66 Chapter 66 - a helping hand?

Sleep eluded Faun until nightfall which wasn't completely bad, although he would have preferred to escape his thoughts, he didn't want to be up all night. He spent the rest of the day inside his room, putting on a show on the TV just to fill up the painfully empty space.

He only saw Cade for the rest of the day because the bodyguard had been the one to bring his meals. He succumbed to his weariness as the night grew late, his tired eyes closing.

He had left the television on before he slept, sleeping on top of the covers but when he woke up the next morning, the television was off and he was snugly tugged under the covers.

Faun didn't even notice this, too occupied with thoughts of how he would go about investigating the palace. The new information he had gotten from Luca had petrified him momentarily but now that he had recovered from it, it only pushed him harder to leave. Maybe now, he could understand why fox hybrids chose to stay far away from society.

He got ready for the day, a covered tray waiting for him in his room by the time he came out of the bathroom. He ate absently, not tasting the food, much more remembering what he had eaten.

Fortunately, Cade came shortly after he was done eating and he could ask to be taken to the kitchen.

Cade's dark blue eyes were sharp as he took in the fox hybrid, his soft green eyes were distant and he seemed to look right through him. He wondered if he should mention this to Declan but the Crown Prince had his hands full with court proceedings and endless meetings.

He had an especially important meeting that day with his father, and Cade knew better than to interrupt him. Not to mention, Cade knew that Declan already had enough on his plate, he didn't want to add to that.

Faun would be fine if anything, he had been doing really well considering all that had happened. So he quietly led the way to the private kitchen as usual. Thankfully, Ash was still away when they got there so he didn't have to deal with the idiot's complete lack of tact.

After Faun closed the door behind him, Cade took his position at the door, sending a quick text to Ash as he did. After a few minutes went by, he glanced at his phone with a frown; he should have gotten a response from Ash by now.

Inside the kitchen, Faun had no idea that there was just Cade outside the door but he wanted to make a move anyway. He figured that the bodyguards wouldn't have their guards up right away so it was the best time to make a move.

So when he opened the door and saw just Cade outside, a faint sparkle brightened his eyes. "Sorry, there aren't any apples and I wanted to make an apple pie." He said in a measured tone that belied his anxious state.

Cade didn't notice anything amiss, it didn't help that his thoughts were filled with the absence of Ash. "Sure," He agreed without question, planning to use this opportunity to search for his partner. 

Faun walked back to the kitchen without hesitation, knowing that Cade was waiting for that before he could leave. He stopped just in front of the door and waited a full minute to make sure that he was gone.

He dashed right out of the kitchen to find it empty outside as expected, relieved that the other bodyguard had been absent for whatever reason. Faun had no idea where he was going and in hindsight, his plan was probably shabby and with enough holes to be a cavern but he didn't have any other choice.

He made his way down a random hallway and took a random turn, ignoring the stares that the werewolves he went by shot at him. He planned to try to map a path or at least to investigate and get useful information.

His journey was abruptly cut short when he ran into a rather important-looking werewolf. He had dark blond hair and incredibly familiar eyes. Faun immediately made a move to go around the werewolf only to have his path cut off again, making him look up in consternation.

"Faun? I believe?" Allan said lightly, a smile pasted on his face, one that didn't reach his eyes.

Faun's suspicions were fully stoked now, and he immediately took a step back, ready to return to the kitchen even if it meant that he had to forfeit his only possible chance. He hadn't forgotten Declan's warnings, he was heartbroken, not stupid.

"Wait! I can help you," Allan quickly blurted out when he saw that the hybrid was about to bolt.

This was the first time he was interacting with the hybrid, as a matter of fact,t the hybrid hadn't seen him before and it was all Declan's fault. What was so special about the frail thing that had hooked his older brother in? He really wanted to know, and to also steal the hybrid from his brother, of course!

Faun hesitated at this, the fact that the werewolf had mentioned that made him all the more suspicious but he was really desperate, it wouldn't hurt to at least hear him out.

Allan immediately picked up on this slight change and capitalized on it. He didn't know for sure if he could introduce himself as Declan's brother because he had no idea what Declan had told the hybrid but that single fact could speed the process up.

"I'm Declan's younger brother, Allan, has he told you about me?" He introduced, holding out a hand.

The hybrid just stared down his hand blankly, making no move to shake it. Allan felt irritation spike but he pushed it down, as well as his outstretched hand. "I'm guessing he didn't," He added with a mutter, internally pleased.

"You said you could help me?" Faun finally spoke up, phrasing it as a question.

To this, Allan moved closer, his velvet jacket fitted to his body. He dwarfed the hybrid but he wanted to put on an air of secrecy although he had already made arrangements for no one to come down that hallway.

"You need help leaving the castle, don't you?"

Faun tried to mask his reaction and failed, "And what if I do?" He mumbled, trying to act tough.

"Then I'll help you, I'll even help you leave the North and go anywhere you want." Allan offered.