The Delta's Daughter Chapter 268

TAWNY

I wiped the blood and sweat from my brow in an over-exaggerated movement. I was beaten, tired, overwhelmed, exasperated; as many words, as you can find to explain how broken a will and resolve was - I was it.

The sun was peaking over the horizon, the red glow in the sky reflecting the blood that drenched the streets of Cambiador. The aftermath of the carnage I stood amongst, was unimaginable. The streets ran red with blood that was slowly being absorbed by the dry dirt. I looked up to Mason, hoisting yet another body over his shoulder and placing it in the bed of the truck, with the others.

We had lost five of Mason’s warriors he brought with him from MacTire. Five too many and countless warriors and civilians of Cambiador.

I didn't know these... people. They didn't know me. I grew up an outcast from this kingdom, I grew up with wolves, but it didn't make me sympathize with them any less. I saw the pain in Mason's eyes, and I see it on the faces of warriors, in the civilians who are trying to help each other. They were a community, and none of them had ever seen a battle. They were not prepared. And above the smell of blood and death, came the sense of sorrow, a somber feeling settling in like a thick blanket coating the city.

I began walking back to the palace, to do exactly what I had just told Mason to do. To Take a break and to find Crimson. My Grandfather had been injured last night and I didn’t know the extent, but I do know it was severe.

My limbs felt like weights, and I could feel my legs drag. My orange locks stuck to my face and as much as I brushed them away, they still came back to stick to the blood, dirt, and sweat I was coated in.

I looked up at the grand building. It was only a few short weeks ago that I arrived here and was in awe of its beauty. Now it just looks like a sadly wasted structure. The outer walls were scorched by the flames when Molotov cocktails were thrown at the building. Luckily, they didn’t manage to burn it down. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the city that was still burning in some areas.

*****

Now, I stood on the steps to the palace, willing my feet to move. We had been blindsided, ambushed. I headed straight for my grandfather's chambers, needing to check on his health.

“Princess, he is waiting for you” The healer bowed as I stood outside his door. “Please go in.” The healer was just coming out and closing the door behind him. Two guards flanked his chamber's entrance.

“Thank you” I gave a small appreciative smile, the best I could muster, which wasn’t much, before opening the door and slipping inside.

He, my grandfather, lay on his bed, the sheet pulled up to his neck. He looked even older. His charcoal-colored skin was now an ashy color, dull and grey. His breaths were shallow and shaky. I gulped, knowing this was not good and tried to hold the tears that threatened to escape. I could hear the slow pounding of his heart as I moved closer to the bed.

“Grandfather…” I choked at my words as my eyes cast down on the debilitated man. The powerful King Armand of the were-cats, lay looking like nothing but a frail old man. The light in his yellow eyes dulled to a lifeless pale color.

“Child… I am dying.” His words strained as he fought to speak through his pain. “I regret every day not knowing you sooner… Here,” he lifted his shaking hand and reached out for mine, tugging for me to sit. “Take this ring, only the bearer will become king. It is now your responsibility… to bring the next heir to the throne.” He coughed and a small amount of blood seeped into his mouth.

“Keep the ring safe – cough – the stone holds a power none of us – cough – can -cough – comprehend. If you do not name a chosen mate, you cannot hold the throne. If not you – cough – it must be Kolby. Now leave dear girl, and send Crimson in. We have much to discuss and I am afraid it will be too late before I can name my successor.” He let go of my hand. The cold ring in my palm.

I stood and left, not before kissing his forehead, “May the gods, receive you well, King. And may you live long in the afterlife.” I, again, choked back my tears, “Thank you for letting us get to know each other Grandfather, I love you.” Tears brimming at the surface, I told the guards on the way out to summon Crimson.

After a much-needed shower and changing my clothes, I called King Alexander, seeing as I couldn’t get a hold of Kellen or Mike. I relayed the battle to him and the strange creatures that had attacked us. I was still trying to make sense of my emotions. I didn't know my grandfather, as well as I would have liked to. But even so, these past few weeks, of getting to know him, I had grown to love him for the person he is, not the person he was or who I had been told about. His old-fashioned mind had changed over the years, but he didn't know how to accept those changes or the changing realm around him.

After my enlightening conversation with King Alexander, I made my way back to my grandfather’s chambers. The closer I got, the stronger Crimson’s scent became - the sweet smell of baked bread and cinnamon butter. I took a deep breath and calmed myself.

I opened the door and Crimson’s deep yellow eyes latched onto mine, from his kneeling position next to my grandfather, burning a hole right through me. Tears streaked his face when he lifted his head.

“The King is dead.” Crimson’s solemn words hit me, and I let the first tear fall.

The Cat’s cradle had come undone. And it was up to us to hold it together.

*****

A mass memorial was held for the civilians and King Armand over the next two days. Eventually, I was able to speak with Commander Hunji and Prince Kellen.

Aid was being sent to us by MacTire and the Moon kingdom, due to the huge loss we suffered. The people of Cambiador may not like the wolves being in their kingdom but at this point, they needed their help. They had no choice but to accept their help.

I was told my father would be among the group of warriors who were coming to help us, it made me realize just how much I had missed him. How much I had missed his strong fatherly arms wrapping around me and giving me the comfort and love only a parent could provide.

Since the attack and my grandfather’s death, I felt as though the tears were permanently waiting to spring free at any given moment. I had never felt so weak and defeated. Not even through the worst period of bullying, I had endured.

“Princess Tawny?” I turned my head to acknowledge Gillian, sitting up a little straighter and closing the book in my hands.

Gillian’s eyes were ringed red, the blue of her irises glazed from the effects of crying. Her nose was pink and her lips puffy.

“Crimson has asked for you. He is in the King’s office.”

“I will be there in a moment,” I tell her. My voice is flat because I just can’t muster up any feeling. I didn’t even want to try.

She nods and leaves me alone.

I take a deep breath, my hands smoothing down my capris. I can smell Crimson's scent from the other side of the door, my sense of smell heightened due to the werewolf genes that course through my veins. I lift a hand to knock on the door, ready to face Kolby Crimson for the first time since the attack.

I drop my hand to my side, wondering why I should knock when I have as much right to enter as I please, as he does. So instead of being polite and knocking, I turn the handle and walk in. His scent hits me full blast as soon as the door cracks and I try hard to ignore that alluring scent that quickly invades every part of me.

“Tawny.” His smooth voice is like music to my ears.

“Crimson,” I croak back, swallowing hard. “Gillian said you wanted to speak to me?”

“Yes, please come in and take a seat.”

I do as I’m asked and plop my but in one of the chairs across from the large desk, crossing my legs as a defense mechanism. Crimson remains standing.

“I need to know what Armand said to you before he died.” No pleasantries, no smile, straight to the point. Though I could tell that just saying my grandfather’s name pained him, by the way his eyes crinkled, and he drew in a sharp breath.

“I think we need to discuss something else, first.” I boldly told him, referring to our mate bond. I waited for his reaction, a response. Crimson’s eyes slowly roved over me, taking me in. I watched his chest rise and fall and the seconds that seemed like hours, ticked by.

Finally, he spoke, but only after I had started to feel like a fool. His eyes narrowed on me, and his next words had me feeling all the more insecure but also annoyed, and that hot-blooded temper I have sizzled to the top. “He gave you the ring? If you want to become Queen, I will not stand in your way. It is your rightful place. But I will be your second in command, you will need me if you choose the path of the crown.”

I gawk at him, mouth hanging open. Was he really just going to ignore our bond? Just like that? No interest, no input, no acknowledgment? I needed something, anything. I needed him to admit it, even if he ultimately rejected me because I couldn’t live with this hanging between us like a taboo subject that would be shelved because he was too ignorant to face me about the elephant in the room.

“No Crimson!” I stand, fists balled at my sides. “I’m talking about us being mates!” If I wanted a reaction, I suddenly got one, but not one I was expecting.

Crimson’s head reared back, a frown forming between those magical eyes that for the briefest second flashed a ruby red. At first, I thought I had imagined it, his pupils dilating into crescent moon shapes. But all too quickly they returned to their normal bright yellow. My mind flashed back to the battlefield only two days ago when he had shifted and I watched as his fur had rippled from a yellow to deep red, crimson like his name.

“Mate?” He questioned me running a hand over his jaw. The muscles in his arms flexed as he did, sending a rippling effect over his caramel-covered skin. His eyes snapped back to mine and his head shook, a complex and confused expression took over his features accompanied by disbelief.

Crimson slumped down into the chair on the other side of the desk, eyes still on me. He began to shake his head slowly. “I can see you are beautiful, any man who didn’t is stupid. I know I feel an attraction to you… But mate? Are you sure?”

“Are you fucking kidding me Crimson?” I balked “Does your spirit animal not call out to me? Because mine is pacing like fuck in my head and at this moment she is growling, agonized that you refuse to acknowledge her, that your counterpart has not even attempted to connect with her!”

“I’m not a werecat Tawny” He gritted out, jaw tight and clamped – the muscle ticking. “From the moment I set eyes on you I was attracted to you but… I don’t have a spirit animal.”

“That’s not possible!” I had seen him shift, there was no way he wasn’t a werecat. “You know what?” I say standing the anger deep inside me pooling, “There is no reason to make shit up! If you don’t want me then… say so; don’t try to cover up your rejection with an elaborate story.” By now I’m seething “You could have at least come up with a better story...”

“I’m not making it up!” Crimson launches from his chair, effortlessly leaping over the desk. I take a step back, around the chair and he takes one forward until I am pinned against the office door, he stands mere inches in front of me.

Crimson’s chest heaves and his eyes catch mine in a heated stare “I’m not making up shit, kitten.” He growls ending it with a purr, his breath fanning my face, scent suffocating me that has my stomach in knots.

“I saw you shift” my words come out breathless and needy as all I can think about is closing the distance and having his lips crush against mine. Wondering what they would feel like. If those full bow lips would feel just as soft as they look.

His fingers come up gripping my chin, tilting my head back so I have nowhere to look but into his eyes. His steely gaze holds mine as the tingles from his touch ripple over my skin. “I assure you kitten; I have no spirit animal. I am the only one of my kind that I know about and if I wasn’t already engaged I would have you over my knee and punish you for that spunky little mouth of yours.”

Holy mother of Bastet! It took everything I had to keep my legs locked and not buckle under me. I really wanted him to put me over his knee just as he promised. My cat, Juniper was aching to feel his acceptance, as was I.

Somehow my brain caught up to his words if I wasn’t already engaged. What does that mean exactly? I found my resolve and strength and put my hands on his chest, trying to push him back. Away from me. His sturdy and hard chest rose heavily at my touch his breaths became deeper but try as I might he didn’t budge an inch.

“Back off Crimson,” I managed to get out with an unwavering voice.

Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips ghosting the shell of my ear “Is this why I feel drawn to Tawny?” He whispered sending shivers down my spine “I’m drawn to magic, is that what this bond you feel is? Magic?”

No, no, no. His smooth yet deep voice was pulling me in, and I could feel that resolve disintegrating the more he leaned into me. His scent drove me crazy and clouded my judgment. I wanted to kiss him, to feel him, but at the same time, I wasn’t about to give in to him.

In a fit of panic, I opened up a link to Mason *I need you, King’s office. Now!*

*On my way* Mason’s voice filled my mind.

“I told you to back off Crimson!” I growled pushing on his chest again in an attempt to create more space between us.

His sturdiness gave and he leaned back, his eyes boring back into mine. The ruby red color made an appearance again and his pupils became crescent moons once more. I couldn’t peel my eyes from his, those intense and strange orbs had me locked in a battle of will.

The next thing I know, the door behind me flies open knocking me forward – right into Crimson’s muscular arms that immediately snake around me, I feel his lips against mine. Soft and moist, pressing against mine.

“Tawny!” Mason’s worried and elevated voice has Crimson jumping back, his arms falling to his sides, I waste no time stepping back to the safety of Mason now the spell has been broken. But boy what a spell.