The Delta's Daughter Chapter 219

HUNJI

“Stop!” Every muscle in my body tightened and stiffened when I heard that voice. My wolf paced and snarled, ready to spill blood. He hated the owner of the voice just as much as his brother. Where there was one the other was sure to be close.

I believed Morgan when she said we needed to run. The fear in her voice told me she knew something - had felt something. I was not going to ignore her gifts. Whether I fully trusted her or not, I knew she understood the importance of getting out of this city and away from King Panja’s soldiers.

No sooner had she said something than that voice sounded out. I slowly turned to see the face of Abbas. Farid’s younger brother. My older brother by two years. Farid and Abbas were two peas in a pod. Two evil and deceitful peas I would gladly crush.

I wanted to kill him where he stood and Ruda, my wolf, was encouraging me. Thankfully my logical side kicked in. I couldn’t take him on. In seconds his men would descend upon me. Then this quest would be wasted. Morgan would be in the hands of my brothers and father. Lamia would kill me if I didn't die. She trusted me to bring the witch home and I promised to protect her.

Fuck I muttered to myself before swiftly grabbing both bags in one hand and hauling Morgan up off her feet, tucking her into my side and taking off towards the train station. I ran as fast as my wolf would allow us, luckily knowing my way around the streets of Bozgvol.

The sound of Abbas howling for reinforcements drove me to push harder. I don’t know if he recognized Morgan or not, but he surely recognized me and that was enough for him to alert his men and launch a search party for me. This was not good.

I slowed down when the station was in sight and I could hear the engine of the whistle of the train blow, indicating the train was ready to depart.

There were a couple of stalls and as I hurried by, dragging Morgan behind me, I snatched a couple of articles of clothing without the vendor noticing.

I looked around, Ruda on high alert, watching for any of Eririat’s soldiers that may be lurking by the platform. There were two on the far side and when their heads were turned, we darted across to an open door and slipped onto the train.

I looked at our tickets, pulling them from my back pocket – Cabin 8 they read, “This way” I ushered Morgan forward, down the narrow walkway on the train until we came to the right door.

Gregorio had managed to get us tickets quickly and had booked us a cabin as we were traveling by train for five days to the outskirts of Mint. I opened the door and shoved the witch in quickly, forgetting she was not very steady on her feet, and only just caught her by the shoulder before she plowed headfirst into the adjacent window. Cursing myself for being an ass, I closed the door and locked it.

“Here put this on, it’s not the best disguise but it should hide your hair. Keep your head down.” I gave her a shawl to wrap around her head. This was the second time I was doing this. The other piece of clothing I had nabbed was a wrap to make a turban. My hair was already knotted to the back of my head, so I wove the fabric until it sat nestled on top neatly. I sat back on the seat provided for us and sighed. Looking up to see Morgan nervously fidgeting.

Her eyes met mine and the worry in them was plain as day. “I’m sorry I didn’t see him sooner.” She spoke.

“Not your fault,” I ground out.

“Who was that man to you?” She asked hesitantly. I really didn’t want to talk about it. The train whistled again, and the sound of chugging filled the air as the train began to move. Relief is what I felt until I saw the commotion taking place on the platform.

Abbas was yelling at a handful of men and pointing in different directions. “Duck” I commanded Morgan and pulled her down away from the window. Praying that the train moved faster, and they didn’t board it.

"I can’t control my visions, how or when they come are as much a mystery to me as it is to everyone else. I get no warning. Sometimes they are like a movie, and sometimes they are simply an image forced in front of me. And not all the time do I get a sense of feeling from them. But when I saw his face flash, I felt dread.” I looked at the little witch, her face so close to mine as we crouched on the floor under the window of the cabin.

I could see her violet eyes had turned to that deep indigo again, the color they change to when she is scared. They were the same hue when I first laid eyes on her. She didn’t smell of fear right now, but I could see it in those wide eyes. Her breath fanned my face, and I could almost taste her. The swelling around her lips was healing faster than I thought and her bruise was starting to yellow. She would be completely healed in just a few days.

She licked her lips, and I zeroed in on the innocent action. The overwhelming desire to kiss her and keep her lips swollen plowed through my body. Disgusted with myself, I abruptly moved back, sitting back on the bench. I looked out the window as the train moved forward leaving the platform and my brother behind. I let out a massive sigh of relief.

“We are out of sight now,” I told Morgan offering my hand to help her up from the floor. She took it graciously with a small smile and sat beside me. Luckily with enough space in between us.

“So, we are going to be stuck on a train for five days together, we should get to know each other.” She was too cheery for me. Her tone was upbeat and full of excitement.

I really didn’t think there was any point in getting to know each other. Just because she was Finnegan’s sister and King Mathias’ half-sister, I had no reason to believe that after this little detour we would have anything to do with each other. Mathias barely acknowledged his half-brother Finn and he had made it quite clear he had no love or interest in the little witch. It was Lamia who had convinced her mate Mathias to bring her back. I was just the errand boy sent to fetch.

So yes, I had no interest in becoming cozy with Morgan. “What do you want to know?” Why, why? I can’t believe I just opened that door.

She fidgeted and bit her lip, wincing a little as she did. I knew what she was going to ask, and I had already prepared my answer “Is your real name Kian?”

“Yes.”

“Why, why did you change it?” She was tiptoeing, careful not to anger me.

I sighed, “My given name was Kian, but many years ago I was given the name Hunji by a priestess. I am not that person anymore and I do not like to be called by it.” I hoped my answer would satisfy her and that would be the end of it, I wouldn’t admit that even if I didn’t like my real name – I liked it when she said it. The way it fluttered from her lips made my body come alive, wanting things I shouldn’t. 

“Ok, but honestly it’s hard to see you as Hunji now I know your real name.” I frowned at her, holding back the groan that threatened to escape. Her eyes went wide, and she held her hands up in defense, waving them, “I respect your wishes, truly! I was just being honest. Hunji it is.” She said with finality.

“So how did that guy know who you were?” She asked after a beat of silence.

I wasn’t ready to go into detail. In fact, it wasn’t her business at all. “I knew him from a long time ago. He is not a nice person.” I told her honestly, internally cursing myself for the hundredth time since finding her at obliging her when I had no intentions to.

I could see she understood I wasn’t going to give her any more than that. “Ok, ask me something!” She smiled brightly Instead.

I ran a hand down the scruff of my face, the rough stubble that coated my jaw lightly scrapped my palm. By next week I would have a full beard if I didn’t shave. “I have no idea what to ask you.”

“Oh, well, I guess I could tell you something about me.”

“Ok,” I replied. I really wasn’t much of a conversationalist, and I was stuck on this train with her for five days. She was nice to look at and think about, but other than that – I didn’t need to know who Morgan Artos was. “Tell me something no one knows about you.”

“I like to read.” She spoke.

“What a great idea! Didn’t ScarClaw give you a few books to bring with you?” I bent down to her pack and opened it to find the three books she had packed and handed them to her. Maybe now she would get the idea that I was done talking.

“Wow! Obvious much?” I could hear the sarcasm dripping from her “You know, you don’t have to be rude. I just thought if we were traveling together, it would be nice to be friends. I’m supposed to trust you, yet I know nothing about you.” She was mad - definitely mad. I had heard that tone before when Queen Lamia was pissed at Mathias.

“I have friends. All you need to know is after we have gone to Mint for whatever reason your vision is sending you there, I will take you to your brother. Until then I will protect you and go along with this little adventure as you call it.” Yeah, I was being an ass.

“You are an irritating and contemptible person! Would it kill you to be nice and even smile!” She huffed at me, picking up a book. And quite violently opening it.

I sat back and leaned my head back, turning it so I could watch the familiar landscape pass by. Remembering the last time, I had taken this train - this time I was heading to Mint instead of from it.

Now that I had royally pissed off the little witch, the ride was silent, and I was able to think without her breathing down my neck or invading my thoughts. Grateful that we had gotten out of Bozgvol, but still cautious. Abbas had seen me and recognized me. There was no way he wouldn’t report back to Farid. I wasn’t scared or intimidated by them, not a chance. I was however over them, that life. Farid almost took everything from me, and I had no urge to revisit that past. I wanted nothing to do with them.

‘They will come for you’ Ruda said awakening and stretching out in a corner of my mind.

‘If they know what is good for them, they will stay far away from me.’ I replied and felt his agreeance.

‘It is Farid, he and his wolf hate to lose. We are alive. His game is not finished.’ I mulled over my wolf’s words. He was not wrong. As soon as Farid found out that I had lived and not died in the desert as he hoped, he would move Heaven and hell to find me.

I wouldn’t go looking for trouble, but I promised myself a long time ago that if we ever crossed paths again - I would kill him.

At some point, Morgan fell asleep. Her body slumped to the side, her head landing on my shoulder. Gently I stood from my seat and carefully laid her down on the bench. I rummaged through my bag to find the pouch of coins Tristan had given me. I pulled off the turban, leaving it by Morgan’s feet, and slipped out of the cabin. locking it with my key card and went in search of food.

The train had two cars that served food. One was a snack bar and the other was a formal dining area. I decided to stop by the dining area and order some food to be delivered to our cabin. Then I was going to stop by the snack cart and pick up a few things to munch on.

“How can I help you, sir,” The waiter asked me

“Just two of your steak dinners to be delivered to cabin 8, please.”

“Complimentary drink, sir?” He offered.

Usually, I would decline. I didn’t drink. Only on rare occasions would I have a glass of alcohol, yet today, something drew me to sitting on a stool at the bar “Three fingers of your finest Sambuca on the rocks”

“I thought for sure they would board the train and hold us up, retched Asiarian’s” I heard a woman speak behind me. The waiter placed my drink in front of me and I took a sip listening to her conversation. “I don’t know who they think they are, infiltrating our home like that, but I can assure you if King Orion was still alive it would never have happened.”

She wasn’t wrong, if Orion were still alive no one would have dared to take over Bozgvol, never mind even thinking of entering Andora with an army.

“Well, I heard they were looking for a young woman. That’s why they were there.”

“What could a young girl possibly do to have King Panja send his best troops into our city? I hope they find her and leave. I will not be going back until our streets are free of their filth.”

“You are right, Andora has been peaceful until they showed up.”

I knocked my drink back, draining the glass and feeling the burn as it passed down my throat. The sweet aniseed taste hit my taste buds and warmed my stomach. I set the glass down and left, taking a quick glance at the uppity women having a conversation. Imagining the look of disgust on their faces if they knew the reason that they had left their home was traveling on the very same train as them.

I stopped by the snack cart grabbing a few drinks some chocolate and flavored crackers. When I slipped back into our cabin, Morgan was still sleeping. I paused at the door looking down at her sleeping form. She looked like what humans would describe as an angel. Her long hair had fallen from its loose braid and tumbled around her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered as she dreamt, and her cheeks were Rosey. My breath caught for just a moment, bewitched by her pure beauty. She indeed had the beauty of a Demi-god, an angel.

She stirred and rubbed her eyes, groaning as she sat up. Blinking a few times before she noticed me still stuck by the door. “Ki – I mean Hunji. What’s wrong?” she suddenly furrowed her brow “You look troubled?”

I shook my head, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I got us snacks and ordered dinner.” I grumbled, pulling up the table from under the window and depositing the drinks and food on it.

“I’m starving!” She exclaimed, becoming more aware of her surroundings and brushing off that I was obviously staring at her. She grabbed a bottle of water chugging some down before she picked up a bar of chocolate. “What time is dinner coming?”

“In the next half hour,” I replied noticing she eyed the chocolate but wasn’t attempting to open it.

Her violet eyes sparkled “Maybe just a little bit.” She said with a sly smile, unwrapping a bar of plain milk chocolate “You know just to hold me over.” She popped a piece in her mouth “Mmmm” She groaned, savoring it and closing her eyes.

The little sound of pleasure she made and the way her eyes fluttered at the taste, did something to me. Thankfully there was a table in between us and she couldn’t see my body’s reaction and exactly what it was she did to me.

This is no good. I told myself. I can’t – shouldn’t be having these kinds of reactions to her. I was usually in better control of my body than this and it was disturbing how I literally had none when it came to this girl. Thirteen years damn it. Thirteen years, I have had no problem walking away from any female. Tawny was a test and I managed to walk away. But this little witch was enchanting my body and making me feel things that I have no business feeling.

I cleared my throat and took the chocolate from her hands “That’s enough, you don’t want to spoil your dinner.” Yeah, it was dick-ish of me to deny her that little pleasure, but I couldn’t hear her let out that sound again. If she did, if I heard it, I’m not sure I could stop myself. It was bad enough that we were trapped in this tiny cabin on a train for days as it was.

I didn’t want her enticing me. I didn’t want to look at her soft body and be reminded of what it was like to sink into someone. I didn’t want to think about tasting her skin or feeling her heavy breasts in my hands. Fuuck! An involuntary growl rumbled from my chest making Morgan jump back.

“You okay over there wolfman?” She looked at me skeptically, like I was crazy. She wasn’t scared though – thankfully.

“Yeah, just hungry.” I diverted.