Page 23 of Blades of Ice

Beck removed two beers, popped the tops, and handed her one. Lydia was glad to have something to hold onto. She downed half the bottle and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. It wasn’t a very ladylike thing to do, but she didn’t consider herself a lady. Lydia could play the part in a sparkly dress and heels. She could style her hair in a decent updo and apply smoky makeup when needed. Lydia grew up scrapping with cousins in a boxing ring, learning to wield a sword and knives, understanding that protecting your family was more important than how you dressed. Manners were important in social settings, but at home and around her peers, she didn’t worry too much about them.

“Want to sit in the living room?”

“Sure.” Lydia followed Beck and sat on the opposite end of his sofa. As soon as her butt hit the cushions, she bounced back to her feet. She took a deep breath, intending to start at the beginning. Instead, she blurted, “I killed someone.”

Chapter 10

Beck was gladhe hadn’t taken a swallow of beer, or he’d probably have choked. Setting the bottle down on the end table, he gave Lydia his full attention. “Was it self-defense?”

“Not exactly.”

“Okay. Start at the beginning and tell me everything.” Beck relaxed into the sofa, doing his best to keep his face passive as she launched into how Sebastian had found his mate while looking for property in West Virginia. The Alpha of Dakota’s pack wanted her for his mate, which caused a war between the male and Sebastian. When Lydia got to the battle between the wolves and Sebastian’s followers, she set her bottle down and shook out her hands. Beck wanted to go to her, but she ended up pacing the small room, and he let her be.

“We were raised as fighters. Protectors. My job was to protect my new Queen.” Lydia relayed how Gargoyles, Gryphons, and wolf shifters faced down Dakota’s old pack. Her details were so vivid, Beck could see it in his mind. “Sebastian and Kingston were fighting, and most everyone had stopped to watch. Anthony yelled for Dakota to watch out. Tessa and I were guarding Dakota. I turned at Anthony’s warning, and one of the females from the Bridgewater pack had shifted and was in mid-air as I spun. She…” Lydia twisted the bracelets on her wrist.

“She?” Beck urged after several seconds of silence.

Lydia’s eyes filled with tears. “Tinsley landed on my sword. I didn’t mean to kill her.”

Beck couldn’t stand it any longer. He rose and pulled his female into his arms. “I’m sure you didn’t, but it was your job to protect Dakota, and that’s what you did. What you had trained your whole life to do. They say first kills are the hardest, but I would say any kill for you would be difficult.” Beck brushed her hair off her face, then kissed Lydia’s forehead. “My soft-hearted warrior.”

“You don’t… Aren’t you… disgusted?”

“No, Sugar. I have no negative thoughts where you’re concerned. Do I hate that this hurts your heart? Yes. I’ve seen one-ton polar bear shifters break down after their first kill. In my pack, killing not only means power, but it’s also necessary for survival. I hope you never have to end another life, but now that you have? It means you have what it takes to protect those important to you. But just so you know? As soon as we take care of shit with my family, you and I are going to West Virginia, and I’m going to teach this Sloane fucker a lesson.”

Lydia patted Beck’s chest. “Too late. My dad ripped his heart out. Literally.”

Beck grinned. “Fucking fierce, the lot of ya. And I will be proud to stand alongside you in any future battles. No, strike that. You can stand on the sidelines looking pretty while I rip our enemies to shreds.”

“Pretty, huh?”

“Did I say pretty? I meant stunning. And if you have no more confessions, I’d be honored if you would claim me as your mate.”

“Really? Are you sure? We haven’t known each other long, and this isn’t like in your pack, Beck. This is a several centuries commit—” Beck kissed Lydia, not giving her a chance to finish questioning his intentions. He angled his head and used lots of tongue. His female’s mouth was everything he’d never had in a kiss. Now he knew why. Every female before Lydia had beennothing more than a placeholder. Someone to slake a basic need with. Even Heather. Beck snaked his hands around her back, slid them down to her fine ass, and lifted. Lydia wrapped her long legs around his waist, and Beck stumbled toward the bedroom. Not because she was heavy, but because he was eager to get her naked.

Thankful he wasn’t a slob, Beck lowered Lydia to her feet when they were inside his small room. He reached behind his head and tugged his henley off, dropping it to the floor. Lydia stepped closer and placed her palms over his pecs, her thumbs rubbing through the sparse, blond hair. He held still, allowing her to take the lead.

“I have another confession.” Lydia licked her lips, her eyes trained on her hands.

Beck pushed her hair off her shoulder, then cupped her nape. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

“I don’t have a lot of experience. I’m not saying I’ve never… Gods, this is hard. Some Gargoyles don’t find their mates for hundreds of years. I—”

Beck placed his fingers against her lips. “I don’t care, Sugar. Whether you’re a virgin or if you’ve had several partners, that doesn’t matter. This is about you and me. What’s in the past is just that, yeah?”

“Yeah, okay. Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. I said I was ready for us to claim one another, but I didn’t ask if you are. We can slow things down if you need more time.”

Lydia’s fingertips swirled designs across his chest. Goosebumps pebbled his skin, and his dick thickened in his jeans. The feather soft touch was nearly as potent as if she’d palmed his erection.

“I don’t need more time if you don’t. I want you, but I want to know you’re certain about us being mates.”

“Why would I hesitate? What you’re offering is something I’ve dreamed about. Knowing the fates chose me for you is hard to wrap my head around because I’ve never thought of myself as anything special. But I must have some redeeming qualities, right?”

Lydia moved her palms to his cheeks. “Whatever the reason the fates chose you, I’m grateful.” She pulled his head down for another kiss. Beck slid his hands beneath her shirt and splayed his fingers across her back. He unfastened her bra, and Lydia hummed against his lips. He took that as permission to explore further. Beck gripped the hem of her shirt and lifted it. They had to break the kiss to get the garment off. He tossed it in the vicinity of his own shirt, then slid the straps of her bra down her arms. Beck palmed both breasts, rolling her nipples.

“Beck,” she husked.

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