SMITTEN

"Do you already have a plan in mind?" Lord Lyon asked Lycano as soon as he entered his room.

His father's request for his presence seemed to be getting frequent. At first, he was wondering why. And to be honest, he was irritated by it. But now, he understood the reason.

Lord Lyon was lying in his bed while Lyana was wiping his perspiration with a piece of white cloth.

He looked fragile as he laid there with his graying head in Lyana's laps.

It seemed to have slipped Lycano's mind that his father was already old, and soon he would meet eternity.

"You're a grown man now, Lycano. Stop playing games and stand up for our Clan," Lyon continued on since he was only silent as he observed him.

He has already talked with Lady Marina about it. But still, he was still hesitant for Lady Aisha's sake. He didn't want her to suffer the consequences of what he was about to do.

"I will, my lord," he just bowed down to him after taking in a deep breath. At the back of his mind, he was thinking of ways as to how he could remove Lady Aisha from the scene.

Just then, Lyago, the physician of the Lycus Clan, entered the room accompanied by Lord Lyon's servant. He seemed to be in a hurry as he clumsily laid down his things on Lord Lyon's table.

"Forgive me if it took me a while, my lord. I have to wait for the royal physician to give me permission to get these medicinal herbs from the Royal Infirmary," he explained as he prepared the medicine that Lord Lyon needs to take. 

"It took him a longer time than I expected," he added on. 

'Everyone in the Lycus Lands knows the temper of Lord Lyon. It must probably be the reason why he was doing his best to come up with a good excuse for his tardiness,' Lycano thought as he moved aside.

He could go since their conversation was already over. But he was also concerned about his father's health.

"I will forgive you if you tell me what is going on. Is the King sick?" Lord Lyon curiously asked as he sat up.

At first, Lyago clamped his lips as he froze for a few seconds. Divulging information on what is happening inside the Castle is prohibited in Gaea. But his fright in Lord Lyon must have won him over, as he finally answered, "No, my lord. It's his new wife, Lady Aisha."

With his response, Lord Lycano's head immediately lifted. "What happened to her?" he asked at once. His jaw clenched as both his fists balled up.

He felt his temperature shoot up as beads of sweat formed in his forehead. He couldn't even imagine her lying in bed with her beautiful face all scrunched up.

Seeing his reaction, Lyago responded as quickly as lightning. "According to the royal physician, she was just physically exhausted. Her body is still human, and she hasn't fully adapted yet to our environment."

"I see. I thought she was already pregnant with a child," Lord Lyon rubbed his chin as he pondered about it. "But that would be worse. Just imagine what would happen if she would bear a supernatural Gaean being in her womb. And the King's offspring, to be exact."

Lycano gritted his teeth at the thought. ``If she had just chosen me, I would not have forced her to bear me a child."

Like a bat out of hell, he bolted out of the room and headed straight to where Lady Marina was.

He was confused with the different level of relationship that they have now. As much as possible, he didn't want to use her like he did with other women. But he needed an ally. His forces were not strong enough.

With his resources, he found out that Lady Marina was on Emus road, going to the Valero Manor. 

As he knew, the Valeros were guests during the wedding ceremony. 'They must also be among the people who got sick because of the Riso, that is why Lady Marina was planning to go there.'

He didn't waste any more time. He quickly transformed to his other nature and ran as fast as the wind to Emus Road.

To his delight, he saw Lady Marina's carriage still on its way to the Manor. 

He went in front of the carriage, baffling its horse and the coachman. 

Lady Marina's head quickly bobbed out the window as she screamed, "Who dare cross my path?"

She was fierce as usual. But she seemed a little feminine today. The winds flew from her back to her front, slightly tousling her emerald hair. She put back tresses behind her ears as her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly at him.

"L-Lord Lycano? What are you doing here?" She asked in bewilderment.

His wolfish jaw couldn't help but grin as he was pleased that she recognized his form. He transformed back to his human form and walked forward to the door of the carriage, opening it as if it was his.

"Do you really have to show up like that?" she complained as she crossed her arms. But her face was red like cherries. He didn't know if it was because of anger or embarrassment. 

So he quickly apologized. "I actually have them with me," he smiled as he pulled out a sling bag. 

He was changing to his clothes when he noticed that Lady Marina was gazing at him. But her eyes quickly darted away as she said, "I wasn't looking! Your buttons are just wrong."

She stammered as her finger shot up and pointed to his vest. As he did so, he was reminded of how those fingers ran through his hair as he pleasured himself in her bosoms. 

Recalling that, his eyes darted to the upper curve of her bountiful mounds that were peaking above her gown. He gulped as he thought how delicious they were in his mouth. 

His love for the female flesh peaked up as his mouth started to water. 

He was debating whether he would let himself be swayed by his lustful instinct or be firm with his decision to respect her when she asked, "Why are you here, anyway?"

That statement cleared his head as he answered her, "I made up my mind. Let's go get my crown," he said in a determined manner. 

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"Who can really say how decisions are made, how emotions change, how ideas arise? We talk about inspiration; about a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, but perhaps everything is just as simple and just as infinitely complex as the processes that make a particular leaf fall at a particular moment. That point has been reached, that's all. It has to happen, and it does happen."

― John Ajvide Lindqvist, Harbo