The Delta's Daughter Chapter 85

Mathias

Day of the full moon

Last night, Lamia and I walked back to our cabin in silence, both of us contemplating Odeia’s words. Her explanation mulled through our thoughts. We laid wrapped in each other’s arms and in between tangling our bodies we talked. We talked until we could no longer keep our eyes open, about everything. I told her about Annalise, and my unsavory ways. We spoke about Orion and Finnegan and what was to come. She recanted her dream of when Odeia visited her, or Ashe as she knew her as.

There were no more secrets between us, nothing to get in our way and nothing to surprise us. I had complete and utter faith in my little wolf. I had a woman who was strong, kind and beautiful, and all I could hope was to treat her right and give her everything, including my heart. Which she already had.

She, Odeia, was right about my sudden change in path. I had been out of control, spiraling down a dark road full of horrors and sin. Not caring about what the next would bring, if it even came. My cold exterior and internal rage was paving the way for a more sinister King, and a bleaker and colder future.

A stone-cold asshole, that’s what I am. I protect my own, out of duty. I have no problem with taking a life for my Clan, my kingdom. And an even lesser problem watching someone die, be it an enemy or a Clan member.

But all that changed, the day I cast my eyes on Lamia. Sure, I didn’t trust her at first, but given the circumstances that were in play at that moment, who could blame me? I also attribute it to the experience of my first mate, Annalise. And I thought she was a weak wolf, unworthy of me.

How wrong I was.

 Just the thought of losing her had my chest pulling tight and a sharp pinch in my heart. It would break me if something happened to her. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, as my heart skipped a beat.

It was early morning and my little wolf was asleep next to me, the sheet pulling away from her back, hiding her perfectly shaped breasts beneath her. Her hair spread out across the pillow, in streaks of dark and light. Her pouty lips and soft mouth parted, lightly breathing. My heart skipped a beat and her eyes fluttered slightly.

I would give this woman the realm and any other realm she wanted. I would die for her. Lamia was all that mattered. The whole realm could burn and I wouldn’t care as long as she was by my side.

The enjoyment of my eyes wandering over Lamia’s relaxed state, as I committed this very moment to memory, taking in every dip and curve of her spine, each beautiful scar that told her story...

Was interrupted by Xander’s voice invading my mind.

*Brother, Odeia has requested to see you, alone. We are in the village dining hall, they are serving breakfast, if you could call it that* grumbling the latter of the sentence. Xander was obviously not impressed.

I didn’t want to wake up my sleeping beauty, but I didn’t want her to wake up and wonder where I was or panic. So, instead, I got up to shower. If she was still asleep when I got out, I would wake her then. I knew she was tired and I could smell her scent becoming stronger. By tonight she would be in full heat.

I bit my lower lip, hard. Because what I really wanted to do was have my way with her again, to taste her body like I did last night. I shoved the thoughts down when my cock twitched at the thought of watching her come undone again. She was insatiable, but my craving would have to wait.

The snow crunched under my heavy footsteps as I made my way to their dining hall. Here in Avalon, they acted very much like a wolf pack in most ways. They ate together, bathed together and hunted together. There were no markets, stores, shops. No telephones, computers or gadgets. They had electricity to light their homes, but beyond that, they lived a more secluded and simple life than most tribes.

Avalon was made up of mostly Lycan elders, some of the last of their kind. They would hunt for the food and share it amongst the people. Once a month, they would be brought supplies by the only neighboring village.  Avalon was a sanctuary of sorts, not just for Lycan’s, but for older shifters, who were more like priests, or had special abilities, is one way of describing them.

There were no children here; the place was made up of a mostly older generation. There were guards who were posted around the outskirts of the village and copse of trees surrounding the place, more formality than anything else; they came from the nearby village of Lycan’s, the true last of their kind. There wasn’t really a need for Avalon to be guarded, it was that far out of the way, one would either need to accidently stumble on the place, or like me, know exactly where it was. Plus, it wasn’t easy to get here. Hidden deep in the mountains of Xenia, the trek on foot is long and treacherous.

I opened the door to the dining hall, the chatter immediately stopped and people began to stand. I spotted Xander sitting at the far end with Odeia and two other men and made my way to them, fully aware of the eyes on me from all around. As I passed each table of standing men and women, they bowed their heads to me, placing their right arm across their chest and hand over their hearts. I had been to Avalon before, but had never been given this type of acknowledgement.

Curious, very curious indeed. I reached the table full of puzzlement and looked at my brother. His grin was broad and his eyes dancing with excitement. For what? I had no clue. It was apparent he knew something I didn’t though.

“Odeia, Xander” I greeted, taking a seat at the large redwood table across from them on one of the wooden chairs. A bowl of porridge oats, topped with berries, was placed in front of me. I glanced up at Xander, who was wearing a smirk, a reaction to the look of disappointment I was sure my expression conveyed at the lack of meal in front of me.

I was a big guy, and I was hungry, and this little bowl of oats was not going to cut it. This was what Xander was grumbling about earlier.

“Eat,” Odeia encouraged, “You will need your strength” I doubted this piddely meal would provide me with anything but wanting more food. “Don’t look so sad my dear boy, lunch will be much better, I promise. Besides, you will need to get ready for the mating ritual. I have sent the three seers to tend to your queen. You will not see Lamia until this evening. You will go with Xander and prepare after you have eaten.”

I looked at Xander, cocking a questioning eyebrow at him. “We get to go to the bathhouse and be tended to.” His eyebrows wiggled and the smile crept back up on his face. That’s why he was excited.

In the bathhouse, you go there to relax, and sometimes to be bathed by others. I remember all too well my last experience in the bathhouses here. Three women tending to my every need, a very erotic experience. That will not be happening again.

“No, I will skip the bathhouse thank you.” Not wanting to have any other woman put their hands on me.

Odeia chuckled at me. “Silly boy, you will go, there will be no women for you.” She paused and side eyed Xander, “But for your brother, I think we could make an exception.”

You didn’t say no to Odeia. She may be ancient but she was a powerful being, not untouchable, but still, she was a Demigod.

My brother was giddy and all but jumping on his seat. After I told him about my experience here, he had always wanted to come and enjoy the gratification of being bathed in Avalon. I couldn’t help internally laugh at his silliness. He was tough, strong, and smart and he had a lot of love for people and our Clan. He would make an excellent Alpha. His only downside was his almost innocent-like behavior. Unnecessary cruelty was beyond him.

Sometime later, I found myself sitting in the bathhouse, watching while three women tended to my Brother. It was a huge turn-on to watch the three of them pleasure him. He was having his fill but all I could think of was my little wolf and unconsciously found my hand stroking my hard length beneath the warm water, to thoughts of her.

I was interrupted when an older lady came in. “Your majesty, we are ready for you.” She held out a robe for me and bowed her head when I stood and stepped out from the warm water. A deep blush rose across her cheeks when her eyes flitted to my still rock-hard cock.

“We can have someone take care of that, your majesty, if you wish.”

“Not necessary.” I snapped, annoyed at the mere offer. Only my queen would touch me.

*****

Lamia

Mathias had woken me, to tell me he had been summoned by Odeia. I was ready to get up when he added she wanted to see him alone.

I was a little agitated at the notion I was not invited, but pushed those feelings to the side. There was no sense in getting worked up. Maybe it was something private. If it was important, I was sure he would tell me later.

I was still lying on the bed when there was a knock on the door to our cabin. I went to get up and throw on some clothes to answer it, when the door was swung open and three women came striding in all smiles and giggles. They halted at the bedroom doorway, three pairs of eyes roaming over my naked body. I suddenly felt a little self-conscious under their gaze, which was a strange feeling for me, for a shifter who was used to being nude.

The three burst into giggles again, which did little for my confidence. They were holding various items in their hands. “Ahh good! You were waiting for us!” The girl who was holding a large basket of different fruits exclaimed as she placed the basket on the table in the small kitchen.

A blond, brunet and the last had hair almost black. They stood together and I noticed, although their hair color differed, their eyes and facial features matched each other perfectly. Triplets, I thought.

“I am Nandie,” The blonde spoke, “and this is Tandie” She held her hand out to the brunet “and this is “Andie,” motioning to the dark-haired girl. Each gave me a small wave of the hand, the smiles not slipping from their faces as they did. If anything, they got bigger. 

“We are here to prepare you for your mating ritual” The brunet giggled, Tandie I think.

“First we scrub, then you eat,” Andie added.

“What are you?” I had sniffed the air and found no scent on them.

“We are part Nymph, part wolf,” Tandie proudly declared.

“But we have no wolf, we are seers.” Supplied Nandie, as she moved towards the bathroom, where a large tub sat in the middle of the floor and a shower stall in the corner, and began to run the water.

Andie shoved me towards the bathroom. “In” she hustled me and I obliged, stepping into the already hot water that filled the tub.

They began scrubbing my skin, using various soaps, and after scrubbing, they had me stand while they massaged a sweet smelling oil into my skin, working it in deep.

“You are a very lucky woman my lady” Nandie said, her blonde hair falling over her face as she massaged the oil onto my legs.

“Very lucky indeed, The king is so handsome, I wish he was my mate.” Andie giggled.

I let out a low warning growl, making sure they were aware of my possessiveness.

“She meant nothing by it, my lady,” Tandie nervously croaked.

“No offense taken, as long as you understand he is mine.” My tone was final and commanding.

“Of course, please come lay on the bed. We will begin the inscription now. It will take time.” Holding my elbow, Tandie led me back to the room, where a large white sheet had been placed over the mattress. “Lay on your front, arms out,” She instructed.

I did as she asked, without question. “What is the inscription for?” I, however, did ask this.

One of them handed me an apple and I gladly took a bite. It was awkward eating while lying on my stomach, but I was starving, so I didn’t care too much and munched away happily.

“They are the blessing and prayers of the gods. We will paint them on your body, so when you complete the mating ritual, you will both be blessed in the eyes and words of our mothers and fathers.” I think Nandie said.

“I am so excited to witness your mating” Tandie clapped, her voice holding so much giddiness.

“Witness?” I furrowed my brows together, what did she mean witness? “The ceremony?”

“Of course, silly! And the mating! We haven’t seen one in centuries! And you two are soooo good looking together” She swooned towards the end.

I leant up a little, ready to protest. I wasn’t going to have anyone watch Mathias and me finish the mating bond; that was private. I was met with a forceful hand that pushed me back down on to the bed.

“Did Odeia not explain the ritual to you?” Andie asked. I was beginning to see that she was the more sensible, of the three.

“No,” Now I was wondering what it was I was in for. “Could you three tell me? Seeing as you have already witnessed one before.”

They began to paint my body with a thick substance, dark and clay-like, as they explained what the mating ritual entailed. The paint they were using was made up of herbs, earth, tree sap and blood of the elders and a sweet nectar.

The scripture they were painting all over my body, were words of blessings the gods would give to their children. Mathias and I would be bonded by his blood while we bathed in the springs of Avalon and would couple together. Then, I would give him my mark as we mated and the priests/elders would chant their prayers around us.

“… It’s so beautiful and romantic,” Tandie finished saying.

Now I was nervous as shit. Did Mathias know this was what was going to happen? What did he think about it?

Finally, after hours later, they finished their paint work, and I looked down. My whole body, with the exception of my neck and face, was covered in words and markings. It had dried pretty fast, and now Nandie was holding a white robe, for me to slip my arms into.

Dusk had fallen across the clear sky, and the stars were just peeking out from above, the moon in position and large as the sun ducked behind the crest of the mountain.

It was time, and as much as I wanted to see Mathias, I had missed him all day. I was a ball of nerves.