The Delta's Daughter Chapter 275

TAWNY

“Shit, shit” I mumble as I stumble to the bedside table. Pulling my shorts up and almost tripping over my own feet in the process.

I rip the drawer open and grab the bottle of pills, opening it with shaky hands and dumping two of the pills into my clammy palm.

“What the fuck are those?” Mason’s agitated and harsh voice cuts through the air as I pop the pills into my mouth.

He reaches me and snatches the bottle from my hand inspecting it. His eyes widen and his mouth forms an ‘O’ as realization dawns on him.

“Fuck Tawny,” he sighs “He’s your mate, isn’t he?” I nod swallowing the pills. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice has lost all the anger and now holds sympathy.

“How long have you been taking these?” He refers to the heat-reducing pills.

Pills that are meant to hide the scent of a werecats heat and reduce the symptoms, keeping the heat at bay. Pills that don’t seem to work when around Crimson, evidently, if tonight is anything to go by.

“A few months,” I admit “A week after we were attacked.” I give in when he looks at me with sadness his deep brown eyes holding a world of worry for me.

Mason shakes his head slowly, “Do you know what these can do to you long-term Tawny?” He asks, carefully sitting on the edge of my bed and looking at me. His penetrating gaze made me feel guilty.

I do know what they can do to me. To my feline. Wolfsbane isn’t just for werewolves, it's very effective on werecats too. The pills are cut with a combination of amphetamines, wolfsbane, and Nightshade. Two highly poisonous substances. Low doses or not, that concoction should only be taken on a low and as-needed basis. Long-term or overuse can put my feline into hibernation or worse, slowly kill her.

“It inhibits your mind, blocks your spirit animal.” He answers for me when I say nothing.

“What am I supposed to do Mason? He doesn’t have a spirit animal. He doesn’t feel the mate bond like you, or I would. Did you not see how he shifted tonight? I don’t even know what he is!” I throw my hands up in the air turning in a pacing circle. “He’s engaged for fucks sake and it’s not like he can walk away from the contract!” I flop down on the bed next to him, “I don’t know what to fucking do, even with the pills, every time I am around him, he induces my heat.”

I feel the tears gather in my eyes, but I refuse to cry. Screwing my eyes closed tightly, I draw in deep gulps of air.

Mason’s strong arms wrap around me “You will figure this out. We will figure this out. I don’t want to see you in pain, and I don’t want you taking more of these pills, Tawny.” I’m about to protest but he cuts me off “Take them moderately until we come back from Riocht because that would be the worst thing ever if you went into heat in the middle of battle.”

I can’t help the laugh, because yeah it would be pretty bad if I went into heat during a battle. Just the thought of what would and could happen makes me cringe.

Mason stays the night with me, sleeping in the lounge. I listen to his soft snores, not finding sleep myself.

At dawn, we load up our bags and I am thankful that Mason had already arranged for Crimson to ride in another vehicle.

The ride is silent as our convoy rolls out of Cambiador and begins the four-day trek to Riocht. My gaze is fixed out the window watching the thick lush green jungle pass by. My thoughts wander between the complicated situation that I have found myself in and the upcoming and impending battle we will be facing.

*****

The battle was brutal. Fewer warriors were lost than there were casualties. Our uniforms protected us against the teeth and claws of the Crawlers. Still, the loss of a dozen men was felt amongst the ranks.

Eager to get back to the kingdom, Crimson had left the day after we won Riocht, and Orion Artos’ life was ended by King Mathias.

Mason and I stayed behind for a couple of days longer, I need time with my best friend, Lamia. I ended up telling her everything, of course, her reaction was to come to Cambiador and rip Crimson to shreds.

I was able to convince her that would not be the best idea, much to her reluctance. But then she secretly told me the day I was leaving that she was pregnant.

Saying goodbye is always hard. No matter who, where, when, or why and I would miss my friends dearly. But as our vehicle pulled up outside the palace and I stepped out in the heat of the jungle, I stretched my limbs out, bunched from the long ride “It's good to be home,” I say out loud.

Mason chuckles, “What?” I ask turning to face him over the hood of the car.

“You said home,” He smiles.

“I did, didn’t I?” I muse, surprised by the realization of my own words. That surprise dwindles. “It feels like home,” I admit - because it really does. In the past few months, Cambiador has grown on me and my feline feels at peace here and by proxy, I do too. Despite my complicated mate bond.

“Tawny! Tawny! Welcome home!” Gillian comes running down the palace steps flinging her long waif body at me and engulfing me in a tight squeeze “I missed you so much!”

We had only been gone a little over two weeks, almost three but it wouldn’t be Gillian if she didn’t go overboard with her emotions.

I hug her back just as tightly. Just because she is engaged to my mate, I’m still very fond of her and consider her a friend. There’s not a mean bone in her body and it’s not her fault her fiancée is meant to be mine. I could never hold it against her, especially as she has no idea who Crimson is to me.

“I missed you too, Gilly” I laugh and smile as she reluctantly lets me go, but loops her arm in me and ushers me up and inside the palace.

When we enter the foyer, Crimson and Wyvern are there to greet us. Mason shakes their hands and Wyvern greets me with a hug too. Crimson stands back, arms folded behind his back. “Princess,” He says, “Welcome home.”

“Thank you,” I reply not quite looking at him because I just can’t find it in myself to look him in the eye. “Let us settle in and we can debrief later this afternoon?” I half ask, half command.

“Good idea.” Crimson shifts uneasily on his feet.

“Tell her!” Gillian beams at her fiancée.

“Tell me what?” I bite my lip in worry. What could they have to tell me?

Oh, goddess! If they tell me Gillian is with child… I… I don’t know what I will do, I can’t handle that.

Juniper paces in my mind with anticipation, shoulders slouched and haunches low.

Crimson clears his throat “It’s about time you, Mason, and the remaining MacTire warriors became part of the kingdoms Clowder,”

A woosh of breath leaves me and the tension in my body expels with his words. My shoulders relax and I feel like letting out a loud obnoxious laugh in relief. But I don’t. I hold it in. Instead, I reply “I agree.”

“Of course, you do!” Gillian exclaims, her blue eyes sparkling “You can’t become Queen if you aren’t even officially part of the kingdom's Clowder.”

“She can’t become Queen until she picks a worthy male,” Crimson adds.

“Or finds her mate.” Mason’s words are like ice. Only Crimson and I are aware they are directed at him.

Oblivious to the tension between the two males and the implication of Mason’s declaration, Gillian pulls me towards the kitchen, chattering on about holding a grand party in honor of us officially becoming part of the kingdom and who should be invited, and where it will be held.

I’m only half listening. I promised Mason I would quit taking the pills once we got back here, but I don’t see how I can because my heat will ramp up, and either Crimson claims me or I will be ravaged by some other werecat.

I’m not a virgin, no, I smile at the memory of Tyron, Kellen’s Gamma. We had a crush on each other the first time we met. But my attention was always drawn to Hunji. However, after Hunji turned me down, I spent a lot of time with Tyron after Lamia had been rescued. And well, one thing led to another, and we bumped hips a handful of times. Until he found his mate.

But just because I’m not pure, it doesn’t mean I’m loose either. The idea of having multiple men fight to sedate my heat does not appeal to me one little bit.

The official initiation into Cambiador’s Clowder was short and private. Several council members, Crimson, Gillian, and of course Mason and I. The ritual was performed and once completed, the connection to the kingdom opened up and I could feel the thrum of the people course through my veins. Their essence - is like a beating drum - the heart of the kingdom.

Gillian immediately popped open a bottle of bubbly wine in congratulations and celebration. She is determined to hold a grand party once the MacTire warriors were initiated to officially welcome all of us and announce me as the crowned princess.

I didn’t think it was necessary, but Gillian convinced me it is.

I wake up in the middle of the night, my body, heated and pulsing. An indication that my heat is rising. The need for food clutches me as my tummy growls fiercely.

I make my way down to the kitchen, winding soundlessly through the sleeping palace. Finding leftover chocolate cake, I cut myself a moderate-sized piece and pour a big helping of milk to wash it down with.

The kitchen back door opens, and without turning around I know it’s Crimson. His cinnamon scent with the undertone of freshly baked bread - hit me full force.

“Tawny,” He croaks as he enters.

I turn to look at him, and my hands begin to shake, because I know if we stay in close proximity to each other, alone, what’s going to happen. It can’t happen.

“I was just leaving,” I tell him, standing to put my dishes in the sink.

“Please don’t.” His words have me pausing, there’s so much remorse in those two words and I desperately want to turn around to see the emotion in his eyes and on his face. I don’t trust myself though. I need to get away from him.

“Tawny,” He says again, this time I feel his warm breath on the back of my neck, and I shiver.

I step to the side, still not turning to face him, in an attempt to evade my mate. His hand circles my wrist sending tingles up my arm, and I shudder out a breath at the pleasurable contact.

I shake my head, also trying to shake this feeling and not succumb to the one-sided bond, that’s urging me to press my lips on his, drop my shorts, and beg him to take me. To claim me. “No Crimson,”

“Please we need to talk.” Crimson urges.

This time I do turn around and cringe when I’m met with red eyes. Eyes that burn into me and heat my body. Remorse and lust cloud those deep hues of red. I peer more closely and see his pupils have dilated into the shape of crescent moons. So strange. So unique.

I find myself getting lost as our gazes remain locked. Swimming in the depths of his mystical eyes and drowning in the sea of emotion I find in them.

Without moving, our bodies are drawn together until there’s no space left between us. I clear my throat and find my resolve “You need to remove your hand and take a step back.”

He flinches at my harshness but immediately releases me. Taking several steps back, he runs his hand through his hair and over his face several times. “Tawny, your heat…” Mason must have told him and for a moment I’m angry at Mason, but that feeling quickly dissolves because I remember why I’m in this predicament in the first place.

Crimson steps into me, reaching out to cup my face “I can’t stop thinking about you kitten,” He says, and I move to evade his touch. “I know this isn’t the best situation, but if you could just wait for me…”

I splutter. My mouth gaped like a fish out of water, words trapped in my throat as my mind reeled. Finally, I find my voice, barely, and hiss out “Wait?... Best situation?” I start to vibrate with anger and my feline stirs – hackles raised and baring teeth, her emotions pushing on me and guiding that rising rage with a fire that’s ready to explode.

“What?... You expect me to wait six months until what?”

“Until the contract has been fulfilled. Until I am no longer bound by blood to Gillian…”

“You want me to wait six months until you figure out if you want me or not?” I couldn’t believe the balls on this cat! He was delusional if he thought I would wait patiently with my thumb up my ass while he continued to play house.

I glared at him throwing shade in his face and showing as much anger and hurt as I possibly could, gritting my teeth and balling my hands into tight fists.

I looked right into his eyes. “I don’t think so! I have more respect for myself, Kolby!” I spat at him, unable to contain the ticking time bomb that was about to explode from my mouth.

I was done with his shit, this shit - before it even started.

He didn’t have a chance to recover from my rejection before I threw the real one at him….

“I Tawny Johnson reject you as my mate Kolby Crimson! May the goddess break our bonds, understand and forgive me for rejecting her gift.” As soon as the words were out, I felt a sharp tug in my chest and an icy pain in my heart.

Crimson stood there stunned, not an ounce of pain crossed his features.

Of course, he wouldn’t feel it without a spirit animal. Not like me. I turn to run out of the kitchen, and back to my room where I can process what I have done.

I fly through the door and up the stairs hearing Crimson call my name several times.

I slide down the door once I am locked safely behind it, My hand rubs my chest, but the quick, sharp pain I felt has dissolved into nothing. My feline paces but is eerily calm. Not a mourning ball of fur like I thought she would be with my rejection of her mate.

I feel sad, but only because it came to this. Otherwise, I feel nothing else. No regret, no pain, no anger. I stand and cross the room, grab my phone, and dial the one person who can help me make sense of everything.

I finger my grandfather’s ring, which has sat around my neck on a chain since the day he gave it to me - the day he died. The blue stone glimmers under the false light of my lamp and I silently wish he was still here to guide both me and Crimson. I can’t help but wonder what he would have made of all… this.

“Hello, Tawny?” Lamia’s sweet melodic voice fills my ears and I sigh at the comforting sound of my best friend’s voice.

“I rejected him”

“Oh, Tawny! Are you ok?” I register the concern and slight panic in her voice.

I let out a small chuckle “Surprisingly… I’m ok.” I tell her truthfully. I am. I’m okay. “It feels right like I should have done it months ago.”

“I’m coming there. I can leave tomorrow…”

“No! You don’t need to come here. I’m ok, everything will be fine. Besides, I have Mason.” The last thing she needed to do was come here and have Crimson's blood on her hands. “Besides I don’t think your beast of a mate would even let you travel being pregnant,” I chuckle again. Mathias is the biggest shifter I have ever laid eyes on, and scary too.

“Yeah, the last thing we need right now is for King to declare war on Cambiador because I ripped Crimson's throat out.”

“Uhm, yeah, I don’t think we need to take it that far.” I pause, hesitating to tell her but, in the end, I relent “Crimson says he doesn’t have a spirit animal,” I wait because I want to hear what she has to say before I divulge more information.

“That’s impossible,” she queries “We all saw him shift at the battle, you have seen him shift several times, right?”

“I have but… he maintains he is not a werecat.”

“Then what the fuck is he?” Lamia growls back.

“That’s the million-coin question. I’m not sure if he even knows.” I think back to how his skin rippled and his eyes turned that deep shade of red – crimson. And the way his pupils morph and dilate oddly into the shape of crescents.

Lamia and I talk for several hours about everything and nothing, and how strange it is now that she is the Queen of shifters. We end the call with me promising to be there when the baby is born.

I’m amazed that when I do finally crawl into bed, I find sleep easily. My mind was calm and my heat sedated. For now.