The Delta's Daughter Chapter 301

MASON

The stars in Cambiador were as bright as in MacTire. The humid heat from the day turned into a haze of clouds as the air cooled down once the sun cast its last ray over the horizon.

I was running patrol tonight with a few new recruits close to the Northern border. All was quiet, the air and jungle still. Not a sound to be heard. It was peaceful, too peaceful. The quietness that surrounded me gave way for my mind to wander.

I had been thinking a lot about Cambiador’s laws and the idea that the werecat people don’t rely on or wait for a fated mate.

I was a rogue, so the chance of me ever being gifted with a fated was slim. My train of thought, and not for the first time, led me to think of taking a chosen. A wife - a contracted wife.

Tawny was mated and happy. Goddess honest truth, I was happy for her. And Crimson. Every day I watched the way they would steal glances at each other, hidden touches when they thought no one was looking. They were keeping their mating a secret for now, but to the warriors and anyone else who saw them on a daily basis, it was obvious. Or it should be.

You could visibly see and feel their happiness. They have been the topic of discussion for quite some time now. If they thought anyone was against them being paired, they couldn’t be more wrong. I didn’t know a soldier here that wasn’t excited about them becoming the reigning couple.

Crimson already had their support. Tawny gained their respect and trust over the months, and so had I. They recognize Tawny as the rightful Queen and she has proved her worth time and time again to the warriors.

I guess I just wanted a little bit of that happiness that was going around for myself. I wanted to know what that love felt like. To see someone look up at me with doting eyes like I am their whole world.

Even Tristan and Gillian had found each other and their PDA was even worse than Tawny and Crimson.

I want a family, a wife, cubs, the whole kit and caboodle. Someone to go home to after a long day of protecting this kingdom. Someone, I could slip into bed with, and hold through the night until the sun came up.

It’s not like I haven’t had plenty of offers. I am a second in command to her royal highness. I wouldn’t say I was a bad looking were-cat. There was no shortage of women who flirted with me or offered me a good time.

Since coming to Cambiador, I had kept in my pants. Goofing off was not an option. A female would be a distraction right now.

Maybe when things calm down, I can find a chosen mate, marry her and have the life I dream of. If I’m lucky she will even fall in love with me and bear many cubs.

I felt pressure in my head. I opened my mind to let whoever was trying to contact me in.

*Commander, we have a shituation.* Tomislav’s voice filters through.

*Did you say – ‘shituation’?* I ask making sure I heard him correctly.

*Yes sir, there are house warriors approaching the palace on foot.*

Shit, *How many?*

*I’m not sure sir. A lot… * The mind link cuts off and I try to reconnect with Tomislav but I’m met with a wall.

“Shit” I groan out loud then follow it up with loud chirrups and a yowl to let the trainees know to come back.

I leave before the new recruits have even broken the tree line, shifting into my large panther and racing back toward the Palace.

*Mason,* Wyvern mentally connects to me. *We have a big problem. At least four houses have boots on the ground and are heading toward the Palace. The Alpha team is in place, but more than a handful of warriors have deflected.*

*I’m on my way. Lock down the Palace. Alert crimson and the princess.* I command, digging my paws into the ground and picking up speed.

It’s the middle of the night. What the fuck are these Lords up to?

I hurry as fast as I can, nervous and anxious about what I will find when I arrive. Four houses, each with its own units of warriors. This is what Crimson and Gillian feared. A civil war.

And they could be right. With warriors deflecting from our army, their numbers could be greater than the Royal army. This was not good.

I almost wish Queen Lamia and King Mathias were still here.

It’s a short run, but it feels like forever before I clear the royal gardens ad am shifting back into skin form. Tomislav runs to greet me. “Commander, they have almost arrived, my father’s house is leading the Clowders.”

“Where do you stand Tom?” I growl. I want to be absolutely sure whose side he is on.

“With the Princess and the Duke sir.” He stands straight looking me in the eye.

“Make no mistake Tom, if you side with your father, I will do whatever it takes to secure the princess.” I stride past him with the warning and he wastes no time following me.

“Yes, Commander. I assure you; I have no love for him.” He matches my pace as we head in through the back entrance.

I’m pleased to see there are more guards around the palace.

I barge through the door, down the hallway, and into the main foyer, finding warriors and Wyvern gathered. I immediately start barking out orders as Wyvern begins to fill me.

“We got a call an hour ago saying the Lords were gathering their troops. When it was reported that they had boots on the ground and were marching here, that’s when Tom linked you.” Wyvern begins to explain.

“The princess?” I question the whereabouts of my biggest concern.

“She has been informed.” I look up to see Gillian and Tristan coming down the stairs. “The healer is with Crimson right now.”

“What the fuck is going on around here? Why does crimson need a healer?” My head is swimming with concern. “Is he okay?”

“He will be. Just give him a minute.” Tawny appears over the banister. I nod at her. If she says he’s ok, then I will take her word for it. Now is not the best time for him to be ill or having problems though.

Like, really bad timing. Unless…

“Alpha team set up a barricade on the road,” I order our lead warrior. “Where’s the lead for Beta?” I ask Wyvern when I look around, not finding the team's lead warrior.

Wyvern answers me with a growl and scowl. “The fucker deserted his post.”

“Tom you are now the lead for the Beta team.” I wave him over. “take what men are left and position them in the surrounding trees in case these fuckers get any ideas.

“I will have the Gamma teams set up an outer perimeter,” Wyvern informs me.

“Make it so,” I say as he turns to fulfill his duty. Then call out “I want a head count of how many soldiers we have left and what’s coming at us.”

“Yes, commander Mason.” He replies before disappearing out the front entrance.

I turn to Tawny, Gill, and Tristan.

“How can we help?” Tristan asks.

“If the two of you can get the Palace staff to safety and then inform any groundkeepers that are still here. That would help.”

“Of course,” they both agree.

“What’s wrong with crimson?” I question once it’s just Tawny and I.

She shakes her head, with eyes rolling. “Long story short, I think Crimson can mind-link like the rest of us now. It hit him all at once.”

I huff out a large breath. Were-folk have a couple of years to master mental connections. We can connect with immediate family at around 14 - late bloomers at 16 when they get their spirit animal. Crimson - he is a full-grown adult and not a were-cat. If he was flooded with links – I can only imagine the headache it caused.

“Is he going to be alright? Because I won’t lie to you Princess, he’s the only thing that could scare the Lords and their armies back into their holes.”

“I know,” She tells me with a hiss. “Just have faith in him. He’s a fast healer. He can handle this.”

“If you say he can, then ok.”

“I do say.” She snips. “Now, let’s go show these assholes who’s in charge around here.”

I take a second to look her over. I smile when I see her throwing stars, daggers, and her sword already attached to her tiny frame.

“Tiny but mighty,” I jest, giving her an encouraging smile.

“Let’s just hope this shit doesn’t go too far. I don’t want to deal with a civil war, so let’s avoid one if we can.” She leads way out.

Once outside we walk side by side down the long gravel drive to the road where the Alpha team is already in position.

Wyvern and Tom link me with a head count of our warriors and their own soldiers. The numbers are depressing. We’re outnumbered four to one because apparently, the Lords threatened our warriors’ families. Calling them back to their Clowders. If they didn’t come to fight for their Clowder, their families would be imprisoned for treason.

Because of this, we were at a major disadvantage – our number thinned.

“This was exactly what Crimson was afraid of happening.” Tawny’s words mirrored my thoughts.

We come to stand front and center in front of the Alpha team. “Everyone is in position,” I inform her.

The Lords don’t make us wait long before we hear the distinct sound of marching feet and even paws. Lord Lightfoot and Lord Maydor, leading the coup.

Behind them are several other Lords decked out in full battle gear. They stop about 150 feet before us.

Silence falls over us, the tension is palpable. Thick. So intense it seems almost tangible.

Tawny takes a step forward, hands on her hips and eyes glowing bright yellow with furious fire. “Whatever this is, “ she waves her hands at them, “I will give you one chance to take your soldiers home. One of two things will happen if you attack. You will either be imprisoned for crimes against the crown. Or you will die.”

“On the contrary,” Lord Lightfoot steps forward. “It is you who will be imprisoned. A hybrid does not belong on the throne. Hand yourself over now or we will be forced to take you in.”

“On what charges?” I come to Tawny’s side, squaring my shoulders and puffing out my chest trying to look as imposing and intimidating as possible.

“On the charges outlined in our law that only a true Phanton can be crowned or a member of a high-ranking family if there is no Phanton heir!”

Tawny scoffs and starts laughing. “Where did you come up with those bullshit charges?” She doubles over, hand on her belly while she lets out a deep laugh. Catching her breath she eyes the Lords, “You must have dug really deep to come up with that bullshit and think it’s going to stick.”

“You are a disgrace!” Lord Maydor yells out his input.

“Hand the hybrid over, and we will command our troops back to the Clowders.” I hadn’t had any dealings with Lord Lightfoot, but my first impressions were not warm.

I glare at him, my cat growling and hissing. Itching to rip his throat out. “The Princess isn’t going anywhere with you.” I spit back, wondering where the fuck Crimson was. We could really do with his presence right about now.

*Commander, we have a large number of very large werecats that just crossed our borders.* A lead warrior on the Gamma team mentally connects to me. *They are not Cambiadorian and they are wearing… loin cloths.* He supplies with utter confusion in his voice.

“Loin cloths?” I question out loud.

“Lon cloths?” Tawny repeats.

I look at her, “we have intruders at the southern border. Apparently, they are wearing loin cloths.” Like this night couldn’t get any worse. I did.

Lord Lightfoot let out a yowl and the soldiers behind him moved into an attack formation.

*The intruders have asked to see the Princess, Commander. He says he is Arik, King of Tolba Pride.*

“You know an Arik?” I ask Tawny,

“Loin clothes!” She smacks her head, “Of course. Yes, tell our men to give them passage. They are friendlies.”

No sooner had I finished relaying the message - feet and paws were pounding at a charging pace toward us.

“CHARGE!” Tawny calls out to the Alpha team and the Beta team emerges from the shadows of the trees and descends from the branches.

“PROTECT YOUR QUEEN!” I sound off, creating a mass mind-link at the same time. She took me by surprise leading the defensive charge, I had no intention of letting her fight in the thick of battle. Whether she was capable or not, wasn’t a question. Dynamics have changed. She is no longer a warrior she is the crowned princess, soon-to-be Queen. She should not be fighting on the front line.

I pounce forward shifting. Putting my cat’s body between Tawny and the Lord’s armies.

Claws dig into the first werecat that tries to get to Tawny. Sinking my teeth into his neck, the coppery taste of his blood spills into my cat’s mouth and the soft flesh easily tears away.

“We picked the right time to visit.” I turn to find the stranger's voice and cast my cat’s eyes upon a hulking werecat wearing a loin cloth. More than a dozen men at his heels dressed similarly. It was a strange sight to see. Though if they were here to help, I couldn’t give less fucks what they dressed in.

The hulking, loin cloth-wearing man who seemed to be the leader let out a massive and impressive roar before shifting into the most majestic lion. Even my cat bowed down to his massive size and superior aura.

His roar shuddered through my cats’ ears and through the enemy like a wave.

His men followed his lead and shifted, all lions, all huge and powerful. A coalition of beautiful werelions. They shook their manes and leaped to join the fight.

Even with the werelions coincidently coming to our aid. We were still outnumbered.

Where the fuck was Crimson?

I think our fur hides are saved when other shifters show up being led by the houses of Yowler, Mendez, and Porteous. Joining the fight against the coup.

My energy is renewed my adrenaline is pumping. I take down enemy after enemy when I start to see our men dropping like a sack of potatoes. My cat hisses when we scent the deadly poison mixed with our men’s blood.

I turn, hearing a blood-curdling yelp, to find Tawny in the grasp of Lord Lightfoot. His clawed hand coiled tightly around her neck. Lifting her tiny frame off the ground – legs dangling. Lord Lightfoot’s other hand was poised, ready to deliver a life-threatening blow into her stomach.

Fear consumes me and I shift to feet while hurdling myself in her direction. I don’t reach my princess; I’m hit from the side. The blow sent me rolling in the opposite direction. I scramble to regain my footing and stand.

My mind was only on my princess. Not the fact that I can feel blood gushing from my abdomen. Or the severe sensation of burning surrounding the wound.

As if in slow motion, I watch the glint of Lightfoot’s claws draw nearer to her skin, I stumble falling to the ground again. My body won’t stay upright, my legs aren’t working. I reach a hand out in her direction “Tawny…” I rasp. “… Poi-son.”

Blood pools in my mouth. The sound of a powerful creature and a flash of red are the last things I remember when my vision blurs and my surroundings fade into blackness. My heart slows until I can no longer hear the beat or feel my cat.