The Delta's Daughter Chapter 369

MIKE

"I'm so done with this shit," I tell Kellen rubbing my tired eyes.

We had been in his office all frickin' day after Lamia's proclamation that she was going to hunt down Senko and then Mathias's phone call.

All I wanted to do was go back to my childhood room and drown my sorrows, reflect on my misgivings. even letting Duke out for a good run would be better than going over documents and maps.

Personally, I thought we were being a bit premature.

Tyron had been questioning our prisoner. Twenty-Nine. We let the prisoner stew for a few days in one of our least comfortable cells below the palace. Tyron was still working on obtaining valuable information from him. But the creature had been holding strong against any method we had currently used.

I wanted to question him myself. Maybe my methods would be a little more persuasive.

But noo! Kellen had me here strategizing against an army of more weird fucking creatures. Because Crawlers weren't enough.

I call them creatures because they aren't shifters, and they're definitely not human.

And although the prospect of spending time alone with Lyric could be promising, I wasn't fully convinced that we should be heading out to look for Senko so soon.

Not before I had questioned our prisoner at least. Or figured out what Senko meant when he said, 'Not for them. For you.' Senko had, with his words, literally smacked the smirk off my face.

However, Kellen was adamant that Tyron could handle the prisoner.

We should have all died that day. We could have. But whatever is wrong with me… saved us all.

Things were happening way too fast and for whatever reason, Kellen was like a wolf who had lost his bone. He was determined to have Senko tracked down and the sooner the better.

"Mike, if we don't get ahead of this… ahead of Senko, we could find ourselves in a very fucked up position," Kellen grumbled with annoyance. "I don't want war as much as the next person, but…" He throws the papers he was looking at down on his desk with a huff "Once this is over, I won't have to worry about the future of my son or Tala."

Ahh, so that's why he was adamant about finishing something before it had even begun. Except, Kellen didn't see what I saw. He didn't see the things that made up Senko's army. We had no way of knowing how many things he had. Or how many more beasts there were.

We needed to be smarter. We needed to know what these things are.

"Kellen," I shake my head, "You didn't see… Those beasts… only a handful were capable of taking out a whole pack."

"But they didn't and from what Tobias, Alpha Brett, and Lyric reported, you took care of that." He paused from shifting through documents to look at me. I had given up some time ago trying to guess where Senko's base of operations was likely positioned. "Explain to me again exactly what happened to you. Tobias said you lit up like the lights in Lonely City. He also said it's not the first time?"

I didn't want to talk about my problem. I needed to process what was happening to me before I could talk to anyone else about it.

"For moon's sake," I huffed out, "I'm not a hundred percent sure myself but I think it all stems from the night we were made her knights. The night you almost killed that she-wolf and the night I was struck by lightning." I lick my lips, my mouth going dry as I think of my wolf's confession. "Also… I think it stems from when Lamia saved my life when we were kids."

I had already told Kellen about Lamia biting me and giving me her blood when we were kids. Kellen was upset that he had only recently found this out and had not known about it for years. He got over it quickly, but the knowledge did give him cause for concern.

"So can you make this light thing happen at will?" He questions raising his hands in an exploding motion.

"I don't know. I don't think so." I answer truthfully. I had no idea how it worked or why. My thoughts on the matter lead to thinking of Lyric and the way little blue jolts of sparks passed between us whenever our fingers touched. It also seemed to happen when either one of us was aroused. Because they certainly weren't there before. I would have noticed that first night I tracked her down in the forest.

I didn't tell Kellen this. I wanted to keep that between Lyric and me. It felt special and I didn't want anyone else making something more of it until I, or we, figured out what it was.

"Alright, it's late. I'm calling it." I say standing up.

"Mike…" Kellen looks at me with a pouty face. "Just another hour or two? You wouldn't ditch your best friend, your brother, your king, would you?"

"You're an asshole," I tell him, parking my butt back in the chair. Picking up a pen I shift the map in front of me again. "Alright so, this is where Alpha Jacobson's pack is. This is where Lyric had us pick up Zane and Lizzy. This is where Lyric and I will be heading to." I mark off the places on the map with an X.

"Then Tawny said the children with weird eyes in Tolba were found in Lewe… here." I carry on.

"Alright, and Alpha Xander and Finn were attacked here and at the Clan Mansion." Kellen supplies, making his own X's "Now we know Oliver is alive and we are waiting on the report from Hunji to see what info he has."

"And we know he is after four stones, which he already has one of." Thanks to my little thief. But I don't say that out loud. "Do you think there could be one in the Kodiak Kingdom seeing as Alpha Xander has been attacked twice now?"

Kellen rubs a finger over his lips in thought, "Possibly. It's not been ruled out. We already know where one is, hopefully, Tawny and Crimson hid it well away. There are four, right?"

I nod. Even though Kellen isn't looking at me.

"So, let's assume The Kodiak kingdom has one. Makes sense why Abner Brooks wanted that folder Crimson and Tawny found. We had one here in New Moon and then another in Cambiador. What if the fourth was also in another kingdom?" I muse, thinking out loud.

"Yah but which Kingdom?" I glance up to see Kellen scowling, eyes on the map, fingers pinching his chin. "This continent or the second?"

I blow out a breath, "I haven't the slightest fucking clue."

"Did your mate say if the epitaph she secured for her client gave us any clue?" I raise a brow at Kellen. I know he would rather have heard that Oliver was dead and not very much alive, but he couldn't even bring himself to speak his name. I had a feeling that had more to do with Tala than it did with Lamia.

For whatever reason, Oliver had taken a shine to Tala back in Bhakhil. And for whatever other reason, besides the fact that Oliver saved Tala's life, she had seen something good in him. Something that I am sure nobody else has or ever will see in that piece of shit.

"You mean Lyric?" Kellen raises his head giving me an incredulous glare, "No she didn't."

"She's your mate Mike." Kellen pointedly says to me.

"I know." I lower my head. "But just because we have a bond doesn't make her my mate."

"It kinda does." Kellen now chuckles at me.

"It's complicated," I tell him.

"It's really not." Now he's just pushing my buttons.

"Really?" I growl throwing my pen down, leaning back in the chair and crossing my arms. "What's not complicated about this whole fucked up situation? Go on tell me? Because I had already chosen someone to be my mate. That person happens to be in a fucking coma knocked up by one of our friends, who happens to be her mate that she cheated on me with. To top off that shit, my fated fucking mate stole your mate's crown! And even getting past that bullshit, she's afraid of being touched! How the fuck am I supposed to mate my fucking mate!"

I throw my hands up in the air, even Duke is trying to calm me right now, but it's not working. "And not to mention I have the worst case of fucking blue balls in the history of blue balls!"

"Mike."

I was done, so very done. "Then along comes some fucking dark ass witch with those fucking beasts that are almost impossible to kill!" For the past month and a half, I have been battling with my inner emotions. I couldn't contain them any longer. Long gone was the easy carefree Beta. That ship had fucking sailed the minute Lyric came into my life.

"Mike."

"What else is going to go wrong? Because we've already found ourselves on the brink of another war. Not even a fucking year later!" My voice began to climb the more I worked myself up.

"Mike."

"WHAT?" I shouted at my best friend.

"Your fucking glowing dude."

"What?" I say again, this time in disbelief.

"You are fucking glowing and your hands," He points to my hands that now hang beside me.

I look down and… "What the fuck?" I stammer as I see a tinge of blue that appears to be shining from my skin and tiny little sparks of currents between my fingers. I lift them inspecting them with awe.

So much for keeping that to myself.

My emotions begin to ebb and instead of panicking, I begin to calm down. With the calming the light from my skin begins to dim and fade. The sparks that travel between my fingers die out.

"You don't think this phenomenon you have is tied to your emotions, do you?" Kellen conceives while observing me. "Might explain why you could bring Jonda back to life. The trauma of losing her maybe?"

"What the fuck is happening to me, Kellen?" I gawk, still inspecting my hands, turning them over slowly.

After what Tobias and Lyric, along with everyone had witnessed on the battlefield at Golden Circle and what I just saw. I couldn't help but wonder if I could be a danger. Not just to myself but to everyone around me.

*****

LYRIC

After Mike's mother, Olivia, left and Zane was settled for the evening I took Lizzy's advice. Or rather, let her push me out the door so I could focus my pent-up energy on something else and headed over to the indoor training grounds.

Just as Olivia had said, Tala was in there, pounding against a punching bag that Rogue was holding for her. That wolf never left her side if he could help it. It made me wonder what the deal was between the two of them.

"Hey," I said announcing I was there, giving a curt bow to the queen.

"Hi, Lyric!" Tala replied a little too enthusiastically. Halting her punches as I walked across the floor heading to the far end. So as not to disturb or interrupt her training.

I take up position and throw a few light punches at the bag just to get my bearings, ignoring Rogue and the queen, and concentrating on doing my own thing.

In no time at all my hits become heavier and my kicks high. The bag swings but I follow its movement. Plowing my fists into the bag harder and harder, kicking it back when it swings out and back in. Giving it all I have. I jump in the air, spinning and delivering a perfect roundhouse kick.

I land on my feet in a crouching position, allowing myself to catch my breath for a moment. I wipe the sweat from my brow, even though I could still do with a much more challenging workout than this.

A slow clap brings me back to the room and I look to see Tala smiling brightly at me with wide eyes looking completely thrilled. "Wow! That was amazing!" She says, all but jumping up and down. Rogue stands next to her with a smirk on his face.

"Thanks," I mumble, not sure if she is making fun of me or truly praising me.

"Seriously, that kick at the end was really awesome. Where did you learn to fight like that?" She asks, coming closer.

I take her in, looking at her from head to toe. She wears a pair of tight blue leggings and a matching shirt. The only skin showing is her arms, ankles, and neck. I look down at myself in a pair of black lycra shorts and a black sports bra. Showing more skin than the two of them put together. As Rogue wears shorts and a plain white tee with the New Moon emblem on the left pocket side.

"My father," I told her, turning back to the bag and giving it a lame punch as I start the workout from the beginning again. "After he died, I just kept on training picking up new methods and styles here and there." I shrug, giving the bag another punch.

"Lyric here is quite the warrior," Rogue tells the queen. "I heard you are pretty good with a sword too." Rogue then says to me.

"Not bad," I shrug again.

Yeah, I could handle a sword.

"Mike says your wolf is really fast too?" Tala asks me. I think?

I drop my hands and turn to look at them, giving them my full attention now that they seem to be more interested in me than actually training. I blew a breath, a little annoyed that they were interrupting me while trying to work out my frustrations.

"Rogue go take a break." Tala waves her personal guard off.

Rogue frowns and shakes his head. "Uh - uh."

Tala whips around, giving Rogue the stink eye. "Seriously? Lyric is not a threat to me!" Throwing her hands on her hips she glares at Rogue.

"Fine!" He says throwing his hands up in the air. I will watch through the window and leave you alone."

Tala's aqua eyes soften at the big guy, and she gives him a satisfied smile, brushing back a loose strand of her bright red hair. "Thank you, Fergus."

I watch as Rogue stomps off muttering something about Kellen not being happy if he found out he left her alone.

"I'm not alone Fergus!" She calls out to him over her shoulder.

I'm assuming Fergus is his real name. I didn't think anyone would willingly name their pup Rogue. But you never know.

"What's the deal with you two?" I say pointing between her and Rogue's retreating back.

Tala lets out an exasperated sigh, "He takes his position way too seriously." She explains, rolling her eyes. "Rogue was a gladiator slave in Bhakhil with Kellen. Kellen saved his life, now the only way Rogue knows how to pay him back is to protect me. The man has dedicated his life to my safety." She says with another eye roll.

"That's commitment." I chuckled. "You don't like him protecting you?" I dare to ask.

Tala cocks her hip and pulls her lips into a tight line. "It's not that… It's just sometimes it can be overkill." Her voice lowered and she leans in, "He even followed me into one of the bloody common bathrooms one day." She shakes her head, amused at the memory.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I couldn't help it. It was a question that had been playing on my mind ever since she had all those clothes delivered and the kind note she wrote me.

"You stole my crown because you were trying to keep your pup safe. I'm a new mother, I would do anything for my pup. I recognize and understand that reason. You don't know me very well or the life I lived until Kellen saved us all." I watch her eyes become misty before she shakes it off. "Anyway, How about you show me a few of those moves? I haven't had the chance to train. Ever. And Rogue is not allowed to do any hand-to-hand combat with me." She sighs.

"Okay," I laugh because I get it, and the way she said the last part with exasperation, I believed her mate would pitch a fit if another man harmed her, even if it was just training. "Like never trained?"

"Nope." She pops the P and shakes her head from side to side. "I wasn't even allowed to shift when I wanted to in Bhakhil. Goddess forbid I was allowed to learn to fight or defend myself! And then I was knocked up upon arriving in New Moon. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate on why Kellen wouldn't let me anywhere near the training fields. He just about shit his pants when he found out I completed the obstacle course." She laughed.

I liked Tala, she was as real as it gets. A lot like Queen Lamia, but softer looking and speaking. I grimaced as I recalled my time on the obstacle course. That thing knocked the wind out of me and knocked me out. That didn't mean I wasn't going to try and attempt it again.

By hook or crook, I would dominate that course.

For the next hour, Tala and I went over basic defense moves, talking in between positions. She was very open with me and didn't mention My Beta once. She was also a quick study and being an Alpha female, like myself, the fluidity of movement comes naturally to her.

I didn't get a good workout in, but I can honestly say I enjoyed it. It's been so long since I let myself smile and the queen is easy to get along with.

Both she and Olivia.

I hadn't mentioned Olivia's visit. It was strange. In a good way. She told me all about her new pup Prince Connor, and it was nice to be able to gush about Zane to someone other than Lizzy.

We called it a night with me somehow agreeing to have lunch with her before the King sent me on another mission. So much for being on house arrest. Although I did pledge my loyalty.

I wasn't sure if these wolves were just very trusting or very naive. I was sure it had more to do with Zane and how he was conceived. And were just being nice to me.

I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, to be honest. I was hoping that other shoe really, really wouldn't drop. Note was happy, to be a part of a pack again. Zane had friends and wasn't being home-schooled or kept indoors hidden away. And Lizzy too was tired from hiding.

"Can I ask you something, Queen Tala?" My mind now drifting to the number of people in my life I could rely on, which is really only Lizzy. But I also thought of Bram and Miko. Despite their lifestyle and the one-time Bram had to get heavy-handed on me, they too looked out for me.

Bram's body had never been recovered.

"Tala. And sure, ask away." Tala smiles at me as we both walk toward where Rogue is waiting.

"Has the prisoner Twenty-Nine said anything?" I know I'm being bold. Except thinking of Bram had visions of his murder replaying in my mind.

Tala shook her head from side to side answering my question, "I don't think so. Kellen hasn't said anything. Yet."