Page 19 of Blades of Ice

“What’s doing, Miss Stone?”

Carleigh snorted. “You may call me Carleigh. Do we know who Boyd was messaging in BC?”

“No, I haven’t been able to pinpoint the address, only the general vicinity.”

“I have the address. Coming to you now.”

Dooley’s computer chimed, and he swiveled back around. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“What is it?” Beck asked.

“That’s Valerie’s address. I know because it was Amara’s old one.”

“Do you think someone booted her out of BC the way she did Beck’s mom?” Carleigh asked.

Dooley’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “No. I would have heard about it if they had. Like I told Beckett yesterday, I still have contacts there.”

Lydia rolled the bracelets on her right arm. “Are you certain your contacts aren’t loyal to Valerie?”

“Positive. Amara led our pack there for over a century. She was a good Queen, even if she did think lowly of males, but that’s our society for you. Valerie has no use for anyone, male or female, if they aren’t bringing in money.”

Carleigh hummed through the phone. “Could that be it?”

“Could that be what?” Lydia asked.

“Think about it. What two things cause most issues in the world? Money and power. Maybe she’s having money problems since she’s already in charge.”

Dooley stopped typing and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Say that’s true, but why would she be speaking in code with Boyd? She did send him away.”

Lydia reached over and placed her hand on Beck’s arm. “Let’s just go ask him.”

“Hold up, Cuz. Dooley, do you see that?” Carleigh asked. “It’s another message. This one from Sterling to BC.”

The male returned his gaze to the screen. “What the fuck does that even mean? The porridge is just right?”

Lydia slid her hand down Beck’s arm to thread their fingers together. “It’s from that old fairy tale,Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Dooley stared at her, and when she didn’t elaborate, he rolled his finger, indicating he needed more information.

“You don’t knowGoldilocks?”

“Can’t say I do, but my mother wasn’t the type to read to me as a child. Please explain.”

“Well, the gist of it is that Goldilocks happened upon a home inhabited by three bears. A papa, a momma, and a baby. They had made porridge, but it was too hot to eat, so they went outside to let it cool off. Goldilocks let herself into the house and tasted all three bowls. Papa’s was too hot. Momma’s was too cold, but baby bear’s was just right, so she ate it all. Same thingwith their chairs and their beds. When they found her asleep in baby bear’s bed, their voices woke her, and she ran out of the house, never to be heard from again. At least that’s the version I heard.”

Dooley’s brow furrowed, enhancing the deep lines there. “If the porridge is just right, then they’re referring to baby bear?”

“If they’re making reference to that fairy tale, yes.”

“Any babies in the area?” Carleigh asked.

“Not in our pack here. The last kid born was eight years ago,” Dooley said.

“Oh, shit.” Beck leaned forward. “Delaney is pregnant. Maybe Boyd found out somehow?”

“I’m confused,” Carleigh said. “Or not up to speed on the inner workings of your packs. Lydia told me about how Valerie fought Amara for leadership, but why would they want an unborn child? Wouldn’t there be, I don’t know, quite a few years before that child grows up to fight for the throne?”

Dooley gestured for Beck to take this one. “In our culture, the oldest daughter takes over as Queen when their mother is ready to step down if no one has challenged them beforehand. When Valerie allowed Amara to leave BC, my mother moved us here to set up a new pack. If she is never challenged, Delaney will take her place when the time comes. Then, if Delaney is never challenged, her child will take her place, if that child is a female. With that being the case, you’re right, going after an unborn baby doesn’t make sense.”

Lydia squeezed Beck’s fingers. “I still say we go confront Boyd.”

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