Page 72 of Blades of Ice

“Someone like me? You mean a Queen who has ruled for over a century?”

“I mean an ungrateful bi— beast who has no compassion for what your son has been through these last few weeks. Unlike your daughter, who plotted to kill you as well as her sister, your son put aside his own life to search for you and Chloe. He was stabbed with a poisoned dagger and chained in a cave. If I hadn’t found him when I did, he would be dead. Still, he demanded we search for you instead of starting our life together. You might be the norm in your culture, but in mine, you suck at being Queen. Maybe Chloe would have been a better leader.”

“Chloe? That cub couldn’t find her ass with a map."

“That right there proves my point. It was Chloe who plotted against you and her sister. Who allowed Beck to be stabbed and chained to die in that cave. Who planned to sell Sagan Adventures and give the money to Orson when he took you out.”

"Delaney would never allow that to happen.”

“If she were dead, she wouldn’t be able to stop it.”

“Delaney is stronger than Chloe. And smarter.”

“Delaney is also pregnant, therefore weaker. But that’s neither here nor there since Chloe is also dead. Beck did what he set out to do, so his job is done.”

Amara’s eyes widened. “Chloe… She’s dead?”

“She is, and her body is with Orson’s in a cave in the Chugachs if you care. Like Beck said, it’s safe for you to return to Seward, or you can hide out here and let Delaney lead the pack.”

For the first time since seeing the female, Amara’s sneer fell away. She looked over at the river, but Lydia doubted she was seeing the otters or the water. Her child was dead, even if she’d been plotting against her mother. Lydia handed the sword to her mate, took out her phone, and snapped a photo of the female.

“What did you do that for?” Amara took a step toward Lydia, but Beck pointed the weapon at her.

“Stop right there.”

Amara sneered. “You wouldn’t hurt me. I’m your Queen.”

Beck inclined his head toward Lydia. “And she’s my mate. That trumps any loyalty I ever had to you. I, Sawyer Beckett, renounce the Sagan pack.”

“You ungrateful bastard. After all I’ve done for you.” Amara spit on the ground. The female acted like some backwoods vagrant.

Lydia patted Beck’s chest before taking the sword back. “Let’s go, My Bear.” She wiggled the phone in her free hand. “I have proof of life to show Delaney. You did your job, and now you’re free.”

“You’ll regret this.” Amara’s hands were fisted at her side.

“The only thing I regret is wasting the last eight days out here looking for you when I could have been with my new family. Goodbye, Amara.”

Lydia didn’t trust the female not to come after them, so she let Beck lead her to the helo while keeping her eye on Amara. The hatred Amara directed at Lydia was unnerving, but Lydia didn’t let it show. She glared right back. It wasn’t until they were standing beside the aircraft that she returned the sword to her wrist. She waited until they were seated to say, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Beck flipped the switches to get the motor started.

“That you had to grow up with her for a mother. I cannot wait to get back to Atlanta. Even nine months pregnant, Sophia Stone is going to smother you with love and affection.”

“Then let’s get going.” Beck’s smile was sad, and Lydia couldn’t imagine having a parent disregard their child the way Amara did him. She reached out and gave his arm a squeeze, then settled in for the flight back to Seward. Lydia stared out at the snow-covered mountains. They were something to behold, but she prayed she didn’t see them again anytime soon.

Chapter 28

After dropping thehelo off, they stopped to grab dinner to go. Beck was weary after dealing with Amara, and he didn’t want to cook. He also didn’t want Lydia to worry about feeding them either. His mate had spent most of the past eight days alone, and he knew she was just as ready to snuggle in bed instead of sleeping in a tent. At Beck’s house, they devoured their meals like starved animals, took a shower, and fell into bed where they were asleep within minutes. Beck knew this because he spooned Lydia, breathing in her scent, and felt her heartbeat slow beneath the hand he rested against her chest. He soon followed.

The next day, they went to breakfast at The Egg Cup before stopping off for a few groceries. Then they bought shipping boxes and packing tape. There wasn’t a lot Beck wanted to keep, but those things he did, they packed up and scheduled to have them shipped to Lydia’s house in Atlanta. During the flight, they had discussed what to do with Beck’s house. Since he didn’t plan on returning to Seward any time soon – or ever – he decided to sell it. While Lydia was on the phone with her mother, Beck called around to real estate agents until he found one who could come out that afternoon.

When someone knocked on the door, Beck expected the real estate agent even though it was an hour before he was scheduled. Instead, he opened it to find Delaney on the stoop.

“What are you doing here?”

Delaney pushed past without an invitation. “I saw you at The Egg Cup and came to have a little chat.”

Beck closed the door and crossed the room to stand by his mate. Delaney didn’t acknowledge Lydia. She stared at Beck, her eyes watering. “Heather told me Chloe’s dead. Why did you kill her? You said you were holding her and Orson until Mom could rule on what happens to them.”

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