Page 22 of Blades of Ice

“Okay, but if you do decide to stay there, I may have to rethink our friendship. You know there are places in Alaska that get like a whole month with no sunlight? I may be pasty white, but I need my vitamin D.”

“Things with his family are tense, so I have a feeling us staying here won’t be an issue after this mess is resolved.”

“Good. Not about his family because that sucks.” Cailín let out a belch. “Excuse me. Okay, I have to get to my assignment, but if you need me or anyone, call. I might not be available, but we can send Anthony or Tabby to set shit to rights in the great white yonder.”

“I will. Talk soon.” Lydia disconnected and pocketed her phone, then made her way toward the parking lot where Beck had gone. Not finding him when she scanned the area, Lydia figured he’d gone to face his sister. Beck was going to tell Delaney they were mates, and Lydia didn’t want him to face the female alone. Not that he couldn’t handle himself, but she could at least offer silent support.

Since she didn’t know where the office was located, Lydia searched the address on the internet. With the map set, she followed it across the parking lot, toward the harbor, and down the sidewalk. It was the next building, and that’s when Lydia noticed the area in front of it. It was near where Boyd ran into her. He had been racing from the direction of the office. Had he been there to see Delaney? Another question to add to the mystery. When Lydia opened her shifter senses, she no longer needed the map to guide her feet. Loud, harsh words led from the end of the hallway.

“I don’t care if she’s the Virgin Mary or the goddess. You have more important things to worry about than some random bitch who’s one brick shy of a load. You have a responsibility to this family, Sawyer.”

“You watch your mouth, Delaney. Hormones or not, I won’t allow you to disrespect her. I know my responsibilities. They’re why I’m here in Seward and not with my father. But now that I have a mate, my priorities have changed. I’ll find Amara, but once I do, I’m out of here. You have more than enough pilots to handle the load when I leave.”

“You can’t fucking quit. I won’t allow it.”

“You won’t—”Beck growled low.“You are not the Empress, and even she can’t dictate my life. I chose to move with her. To protect her.”

“And a fine fucking job you’ve done of that,”Delaney snarled.Lydia was ready to charge in there and grab the female by the hair and slam her face onto the nearest surface.

“You have a choice, Delaney. Either I fly the planes, or I locate Amara. I can’t do both.”

“Fine. I’ll call Caleb to cover your shift for the next few days. I’ll let the Empress deal with your attitude.”Heavy footsteps sounded before Beck threw open a door hard enough to slam the wall.“Take this fucking cart with you!”Delaney yelled.

Beck ignored her as he stomped toward Lydia. He only slowed when he was a few feet away, and then he pulled Lydia into his arms, pressing his nose to her neck. She returned the embrace, holding her mate tightly. Lydia tilted her head to give him better access as she scraped her nails through his blond hair. She didn’t ask if he was okay. His body vibrated, but the longer she caressed him, the more the tension ebbed.

“I need you,” he husked in her ear.

Lydia leaned back and cupped his cheek. “You have me. From now until my star burns out, I am yours.”

Beck gave her a nod before grabbing her hand and hauling her out of the building. It was a good thing she had long legs or she’d have been jogging to keep up with him. When they neared the parking lot, he slowed his steps. “I’m taking you to my house. It’s not much. I bought it for a song, allowing me to save money for something better. It’s why I drive an old truck. I don’t want you to think I’m poor. I’m not.”

“I don’t care about your money, Beck. I have more than we’ll ever be able to spend. What I do care about is your heart, and you have a good one.”

“How do you know?”

“The fates wouldn’t have led me to you otherwise.”

Beck didn’t speak again until they were in his truck and on the road. “I always dreamed of finding my mate, but I never would have guessed she wouldn’t be another bear. I thank the goddess you aren’t. I was always a little jealous of Dooley. Kennedy’s family is small, but they love him as if he were one of their own. From what you told me about your Clan, the Gargoyles don’t look upon one gender as weaker or not as important.” Beck reached for her hand, and Lydia took it, rubbing her thumb over his skin. “I need to feel appreciated, Sugar, and not less than.”

Lydia smiled at his nickname for her. He didn’t have an accent of any type, but it still sounded funny in his deep voice. “I appreciate you, and my Clan will as well. You can have any job you want. Hell, you can be my pool boy, and they’ll still love you.”

“You have a pool?”

“No. I have a cute little place outside Atlanta. It’s not too far from my parents’ home. I didn’t buy anything too expensive, because once my brother Locke graduates high school in the spring, they plan on moving to New York. My uncle, Rafael, was King until he passed the crown to Sebastian at the end of September. Most of Rafael’s brothers and cousins, which includes my dad, all lived in the Atlanta area for close to five decades. That’s a long time to remain in the same place when you aren’t aging. Rafael and some of the others have already moved to New York. Sebastian wanted somewhere in between the two areas, and he chose West Virginia. It’s where he met Dakota, our now Queen.” If they were going to complete the bond soon, Lydia needed to come clean about what happened.

Beck turned on a side road and pulled up behind a small house that had seen better days. When he reached to push thebutton to turn the engine off, she grabbed his wrist. “I need to tell you something. Something I did.”

“Let’s go inside where we’ll be more comfortable.”

Lydia released her grip and got out of the truck. She rounded the hood and followed Beck up a cracked walkway to a side door. The inside was in much better shape. Removing her parka, she draped it over a mismatched chair at a two-person table.

“Are you hungry? I have some leftover spaghetti, or I can fix a sandwich.”

“I’d rather not eat before we talk.”

Beck paused with his hand on the refrigerator handle. “That bad?”

“It’s not good.” Lydia’s stomach was in knots, and if she ate… Well, she wouldn’t throw up, but she might feel nauseated.

---