The Delta's Daughter Chapter 257

MORGAN

2 WEEKS LATER

“Are you ready?” I ask my brother. Finn nods his head, a look of apprehension. I squeeze his hand offering comfort and subtly conveying to him there was nothing to fear.

This was the first time he would be witnessing me call our mother forth, the first time he will have seen her in years. For me, it was normal. I had been calling our mother forth for years. If not for my own reasons, then because our father, Orion demanded speaking to her. Whenever Orion came back to Andora, it’s what he always asked of me. Sometimes he would talk to my mother for hours, sometimes it was only for a few minutes. But the conversation was always the same: Orion crying and saying how sorry he was.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I recalled the night he killed her, and all the conversations over all the years I had been privy to witness.

I calmed my inner emotions, steadied my breathing, and spoke the words out loud “As it shall be from the heavens, let it be from the depths. From past to present, I call upon the essence of the echoes to offer their guidance and wisdom. Come forth Eleanor Igraine. Show yourself and allow us to communicate.”

The air became chilled as a stillness surrounded us I and felt my mother’s presence. I opened my eyes and squeezed Finn’s hand again. Watching as his violet eyes focused and landed on the figure standing beside where we sat. Finn’s mouth parts, and gasps - his beautiful eyes shine with tears as they take in the ghostly figure of our mother.

“Mum.” He gasps again. I see the apparition of our mother smile. Her hand reaches out to him, but she cannot touch him.

“My beautiful children. My strong and handsome boy how I have waited for this day to see you one last time.” If echoes could cry, I am sure our mother would be shedding tears. She turns to me “I am so proud of your Morgan Faye. You are exactly where you should be. I sensed it the moment you met him, The Forsaken Prince and the last daughter of Andora. As it was always meant to be.”

I wanted to ask her questions, to elaborate on her meaning, but this session was for Finn not me, so I smiled at her and silently communicated that I agreed with her words.

“Hold your head high and proud Finnegan Artos, for you, have done nothing to be ashamed of. My only regret is not being able to protect you and your sister better. My heart aches for all you both have gone through. But know this; I am so very proud of the man you have become and of the man you will become. Orion’s misgivings will no longer be a reflection on you. You will grow to accomplish great things, my son. Be proud of who are, as you are a son of Andora and a descendant of the almighty Arcas. You may not carry the demi-gods spirit, but your beast is a legend of his own and has more to offer than you know. Trying times are ahead, Morgan has seen the future and you both with fight beside the Queen with the emerald eyes to save this realm's future.”

I felt a deep-seated sadness coming from my mother’s echo and swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. This was goodbye. I could feel it. After all these years, this was the last time I would be able to call her forward.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more for you and…”

“Shh,” My mother cuts Finn’s apology off “There is nothing you could have done to prevent what your father did. You stayed alive for your sister, and you never forgot about her. You stayed true to yourself my beautiful boy. It is I who should apologize, for not running when I had the chance, for subjecting you both to the lives Orion dealt you.” Our mother sighs and looks at me now with knowing eyes. “It is time for me to go, thank you Morgan for letting me see your brother. I wish I could stay and keep coming back but the years of calling me forward to this plane of existence have depleted what little life force is left in me. I held on for this moment, but it is time for me to ascend.”

A sob wracks through me, up and out of my throat. “Thank you, for everything, I will miss your guidance,” I tell her holding back the plethora of emotions that threaten to spill from me.

“What can I do, mother?” Finn asks with a shaky voice.

“Take care of each other and never lose each other again.” Her voice is distant, and her spiritual form begins to fade until it disintegrates into nothing but particles that flutter and fade.

Finn pulls me to him, wrapping his large arms around me. So secure and strong. “It’s just us Morgan, you, and me against the realm. I promise I will always be there for you. Thank you for giving me that moment with mum.”

“As I will always be there for you Finn,” I didn’t correct him and tell him it wasn’t just us, that Kian was as much a part of my life as he is. He didn’t need to hear that. He may be my big brother, big strong, and ferocious, but right now I could see and feel his vulnerability. And all he needed to know was how much I love him.

A knock comes on the door, and I lift my head from Finn’s shoulder to see Kian peeking his head in, I offer him a reassuring smile, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Lamia and King called a meeting. Xander wants to head back to the Kodiak Kingdom.”

Finn straightens his back and wipes the tears from his eyes. And just like that, his face is a mask of stoicism. He clears his throat and stands, “I’ll meet you both in there,” He mumbles, pushing past Kian and leaving us alone.

“Is he okay?” My handsome wolfman asks, crossing the room, pulling me up from the floor, and gathering me in his arms.

“He will be,” I assure him “He just spoke to our mother, and it was the last time I will ever be able to call on her.”

“I’m so sorry” He presses a kiss on the top of my head.

“I’m not, she is at true peace now. And will no longer be haunted by the living.” I stand in his arms in thought, “Kian, you know you can ask me if there is anyone you want to talk to?”

He lets out a small chuckle “No my love, I have no need to question the dead. But I appreciate the offer.” He kisses me again, “Let’s go see what the King and Queen want now shall we?”

“Let’s,” I agree.  

*****

“Gregorio!” I call out to the bear shifter who has found a place amongst the warriors, as a trainer in the new school they are building. “Hey, how are you today?” I asked, jogging up to him and giving him a big hug.

“I am good princess, really good. I get to see you every day, I keep busy and more importantly – you look happy”

“I am,” I tell him honestly. Thoughts of my wolfman spring to the front of my mind and step back taking Kian's hand and giving it a squeeze.

“Margarita would be proud of you, you know.” His voice softens and I detect a slight sadness to it, knowing he still mourns her loss as do I. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her in one way or another.

“Where are you off to little one?” He questions me.

“Meeting,” I hook my thumb over my shoulder, “Hopefully it’s a short one and my brother and Mathias don’t try to kill each other again. I half-joke because it’s still a possibility. I don’t think those two will ever work out their differences. “Then hopefully I will have some time to start planning next year’s planting.” Another thing I have been tasked with, although I asked for this job, was to plan and design greenhouses where we can grow and cultivate medicinal plants and herbs. I will be working with a chemist to manipulate plants for healing purposes, as well as hopefully create an antidote for wolfsbane, and nightshade poisoning.

“Ahh,” Gregorio smiles, “I think you will do very well with that. It seems like you are in your element?” He questions me, looking down at me with an expression full of love.

“Definitely.” I nod. “Dinner tonight?” Something Kian and I have done a few times since I have been here is have dinner with Gregorio at least once a week.

“Sure, same time?”

“Yep 7 pm,” I smile and stand on my tiptoes to reach up and plant a kiss on his cheek. “See you tonight.” I wave him goodbye, and Kian and I make our way to the meeting.

The door is open when I get there and we find Tobias, Finn, Rhett, and Xander already there. Of course, the King and Queen are already there. I take a seat in Kian’s lap, a natural thing I find myself doing automatically whether he asks or not. Needing to feel his touch whenever we are in close proximity.

“I’m missing a leg Mat,” Xander growls at his brother as the nine of us gather in the conference room again.

Tobias and Rhett occupy one sofa, Xander and Ria on another. Kian and I take one chair, cozying up and opposite us, Mathias sits on the other side of a table and Lamia stands next to him leaning against the table.

“I’m just saying that it’s going to be hard to perform your Alpha duties with a limb missing.” Mathias retorts back at him. “You are going to need help.”

“And that’s why I am making Finnegan my Beta!”

“And if someone challenges you?”

“Again, it’s a leg. My beast is still capable of joining and dominating a fight.” Xander scrubs his face with annoyance “Remember the cat we had as a child, Tripod? Having three legs never hindered him”

“Not until Eyota ate him,” Mathias chuckles.

“Hey, don’t bring my beast into this! It wasn’t his fault the cat didn’t like him!” Tobias defends his beast and I look at him,

“Did you really eat his pet cat?” I ask in horror.

“Yes, he did, and I still haven’t forgiven him for it,” Xander states with light anger in his tone.

“If Xander is challenged before he is at full strength again, you have my word I will defend his honor,” Finn speaks up, resolution carries in his words. “They would have to go through me first.” Mathias nods at him, liking his answer. Again, maybe there is hope for these two yet.

“Can’t you just give Xander your blood, like you did to Rogue, and have his leg grow back?” Lamia looks at her mate questioning him.

“Don’t be stupid Lamia” Mathias gives her a side eye, shaking his head.

“Did you seriously just call me stupid?” The room is silent when Lamia rears back on her mate and gives him the look of death.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. We can’t grow back legs and arms.” The King quickly apologizes, realizing his mistake.

“Then how did you grow back Rogues tongue?” she asks leaning over with her head in her palm and elbow on the table staring her mate right in his eyes.

“Simple, our genetic makeup can only grow back what is there, as long as our hearts beat. If our eyes are clawed out, they don’t grow back. If a limb is chopped off, we can’t grow those back. But we can repair our muscular structure if the skin and muscle are there - our bodies can net it together. The tongue is a muscle. I simply recut it, shoved some of my blood in his mouth, and – Voila. The muscle netted itself back together It didn’t fully grow back, but it’s pretty- damn close.

“And how did you know, how to do that?” She narrows her eyes at him, sliding her body over the table more.

Mathias shifts uneasily and shakes his head. “You don’t want to know.”

“I do now.” She smoothly orders him to tell her.

“I’ll tell you,” Tobias laughs.

“Shut the fuck up Toby. Nobody asked you.” King growls at his best friend, warning him to keep quiet.

“How? Dear, mate of mine…” Lamia leans forward and grabs King’s tie pulling his face closer to hers “How did you know how to do that?” Her questioning is slow and seductive and King's throat bobs.

“Fucking moons woman!” Mathias exasperates pulling away from her, unable to no longer stare her in the eye for one reason or another. “FINE! I figured it out while torturing someone.” He mumbles, rushing the words out.

“Well, that’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be.” Lamia almost looks disappointed that his explanation wasn’t juicier.

“Yeah, now ask him who he was torturing and how.” Tobias pipes up with a matter-of-fact tone but runs his hands through his blond hair nervously like he knows he should have kept quiet.

Mathias gives a nasty snarl to Tobias “I swear to the goddess I will fucking kill you one day Toby!” 

“You will do no such thing!” Lamia defends Tobias. “At least Toby gives me the truth, no matter how unsavory it is.”

“For Moon fucking’s sake woman, I tortured a woman. That’s all you should need to know.” He sighs. “Can we please talk about this in private? Later?”

“Okay, but I will hold you to this conversation. I’m too curious to let it go now.” The Queen chuckles and sits back up.

I really do like her; she is sassy and not afraid of anything. Kind-spirited but tough. An innocence about her that contradicts the hard exterior she displays. She is a force to be reckoned with.

“Moving on,” The King quickly redirects the conversation. “Xander will be returning to the Kodiak Kingdom. Finn, you will obviously be going with them. Xander can swear you in before you go. I am sending a troop of warriors to accompany them. I want you, Tobias, and Hunji, to follow on foot. I don’t want a repeat of the attack happening. We are no closer to finding who the culprits are or what their motivation for the attack was.”

“As far as we can determine, they were a mixed group of Hunters and werewolves – not rogues, they smelt like a pack,” Tobias adds.

I look at Kian, and he bobs his head in thought “Tobias and I can run ahead, and scout the path for a potential ambush. Finn should head up the rear to be on the safe side.”

“Good idea, if there is nothing else, then you will all leave tomorrow,” Mathias concludes.

“Is it okay if I go too?” I ask hesitantly, looking more at my wolfman and asking him than the King and Queen.

“Of course, you can ride with Ria and Xander” Kian tells me.

“I was actually going to suggest Morgan go too,” Lamia says, looking at me. “Beta Mike’s… chosen mate… Jonda, would like to meet with you. To see if you can help with a little problem she has.” I cock my head at the Queen in question “She was cursed – by your mother and she wants to see if you can reverse it.”

“Oooh!” I exclaim in surprise. “I will see what I can do then,” I was taken by surprise, wondering what and why my mother had cursed this woman. I guess I would find out soon enough and hoped I could help her.

“Rhett, can Travis spare you for a few more weeks? King Kellen has Tala’s coronation set for December; I know you will be there as well as Travis. We are planning on arriving the morning of. It’s still a few weeks away but Hunji you are also expected to attend and can leave from the Kodiak Kingdom if you don’t mind hanging out in the bear Kingdom for a while?”

“Of course, your highness” Kian adheres to Lamia’s request.

“Tobias, you will return back here to hold down the fort when King and I attend the coronation.”

“No problem,” Tobias agrees.

Shortly after the meeting comes to an end, a somewhat plan in place.

I stood on the balcony of our room looking out. The days were cold, the nights colder. The golden brown and bright orange leaves had almost fallen from the trees. The only thing still green are the fir trees that mostly populated the center of the forest.

Kian had walked Gregorio out, still heavily invested in their conversation. Since the meeting my stomach had felt twisted, my gut telling me something bad was coming. It was these times I wish I would be shown a vision instead of having that forlorn feeling that twisted up my insides. At least with a vision, I had some inkling of who it was about. These feelings told me nothing, just that I should be cautious.

Large and calloused hands, gently stroke my bare arms. Sending tingling sensations throughout me. “I told you, little witch, you will get sick standing out here in nothing but a sheer dress.

I turn in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck and staring into those besotting golden honey-brown orbs. “Then it’s a good thing I have you to warm me up, isn’t it?”

Kian growls and pushes his erection against me, telling me how much he wants to warm me up. “Indeed, I will warm you up,” He growls again, his voice full of want. He stoops and places a kiss on the mark he gifted me, eliciting a moan from me when the heat rises deep within, and I rub my thighs at the thought of all the ways he was going to keep me warm. 

“Don’t you dare tease me with a good time,” I tell him, groaning when he nips at my collarbone.

“Oh, I’m not teasing my little witch, It’s a promise.” I gasp when he suddenly scoops me up and brings me to our bed. Laying me down softly he crawls over me, leaning on his elbows for support. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

“Quite a few times. But I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.”

“I love you,” he says looking deeply into my eyes.

“I love you too.” I bite my lip, my arousal taking over, and I know he scents it when his nostrils flare.

“Make me your's Kian,” I plead, needing to feel him. It’s never enough, no matter when or where the need to feel Kian touch me, inside and out is a constant.

“As you command,” Kian whispers before capturing my lips in a hungry kiss.