Page 75 of Blades of Ice

Beck lifted her chin with his finger. “Sugar, it’s like Carleigh said. Those items were an investment. Granted, we’ll need to go back to Alaska for the helo at some point, but it’s a useful craft to own.”

“Or we can send one of my cousins to get it. To be honest, if I don’t see Alaska again anytime soon, I’ll be a happy camper. I know it’s late, but I’m hungry. How about we see what all Carleigh stocked in the fridge? If I know her, and I do, there’s something ready to go in the oven.”

“I could eat.”

Lydia was right. Her cousin had left a pre-cooked lasagna for them. While it was heating, Lydia sliced some French bread, which she toasted in the upper, smaller oven, and tossed a salad. Beck offered to help, but she insisted he have a beer and familiarize himself with the rest of their house. He tried to envision where he would put the things he kept from his place, and it wasn’t hard. His new home was warm with splashes of color throughout. The furniture was sturdy and comfortable. This he knew because he tried out the sofa, imagining the two of them snuggled together in front of the fireplace while watching the big screen TV that hung above it.

As he walked from room to room, Beck stopped to take in each photo Lydia had on her walls of family and friends. There were a lot of them. There were also several pieces of artwork signed by Rico Di, who he knew was her cousin Connor, the seer and scientist.

The best room of all, in his opinion, was the en suite. Beck couldn’t wait to try the shower, but Lydia would have to instructhim how to use it since there were multiple showerheads, and instead of one handle to turn it on, there were buttons on the wall. Would she need to add his biometrics to the panel? Beck snorted at himself. How was this his life?

“I thought I was the only one who snorted in this family.”

Beck hadn’t heard Lydia come up behind him. He pointed at the panel. “What the hell is all that?”

“That is heaven in water form. I’ll show you after we eat.”

And she did. After devouring the delicious meal, Lydia led Beck upstairs where she explained how to use the shower, but only after they unpacked their toiletries. As she said, it was heaven. But it had nothing on the king-sized bed with its thick mattress. Beck never wanted to leave their bedroom.

After making love, they were cuddled under the softest sheet in the world. “Do you think we could live in this room? We can hire someone to cook and bring us our meals.”

Lydia set her chin on his chest, her eyes soft and happy. “If that’s what My Bear wants, but it’ll have to wait until Gio is born and the ceremony is over. Speaking of which, Luna wants to meet with us later to go over everything. I can’t wait to tell her about the flamethrower.”

“The what now?”

“Oh, did I forget to tell you about the bear I scared off when I was alone in the wilds?”

Beck gaped at his mate, and Lydia laughed. It was the best sound in the world.

Chapter 29

Lydia and Beckspent Christmas day with her family at her parents’ house. It was bittersweet, being the last holiday in the home she’d grown up in. After presents were exchanged and lunch was devoured, Lydia gave Beck a tour, regaling him with some of the antics she got up to in the various rooms with her cousins, and then Locke when he was old enough to join in.

Nik knocked on the door to the library before entering. “Hey, Bug. There’s someone downstairs who wants to meet Beck.”

“Who is it?” Lydia tagged Beck’s hand and led him out of the large room.

“Go downstairs and find out.”

Lydia rolled her eyes, figuring it was Carleigh. It wasn’t. Sophia’s parents were fussing at her to sit down. Lydia hadn’t seen her grandparents in years. Sam and Monica spent most of their time in Egypt with Lydia’s Aunt Xenia.

“There’s our girl!” Sam held his arms open. Lydia released Beck’s hand and rushed to hug her grandfather.

“Hiya, Pops.” Lydia smiled at Monica. “Hey, Mims.” Lydia was closer to Sam mainly because when she was younger, Lydia fed off her mother’s energy whenever they visited. Lydia knew why Sophia held a grudge against her parents, but she’d softened quicker where Sam was concerned for some reason. Stepping back, she held out her hand for Beck. Lydia was introducing her mate when Carleigh, along with her parents, Julian and Kat, and her sister, Juniper, showed up. Lydia was thankful her otheruncles and their families were either out of town or had moved north and weren’t in Atlanta to overwhelm her mate more than he already was. She still hadn’t told Sebastian she was back from her adventure. Lydia wanted to surprise him in person. If he got pissed at her for omitting the truth of what she’d been up to, Lydia would beg his forgiveness. And Dakota’s. Having Beck, Dooley, and Kennedy with her, she prayed Bas would be more interested in hearing the outcome of her trip. He wanted her to find new shifters for the council, and she had.

Cailín had gotten her wish. She, her dads, and sister were in New York to support Connor’s art show. They videochatted to catch up and wish the other a happy holiday. Cailín promised to be back in Atlanta for the handfasting, and Lydia couldn’t wait to see her bestie.

She and Beck hung out with her parents and Locke until after supper. Lydia and Locke cleaned the kitchen while Beck spent time with Sophia and Nik. Lydia hadn’t been wrong when she said her mother would shower Beck with love. It was going on eight by the time they got home, and Luna came by to go over the ceremony, which they decided to have on the twenty-ninth since Sophia was ready to pop.

Dooley and Kennedy arrived in Atlanta on the twenty-seventh, and the two couples spent time visiting Lydia’s parents, getting ready for the ceremony, and driving around the city. To show Dooley and Kennedy how much she appreciated all their help in the wild, Lydia got Desi on a video chat. He and Jacoby played several songs for them. The private concert was almost as good as meeting the males in person. Lydia also gifted Kennedy a gift certificate for a spa day. The female deserved to be pampered.

On the day before the handfasting, Nikolas insisted on taking Beck shopping after a hushed conversation with Luna. Lydia assumed she would wear a dress she already had in hercloset, and Beck would wear jeans and a button-up. Her family had other ideas. Luna presented Lydia a stunning dress the color of Beck’s eyes. The material was sparkly blue silk. The bodice crisscrossed with a little cleavage showing and was held up with spaghetti straps. The skirt hit the tops of her feet in the front but was longer in back. A beautiful Celtic design wrapped around the waist, and it fit perfectly.

Their big day arrived, and Sophia lounged in a comfy armchair looking on as Solara wove Lydia’s hair into braids and curls, then topped the do with a crown of tiny blue flowers and greenery.

“You look like a princess,” her mother gushed.

Cailín, who’d flown back from New York as promised, agreed. “You really do.”

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