The Delta's Daughter Chapter 288

CRIMSON

My roar rips through the night, halting the music, festivities, and actions of those who are attempting to mate and claim my mate.

My kitten. MINE.

I see red, I blaze with fury. Baring my teeth and I rumble out a growl, stalking towards my bound mate – laid out like a feast to be devoured, silk ties wrapped around her wrists and ankles, her dress is shredded and the heat rolling off her consumes my senses.

The scent of her arousal fills the air and I gulp it in.

I fight through the cluster of men who are vying for my woman. Scratching and clawing, knocking them down and out, making my way to her.

I’m drenched, fur saturated with their blood. How many are dead – I don’t care. I’ll fight the whole Pride if I have to.

I’ll kill them all.

Reaching Tawny, I climb up and over her, my fur form covering her as I growl and snarl warnings to the other males. Protecting what belongs to me.

More males sneer and swipe, fighting to claim my mate. I fight them off one by one, each backing off when they understand they can’t win. I won’t let them.

The largest male steps up, and he too bares his teeth, puffing out his chest. Threatening and robust, he lets out a roar that rivals mine before he shifts and takes the form of a humongous Lion.

Any other time I would be in awe, but not now. Not while he is a threat.

I growl back, warning him and the others. Other males slink back as the two of us square up. The lion is twice my size yet, he is in for a surprise.

He is not the king of the jungle.

I am.

I let the unknown power deep inside me rise, the dark shadows of what I am, what I have kept hidden, consume me and take over.

My fur ripples and shimmers and I grow to match his size.

The Lion takes a cautious step back.

That’s right fucker, you picked the wrong shifter to fuck with.

I chuckle, and I see the surprise in my adversaries’ eyes when he realizes I can speak in my shifted form. ‘She is mine’ I growl at him.

He lunges and I spring forward as claws meet and teeth clash. Fur flies and blows are exchanged. He’s strong, as a werelion should be.

He has never met the likes of me though.

I quickly pin him to the floor and partially shift back. Gasps ring out from shock and fear as I stand half-shifted, with a large, clawed foot on the Lion’s chest. I bring down a hand, and claws like talons stick him in the ribs. A damaging but not life-threatening blow.

I turn back to my kitten, naked and tied to a board. Primed and ready for the taking.

I register motion behind me, and I know what I have to do. If I don’t - they will.

I didn’t want it to happen like this. Not like this. Not in this way.

This was a claiming. And only the strongest would win the prize.

My princess was the prize. I-am-the-strongest.

I crawl over her, still in my half-shifted state. My cock - long and hard – huge.

“Tawny,” I grit when her skin comes in contact with my fur-framed limbs and flames flare between us.

“It has to be you, Please Crimson.” Her hips lift and legs spread, begging to be filled.

I grit my teeth and groan as my eyes roam down her bare body, “Fuck” her pussy glistens with juices and I lick my lips. The urge to taste her - strong.

“Crimson,” she breathily whispers - my cock twitching at the sound. “I want it to be you.” Her glassy eyes tell me she has been drugged; they induced her heat so she wouldn’t fight.

“I didn’t want it to happen like this, kitten.” I shake my head. She’s not in her right mind.

This wanton woman below me, begging and aching, is consumed by her induced state. I’m not even sure if she knows what she is asking, what they were going to do to her.

My body shakes with anticipation as I prepare to sink into her.

Will she hate me? I have to take the chance. I have to claim her in front of this Pride. To show my dominance.

What happens after… I’m not sure.

But no one will have her except me.

I palm my hard length, rub it against her weeping opening, and plunge in.

I throw my head up and arch my back, releasing a mighty roar as I sink deep inside, filling her to the hilt. Her walls quiver and squeeze around the hard shaft of my beast.

Finally.

*****

Tawny

A raging roar rips through the night, echoing off the trees. I shudder at the sound. The scent of cinnamon and baked bread fills my senses.

Crimson.

He came for me.

Will he claim me? I’m sure he will. I hope he will.

In my hazy and drugged state, my heat surges through me. Heating my body to a point where I crave the need to be touched, and to be satisfied.

I see him fight his way to me. His cat - a deep shade of red with eyes that glow like demon dogs – mercilessly maims and kills until he stands above me hissing and snarling at the other males whose hands had touched me.

Arik steps forward, the king of the Pride baring his teeth and roaring back at my mate.

My heart stutters and fear swirls when they pounce on one another. Crimson’s form doubles in size and the rippling red of his fur that coats his cat, glistens under the glow of the moon and the tip of the dawn’s first light.

The witching hour.

Like fiery flames flickering and licking, his fur dances and flares with each movement as they lock in a brutal battle... An enigma is what he is, and I’m captivated by the power he exudes.

My Crimson beast crawls over me. A wild and ravenous look in his eyes as he stares down at me, covered in the blood of his enemies.

“Tawny,” He says through a flash of teeth."

“It has to be you,” I purr up at him, tugging on the restraints that shouldn’t be able to hold me, but my body is lax. “Please Crimson,” I beg needing him to fuck me even if this is my worst nightmare come to life.

I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. The need for my mate to claim me outweighed my fears.

“Crimson,” I beg again. Finding his semi-shifted state beastly and sexy as fuck.

“I didn’t want it to be like this kitten, not this way.” He grits the words out, holding his own desires and needs back.

I grind my hips up, my heat seeking what only he can give me.

My eyes wander down my naked body and land on the solid length between his legs. Crimson palms his cock rubbing over and through my folds.

“Yes,” I hiss when I feel the tip push in.

In one fluid motion, he pushes in, filling me up with a roar that has my walls clenching around him. Hands grasp my hips and lift them up, reaching a better angle that has me calling out his name, pleading for more.

He gives me more.

Long deep strokes that become quicker, harder. His fur flickers and he is back in skin form pounding into me like it’s his last right.

He ravishes me, licking and sucking while keeping a pounding rhythm. A fire burns deep inside me, rising and all-consuming as I reach the edge of oblivion “Kolby!” I cry out as my orgasm explodes.

His cock swells and jerks inside me, his head bends sucking and lapping my breasts when hot and sharp teeth pierce through the swell of the mound. The sting of venom from his bite courses through my blood and has me falling over the edge once more. At the same time, a rush of warmth fills me, as he growls out his release, almost collapsing on top of me as he finishes.

“Crimson,” I whine wanting more but my eyes are heavy, and I can’t keep them open.

The restraints are loosened, and I’m lifted into my mate’s arms, gently being cradled.

“I got you kitten. Always.” He whispers.

I manage to peel my eyes open; I look around and find the Pride on their knees. “Crimson,” I start. His eyes follow mine, looking behind him to find the same scene I have. I feel his body tense and I search out Althea.

Althea is the only one standing, her eyes blown wide with shock and fear. Our gazes lock and she takes a deep breath “A Grimalkin!” She exclaims. “Forgive me, I did not know,” Althea drops to her knees, bowing her head. “Please, we thought you were one of them – a Skinwalker – You are something else. A creature… so rare and ancient… I beg… We didn’t know.”

“You tried to have my mate claimed by another!” Crimson growls at her. “I should kill you all.” Oddly, he says it with such a calm that it scares me more and I can see it does Althea too. Her eyes search out Arik, lingering on his damaged body for a few moments.

She looks scared.

They all do as I cast a quick glance around.

“She has answers Crimson,” I whisper, “She called you a Grimalkin, and… she’s, my grandmother.”

“Fuck Kitten, they don’t deserve to live after what they tried to do.” He looks down at me, pain in and turmoil swirling in his still, red flaming eyes.

“There are children with yellow eyes and crescent pupils, she knows where you came from.” I lift a heavy limb, my hand reaching up to cup his jaw.

Crimson’s eyes soften. His throat bobbing as he swallows, “For you. Only for you, will I let them live.”

“Thank you,”

“You are mine. Only mine Tawny. My queen. My mate.” I shiver at hearing the only words I ever wanted to hear. The promise of a future, the promise of us.

“As you are mine.” Crimson bends his head, pressing his brow against mine. “Forever,” he breathes before crashing his lips to mine in a mind-blowing and hungry kiss.

Only when Althea’s voice cuts into the break of day do we part. The starlight night sky was transforming into a haze of purples and oranges as the sun broke over the horizon casting its light directly on me and Kolby. Its warmth spreads over us, and with it - I felt the bond snap into place.

An awareness and depth of the connection that surged between me and my Grimalkin. Whatever that may be.

“A claiming has forged. A new King and Queen, fated by the moon goddess and declared by the god Anu, by the rising of the new sun. The kingdom of Tolba acknowledges the witnessing of Cambiador’s new King and Queen!” Facing us, Althea stomps a closed fist over her heart and then shockingly, she bows her head to us.

“You have proved your strength,” her dark eyes flickering to Arik and quickly back to us. I could the fear she held for her nephew’s life. “Under the laws of Tolba, you keep… what you kill.” As bold as she sounds, I don’t miss the slight hesitation and accompanying waiver in her voice.

I look up at my mate as her plea registers with me. The same conflicted emotion I feel crosses his face. I slowly and slightly shake my head – imploring with my eyes - ‘No’.

What they did, the conniving tricky, trying to force a mating on me.

I had seen too much war already. I wouldn’t want to drag Cambiador into yet another senseless war. I didn’t want more blood to be shed. And though they immorally kidnapped us, drugged me, and almost… I shudder at that thought but then Crimson, semi-shifted, rocking into me, set off a domino effect through my body. Reluctantly I shove those recent memories down and shake my head at Crimson again.

“We ask for your forgiveness, and maybe mercy-"

“Why did you take us?” Crimson barks at Althea, his eyes never leave mine though.

“Our deepest apologies-"

“I didn’t ask for your apologies, I asked why you took us?” Crimson spins around, shifting me in his arms and pinning Althea with a sharp look that could kill, and a dangerous edge in his voice.

Was it wrong that his prowess of power turned me on? I think I’m still in an induced heat.

“We have wronged you, in the worst of ways. We were led to believe you were someone – something, else. Let us explain?” Althea turns her eyes to me, “I will tell you everything,” She looks at crimson now “Including who you are and why we were going to kill you.”

Crimson stiffens. Drawing my body tighter against his, his hands gripping me almost painfully. “Crimson,” I pull his chin with my fingers, so he has to look at me, “No more death.”

“He shakes his head, “I don’t want that either. A large part of me says to kill them. A smaller part of me reasons that would be wrong. But what they did to you…” he growls followed by a sigh, “They are the last of their race… tell me what to do kitten, what is the right thing to do?”

“And you are the only one of your race.” Althea sheepishly supplies.

I flick my eyes down to where Arik still lies, breathing. His wounds appear to be healing – he won’t die.

I want answers and I know Crimson does too, but we have no reason to trust Althea or the Pride. The smart thing to do would be to leave, or Crimson could kill Arik and claim the Pride and kingdom as his own.

Althea must see the warring conflict Crimson and I share. “We honor our laws here. You claimed your prize and defeated our King, You have gained our respect by showing him mercy. I promise you; we will attempt no harm on you. Let us welcome you as guests.”

Vigilantly, we agree.

Following Althea and a few guards, who keep their distance, back to the mansion. I’m suddenly aware of how naked crimson and I are. I slide my eyes, looking to see if anyone is watching, but they are all as naked as the day they were born too.

This place was certainly strange and apparently full of secrets. I snuggled against Crimson, finding the comfort I was always meant to have.

Althea gives us a room, I think it’s the same one I was in earlier, as I catch a whiff of my own scent when we enter.

“I don’t trust them,” Crimson fires as soon as we are alone.

“I don’t either,” I shake my head and he lowers me down, my feet plant on the ground, but he doesn’t let go of me. His appreciative gaze eats up my naked body. “Crimson,” I slap his arm, scalding him. “We don’t have time for that! Althea has answers. We should get them, then leave this forgotten kingdom as fast as possible. When I was with her before, she told me who your father was, how Silas and Orion came here! Here Crimson! They were looking for something they never found. Then the children, the children have eyes like yours. Althea said a woman named Ashe brought the children here, do you have-“

“Whoa, whoa, slow down kitten,” The pad of Kolby’s thumb strokes my cheek, making Juniper purr with wanting need. I held mine back. I was in investigative mode. Even if I did want to jump Crimson’s bones and fuck him until I couldn’t walk, it had to wait.

This was huge.

“I’m sorry, it’s just there is too much coincidence, too many dots connecting.” I rushed out the words ending with a remorseful sigh.

I lift my hand to my chest, looking to find comfort in the ring. Only to remember Althea still has it, when my fingers grasp at nothing. “Shit, Althea still has the ring,” I say to Crimson who frowns looking perplexed.

He shakes his head, “We will get it back, it belongs to Cambiador, without that ring a successor to the throne will never be recognized.” He looked like he was about to say something else when a knock at the door comes.

Crimson breaks away from me, much to my annoyance.

Closing the door only seconds after opening it, he turns around holding a tray with meats, cheeses, fruit, and assorted bread.

Moons I was starving.

As much as we would have loved to of taken our time – and our renewed bond, we hoped there would be time for that once we were back in Cambiador.

We washed up quickly and between us, polished off the tray of food.

Our goal was to get the answers we seek and get out as fast as possible.

Both Crimson and I shared the same sentiment. We didn’t trust this Pride, no matter what was promised. The way they had treated us was beyond damaging and the only way they could even come close to making up for their immoral actions was to now provide us with help.

“Just remember to take whatever they say with a pinch of salt. At the first sign of trouble or if either of don’t this going in our favor. We get out.” Crimson held my face in his palms as he instructed me on our defense plan when a knock came at the door. “We keep our eyes and ears open, yeah?”

“Got it,” I reply, praying that this wasn’t some type of trap and that Althea meant what she said.

We should have left when we had the chance, it would have been the logical thing to do. The smart thing to do.

I reached out to Juniper, mentally asking her to keep on high alert, relying on not only mine but my feline instincts too.