The Delta's Daughter Chapter 292

GILLIAN

I hang up the satellite phone shaking my head to Tristan, “They found a trail, but… then it disappeared. They are making their way to the Ravine that borders the kingdom to the south.”

Tristan swipes a hand down his forlorn face. I haven’t known him long, but I can tell he is as vexed as I am about Kolby and Tawny missing. For more reasons than just the two future leaders of Cambiador have disappeared.

He sighs heavily, “This isn’t good, Gill.” He stresses and I swallow deeply.

He is right. My father has already been here several times to see Kolby in the past four days that they have been missing. I can tell my father is getting suspicious, as well as pissed off. He thinks he is being ignored. Already rumors have spread that he, Lord Maydor is banding together other high-ranking were-cats and council members. Whatever he has planned cannot be good.

“We have to let someone know,” Tristan says stepping up to me and wrapping his arms around me in a bid to comfort me.

“No.” I pull back slightly so I can look into his pale blue eyes. “If word gets out-"

“We can call Hunji or Queen Lamia. Aren’t she and Tawny close?” Tristan cuts me off. And I give it a moment’s thought.

They are close, but I’m still reluctant to let anyone know. More so because at the first sign of trouble, my father would act on the information and the next thing we know, he is running the kingdom. And that would be a disaster.

“We should wait. Give it two more days and see what mason says. They will scout out the ravine. Until then, we keep things under wraps as best as we can. If anyone asks – we tell them they are on a training exercise.” I nod my head confident we can keep up the ruse for a few more days and hopefully, by then, we might have some answers or our leaders back.

Tristan bends down and brushes his lips against mine. It’s a soft kiss, one meant for reassurance and comfort, but the tiny act means everything to me.

I thought it would always be Kolby and me. I thought we were it. Destined to be married and chosen mates. Only the gods know how much I love Kolby and always will. I never thought I would find my fated mate, it’s such a rare thing amongst were-cats. I certainly never thought that if I did find my mate, we would be able to be together.

Tristan ScarClaw was much older than me, but in were-cat years, that means nothing. Tall, handsome and so very smart, amongst other things. He is kind and knowledgeable about the realm and the way he treats me… I couldn’t ask for anything more in a mate. I just wish mine and Kolby’s contract was up already. I couldn’t wait for Tristan to claim me as his, for our mating to become official.

“You are not just young and beautiful, my little Gilly Bean. You are wise beyond your years, and I thank the Goddess every day for granting me a second chance at love.”

I smile up at my mate, lifting my hands I run my fingers through his golden blonde hair, “As I am lucky for the goddess sending you to me.” He bends, letting me kiss him back.

The sensations of being intimate with the other half of your soul are all-consuming. The gentle kiss quickly turns heated and hungry, Tristan and I quickly find ourselves in a heated moment that’s only getting hotter.

“Let’s move to our room,” Tristan breaks the kiss for a moment, the rumble of his voice vibrating against the sensitive spot on my neck, as he kisses and lightly nips me.

“Yes,” I sigh out with a moan.

In the past few weeks, I have known Tristan, he has proved to be caring and attentive. We have talked so much about his past. His first mate and the children he lost in an awful freak boating accident.

I’m thankful that he understands the relationship between Kolby and me and hasn’t pushed for us to mark each other – knowing the problems it could cause in the kingdom if we do. Or at least the problems my father would cause if he found out Kolby and I no longer planned to marry at the end of the year.

With Tristan leading me by the hand, we vacate Tawny’s office (formally King Armand’s), and head to our own little love nest, where we have taken up residence ever since I moved out of mine and Kolby’s room. With rushed footsteps we hurry down the hall, eager to be alone and consume one another.

I had no idea sex would be that much more intense with your mate.

“Gillian?” The shocked and questioning voice of my father startles us and we halt, turning to meet the villain of my life. “What in the name of… Explain to me right now what’s going on!” He bellows out the latter.

“Lord Maydor,” Tristan greets him and extends his hand, always so polite.

My father sneers at his hand and Tristan drops his. Meeting both our eyes, one at a time, he glares at me and then Tristan. Icey blue eyes throw daggers at us.

“You little whore,” He seethes. “I should have known you would break the contract. Can’t keep your legs closed just like your whore of a mother!” He is all but shouting words of venom at us and I can feel my cheeks heating. Partially from embarrassment, but more from anger.

“What did you say?” I don’t know what comes over me, but I drop Tristan’s hand from mine and take a step forward. With hands on my hips and narrowed eyes, I dare my father to say it again.

“I said-"

“I know what you said!” I scream, “I just can’t believe you did.” Steam blows from my ears. I hate confrontation by the gods… “Why don’t you shut your ugly mouth for once and remove the stick from your ass! While you’re at it you can climb off that pedestal that you and you alone hold yourself on!” I take a deep breath because I’m not done. I’m on a roll and I’m letting it all out.

“And how dare you call me or my mother a whore! Tomislav? Does the name ring a bell? My brother, the son you hid?”

My father’s face scrunches up and then his jaw flaps, looking for words to throw back at me. “That’s what I thought.” I sneer back. “You have no room to talk. Tristan is my goddess-given fated mate and none of your bloody business!” I scream at him.

A growl rips from his throat and he lunges at me. I flinch waiting for the all-too-familiar feel of his hand, but it doesn’t come. Tristan steps in, grabbing my father’s hand and pinning him against the adjacent wall.

“I will let my mate speak for herself, but I will not let anyone, and I mean anyone lay a hand on her,” Tristan growls out his outrage. Like me, Tristan is a scholar, not a fighter. We fight with words, not fists. Yet here I am swooning over the show of power from my mate. His protectiveness over me makes my body ache for him in a way that goes beyond sexual.

Kolby never failed to protect me, yet with Tristan, it was different. Maybe because he wasn’t like Kolby and Tristan’s assertiveness was unexpected but very, very welcomed. And a huge turn-on. But I did realize no matter how different Tristan is, he is just as protective over me. Maybe even a little more.

I grab Tristan’s hand, pulling him from my father, and dragging him toward our room. He was definitely getting special treatment now.

I gave my father one last look over my shoulder, hoping he could the warning in my expression. This conversation was far over. Once he picked his dignity up off the floor, he would come at me full force and I had still yet to confront him in regard to this sudden brother of mine.

“I am so proud of you sweetheart!” Tristan beams once out of earshot from where we left my father standing, “And that was seriously sexy as hell watching you put him in his place.” Tristan purrs to me.

Unfortunately, as liberating as it made me feel, confronting him and telling him Tristan was my mate, was not the smartest course of action.

I was sure there would be a big fallout from this. I just had to stay strong and keep it together. With Tristan by my side, I felt like could handle anything.

*****

MASON

Four days, four motherfucking days since Crimson and my Princess disappeared. I just hung up the satellite phone with Gillian. She and ScarClaw were handling things back in the kingdom’s capital, along with Wyvern who I sent back. Without an official leader, it fell to Wyvern and me to take care of the Cambiador.

However, there was no way I would return empty-handed. If that meant I never found Tawny, then I would never return. I would never rest until she was found. Unfortunately, four days is a long time. Gillian convinced me to wait before we started to seriously panic.

“If Kolby is with her, then trust that he will take care of them,” It was the last thing Gillian said before I hung up.

I wanted to have the same belief and hope that she had, but it was hard. By delaying making a call to Commander Hunji or Queen Lamia, I felt more guilty as the minutes ticked by. I wasn’t doing everything I could to find her if I was keeping her disappearance hidden from the two people, she trusted the most, after her father of course.

Believe it or not, Tomislav, whom I had started to call tom, was more useful than I had given him credit for. And I hate to admit it, but his second impression was way better than his first. The were-cat had natural tracking skills and was as unpleasant to be around as I first thought.

I still didn’t fully trust him, after all, he was Maydor’s son and challenged my princess for her claim to Cambiador’s crown.

“Tell me something, Tom,” I start as we approach the ravine’s southern edge. “Did Maydor teach you how to track and fight?”

“No,” He shakes his head when I look at him, “Tracking came naturally, and growing up on the streets helped me improve that skill as well as fighting.”

“You didn’t grow up with Maydor?” He scoffs at my question. It was a dumb question because I remember Gillian saying she grew up as an only child.

“He sent my mother money sometimes, but he had nothing to do with me growing up. Never had anything to do with me until earlier this year, after King Armand died.” His gaze drifts off when we come to a stop. The ravine’s edge was only feet in front of us and Its sheer drop to the river below.

“He at least sent you money,” I shrug.

“It wasn’t enough, my mom had to turn tricks to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. The little he provided helped somewhat.”

“Is your mom still alive?” I ask him when he pauses in thought.

“Yeah,” Nods. I’m sending all my pay from being a warrior to her.”

“Why did you challenge the princess?”

“I didn’t know I was challenging her until I got there. Lord Maydor offered me a lot of money to challenge the position of the throne. I was greedy and could only see how much it would help my mother. She wouldn’t have to shame herself anymore-“ He trails off and I look over at him. It’s clear as day that he is embarrassed but brave for him to admit and confide his truth to me.

The team we brought with us closes in, stopping only feet from us. “All right, men! We camp here tonight. Tomorrow, we go down there!” I point to the ravine and see some faces pale. Others are indifferent. I remember Wyvern’s words. “People go down there, but they never return.”

I could understand the apprehension on the warrior’s faces, but that wasn’t going to deter me. And I knew they would suck it up, not just because I ordered it, but because they too wanted their Alpha’s back.

“I don’t dislike you Tom, but I’m not sure if I can trust you. You’re a good warrior. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time though.” He gets what I’m trying to say because his head bobs and when he has finished processing my words, his blue eyes meet mine.

Tom’s lips pinch together, and his shoulders hang, “I saw money and what it could do for us. After the princess kicked my ass,” He smirks, “I told Maydor that I wouldn’t be a party to his games again, and he threatened me. He said he cut off the money to my mother. So I told him he needed to secure me a position with the warriors, and I wouldn’t tell everyone that I was his secret love child.

I’m no threat to you or the princess. And I know my words don’t hold much clout after everything, but I promise you, I am here to serve the kingdom and do a job. Nothing more.”

His honesty is written all over his face, and I appreciate his openness. However, that does not mean we are besties.

The team and I made camp after scouting the area for a while and trying to find a less dangerous path down the rocky walls of the ravine.

Whichever way we decided to descend into the unknown, it was not going to be easy. It was a sheer rock face all the way down with only small crevices dotted around from what we could see.

We found the path that was meant to lead us down and I sent two warriors to go check it out. An hour later they came back and said it looked ‘doable’, however, they weren’t a hundred percent sure what came after as far as they scouted the path.

I could foresee us running into our fair share of trouble.

It didn’t matter. Princess Tawny was what mattered and finding her was the ultimate goal.

At this point, I would sell my soul to a god of the underworld to find her safe and harm-free.

Luckily, I didn’t have to sell my soul or wait too long for my wish to become reality.

Night fell and morning rose.

I didn’t sleep. I hadn’t slept in a little more than four days now and I was barely keeping it together. My mind reeled with the what ifs, and always on the princess. I had to keep straight, awake, aware. I could not afford to let my guard down and fuck up. If I did, it could cost my men their lives as well as my own and if that happened; I would never find Tawny.

So, at first light, we packed what little belongings we had with us and began to walk the edge of the gorge to where we had found a path yesterday.

“Men, this is where we descend!” I called out once we had found a way down, or at least what appeared to be a way down.

I was just about to call out orders for them to follow me as we began the descent when a twig from the thick brush of the jungle at our backs had eight pairs of eyes turning.

All forming a fighting stance. Ready for whatever emerges from the jungle.

I scented her first before she emerged from the brush.

Hand in hand with Crimson.

“Mother of were-cats,” I whispered, shocked at the sight of my princess and her mate stepping out from the jungle like they had taken a leisurely stroll.

Not gone for four freaking days!

The rest of the warriors visibly relaxed at the sight of their princess and Crimson. Me? As soon as my jaw was picked up off the floor I rushed at her, pulling her into my arms and swinging her around. “Fuck princess, you scared the life out of me. What in goddess’s name happened to the two of you?”