The Delta's Daughter Chapter 180

I refused to cry out at each excruciating thrash that flicked and flayed my skin. I couldn’t help the grunts, but that was all they would get from me. I held on to the image of Tala when she came undone in my arms. I desperately wished to see that look on her face again.

Tap, tap, tap, came the clang of the cups against the metal bars. How many lashes I had received I did not know. “ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH. LIVE OR DIE WE FIGHT! ” Came the voices of the Gladiators as the punisher handed the whip to another.

The cups clanging echoed the beat of my heart, keeping me steady as I received 10 more lashes. How many was that, twenty, thirty I was focusing on staying conscious and alive.

When the whip switched hands again the Gladiators chanted our melody like it was our creed. I focused on that beat and not the anticipation of the next lash. Their steady beat, my life. Tempered and strong. The breeze took some of the heat from my back as it brushed against my flailed skin and softy curled away back into the darker growing sky. The clouds cast shadows against the high sandstone wall as the storm moved closer.

I thought of Teal and how I would have liked to reunite him with his family. I was sure they would accept Tala; did they even know they had another sister

Then I thought of Rogue, what would happen to him He would either die here or if he ever got out would he become rogue again I didn’t want him to. Rogue had become important to me and I would give him a place by my side.

“HARDER!” Vargr commanded. I had no idea he was still watching. I couldn’t turn my head to look at him, but I could feel his vengeful eyes on me.

Thunder clapped loud reverberating through the arena, its powerful tremor shaking the stone walls. The sky darkened casting a false and moonless night over the arena.

“DON’T STOP!” Again, Vargr commanded.

The steady beat of the cups did not let up, and again they chanted when the punisher changed. My body was slumping and I didn’t know how long I could retain consciousness.

The crimson coppery scent pooled under my feet, and the smell of the metallic fluid reached my nose along with the scent of wolfsbane and the poison of silver. My legs were weak and my arms were strained. My head fell back and my eyes rolled into the back of my head.

It was then I felt the fresh and first drop of rain splash on my cheek. My eyes fluttered open and gazed above. The gods were weeping for my death. Weeping for the end of a tragic love story that never began.

Thunder boomed and a flash of lightning lit up the sky and the rain began to fall faster and heavier, each fat drop that graced my face and bare torn back was welcomed.

I could hold on no longer. I could feel my wolf slipping away, taking along with him the essence of my life. Images of each person I hold dear to me flashed before my eyes, first came Lamia. I would never meet my niece or nephew, how would Lamia cope with my death My heart constricted knowing the grief and loss of me would almost kill her. She is strong, she will survive, and Mathias will make sure of that.

And Mike, He will make a fine Alpha and King. I know it’s not what he ever wanted, but he will make me proud and take his responsibilities seriously. I had full confidence the kingdom would be left in good hands.

I thought of Hunji and Rhett, not much would change for them, they would be losing a brother but Hunji would carry on protecting Lamia, my only regret was not getting to know his secrets. And Rhett was still finding out who he was. He would make a hell of a leader once they had the Enforcers established throughout the continent. In my head I wished them all the best, I wished them long and prosperous lives, and I wished for them all to find happiness.

The last person whose face filled my vision was my mate, my little flame. The goddess had blessed me with someone special. It wasn’t fair to my mate that I should be taken away so quickly. I believed in second chances and hoped my mate would be happy, even if that happiness wasn’t with me.

“Tala” I whispered her name as I felt the tip of the whip dig so deep it licked my bone. My sight began to wane and I let my lids close, the fat drops of rain splashing into my dry mouth.

‘Water is life, life needs water,’ the woman’s voice echoed through me, and from the blackness behind my lids, Lamia’s green eyes fill my vision. ‘I call on the Knights to lessen your brother’s pain, share it and give back your strength’.

I was delirious and my subconscious was conjuring the faces of my friends, hearing the echoes of Lamia’s voice giving me hope that I would descend to the afterlife, where the moon goddess would be waiting to receive me and my wolf.

I stilled in the thought and felt at peace with my death. I would meet my parents again and they would embrace me and welcome me home.

My heart slowed and the noises of the Gladiators became a distant sound, the claps of thunder, though loud were now dull.

So far away, as I felt myself receding further into the darkness of my own consciousness.

I called out to my wolf ‘Conri’ but he had already left me.

The only thing holding me up was the cuffs that cut into my wrists, as my body gave out followed by my mind.

I took one last breath and thought of my little flame who I craved time with. One last time, until I succumbed to the desolate void. The stilling of my heart was the last thing I felt as I left the planes of this realm.