Page 11 of Blades of Ice

“That would be hard to do considering I’ve flown to Kodiak and Katmai today.” Beck glanced down at her hands, then to his jacket, and back at her hands with narrowed eyes. “Are you working with Boyd? Was that little fall you had this afternoon a distraction so he could get away?” Beck growled. Considering what she witnessed at the house through the woods, she wouldn’t be surprised if he had his own beast inside. Lydia had to tread carefully. She was a Gargoyle, but she was no match for a bear that was almost twice as tall as she was and weighed more than a thousand pounds.

Lydia swallowed hard. The nausea was back, but she chalked it up to the adrenaline coursing through her body. “Absolutely not. I swear to you on all that’s holy I don’t know themale. Cailín and I were driving to Sterling when he ran us off the road. That pissed my friend off, so she followed him, but before we could confront him, Cailín was called home because her papa and sister were in a wreck.”

“And you decided to confront a stranger on your own? Stalking him through the woods with only a dagger to defend yourself?” Was that worry in his voice?

Lydia wasn’t about to admit she could have more than a dagger if she needed it, but if Boyd came through the woods, she wouldn’t hesitate to call on the big guns. Or swords since guns were illegal. She wiggled the dagger. “I can defend myself.”

Beck gestured at his jacket. “I can see that.” He sniffed the air. “What are you, and don’t lie to me. I saw the claws.”

“You first. Are you the same as Boyd?” Lydia had come to Alaska seeking shifters, and she’d found at least one, two possibly if Beck was also one. And if he was, then his mom and sisters were too.

“You saw… him?”

“Yep. All ten feet and a ton.”

“No wonder you were running for your life.”

Lydia huffed. “I wouldn’t say I was running.”

Beck smirked. “I am the same in that regard, but there are plenty of differences between us. He isn’t ten feet tall, but I am. And he’s a rat bastard.”

“Wow. That’s…”

Sexy is what he is. And a shifter! Wow, our mate is a polar bear.

Mate? What the hell are you going on about?

Why else do you think you felt like puking when we met him? Have you learned nothing from listening to the others?

“Oh, fuck me running.” Lydia grabbed her head with her free hand. How had she not seen that?

“Excuse me?”

“Uh, oh, nothing. I was talking to myself. I think I’ll go now.”Before I throw up on your feet. “It’s late, and I’ve had a long day.”

We’re not leaving. We just found him.

You aren’t in charge, and we need to get out of the freakin’ woods.

Beck laughed, and it was deep like his voice. “Talking to yourself? Really? You didn’t tell me what you are. You aren’t like me, that’s for sure.”

Lydia lowered her hand and placed it on her hip. “And how do you know that?”

“I know everyone like me in a two-hundred-mile radius, and your accent is wrong.”

“I don’t have an accent.” She so did. “Okay, I do, but it isn’t wrong. You know what? Screw this.” Lydia turned. “Mate my ass,” she muttered.

Beck grabbed her arm before she could take a step. “What the hell did you just say?”

Lydia whirled on him, blade once again at his throat. “Hands off.”

Beck released her and put both hands in the air, stepping back. “Sorry, but I could have sworn you said something about a mate.”

Lydia studied his face. Sawyer Beckett was gorgeous. And tall. And she wanted to bathe in his cool aroma. She mentally shook herself. “Why are you after Boyd?”

Beck’s lips tilted a smidge. “I thought you were leaving?”

Lydia wanted to see his full smile, and she didn’t really want to leave. “I guess my curiosity is stronger than the urge to go. So?”

---