The Delta's Daughter Chapter 306

CRIMSON

I don’t go back and curl up with my mate. Instead, I open the old leather folder again. Taking my time to study and read each parchment. Concentrating on the ones we didn’t get to observe.

I flit through the pages that describe the seven gates to the gods until I find the ones that hold the information I was desperate to know.

A few nights ago when Tawny and I were lost in passion, her nails dug into my skin and a bead of my blood fell onto the face of the blue stone she wears around her neck. Papa Armand's ring.

Something changed inside me, and I don’t just mean being able to mind-link. The stone’s magic gave way and allowed me to open a part of my mind that was shut off. Enabling me to tap into a higher percentage of my brain capacity.

The words don’t tell me much, just that the stone allows the bearer to be the truest version of themselves.

I’m disappointed that there is nothing else. I’m disappointed that even though I know what I am, I still have no idea what I’m capable of, what I truly am. A witch and a were-cat. And agitated that everything has to be so fucking cryptic.

Were-lion My subconscious corrects me. My mother was Pride, and my father a blood alchemist.

I sense movement outside my office door and before I can react the handle turns and the door slowly pushes open. At first, I think it might be Tawny coming to find me, but then her scent and the mass of blond hair fill the door frame. “Gillian,” I blow out in relief. Thankful that it wasn’t my mate, because I hadn't figured out what to say to her if anything at all.

Blue eyes stare at me from the doorway, “I know you don’t sleep much, but it’s even early for you to be up and around.” Gillian's brows bunch together as she takes in the mess on my desk.

When eyes finally meet mine they bounce between them, “What aren’t you saying, Kolby?”

“I have to leave for a while Gill,” I finally say after searching for how to tell her.

She shakes her head, “No. No, you don’t get to do this Kolby.”

My jaw sets tightly and my fists clench, “I have to,” I grit out.

She rubs the slight bump on her belly, before coming fully into the office, closing the door behind her, and taking a seat. “I was up because of heartburn,” She says pinning me with a glare. “Why are you in hear and what is all this Kolby?” She gestures to the papers strewn over my desk. “And don’t you dare try to lie to me or get out of it!” She scalds me like she always has when I’m being impossible.

I flop back in my chair with a defeated groan, squeezing my eyes shut and pinching the bridge of my nose. “At the beginning of the year when I went to MacTire, I met a man, a bear shifter who sits on the bench of the high council. Abner Brooks.” I begin, still keeping my eyes closed because I really can’t look at her. Because I didn’t just keep this from Tawny. I have been keeping this from her.

Gillian and I never had secrets. It was always her and I against the realm. She was not my lover and ex-fiancee, but she was my best friend. Part of me wished she really hadn’t taken Maydor’s life - he knew what I was this whole time. He could have filled in the gaps for me.

Still, I couldn’t fault Gillian. She hated him so deeply. At least now she knew why he hated her. Why he never loved her like a father would, should.

I carried on when her eyes watched me with interest, her lips pressed together waiting for what I had to confess. “Abner told me that his brother was King Agrius Beta. He knew about the gateways, the doors to the other realm. He wanted to know if Papa Armand was in possession of the information. Of course, I couldn’t give him an answer then, but… but then tonight,” I gesture to the old parchment in front of me. “I found it.”

Her gasp makes me cringe. “You knew about the doors before you even went to Tolba?” I solemnly nod, there are no words that can change the fact, that yes, I knew there were gateways to another realm, but only because of what Abner told me and only because he wanted to know the information was secure.

I swallow down the lump lodged in my throat, “He wants it safe,”

“And you believe this man! This werebear we no nothing about?”

“I don’t know Gill. Things are changing, I’m changing, I can feel it within me!” I almost yell as my fist smacks my chest to emphasize my words.

Gillian stares at me her pale blue eyes boring into me, her mouth parted with shock, and her forehead creased with worry lines. “You need to tell her Kolby. You can't do this to Tawny.” She stands, back stiff and posture tense. Her hands clench and release several times.

“I need you and Wyvern to handle Cambiador while I’m away. Tristan is more than capable of handling the council while I’m gone.”

Gillian backs up slightly, I see her nostrils flare and the burning anger in her eyes as they darken. She points a finger at me, “Don’t you dare walk out of here without telling her, Kolby. I will not be the one to break the news to her. You owe her an explanation. Is that what you were going to do? Just leave and not say anything?”

*****

After Gillian stormed out of my office, I contemplated what she said until I came to the conclusion that she was right. I owed Tawny more than a letter, more than me just leaving because I was too cowardly to say anything to her. To confess that I knew shit before she did and said nothing.

When we were in Toba, when Althea showed us the mirror, I was in disbelief that it was real, that what Abner had disclosed to me almost a year ago… was true. Up until that point, I thought Abner Brooks was romanticizing. Taking the story of a fairytale to the next level.

I never thought in my wildest dreams that his search and admission were real.

After packing a bag, I sit on the edge of the bed watching her sleep. Little puffs of breath pass through her luscious lips and her long eyelashes twitch against her delicate dark skin. She’s beautiful, angelic, like a fairy. The only thing she is missing is wings.

My chest constricts, at what I’m going to tell her. I’m going to break her heart no matter what. And for sure she is going to be mad as shit at me. I just hope she can understand and forgive me.

I hope when I come home we can put my deceiving behind us. Move forward with the future we both want.

She lets out a small moan, her hands reaching out, searching, maybe for me. Eyelashes flutter and I know the moment she realizes I’m not there and her eyes fly open.

Hazy yellow orbs search me out, only to find me fully dressed with a shameful look on my face. “Crimson,” Her voice was wary, taking in the suit I wear and the bag by the door. “What's going on?”

Tawny sits up, her face morphing into one of confusion.

I steady myself because I know she deserves the truth and I’m going to tell her. “I have to leave,” I start, gulping down the guilt that’s lodged in my throat and chest.

Her eyes narrow and the look she gives me, tilting her head, breaks me. She knows whatever comes out of my mouth next is not going to be what she wants to hear.

“I knew about the gateways to the god's realm. I’ve known since the beginning of the year.” Tawny opens her mouth like she wants to ask questions, but I don’t let her. “A man… A werebear approached me at MacTire. Said he had been looking for information that King Agrius hid a long time ago. Told he knew of it because his brother was the Beta to Agrius, and he believed Agrius had sent it to your grandfather.”

She shakes her head in disbelief, “No,” she whispers, her head down. Suddenly her eyes fly to mine, holding them in a heated stare. “You knew?” She shifts. “You fucking knew and you said nothing while you stood there pretending to be just as surprised as I was?”

“Tawny,” I reach for her but she pulls back scrambling to the other side of the bed. “I thought it was just folklore until Althea took us down there, then the book Sunu read.” I blow out a breath before trying to explain. “I looked for t-the book, and figured that too was just a rumor… Until…”

“Until last night.” She says, a sob breaking through, which she quickly covers with her hand. “Did you know about Senko? Any of it? Were you hiding all this from me, from us?”

I quickly tell her and try to reach out again, “I have to go Tawny, but I will be back. I promise.” Her body begins to shake, whether it be from anger or betrayal, I'm not sure. Maybe both. She looks heartbroken and looks at me like I’m the enemy.

I guess right now I am.

“I need to take the folder to… It doesn’t matter who.”

“Doesn’t matter!” She screeches Climbing off the bed. ”Doesn’t matter? It matters Crimson. It matters that you hid something so important to me, my friends, your friends.”

“Kitten,” I try rounding the bed, thinking if I could just hold her in my arms she would understand why I kept this from her. She takes a step back though, her body language only enforcing the anger that flares in her eyes. “I have to go Tawny, when I come back I will tell you everything.”

“You can tell me everything right now.” Crossing her arms, she pins me in place.

With inhuman speed I cross around the bed and wrap her in my arms, needing to fill my senses with her scent. “I don’t have time, Kitten. I have to…”

She wriggles free from my grasp, “If you walk out that door without telling me everything, then don’t come back Crimson. If you walk out that door and deliver that information to goddess only knows who, then- then we’re over.”

My heart shatters. “You don’t mean that?” I ask moving towards her again, but I can see it in her eyes. She means every word she spilled. The same look of determination in her eyes the night she threw her rejection at me.

“You lied to me Crimson!” She screams with tears in her eyes, the hurt I see breaking me just that little bit more.

The truth is, I had almost forgotten what Abner Brooks was looking for until tonight. Until I unknowingly found it. Even then it took a good while for me to understand that that’s what we had uncovered.

“Shit Tawny, I didn’t mean for it to happen this way, I had almost forgotten about it,” I beg her with my eyes, my hands that reach out for her - my heart that is going crazy in my chest.

“Then don’t do it. Stay here and we can work it out together.” I so wish I could do just that.

“I can’t,” I sigh “I made a promise,”

“Then tell me who, tell me where you are going?” Under the hateful stare, I see the pleading for me to do as she asks.

For a few long seconds, I contemplate telling her, but knowing could put her in harm's way. I close my eyes and bow my head gently shaking it, “I can’t, Tawny. I can't risk you.”

“You already have!” She yells, the pitch of her voice, a sharp knife to my chest. “Go Crimson! Go! And when you come back I may or not be here. But do not expect me to wait for you. You walk out this door and I swear, we are over!”

“I love you Tawny, but I have to go” I implore, trying not to fall to my knees, her words cutting through me, devastating me. Knowing I need to go see Abner.

“Get out!” She screams.

With a heavy heart and even heavier feet, I walk to the door and pick up my bag. I turn to look at her. Tears stream down her eyes, mirroring mine. “I will come back for you. I love you. I didn’t want to keep anything from you, Tawny…”

“GO!” She screams once more, and I do.

Because it's what has to happen. I leave. I walk out of the palace into my car. When I get to the gates I stop looking in the review mirror. I want to turn around and go back, I want to tell her how sorry I am, that she is everything to me. But I have to do this. Abner has answers I couldn’t get from Maydor, answers I will only be given with the exchange of information.

I put the car in drive, regretting my decision as it happens when I feel a sharp pain in my heart. I cry out at the intensity of the searing sting when it disappears just as fast as it began.

***FLASHBACK 11 MONTHS AGO***

I had just met the future Queen of MacTire, Alpha Lamia. The stories I heard about her beauty and grace did not do her any justice. She was far more breathtaking than described and I could have ever imagined.

I was hoping to secure an alliance with the kingdom as well as trade deals. King Armand had sent me to make sure that happened, while he awaited the arrival of his granddaughter, the last in the line of Phanton’s.

I was a little taken aback when Alpha Lamia warned me that his granddaughter was to be taken care of and would take it very personally if she was harmed physically or mentally. It was then I knew that with her friendship with the future Queen of MacTire, Cambiador would be restored to the glory it once was and the vision King Armand hoped for was in reach.

I was welcomed and given a room within the castle to my surprise. And I was just about to head out to my car to grab my bag and take it up to my room when I was stopped.

“Sir Crimson,” I turned to see an older man, a werebear with white blonde hair and pale blue eyes. “Abner Brooks,” He sticks his hand out introducing himself.

I take his hand in greeting and notice the coldness radiating from his skin. Finding it strange that the bear shifter would be that cold to the touch. “What can I do for you, Mr. Brooks?”

He looks around and leans in slightly, his voice lowered, “I was hoping to have a private word with you. About King Armand.”

“Okay,” I nod and let him lead me to a room far away from the ballroom.

“I have a seat on the high council, it’s my business to know who everyone is in case you wondering how I knew your name.” He gives a practiced smile.

“Cut to the chase Mr. Brooks,” I can be very patient but the way this man is holding himself and the secretive way he asked to speak to me has any of that patience pushed aside.

“Ah, yes well,” He clears his throat. “My brother served with King Agrius, he died in battle alongside him,” I remember the stories of the late bear king, how his brother killed him and then fled from the Kodiak Kingdom when he was hunted. I also remember hearing another Alpha became King until Agrius' son, rose and took his rightful place.

The bear shifter carries on, “It is to my understanding Agrius sent something to King Armand, a book of sorts.”

“I’m not following,” I tell him hoping he gets to a point quickly.

“This book, supposedly, holds the location to doors, portals, if you will, to another realm.” I throw my head back and let out a deep laugh, I can’t help it. “You may laugh but I am very serious.” His sharp tone has my laugh ceasing and my eyes snapping back to his.

“You have caught my attention, carry on.”

“Whether the portals are real or not is another story, but do know the letter he sent to King Armand and the pages I once saw, were real. I want to know if Armand is truly in possession of this book, if not then…” He pauses to look me over. “Find this book for me and I can explain everything to you, as well as what you are.”

“What I am?” I frown,

“You are no ordinary werecat Sir Crimson, I’m sure you are aware of that, but I can help you discover who and what you really are. An exchange of information, the book I believe is Cambiador for all the knowledge I have on a hybrid like yourself.”

“Why don’t you just ask King Armand yourself?” I question because if he only wanted to know if it existed or not, why not go straight to the source?

“The King can be very private about his friendship with Agrius, I have asked him and the answer I got was to have the phone slammed down on me.”

If that was the case then King Armand's actions spoke for himself. King Armand was indeed hiding something.

Curious, I find myself agreeing to Abner's request, I could at least find out if this book exists. He could also provide answers for me, ones that Papa Armand seems to be reluctant to answer.

“Then we shall make a blood pact,” He declares, fishing a small knife from his pocket and holding it up to his palm, “An exchange of information. When and if you find said book, I will do everything I can to provide you with the answers you seek about what you are.” He cuts his palm, the copper smell of his blood permeating the air.

He holds the knife out to me, I take it, already regretting my decision. Still, I make a small slice in my hand and shake Abner’s once more. Sealing the deal.

***END FLASHBACK***

I never did get the chance to ask Papa Armand about the book or Abner's claims. And I never really put much effort into looking for it. With everything that happened in the last year, it was the least of my concerns.

Though, it all came flooding back the minute I walked into the library in Tolba and laid eyes on the mirror. And the blood pact came burned through me the minute I laid eyes on the pages from the leather folder.