The Delta's Daughter Chapter 331

LYRIC

I gave my watch one last glance before I took it off. 7 pm.

It was time.

Handing my watch to Bram I told him "I want that back when I come out." Ignoring Twenty-Nine's grumble in the back of the car.

"There's a gate on the east side of the palace. That's where we will meet you." Bram's face turned to a deadly look of seriousness, and his eyes bore into mine making it impossible to look away. "You have two hours Swift, don't make me wait too long. Got it?" His fingers squeezed around mine tightly in a warning.

Message received loud and clear. He didn't trust the plan and wanted me in and out as fast as possible. I swallowed the lump of nerves that had settled in my throat and nodded "Got it." Trying to portray with my eyes that I understood and shared his suspicions that everything was not going to go smoothly.

The three of us piled out of the car. I wandered around to the driver's seat because turning up on foot would raise suspicions with the guards. Bram and Twenty-Nine were already out of the car and as I reached for the door Bram grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him. Engulfing me with his large arms.

"Stay focused and aware Swift." He bent his head, tilting mine up, and kissed me again, more harshly, more deeply, more meaningfully. "I'll see on the other side."

All I could do was stupidly nod. The kiss threw me for a loop. This was the second time he had kissed me. Even after I had rejected him. It was unlike the Bram I knew. He seemed intent on proving he had my back. I had never needed anyone to have my back before, but it was a welcome comfort at this point.

My gut still churned and my wolf, Note, still felt uneasy. That hint of worry seeping into me more so. This job was complicated enough without any added concern. Yet that niggling feeling I had the moment Miko contacted me had only grown instead of dissipating like I hoped it would.

I handed the guards at the gate my invitation. One takes it to examine and scan, the other two walk around the car inspecting it and pushing small mirrors on the end of long rods under my car. "No plus one?" The guard asks, handing me back the fake invitation through the open window.

I smile sweetly "Can you believe my date got sick last night? Took me out for some fancy dinner and ended up being allergic to shellfish!"

The guard chuckled, forearm resting on the top of the car. His eyes roved over me, "I believe he must be dumb ass standing up a beauty like you. Sick or not."

"You are too kind," I replied fluttering my eyelashes.

"Have a good evening miss." He says, knuckles rapping on the roof and steps back to let me through.

I blow out a large breath. Getting past the guards. Check.

After entering the gate, I drive up a winding path that leads to the main doors of the palace, trees lining the drive all the way up until they break and the most astonishing and beautiful structure lays in front of me.

Seeing it in pictures and from afar did not do the building justice. One bit.

In the center sat the main building reaching five stories high. The white sandstone walls gleamed in the dark and were lit up by colored lights that shone on the stone face. The building stretched out on either side, creating an east and west wing.

A few guards with glow sticks waved me towards the guest parking. Following their directions, I maneuvered the car to the East side of the palace where I spotted several groups heading towards a pair of double doors. I assumed from the map I had memorized that was the entrance to the grand ballroom.

I parked the car, not wanting to chance leaving it with a valet attendant. Luckily my heels were met with solid asphalt instead of gravel when I stepped out of the car.

"Clock the cameras. East wing bathroom. In and out." I gave myself a little pep talk before sucking in a breath and checking my purse for the essentials. My purse was small and wouldn't raise many suspicions. My gadgets were also small and easily concealed in the expandable clutch.

One decoder, disguised as lipstick. One small signal jammer that looked like an eyeshadow case. And my lock picker. And two knives securely placed on the inside of my thighs. Goddess, I hope they didn't pat me down.

I shuffled up to the front entrance, my eyes darting around, finding two cameras at the entrance. A large Alpha-looking male accompanied by a smaller female and a younger male closer to my age was climbing the steps that led to the entrance. I quickly moved in behind them, hoping the Alpha's larger frame would not only shield my face from the cameras but also conceal my lack of scent.

It wasn't until we had passed over the threshold and into the main foyer, did I move from the cover of the other guests.

I almost forgot to check for security cameras as my eyes took in the lavish décor. Marble pillars stretched up to the arches in the ceiling. The chandeliers glint like diamonds from the lights, creating a magical effect. The dim light from the moon shone through the curved windows adding to the ambiance of elegance.

I moved along with the other guests, entering the ballroom which was even more decked out than the foyer. Long white silk fabric hung from the ceiling, the ends barely sweeping the floor. Flowers in white and blue decorated the round tables, each with a tealight candle, that surrounded the center floor for dancing.

I didn't bother to find my assigned seat. I wouldn't need it. I had a job to do.

Moving through the ballroom, fully aware of the male wol whose gazes landed on me. Probably wondering who I was. I put my shoulders back and lifted my chin, walking with purpose and false confidence.

If I looked meek and out of place it would raise suspicions and then people would want to talk to me.

Locating the east wing corridor, I hovered around, plucking a glass of bubbly from a passing waiter. I went to look at my watch, only to remember I had taken it off. I couldn't come into a party as fancy as this with a piece of plastic around my wrist. Luckily a large clock hung on the back wall.

7.30 pm. Show time.

I downed the glass of bubbly, more for liquid courage than anything. Even though the small amount of alcohol wouldn't do much to me. It still made me feel better and braver with what I was about to do.

I would need all the luck in the realm to pull this off.

Two guards were posted in the corridor one at each end. I smiled at the female guard, still managing to keep my head low. "The ladies' room?" I asked, pointing down the corridor to where I knew the bathroom was.

"Just down there on your left miss." The guard supplied smiling back at me. I wrinkled my nose noting her scent was not a wolf but maybe a bear? It was weak and made me think maybe she was a hybrid. Hybrids weren't common but not super rare either. It was strange to find one in the werewolf kingdom though.

I scuttled down the corridor, located the women's room, and hurried in. Checking the stalls for occupants and finding none, I quickly locked the door to the bathroom. I dug under the sinks finding a small plastic bag that contained black clothes that Twenty-Nine had promised would be waiting for me.

Was that female their inside man? Truth was, I didn't want to know. The less I knew the better. "Get in get out." I breathed.

I quickly changed, disappointed that I would be leaving the beautiful dress Bram picked out for me behind. I pulled on the skintight pants and long-sleeved shirt. Strapping the knives to my outer thighs now, I pulled out the mask from my clutch and placed it over my eyes, tying it securely at the back of my head then pulled on the pair of black gloves I had brought with me.

Next, I pulled out the signal jammer, opened the small case, and switched it on. I quickly managed to tap into the securities mainframe, attaching the jammer frequency to any cameras in the east wing corridor and the vault rooms that were located at the other end of this corridor.

For the next fifteen minutes, the cameras would play in a loop so I could sneak in and out. Hopefully, I would be gone before even five minutes were up.

Changed, signals jammed, dress shoved back under the sinks, and ready, I unlocked the bathroom door and stuck my head out. Looking left then right and left again. I was in luck, there was no sign of the two guards.

Hopefully, my luck would continue.

With inhuman speed, I bolted down the corridor and being barefoot meant I could soundlessly move. It seemed odd that the two guards had left their post but, I didn't want to tempt fate and look a gift horse in the mouth.

In no time at all I found myself in the jewel room. Only quickly looking behind the thick wall of glass at the treasures that were displayed. The main vault door sat at the back of the room and I hurried towards it. My eyes glance around at my surroundings every second. The door was easy to open, not even needing the decoder, just my lock pick.

Inside sat countless jewels and relics, amongst old armor and swords from kings of the past. As pretty and as shiny as they were. These items were not my objective, but they would make a pretty penny on the black market for those who collected such things.

I stopped in my tracks as the door to the inner vault sat against the wall, its shiny black coat taunting me, daring me.

I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes. This was the break-in of the century. Word would spread of the thief whole stole the queen's crown. The thief who managed to break an unbreakable code. Their security would be the laughingstock of the realm.

I couldn't fuck this up. Not for me, not for Lizzy, and not for my boy. For them, I had to succeed.

Shaking away the awe I advance forward. Towards my objective. A small keypad sits to the right of the thick armored door. I pull out the signal jammer with the tiny screen and attach it to the decoder.

Their security is top-notch, I have no doubt. Good but not good enough to keep me out.

I attach the decoder to the side of the panel, using the built-in magnet on the lid of the tube. This will help unscramble the last code put in. Press the switch on the decoder and watch as the panel lights up flashing numbers quickly on the display until they stop and reveal the nine-digit code.

"This was too easy," I mumble to myself punching in the nine numbers it gave me and praying like mad that doesn't fail. "413620123"

The whirring of mechanical sound and the lock clicks several times. Suddenly the panel beeps and a green light flashes. The door opens. I let out the breath I was holding and pushed the inner vault door the remainder of the way and slip inside.

"Jeesh!" I expelled a whoosh of air as the room lit up and my eyes cast around the small area. Landing on several beautiful pieces. The King's crown, Gold and large with green and blue jewels adorning the thick band. White diamonds encrusted in the peaks of the crown. Several tiaras sitting on dark satin cushions decorated with gems of varying colors. But my eyes landed on the prize.

In the center sat the queen's crown. A bright and brilliant gold with emeralds placed along the band and diamonds at each tiny peak, much like the kings. But what set the queen's crown apart was the enormous and heavy red gem that sat front and center on the piece.

The bright jewel sparkled under the fluorescent lights, the deep color hypnotizing. So enchanted by its beauty I found it hard to pull my eyes away from it. The center seemed to swirl with flecks of gold, a trick of the light reflecting off the gold in the center of the jewel. But it looks so cosmic and unworldly.

'A crown fit for a goddess.' Note pipped up. It truly was.

I easily recognized it from the pictures in the file. Yet where it gleaned beauty in the photos it was nothing in comparison to seeing it with the naked eye. The door swung shut behind me, I was unconcerned as the code would give me access to reopen it when I left. My feet moved on their own accord until I was standing in front of the dazzling bejeweled gold headpiece.

With wide eyes and a little shake of my hands, I reached out. Pausing. I scanned the pedestal the crown sat on with wary eyes. Looking for a counterweight or alarm. Finding none, I rubbed my gloved hands over my thighs and placed my fingers on either side of the object, lifting it from the deep red sating cushion it sat on.

I waited. When nothing sounded, no alarms, no click, no light. I pulled it closer to me. Admiring its beauty and gasping at its heaviness.

I wasn't just a pretty face; I was smart too. My clutch, small as it may be, had a zipper inside that allowed the small bag to extend. Just the right size to fit the crown it. I couldn't very well walk out of here flashing the queen's crown around.

Slipping it inside the bag, I wasted no time lingering around. "Get in, get out," I repeated Bram's words.

"413620123" I punched in the same code and the door unlocked. I slipped out of the inner vault back into the main vault, through that door, and back into the jewel room.

Voices startled me and I hid behind a thick pillar that butted up to one of the long glass cases. The voices grew closer, and I hoped they would pass.

I wasn't that lucky. The two men stepped into the jewel room. Their harsh whispers became louder as they argued about something.

One of them laughed, a cold taunting chuckle, the other growled. I couldn't see them, but they moved towards the main vault door.

Shit! I hadn't relocked the door. I rounded the pillar, keeping myself hidden. I heard their feet pad on the marble floor and once I was sure they had entered the main vault. I vaulted out of there.

My feet swiftly took me towards the east end exit. From there it was a quick sprint across the gardens to the gate where I would meet Bram and Twenty-Nine.

Adrenaline drove me forward, my wolf lending me her strength to propel us forward, faster. I flew out the exit door to find myself in one of the royal gardens. I didn't stop to look around, only staying alert enough to notice any guards lurking.

The way was clear and I found myself rushing through the gate on the east side in no time at all. Once through the gate, my heart rate began to ease, and my breathing evened out.

"Fuck," I shuddered knowing I just pulled off the heist of the century.

My feet slowed down as my eyes searched for Bram and Twenty-Nine.

"Is it done?" I jumped at the sound of Twenty-Nine's creepy-as-shit voice. My hand covered my heart. I was so amped up that I didn't even hear him. I turned to face the strange man with grey skin and found Bram next to him.

I smiled, holding up the bag. My eyes trained on Bram, "It's done." Relief filled Bram's eyes and a slow smile crept up his face.

Twenty-Nine snatched the bag from me, eliciting a snarl from my wolf and a show of teeth from me. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to snatch!" I scalded him. Twenty-nine gave me a puzzled look as if my words were foreign.

I shook my head and placed my hands on my hips. "Let's get out of here," I announced ready to leave this place behind. I would collect Lizzy and my pup and then run as far away as possible where no one would recognize us.

"Yeah, not part of Shadow's plan," Twenty-nine said casually.

Before I could protest, the glint of silver flashed, and a spray of blood splattered across my face. Shock and horror took over as I watched Bram's big body drop to the ground. Blood oozed from his neck his spirit animal not healing the wound. Twenty-Nine stood over him, his mustard-colored eyes shone with pure evil and satisfaction.

Those hollow and unholy eyes turned on me. "No witnesses master said." The sharp edge of his silver blade caught the moonlight. The villainous man grinned with pure malicious intent.

With the speed and precision he used to take out Bram, going for my knives and fighting him would be a dumb move. No, I would be faster on four paws. There was no way he could catch me.

'RUN!' Note's voice rang out in my mind echoing my thoughts. Run.

I turned and plowed toward the trees, shifting as I did. Shredding my clothes and taking off just as fast as we could. 'Run and live to fight another day.' Note said. I was in complete agreement with her. There would be no argument from my end.

The image of Bram's wide eyes and bleeding neck filled my mind, urging me and my wolf to run faster. Harder. To put as much distance between me and Twenty-Nine as possible. I had no time to grieve the male who had shown me kindness and vowed to take care of me and my boy.

Bram was born on the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal. But he didn't deserve to die like that.