Chapter 61: Chapter 61 - cold tears, heated cheeks
Faun woke up to bright sunlight, he had slept quite late the night before so it was expected that he wouldn't be rising with the sun.
As soon as he registered consciousness, the smell of food breaches his senses, intertwined with it was the unmistakable scent of Declan.
He was wide awake after that, noticing the tray of food on a side table.
Faun got out of bed to clean up, sitting on the bed with a sigh after he was done.
Declan had been the one to bring him breakfast. It made him feel strange.
First things first, he brought out his phone, he had to call Isla and Lou.
He went with Isla, they were together more often than not.
Faun's nerves were frayed as he listened to the line ring, even more than how nervous he felt was his uncertainty.
"Faun? Oh my goodness! Is that you? Lou? Baby, come over here! Faun is on the line!"
Faun couldn't help his smile, Isla was the same as always.
"Hi, Isla, Lou." He spoke up, his tone serene.
"Faun? How are you? Are you okay? Where are you…"
"Let the poor dear breathe," Lou interjected, cutting off Isla's endless questioning.
"It's fine." Faun laughed, feeling all the weight lift off his chest. "I'm doing fine, how about you guys? How's the store, Lou?"
He turned the conversation on them. If they seemed to notice that he was avoiding being questioned, they didn't bring it up.
After a couple minutes of catching up, there was little else to say and the call ended.
Faun stared at the lighted screen of his phone after the call was done. 'Why didn't he tell them?'
He put his phone back in the dresser and ate it up before the food got cold.
He just couldn't bring himself to do so, he didn't want to drag them into his mess.
They might be kind friends but they were still human, he and Declan were worlds apart from them. It would be unfair to have his world thrust upon them in this manner.
He would have to figure a way out of all this by himself.
Faun stalled for the longest time, nervous about leaving his room. He needed to see Declan but that was also the last thing he wanted to do.
Eventually, he managed to make it out of his room. He gingerly made his way down the hallway, heading to the main bedroom.
He sighed in relief when he found it empty, it would have been better for him to bump into Declan and then get it over with quickly, like ripping off a bandage but Faun wasn't that strong.
He walked slowly over the thick carpet till he got to the large bed dominating most of the room. He impulsively reached out to touch it and then sat down to catch his breath.
He didn't get the chance to though because the door swung open as soon as he sat down.
Faun stiffened, it was too late to get off the bed now because Declan was already in the room.
He glanced down, unable to look at Declan, his face felt hot for no reason.
For a couple minutes that seemed to stretch on forever, neither of them said a word. The tension in the room crackled and simmered, thickening over time.
Faun forced himself to break the silence. "I… Let me go to the North." He said carefully, still not looking at Declan.
He wasn't going to beg to be released when he didn't ask to be here in the first place.
"Are you going to attack the North now that you're back?" He suddenly whipped his head up to stare at Declan with despair.
He only just realized then that Declan was literally Werewolf royalty, and Faun had told him about the only safe haven left for hybrids.
"No," Declan said shortly, pushing a hand through his hair. "You're already in the North." He added, striding across the room.
Faun shot to his feet, disbelief etched on his features. "W-What?"
Declan stopped his journey to the other side of the bedroom and walked closer to the bed. "The Werewolf settlement is in the north." He explained slowly.
Horror slowly coalesced on Faun's face, his soft green eyes going wide. Declan had saved him again without him even knowing about it.
But…
"Was that why you didn't help me get to the north?" He asked heavily, his expression sharp.
"What does it matter?" Declan replied flippantly, continuing his journey to get the documents he had come for.
Faun fell silent and just watched him. He was so used to seeing Declan in casual clothes that he seemed like a different person when he was dressed up so formally.
Declan didn't seem to see him after that, grabbing what he came for and making a move to leave again.
"Declan, wait!" Faun blurted out, looking more surprised than Declan that he had spoken.
Declan was stunned because Faun hadn't said his name ever since they left Oakwood. "Yeah?" He cleared his throat.
"C-Can I maybe bake?" He asked uneasily.
Declan was genuinely surprised by this. "You want to bake?" He repeated, his voice softer.
"Yes." Faun replied shortly.
Declan leaned against the closed door, his arms crossed. He thought deeply about Faun's request.
It wasn't that he didn't want to grant Faun's wishes but the risks involved. If it was all up to him he would have agreed immediately but it wasn't.
The only place he could be certain of Faun's safety was within his chambers, he wasn't about to throw his mate to the wolves, literally.
He also knew how much it had taken Faun to make that request. Even without Faun having to come up to tell him, Declan hated to keep Faun cooped up here.
He had no choice about it though so the least he could do was at least consider this. "Yeah, give me a couple days to make the arrangements."
Faun was visibly stunned by this, he hadn't been expecting a positive response so quickly. "That's fine." He agreed shortly, turning around to head to his room.
It took all of Faun's willpower not to turn around, he didn't stop walking till he got to the hallway. There, he leaned against the wall and slid down when his legs gave up on him.
When did it become so nerve-wracking to have a simple conversation with Declan?
He was making progress though, if Declan actually allowed him to bake, it meant that he would be able to leave this place and investigate the palace.
The possibility of gaining a clear mode of escape was worth the tortuous pressure that he had undergone.
Faun retired to his room, relieved that while he was here, he didn't need to be cuffed.
He was lonely and it was maddening sitting on his bed all day just staring at the wall but at least he wasn't hungry.
Snacks had been brought for him by Declan's personal guards, Ash and Cade alternated bringing him food and snacks even though he didn't ask.
Ash also helped him set up the TV so he could watch whatever he wanted.
Faun ate and watched shows but he couldn't relax. For now, he could only take it slow and bide his time, he wouldn't stay though. He had to leave.
Faun had almost lost hope that he would be given the chance to bake and was already plotting an alternative plan for getting outside, only for Declan to come to his room first thing in the morning.
It had been almost a week and during that time, he could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Declan.
He was out most of the day so it wasn't entirely Faun's fault.
Faun shot upright on his bed, his hair was sleep-tousled and he was still in his night clothes.
It felt like he was seeing Declan for the first time in weeks, did he always have such dark eye bags?
Faun frowned slightly, Declan looked exhausted. He couldn't ask about it though so he kept quiet instead and waited for Declan to explain the reason he was in his room.
"Do you still want to bake?" Declan asked, there was a dry quality to his voice like he already knew the answer.
Faun half rose from the bed. "Yes!"
"I…" Declan started to say but his ringing phone cut him off, it was coming from the main bedroom. "One sec." He excused himself, striding away.
Faun watched him leave, his tailored black shirt fit his broad back and muscled body like a second skin, he rather missed him wearing simple colorful shirts and sweatpants.
Now, all Declan wore was shades of black.
After a couple of minutes of waiting expectantly, Faun got to his feet. He didn't want to lose this opportunity, what if Declan had gotten distracted and left?
He stepped out of the hallway, stopping in his tracks when Declan immediately turned to look at him.
He was still talking on the phone but he hung up as soon as Faun showed up.
Faun gulped, wondering if he should have just waited in his room till Declan came back himself.
Declan grabbed something from the bed and swept over to him but Faun could hardly pay attention to what it was, lost staring at Declan.
He forced himself not to step back when Declan stepped into his personal space, what was the use if Declan would just come even closer?
One of Declan's arms wrapped around his waist and Faun's slanted eyes widened a fraction. Maybe he should have just made a run for it.
It was too late now because Declan held him quite snugly. "Do you really want to bake?" Declan asked again, this time he sounded rueful like he hoped that Faun would give a different response.
"Yes?" Faun replied, sounding unsure this time.
He was suddenly enveloped in a cloud of Declan's scent, it was heady and all too familiar, then Declan spun him around.
"I was about to say earlier, that… I'm sorry."
Faun couldn't follow what was going on, he was overwhelmed by Declan being so touchy out of the blue and trying to drug him with his scent to make sense of his words.
It wasn't until he heard a resounding click come from behind him that he realized.
A sinking feeling replaced his heart, bile climbing up his throat but he forced it down.
What was Declan apologising for? He could just let him go! He should please let him go…
Declan had collared him.
He could feel the thick band weigh on his neck like a noose, it felt like metal bars had been placed on his shoulders.
"It's… It's fine." He choked out, quickly putting distance between them. "When can I bake?" He asked in a lilting voice, trying hard to hide the teary quality of his voice.
"Just call Ash and Cade whenever you want." Declan sighed, he sounded defeated.
Faun nodded stiffly and turned around to go to his room again, he didn't look back again so he didn't notice Declan reaching out to him.
Declan withdrew his hand, turning around to leave as well. It was only a matter of time, he just had to work harder,
Faun only kept his cool demeanor till he got to the hallway, then he ran flat out to his bedroom and locked the door.
Not like it mattered because anyone could access his door from outside.
He fell face down on his bed, fighting the urge to yank at the collar on his neck. Declan would definitely notice if there were bruises on his neck.
The tears fell cold and fast, cooling down his heated face as they soaked the sheets.
Faun didn't know who to blame, who was he supposed to point fingers at? He knew from the very start that Declan didn't want any of this for him.
So who was he supposed to blame? His own existence?
His tears eventually dried up and when he sat up, his eyes were painfully dry. His nose and cheeks were bright red and he was drained of energy.
He had achieved his goal but at what cost?
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