Chapter 55 - the city in the north

Faun had woken up the moment that Declan touched his hair, he was in enemy territory now so all of his instincts were in overdrive.

His first thought had been to flinch away but for some reason unknown to him, he didn't.

He remained pliant even when Declan hid his face in his neck, his tail reflexively wrapping around his arm.

It was almost easy to pretend that they were back in the cottage and Faun was about to fall asleep again when Declan had spoken something against his neck.

Declan's 'I'm sorry' had caught him off guard and he couldn't stop the strangled sound that left him.

Declan had startled in horror, scrambling away and Faun felt his heart break a little bit more.

That was exactly how he had been treating Declan the entire time; now that the tables were turned on him, he didn't like the sinking feeling it gave him.

But he couldn't help his reaction to Declan; it was subconscious, his terror for werewolves.

So without meaning to, he flinched badly when the door swung open again, Declan coming in with a fresh plate of food.

His nose twitched when he could pick up the telltale scent of cookies, looking at the tray Declan brought for the first time.

He didn't move from his spot on the bed though, not till the door clicked shut again.

Then, slowly he crawled across the bed, making for the tray placed on the side dresser.

His stomach rumbled, he hadn't had anything proper to eat since an early breakfast of cereals. His baking had been ruined and then all of this mess had gone down.

He started with the cookies, thinking sourly of how well Declan knew him.

Faun had gotten used to a life of luxury, so not eating for most of the day had gotten to him and in no time, he had cleared out the entire tray.

He sat for a moment, just staring into space, his spirits had lifted a bit now that he had gotten something to eat.

One moment, he had a faint whisper of a smile on his face and in the next, he was keeling over in a dead faint.

Declan paced impatiently in his private cabin; they were getting closer and closer to the north and the queasy feeling in his stomach wouldn't go away.

Unable to hold back anymore, he strode out of the cabin, his expression as black as night.

Ash and Cade wisely stayed out of his way, eyeing the prince nervously.

He wasn't the type to lose his temper, as a matter of fact, Declan showed more emotions than a slab of ice but ever since the hybrid showed up, he was downright volatile.

Declan clicked the door shut before his guards could peek in, hurrying forward to catch Faun before he fell off the bed.

Faun wouldn't like it much when he woke up but he needed to protect Faun from his first arrival to the city in the north.

The voices in his head quietened down when he was with Faun again. Spending his entire time with Faun in the cottage might have not been the wisest move because now he was a little addicted.

He made sure Faun was comfortable, tucking him in and pushing his hair out of his face.

But he couldn't leave when he was all done, his feet were rooted to the ground, unwilling to take him away from Faun.

Well, it couldn't be helped. He decided to himself, getting on the bed beside Faun.

He couldn't rouse Faun even if he tried but he also couldn't bring himself to touch Faun again. He had to brace himself, if he was found treating Faun the way he usually did, Faun would be the one to pay for it.

A knock rapped on the door after the longest time of staring at the ceiling, the door opening slightly after a while even though he gave no response.

"We'll be landing soon, your Highness." Ash's muted voice floated over.

Declan slowly closed his eyes and then got to his feet; he didn't look at Faun this time, striding to the door with purpose.

"When the plane lands, bring the hybrid." He said coldly, his refined mask over his slate grey eyes.

Ash gulped audibly but they both nodded, watching Declan leave for his cabin with concerned eyes.

"I'm worried." Ash muttered.

"You should be." Was Cade's response, pushing open the door to enter the room that Declan had just left.

Ash hesitantly followed him. "You'll be the one to carry him." He grumbled, rubbing his injured hand with a frown.

"Sure." Cade accepted dryly, getting a look at the sleeping hybrid. "He doesn't look asleep." He murmured to himself.

Ash overheard him. "What?"

"The hybrid." Cade sat at the edge of the bed. "He's probably knocked out."

Ash just blinked at him in confusion, his wild thoughts visible in his hazel brown eyes.

Cade just gave him a look of disbelief. "Not physically, peabrain." He specified.

Ash thought that when Declan came in just then, that he probably clobbered the hybrid over the head.

One glance at the empty tray on a side dresser told Cade all that he needed to know.

The plane trembled a bit from landing and soon they were slowing to a stop.

"He really is pretty though." Ash whispered with awe in his voice as they both leaned over Faun.

"You must want your jaw broken too." Cade muttered a little harshly, an odd expression on his face.

Ash winced again, backing up quickly from the hybrid with his hands up in surrender.

Cade quickly picked up the hybrid and together they made their way out of the room, bumping into Declan as soon as they started down the hallway.

Cade noted that Declan didn't spare the hybrid even one look, turning away quickly as soon as he noticed that they were following him.

Ash gave him a look but he didn't react, they would have the time later to mull over it.

It wasn't a surprise that the King himself came to welcome him, with how many failed attempts he had gotten while trying to find his first son, he clearly wasn't taking any chances.

They were immediately hurried into limousines and whisked off; Cade and Ash were quite relieved that they didn't have to spend the drive to the palace with King Ivan.

In their personal car, King Ivan said nothing to Declan who sat opposite him with a stony expression. Issues like these were better discussed in a more private space.