The Delta's Daughter Chapter 290

TAWNY

I look up at Crimson with tears in my eyes, happy that he finally knows who and what he is. I can see the settling of his demeanor, the stiffness between his shoulder blades relaxes. I can sense him thinking about what Althea has told us and I know he will have more questions, but for now, he is satisfied with what he has been given.

Me? I want to know more.

The underground library, which we have been in for what seems like hours, has a familiar feel. One that I can’t quite place a finger on. Like a seventh sense, I know this place holds more secrets and somehow, it’s connected to Lamia.

Ashe was the demi-god that came to Lamia in her dreams, the same person is known as Odeia. Ashe is the very same person to who Hunji pledged an oath too. This couldn’t be a coincidence, not when Orion and Silas are mentioned in the same breath.

A sickening feeling forms in the pit of my stomach, when I think back to almost three years ago. I am well aware of the brutality of the Rogue King, and what he was capable of. I swallow the rising bile back down, burying those unwanted memories of my first battle and bitch who betrayed us all.

“What – what were Silas and Orion looking for?” I ask Althea, as she stands, her feet moving toward the back of the library. We found out much later that Silas worked for, or with Orion. And recently it became apparent that Orion had cultivated some cutting-edge technology as well as narcotics and poisons.

I could only hazard a guess at what they used Senko for.

“Your ring.” Althea deadpans and I halt in my tracks.

“My ring?” I gasp, surprised and confused “But, why?”

Walking through the library, heading toward the darkened back, flames light up against the wall as we pass, illuminating our path.

“Because of this,” Althea stops, holding up her hand. Both Crimson and I turn to face what she is showing us.

“A mirror?” Crimson scoffs, “What makes this mirror special enough to kill and almost wipe out a Pride?” His words die off when his eyes land on the enormous frosted, looking glass. Framed by an unknown dark metal that swirls and bends around the clouded mirror, carved with images of Jaguars, Bears, Wolfs, and humans, all the way to the top. In the center of the frame, sits an emblem of twisted vines and swords that form a crown with four holes, like there’s something missing.

“Do you feel it now?” Althea asks my mate.

Crimson nods, “Yes… I feel it. What is it?” His brow creases and forms deep lines, he lets out a shuddering breath as his hand reaches out to the mirror, but he doesn’t touch it.

Stepping forward, I reach my hand out, wanting to clear the mirror of the dust and frosty coating. Crimson snatches me by the wrist and pulls me back. I look up at him and he slowly shakes his head “Don’t touch it, whatever it is, it’s not good.” He says with resolution.

“What does it mean?” I ask now turning my attention to Althea.

“It’s a gateway. A door that gods once used to travel from their realm to ours.” She points at the ring around my neck, “In the beginning, when gods and magic still roamed and ruled the realm, many cycles past, it was said they used a gateway to pass through realms.

“When the gods Tiamat and Apsu were murdered, the egg that held their child was hidden by Morrigan. And the kingdom of the gods was at war over who should rule this realm.

“The god Anu was angry that his daughter fell in love with a mortal. Aodh was furious because he had been promised Inanna and attempted to take her to the underworld. Arcas had been cast to the sky and the children of Bacchus Phanton the jaguar god had corrupted Bastet’s mind.

“It was then that Morrigan sent her three daughters to close the gateways. Four stones were created, each infused with the blood of an unbeknownst god and pure magic. Together those four stones can reopen the gateway.” She points to the crown, more specifically the holes.

I look down at the ring around my neck and then back up. The jewel was the perfect size to sit inside the indented metal.

“The Phanton line is the oldest bloodline of werecat shifters, even predating Prides and snow leopards. That’s why the ring calls to you, granddaughter. You are Lyoki blood intrigues the magic. The same with your mate.”

Unable to resist the pull, Crimson’s hand gently and cautiously leans against the twisted frame. I can feel and almost see the energy that resonates, it hums and pluses around his palm – the air surrounding his hand ripples from the powerful magic it exudes.

Quickly, Crimson draws his hand back “How many of these are there?” He asks with a hint of fear in his voice.

“I don’t know.” Althea confides. “This has been here, in Tolba kept safe for thousands of moon cycles. If there are more, Ashe did not tell me. But, this… and the stones, that is what Orion and the rogue wolf were looking for.”

“Why did they take Senko then?” I ponder, trying to connect the dots. “Was it because of his blood alchemy?”

“I cannot answer that either. Possibly, or it was to create the Skinwalker children.”

“If the Phanton line had one stone, where are the other three?” Crimson asks a very valid question.

“I don’t know that either. I do know that you need all four stones to open the gateway. Ashe said they could never be brought together. That, if the door to the god’s realm was open, they would destroy this realm, and claim it as their own. Our realm and the shifters in it would be destroyed.”

It didn’t make sense, well it did, but… Why would Orion want to open a gateway to the gods, when he was so intent on becoming the king of shifters. He wanted to rule the realm, he wouldn’t risk having a god take it away from him.

Would he?

“Come, it is time for us to leave this place. Time passes differently down here. What seems like hours could be minutes or days.”

Once we reach the top of the stairs, and the door to the underground library is closed, locking its secrets away with the thud of the bookcase, Althea turns to us with a serious and determined expression.

“I trust you will tell no one, and keep the ring safe?”

“You have our word,” I lie.

The first person I am telling is Lamia. This is all just too coincidental.

I notice the hour is late and the sun is falling behind the skyline. It’s a crazy thought to leave now, even with our night vision. “Do you have a phone?” I say looking around the study expecting to see one.

“No, we live very basic lives here. We trade with neighboring villages and some humans, otherwise, we are very off-grid.” I raise an eyebrow thinking how she must have found living in Cambiador, then coming here. “It takes some getting used to, not having luxury and technology,” she chuckles guessing my thoughts.

*****

Crimson and I agree to stay the night here, with the determination to leave in the morning. Our family and friends, especially Gillian and Mason must be going insane looking for us. We had been gone four days now.

No sooner had the door to our room closed - Crimson’s hands were gliding down my body. Skimming my bear arms and circling my waist, drawing my back against his hard chest.

“Alone at last,” His nose nuzzles my neck and my head tilts exposing more to him. His words are heavy with want and thick with lust “I’m going to claim you all over again, Kitten. No audience this time.”

My body flutters in response to his declaration, “Yes, please,” I moan when his teeth nip my neck, and his warm breaths soothes the area. I push my ass back against him and feel his hard and large erection grind into me.

It was only days ago; I wasn’t sure if I was ready to forgive him. Now, I can’t even remember what I was going to forgive him for. We were right together. We made sense. How could I have ever rejected him? “Make me yours Crimson, my Grimalkin,” I wantonly beg.

My arms are lifted and with them, the soft cotton shirt I was wearing. His hands skirt over my flesh and palm my breasts from behind. I moan when he kneads them - cups them, and I gasp when he pinches my nipples.

“I want to taste all of you, princess.” He husks into my ear “I’ve wanted to taste all of you the first day I laid eyes on you. I want to hear you scream my name when you come undone around my cock. I want to hear you mewl when I fill you up with my seed. And want to hear you moan with each thrust of my cock.”

“Crimson,” my voice breathy with need because his words alone are driving me to the edge. “Shut up and fuck me” I don’t want to wait one more second to fulfill his requests.

He spins me around and crushes his lips to mine, a forceful hand snares around my neck, and the other dips under the waistband of the pants I wear drawing a finger through my wet folds. “I want to worship you, kitten, but you’re so ready for me."

He lifts me up and lays me down on the bed, peeling the pants from my legs – exposing all of me to him. Shredding his own clothes, Crimson crawls on the edge of the bed and administers soft kisses on the inside of my knees, his tongue darting out to taste my skin as he climbs higher and higher.

Like the hussy that I am, my legs widen for his shoulders as he nears the apex of my arousal, the anticipation of his tongue licking through my folds and finding my clit is too much. I pant waiting for his ever-so-slowly movements to climb higher – right where I want his mouth.

At the first touch of his tongue, my body jolts, the sensation sending a spiral of electricity through me. “Please Crimson,” I beg, reaching down to grab his locks and pull his face where I so desperately want it. He obliges and dives in licking and sucking, driving me higher and higher to my orgasm. “Goddess yes! Kolby!” I cry out when I reach my peak but, he’s not done and slams two fingers into me as I ride out my orgasm.

The sudden sting of his teeth piercing the inside of my thigh, as he marks me again, has me going off like a firecracker again when I hadn’t even finished riding my high from the first one. The venom from his bite seeps in and the call to mate seeps out.

Crimson crawls up my body, lavishing me with attention, kissing and sucking on the first mark he gave me. “You taste as sweet as I remember kitten. I have to have you now, I can’t wait.” With those words he fills me up, his cock driving deep and mercilessly into me.

“Yes, Kolby! Yes,” I moan as he stills on top of me.

“Eyes on me, kitten. I want to watch you when you come on my cock as I fuck you.” I lift my hips, trying to push him deeper, needing all of him and ready for him to fulfill his promises.

His body glistens with sweat, rocking into me and my world. He fucks me three ways to Sunday, and I claw his back with each thrust. Latching onto him so his large body engulfs me.

“Crimson!” I groan when I feel I am close again, he gives me a threatening growl between his power thrusts, “Oh my gods, Kolby!” I cry out as each my peak.

“Say my name again, kitten,” He growls.

“Kolby!” The scream turned into a loud moan of ecstasy as I fall over the edge and come around his pulsing cock. He roars out his release at the same time, the warmth of his seed filling me up. The sensation makes my whole-body quiver and finally let go of his back, retracting my claws.

Crimson collapses over me and kisses my neck and collarbone between his ragged pants. “I fucking love you, Tawny.”

I momentarily stilled but reached up and wound my hands around the back of his neck, lightly scratching – caressing. Crimson began to softly growl. Did I love him?

‘We are claimed. He is ours.” Juniper purred her emotions into me. She forgave him, she loved him. She was happy with the moon goddess’s choice. I could feel my feline was stronger with her mate.

I tugged Crimson’s head, so his lips could meet mine. What started out a slow, languid kiss, quickly become heated. His mouth demanded more, and I submitted to his dominating order. Kissing him back just as needful.

Allowing me to push him back, down to the bed, I roll on top of him. My lips leave him, and I slide my body down, Straddling his lap. His already hard length stroked the cheeks of my ass, my pussy fluttered, and wept at the thought of being filled by him again. I slid back further rubbing him through my wet folds until the tip rested right where I wanted him. In one erotic move, I rolled onto his cock, straddling, with him being fully seated inside me. In this position, he felt even bigger - more filling.

Without a word - I began to move. And I rode him hard. And fast. Until we were both a panting mess.

We’re near, I can feel it. Crimson lifts his hips to meet mine, and keeps them there, as I keep my pace bouncing on him. The pressure for release building, “Oh, fuck! I love you too Kolby!” I cry out in passion.

I drop forward when my orgasm hits. His, barreling into me, and at that moment, I know I love him, there’s no doubt. There is no question whether he loves me or not. I know. I can feel it. I can see it in his eyes as he gives me his heart and soul.

Kolby Crimson is mine.

My feline’s teeth elongate.

As I collapse, Crimson growls out his release and my teeth sink into Kolby’s chest, releasing my venom and marking him as mine.

‘Mine’ Junipers says. “Mine,” I whisper with panting breath, releasing my teeth from his cinnamon skin.

*****

I don’t want to get up. I want to stay right here, snuggled up to… The thought cuts off as my wondering hand searches out for my mate. Only to meet the feel of soft sheets.

I peel my eyes open, groaning at the light that peeked through the window. The warmth of that light was what had me stirring in the first place. To find Crimson nowhere in sight.

Did they take him? That is my first thought, but no Althea wouldn’t go back on her word, would she? Would she?

“Shit,” I curse, clambering out of the bed and looking for the clothes they gave me.

“You ok, Kitten?” I sigh a huge lungful of relief at his voice, popping his head out from the ‘fully functional’ bathroom.

“Moons, I woke up and you weren’t there… I thought they had taken you, Crimson.” I tell him my fear, “When you were ripped away from me, I tried. I tried to save you. I was so scared. And then… When they wouldn’t let me see you.” I draw in a big breath and Crimson moves, pulling me into his arms. “It scared me Crimson and I have a bad feeling.”

“Do you regret, that I claimed and marked you?” His brows draw down in disappointment “I know it was-"

“No!” I quickly say cutting him off. “It was fucked up, but no. No regrets, Crimson.”

“Then what, kitten?” He bends to press his head to mine, “What has my feisty little Kitten so worried?”

I shudder, releasing all the tension from me and soaking up his warmth. “I don’t like war and death. Three years ago, I got a good taste of it. It was bitter then and it still is now. I don’t want to lose you Crimson.” Tears fill my eyes, “Before we became mates, I considered you a friend. I always liked you, bond or not. You’re a good man Kolby Crimson and you will make a fine King.” A tear trickles down my cheek. “I will not survive if I lose you.”

My true fear was finally being exposed.

“Hey,” crimson lifts my chin. “I’m not planning on dying, but for the record,” He lowers his lips to mine and kisses me gently. “I couldn’t live without you either. I love you Tawny and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Ok,” I say pulling out of his arms so I can wipe my tears.

I straighten up and pull on my big girl panties, after telling Crimson that he is my biggest fear, I need to get out of my own head.

And we seriously need to get the shit out of this fucked up kingdom. Before my fears become real and this Pride tries something underhanded again.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Crimson growls, just as eager to leave.

“You think they would feed us before we left?” I ask feeling my stomach grumble.

“I don’t trust that they won’t poison it.” He looks at me quizzically, as if I should expect the same. I give a second thought. No, I didn’t think they would. “We could hunt on the way?”

“You can hunt. Me? I’m going to see what they have in their kitchen. I’m starving. Aren’t you?”

We did find food, courtesy of Althea and the strange chameleon woman.

On full bellies and heading out of the mansion, Arik is waiting by the door with two other men. My back stiffens.

“King Crimson, Queen.” He greets us, with a shy lopsided grin. His eyes cast down. “We are indebted to your merciful gift,” He basically means, thanks for not killing me, I will kiss your ass forever. “We will accompany you to the kingdom’s border and show you the way through the ravine.”

Holy shit! Just how far away from home are we?