The Delta's Daughter Chapter 364

SHADOW

"I'm sorry it didn't go as planned father." Petra wraps herself in a robe descending from the back of a van after flying in there in her raven form.

I shoot her a disappointed look. The silly girl is a fool. "On the contrary, dear daughter," A smirk tugs at my lips, a rare emotion for me but one that's warranted today. "Today went well."

She frowns with confusion, and I sigh as she hasn't quite got the big picture yet. "I got what I needed. Saw what I needed to know."

"But they didn't bring the child, and you didn't get your breeder." If I didn't know how loyal she was, I would swear saying I didn't get what she thought I came for, made her happy. Just the slightest hint of light danced in her yellow eyes.

"That was just a distraction. I don't need the boy. Not yet anyway. Not until he gets his spirit animal. There's time for that." I watch Petra's reaction closely, but this time she gives nothing away, keeping her face impassive.

It was true. I knew there was no way they could bring the boy from New Moon to the outskirts of that pack in the time frame I gave them. I didn't expect them to. I also knew that the Beta wouldn't trade a life for a life.

They were so formal. So goody two shoes it made me cringe. Always trying to do the right thing. It would be their downfall.

It already was. They just didn't know it. The lot of them were soft. Easy to read easy to trick.

"Now go Petra. Go back to MacTire and stay there until you have found the earth stone. I've waited long enough. I'm done playing. You are beginning to disappoint me. You only have one job to do and you're not doing that very well" I wave her off. Dismissing her with disinterest.

"Yes, Father." She speaks. I hear the despondency in her tone and mentally wave it off. Her emotions are not my concern.

Petra transforms once again, taking flight back to MacTire hopefully to fulfill my orders this time. It's been too long. Taken too long.

I load up what's left of my army. Giving them orders to move out and head back to the compound. I keep a small number of my best behind and instruct them to make contact with our subordinates in the north.

It's time I too, fulfilled my promise to the lord of the underworld.

I still only had one stone and needed to find the other three. At least now I know what will activate them.

Petra had told me about the sparks of the Royal Beta. I had my reservations but seeing him today. Well, that just confirmed Petra's suspicions. I really should have patted her on the shoulder and told her job well done.

I almost chuckled at the thought of doing that.

I was in awe of the power the Royal Beta held. He had no idea what he was. What he would do. How he would help bring Aodh back into this realm.

At the moment, he was an unwilling accomplice. At least now I knew what would draw that power out of him. That knowledge would make it that much easier when the time came.

I was slightly disappointed that Jonda decided to take her own life. I kind of like that woman. She would have made a good breeder. I shrug my shoulders, letting it go.

Jumping into my vehicle, Milo at the wheel. "Where to master?"

"The compound," I instruct him.

"Twenty-Nine?" He asks,

"Not dead. Yet." But he soon would be. Either they will torture him to death, or he will die if he dares to talk. Either way, he was no longer my problem or of use to me.

I had more children. I could always make more. And with the blood of a Grimalkin, I could make bigger and stronger defenders. Bigger and better beasts.

This thought did bring a smile to my lips. It's what I dared to dream. What dared to ask of Aodh. To create life. To create a new species. An army that would serve alongside him, upon his return to the realm.

I settled in for the long drive back. Reflecting on the past two days. The revelations and outcomes that occurred. I was pleased.

I would be much more satisfied if I could obtain the other three stones. Not even Orion knew where they were. Not that he ever looked for them. Orion wanted to rule over the realm as King of shifters, a position his brother was meant to take until he was murdered by his own twin. Arguis, Orion's twin, had kept many secrets, hidden them away throughout the kingdom. One of which was currently in the possession of Abner Brooks. Head of the high council. My observers had already confirmed he was already in possession of the late King Arguis' documents.

*****

TRAVIS

The same as most nights I carry a tray of food down the dark steps into the depths of the dungeons beneath MacTire's castle.

Tonight, I decided I would be nice, making up a plate of hearty potatoes, steak, and some yummy greens. I was sure Oliver would appreciate the special meal I personally prepared for him. In the last few weeks, he had only received porridge, bread, and maybe some fruit when I thought of it. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I skipped feeding him for a couple of days.

I shrug to myself. I was busy.

'Let him choke on his own blood.' The dark voice encourages me, slithering around in my mind, shoving Janus to the side.

'No. Tell our Queen he is alive. Let her decide.' Janus speaks. Not wanting to defy our queen any more than we already have.

'Oooh yes! Bring the Queen here so we can taste her. Take her. Show her who the real Alpha is in bed.'

'Stop it! Both of you!' I mentally yell at Janus and the other voice who has yet to give me a name. Then again, I'm not sure if he is just part of my consciousness. Or if he is something else. I tend to think he is the latter.

I mentally put up a block to Janus and the other voice. A feeble attempt, because no matter how much or how often I try to ignore or push both of them away and put up mental blocks. They always seem to break them down.

I near Oliver's cell. It's quiet. It always is down here. This far into the dungeons. No one but me ever comes down here. Which is why no one has discovered Oliver yet. Despite the renovated cells at the front of the dungeons, these cells sit way back. Almost hidden. I practically gave my Beta Josiah an Alpha order and any other guards that are positioned down here to stay away from this part of the dungeon.

"Good evening, Oliver," I say stepping in front of the silver bars that keep him captive.

He lifts his head from his folded hands behind him. He's lying on the cot and scents the air. "You outdid yourself tonight Alpha." He says laying his head back down.

My eyes narrow and my head tilts. Usually, he would be up looking to see and eager to eat. Giving me grief before a torture session begins. But tonight, he lays there, relaxed, or as relaxed as he can be given the conditions he is living in and the condition he is in.

'I don't trust him.' Janus pushes past my mental barrier.

'He's up to something. I can smell the plotting from here.' The other voice chimes in.

So much for blocking them.

"Tell me Oliver, what is your mind scheming?" I set the tray down on the floor. "What do prefer tonight? The silver blade. More wolfsbane? Ahh, maybe a concoction of Wolfsbane and Nightshade. Something to really get your blood boiling." He says nothing, unmoving. Just casually lying there, hands behind his head and one leg over the other.

I noticed he was starting to smell. He was rotting away. The thought pleased me. Somewhat. "Or maybe your wolf would like to watch me peel your skin off again. Only for him to heal you and me to do it again. And again."

Oliver unfolds his legs and arms, finally a reaction. He stands from the cot not even wincing when his bare feet touch the silver floor. He steps onto the strip that isn't painted silver and walks to the bars, shoving his hands through and holding them out. "Do what you will Alpha. But I really think you should tell Queen Lamia I'm alive. I have answers to her questions. Ones I'm willing to tell her."

"At what cost?" I sneer at the rogue. He was never to be trusted. Oliver was sly and cunning. He thought of no one but himself.

"A quick death."

"A quick death?" I repeat his answer.

"I imagine a pardon would be asking for too much. So yes, a quick death. By her hands. Not yours." I look for the smugness in his eyes and find none.

I swipe a hand down my face, "Why now Oliver?" He has an angle I'm sure of it.

"Imagine this Alpha: Hunji and the witch find out I'm alive. What would be worse, them discovering it and reporting it back to your precious Queen? Or you disclosing your secrets first. I'm sure she could find it in that soft heart of hers to forgive you. If you confessed first." He drops his hands when I don't slap silver cuffs on him and takes a step back. "Or maybe Hunji will just whack my head off before I get the chance to spill all the secrets I know." His voice lowers and he leans in towards the bars. "And that would be a shame because I know everything."

"What do you know Oliver? Tell me what you know?"

Now he laughs. A full-bellied maniacal laugh, throwing his head back as he cackles. "If I told you I would miss my opportunity for an audience with her highness."

I contemplated not giving him his meal and just starting with the torture. Except even with the ghastly tools, I used and methods I implemented I wasn't finding any enjoyment in his anguish as much as I was before. Now it was just a routine. A way to satisfy my own sense of justice.

It just wasn't getting me hard like it used to in the beginning.

I slide the tray of food over to the bars so he can reach it. I watch Oliver's eyes gleam at the sight, his nostrils flare and he licks his lips at the smell of the delicious food. He shakes his head backing away from the food. Surprising me.

"Not interested?" I say sliding the tray back towards me.

I get up when he doesn't say anything and begin to walk away. Leaving the food just out of reach for him.

I expect him to change his mind. Or at least yell at me or call me back. But he doesn't. I shrug. Not my problem if he doesn't want to eat.

I make it to the end of the corridor, and only then does he open his mouth "Think about it, Travis. Everything I know. I bet your pretty Queen would like to pick my brain."

I shake my head descending the stone staircase. His words lingered with my thoughts. Hunji and Morgan will be here soon, tomorrow. They would find out.

'Tell her.' Janus hisses, always wanting to please Lamia.

'Kill him.' The second voice slithers.

I feel them both inside my head, both vying for control. Both of them, my wolf and the second entity urging me to listen. But which do I listen to?

I make it upstairs and wander into Lamia's old chambers. Standing by the window looking out over MacTire's grounds, I recall the last time I was in here. The last time I made love to Lamia. Before she found Mathias.

That night seemed so long ago, so insignificant then. Yet now, I wonder when it was, I truly started to crave her.

I knew when it was. It's when she brought me back from the brink of death. The parasite began to slither around in my head, hanging on to every thought I had about Lamia. I wasn't in love with her. But there was something deep inside me that longed for her touch, for her taste.

I shook my head because thoughts like that would get me killed.

Walking over to the bed, I flop down laying on what used to be her side of the bed. Debating on whether I should confess that I had Oliver here, alive and well.

Then I thought of mind linking her, but that would just leave me tired and dazed and I couldn't afford to not be in control. The last time I exhausted myself Janus and the parasite took control. I had woken in the middle of the forest, covered in blood and a feast of dead animals surrounded me.

The time before that, I woke in my own bed with three women and a warrior butt-ass naked. I didn't even want to know what went on there. Janus and the parasite could keep that one to themselves.

Lamia's scent had all but faded from the room. The sweet smell of brown sugar and vanilla was but a whisp of a memory now.

I missed Lamia. This much I knew. The comfort, the reassurance, the sex. God was she a dream in bed! I groan because I know there was nothing more between us than satisfying urges. So why? Why was I feeling the need to be consumed by her?

"Fuck! She's going to hate me forever or kill me." I say aloud, hoisting myself up from the bed and walking out and down to my office.

Hunji couldn't find out before Lamia that fucking Oliver was never executed. I don't think I could stand the look of disappointment in Hunji's eyes either. I knew for sure he would take a swing at me. I suppose I wasn't too worried about that; I could take it.

I did owe it to Lamia and the rest of them, to tell the truth, to fess up. If Oliver truly does have information about Senko, or the Shadow Witch. Whatever they were calling this guy, they deserved to find out. Worst case scenario one of them kills him.

Or me.

I picked up the phone swiping a sweaty palm over my face and down my beard, that desperately needed trimming.

'Just do it.' Janus encouraged.

'Be the Queens little bitch' The slithering parasite taunted.

I dial her personal number and the phone rings at the other end. And it rings. And rings.

I'm about to hang up when she answers, "Travis? Is everything okay?" Her sweet melodic voice has me sighing. I already know how disappointed she will be with me.

"Travis?" She says when I don't respond.

"Lamia," I croak out, "Everything is fine." I hesitate and gulp down a nervous lump. "I uh - I have something to tell you."

"It's late. Or early. Can it wait?" I hear the grogginess in her voice, knowing at this hour she was probably fast asleep, and knowing King, he was now awake and listening to our conversation.

"No. It's about Oliver." I pause, willing the words to come out.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "He's not dead. Oliver is alive. I'm sorry Lamia."