let his eyes take in all of her face, his brows furrowing.

"Your Highness?"

He swallowed, then looked down to her hands around him, and then to her face again, his eyes slowly blinking.

"I...," he started, his voice faint, weak.

She moved, helping him adjust again. "I shall call the healers to check on you. Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tears bubbled underneath her eyes, but she tried her best to blink them back, a smile fighting it's way through.

Conaan slowly relaxed into her hands, then brought his own hand to gently cup her right cheek. His eyes still held confusion, his brows furrowed as an unmistakable indication of it.

He let his fingers move across her cheek, the tips of his fingers weaving through her hair, his eyes following the motion of his hands.

"I... where have I met you?"

Eleanor's lips parted, and the tears she had been trying so hard to keep back ran down in one long line down her cheeks, her resolve breaking.

"Your Highness..."

Slowly, he dropped his hand, his eyes still holding hers, his chest lightly heaving.

She turned away, her hands leaving him, her hand coming to grip the neckline of her dress as the tears threatened to choke her to death.

"Am I missing something?"

She swallowed, turning to him, a smile forcing its way through. She just had to be happy he was alive. Even without memories of her. Even if all that was left of the fiery, dangerous sort of love they had was the fact that he at least knew he was missing something. If that was all they would ever be.

"Missing something, Your Highness?"

Eric stood up in the distance, Jenna leaning on him.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty."

Conaan turned to him, his eyes squinting. "You... you are that brave lad."

Eleanor swallowed, her chest heaving. Of course, he would remember. He would remember everything but her.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is an honour."

Conaan gave a weak smile. "Is she your sister?"

Eric turned to Eleanor, his lips parting in confusion. "Your Highness, she is..."

"Yes," Eleanor interrupted, her eyes wide. "I... I am a caretaker. And Eric's sister."

Conaan turned to her, his smile small. "Thank you. And... I apologize for touching you earlier. You just..." He trailed off, then looked down at his fingers, like the memories would play on his palm.

Eleanor nodded, encouraging him. She knew she was hanging onto straws, but she couldn't be truly happy if he was back and... and she couldn't even kiss him. Couldn't even hug him. Couldn't own him once more. It simply wasn't fair.

He had said what he felt for her was stronger than a mate bond. Why did losing the mate bond make him forget her?

"You just feel like someone I should know," he said, his voice nothing but a low whisper.

Eleanor nodded finally. "I..."

"But of course. You have been by my side, I presume. So maybe I should know you."

Eleanor swallowed, her fists lightly clenching in an attempt to stop herself from crying. "I... I never left your side, Your Highness. Not even for a second."

Conaan held her eyes, his eyes holding depths she wasn't sure she knew how to interpret anymore. His brows furrowed, and he looked away, his hand coming to his chest.

"Do you need water?" She asked, but didn't wait till he answered. She ran out, then quickly returned with a jug of water and helped him with it. He accepted it calmly but simply held it in his hand.

Eric swallowed, feeling a little uncomfortable. "I...I will take Jenna away. Should I.."

"No. Do not tell anyone. His Highness is still weak."

Conaan turned to Eleanor, his eyes squinting a little more, his lips parting. Eric nodded, then alked away with Jenna.

Slowly, Eleanor stood up, then walked way to the bath house. Conaan watched her back, his eyes lightly squinted, his breath held. He watched her as she got the place ready, then emerged again.

"I got your bath ready, Your Highness."

He did not reply but stayed there, watching her, his eyes lightly squinted.

Eleanor swallowed, her eyes meeting his. "Is something wrong?"

"You said you are his sister?" Conaan asked, his voice low.

Eleanor swallowed. "Yes, I..."

"So you are a servant?"

She swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, I..."

Conaan suddenly moved his hand to the side of the bed, then let go of the glass cup, and watched it shatter on the floor, the water spilling all over, a piece of glass bouncing back, lightly cutting his small finger.

"Conaan!" Eleanor gasped, covering the distance in seconds, her feet stepping on the glass. She did not seem to care as she held his finger, her eyes wide, her chest heaving. Worried tears already filled her eyes, and she started to reach for one of the various ointments next to the bed.

Conaan moved, his face coming to her side, his eyes closing as he inhaled.

Slowly, his hand reached for the nape of her neck where his tattoo was, and he drew a long finger on it, his eyes closing tighter, his face nuzzling into her neck.

"I thought you were just a servant, Eleanor."

Eleanor felt the tears roll down, and she turned to his mass of unruly hair, her chest heaving with heavy emotions.

"Conaan."

"What did you do with our mate bond, Eleanor? Why is it gone?"

She broke down into tears, her chest heaving. "It...it was the only way, Conaan. I would be fine. I will be fine if you forget me but I..."

Conaan moved, his eyes filled to the very brim with tears, holding hers. "It would be impossible to forget you, Eleanor. At least not for too long. I can not forget the route back home for too long."

"Conaan..." she said, her fingers tracing his face, his hair, his body. "I...I have prayed so hard for this day. So hard, Conaan."

He swallowed, his fingers cupping her neck, his eyes gliding down her face. "Show me."