The Delta's Daughter Chapter 296

CRIMSON

“Tell me what this Althea said about you?” Mathias asks as we shuck our shirts and step onto the open training field.

“Not much, just that I am the only one of my kind and the god's magic would have no effect on me.” Without warning King attempts to slap me, I’m fast enough to bat his hand away and step out of reach. “Oh, it’s like that is it?” I give him a smug smile and lift my hands ready for his next assault.

I take a quick glance over to the side to see Tawny, Queen Lamia, Gillian, Mason, and Tristan watching us.

The look of lust on my kitten’s face is enough to empower me with the will to give back as good as the King is going to dish out.

A fist comes flying at my face and I sidestep the blow that would have done damage. Except, I didn’t see the fast left hook and turned right into the rock-hard fist.

“Concentrate,” King growls at me, moving forward with inhuman speed. I block his next blow and return the hit, catching his jaw. “That’s more like it,” He smiles, leaving me to wonder if he even felt my hit.

We grapple and throw punches and kicks for a while until Mathias comes at me faster and harder, backing me up as I defend and attempt to counter his hits.

The King's eyes flash with his beast, and only so I can hear him says, “Lamia said your mate was almost claimed by a Pride King?” I growl at the memory and at him for bringing it up. “I bet she would have liked being fucked by all those were-cats.”

I let out a roar, his words disturbing me and stirring my anger. I lunge forward throwing punch after punch. Some landing on their mark, most being blocked.

“Would you have liked to watch, Crimson?” He laughs with amusement and waggles his brows. “I bet you would love to watch your mate be claimed by another-“ His eyes shift to Mason “-maybe Mason can show you how she likes it.”

I see red, my blood heats, and my skin ripples. My teeth elongate to sharp points, my ears begin to shift and my body shimmers with fur as red as my eyes have turned.

Mathias has a strange look on his face of fascination.

“That’s it Crimson, I see why they call you that now. Get angry, show me who you are.” Although I know he is egging me on, on purpose, his words have fueled my beastly side and there’s no turning back. My vision is tunneled, and I have one goal in mind. To kill King.

I fly at King, growling with claws extended. Hitting my mark and opening up his skin. The coppery scent of blood fills the air from the deep marks I marred in his chest.

My chest swells with pride for injuring the hulking shifter.

It’s short-lived when faster than the eye can see a hand coils around my throat. He lifts me up in the air and tosses me like a bag of flour across the ring. I land on my feet and shake off the force of his throw.

My body begins to shift and grow until I’m twice the muscle I am and as tall as King. Still half shifted, with fur covering me. Feet, face, and hands are morphed somewhere between human and cat.

Mathias begins to sprout fur from his skin and in no time, he has shifted into his beast. A monstrous Kodiak Bear that stands at least ten feet tall his size is so big, it casts a dark shadow over me.

He roars so loud; it shakes the very ground we stand on. I should be intimidated but the challenge from his beast only charges the fight in me.

I hiss and growl and puff my chest out, my skin ripples and shimmers until I’m standing on four paws, and to my amazement, I’m almost looking Mathias’ beast in the eye even if he stands across the field from me.

I briefly register the crowd of warriors gathered around. They were bound to hear, as the barracks border the training field. Their whispers and awes, catch my ears and I’m aware of the fear King and I have bestowed upon them.

Fear of the Bear King and fear that they have never witnessed me shift to my natural crimson cat or seen me take the form of something bigger than a were-cat and akin to the size of a bear.

The beast drops to all fours, pawing at the ground as he readies to charge. I copy his motion, letting him know I’m ready. We bear our teeth with growls and roars in a show of dominance. Then, our paws pound the ground as we charge toward each other.

Claws and fur fly as we match blow for blow, but the heaviness of King's beast's paws tells me he isn’t giving it his all. He’s holding back.

I dig my claws into his shoulder, and he lets out a yelp, returning the strike by pawing at my leg, marring the skin. A stinging pain shoots through me but when his claws retract leaving an open wound, I notice the feel of my skin stitching itself back together almost immediately.

It causes me to glance at the injury I caused the beast only to see he had already healed.

Desperate to prove my strength and Alpha position, I attack the king’s beast again. I can hear our warriors shouting words of encouragement, the fear dissipating and replaced with excitement as they call my name.

They know I’m fighting a powerful bear shifter, they just have no idea who he is. Though I’m sure some could hazard a guess by his size and aura. A few of our warriors fought on the battlefield with the Queen and King, and their spirit animals should be telling them and cowering to the power of this bear.

Plus, Lamia was standing there too, in case they still didn’t have a clue, her Wolf would send out waves of pulses that would instantly make their animals bow and recognize her authority.

I caught a lucky slice. My claws swiped through the thick fur of the beast, opening his neck. Blood poured from the open wound soaking the rich brown fur.

The growl that came from the beast was deep like the rumble and shudder of thunder before lightning cracks. Silver eyes meet red ones.

I’m not fast enough, I angered the beast with my lucky shot. Claws dig into my cat forms neck. The pressure choking me and the bear's claws puncturing through my fur. My paws flail, desperately trying to grip onto him and make him let go.

The beast's eyes glow a cosmic silver, darker than before and full of intent to kill.

“Arcas!” The Queen's commanding voice rings out. “Arcas!” She shouts again, this time mixed with her wolf.

I watch the flicker of recognition in the bear's eyes. His grip loosens, and his claws retract. He lets go and I drop to the ground shifting back to my skin form, as does he.

“Crimson,” Mathias stands over me, offering his hand “This is why she needed to be here. Only she can quell my beast. It’s always a risk that he will take things too far.”

I take his hand, letting him help me to my feet. I’m not injured, I’m already healing. Though the reality is – he could have easily killed me. His beast was unhinged.

“Holy moons! Did you see how big Sir Crimson's cat was?” I frown and tilt my head to the warrior who spoke. “He was as big as the bear king!” The warrior said with astonishment. I could also detect the pride and excitement he had for the fight.

“Crimson,” Mathias pats me on the back and Mason walks over bringing us shorts. “There have only been two people who put up a fight as well as you did against me, and I still feel like you held back.”

“And who were the two people, If I may ask?” I expect him to name King Kellen Moon as one, but he surprises me.

“Lamia and Finnegan.” He groans.

“Fucking high moon, I need to change my pants after that fight,” Mason laughs at us as we wear the shorts. “I still wouldn’t rule out King Kellen or Commander Hunji to join that list,” He says to Mathias.

“I would be a fool to rule them off that list, they are just as powerful but I can’t see Lamia allowing me to spar with her precious King Kellen.” There is no malice in Mathias's voice but there is an expression of repugnance that covers his face.

“It’s alright, this is the same look he gets with Alpha Travis too.” Mason leans over and quietly tells me. Not so quiet that Mathias can’t hear him, but chooses to ignore our second in command.

“I’m eager to get to this place Tolba if they can tell us more about what you are. You are a rare species of shifter Crimson, and I’m intrigued.” Mathias says giving me a toothy grin, one that I am sure is as rare as he says I am.

“He is not a toy, King,” Lamia states as we join them on the sidelines. Mathias brings her to his side immediately and Tawny sidles up to me. Not caring who is watching.

“I know he’s not a toy,” The bear king grumbles back at his mate, “He’s just really fucking interesting, and I think he is still holding back.”

“You are an ass,” Lamia sighs swatting him playfully. “When will we head out to Tolba?” She diverts her attention to Tawny to ask the question.

“We leave tomorrow morning; it will take a day to get there by foot. I figure spend a day or two there and then head back. I know you have pressing matters and babies to get back to in Riocht.”

“Are they expecting us?” King asks and scowls when both Tawny and I shake our heads.

“They have no way for us to communicate with them,”

“How do you know they will be friendly and willing to let us in? I mean I don’t want to force the Pride to accept us on their land but…” Lamia starts.

“It won’t be a problem.” I say, “They owe us,”

“Plus, Crimson scared the shit out of them,” Tawny adds with a laugh.

A heavy hand falls on my shoulder and I look up at Mathias, gods I feel like a weak child standing next to the giant. “So Crimson, tell me more about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” He replies dramatically.

“Unfortunately, there is not much more we know about Grimalkins,” Comes Tristan as he falls into stride alongside us. “In Andora, there was a small section, but most of the information on Grimalkins and Skinwalkers was all hearsay. Folklore. Even my personal library back home, couldn’t give us any more than we learned. The best option to know more - is to go back to Tolba.”

“I have no allergy to silver,” I tell Mathias.

“Hmph, I don’t either.” That piece of information surprises me. “It’s my blood, Arcas my beasts’ blood.” He clarifies when he notices my stupefied expression.

*****

The tunnel to Tolba was just as small and dark as we remembered. Though this time we came equipped with packs and flashlights. Poor Mathias was bent over walking through the miles of tunnel. If he stood up straight his head would knock against the rocky ceiling and a few times we would hear him grumble and moan about it being too small.

Lamia would just tell him it wasn’t the tunnel, he was just too big. Their banter was comforting and much like mine and Tawny’s.

Mason and Wyvern stayed at the palace, where they were under strict orders that Gillian and Tristan were in charge, and they were to follow their orders in case Maydor got wind that we had left the capital and tried some underhanded shit.

I hoped he wasn’t dumb enough, but nevertheless, I wouldn’t put anything past him right now. Especially with his current behavior. He was always one to make waves when things didn’t go his way. And in truth, he seemed hell-bent on making his daughter pay the price for finding her fated mate.

We finally left the tunnels, emerging into the thick of the jungle, from the cave Arik originally sent us through. There was an eerie quiet that surrounded us. No birds, no wind. Just the still of the air. Even the jungle itself was silent in the bright of day.

Breaking the silence, a chorus of chirrups sounded out around us. The noise makes birds scatter from the trees and the jungle come to life. Two were-cats emerged from the high trees, landing on feet in front of us.

Mathias immediately pushes Lamia behind him and took up a defensive stance, growling out a warning to the strangers.

“King Crimson, Queen Tawny, we were not expecting you back so soon… and with company.” The largest warrior spoke and I recognized him as one of the Pride members who escorted us with Arik.

“We have come to see Althea and Arik. We would have called ahead but…” I shrug my shoulder.

The two men bow, “Of course, we will escort you to the village.”

“Pride members,” Tawny tells Lamia and King as we follow them into the dense jungle and quickly find the path that leads to Tolba.

The two warriors Lamia and Mathias brought with them, hang back, monitoring our surroundings.

It's late afternoon and the sun is starting to dip down behind the horizon as the moon peaks out from the sparse clouds, just waking up.

We are met at the edge of the village by Arik, Althea, and a few of their warriors.

When they are presented with Mathias and then Lamia, each of them drops to their knees in front of the Queen of Shifters. “Your majesty,” Althea says, “We are honored to be in your presence and welcome you.” Her eyes shift to Mathias holding fear and a strangled look passes over her face as she takes him in.

“Orion is dead by his hands; he comes in peace,” Tawny says to Althea. I forgot that Mathias is the spitting image of his father. “He is the Queens mate and a King in his own right.”

“The last time a bear and a wolf graced this land, our Pride was almost wiped out. Excuse me if I seem more than a little hostile and cautious.” Althea explains, standing to her feet and the rest of the Pride follows suit. “Why have you come back? And why did you bring strangers?” She asks looking between Tawny and I.

She’s on guard and I don’t blame her. We told her we wouldn’t tell anyone and we did just that as soon as we got home.

Queen Lamia steps forward offering Althea a sweet smile and extending a comforting warmth to her “We are not here to harm you, I have come to see the library.” She states.

“And the other thing?” Althea skeptically looks between Mathias and Lamia then her gaze lands on Tawny and finally me.

“Yes,” Tawny says, her hand dipping into her top to finger the ring on her chain.

If looks could kill, then the one Althea was giving us would have us buried below the dirt. Althea was not happy, and I couldn’t care less. The sooner we were out of here, again. The better.