Page 49 of Blades of Ice

While they watched Dooley struggle, Lydia talked about her parents and brother. She recounted the story of her mother hiding her grandfather’s journal in the library in the hopes the Gargoyles would find it, which led to a brief history of Jonas Montague, or JoJo as he was known to their family, and his part in the apocalypse.

Kennedy leaned back, her brow furrowed. “You’re related to the first clone?” Dooley finally got his tent put together and dropped down on the other side of Kennedy to listen. After she told more of the Gargoyles’ history, Lydia asked Kennedy about her family. Both she and Dooley spoke fondly of Kennedy’s parents and siblings.

“I’d like to recruit you both to be on the council we’re forming.” Lydia explained what happened in South Carolina with the wolves and the GIA agent. She told Dooley, “I think with your computer skills and the two of you being different species, you’ll be assets.”

“Will we get to travel?” Kennedy asked.

“If you want. Our main objective is to identify as many different species as possible to spread the word. For millennia, we thought Gargoyles were the only shifters. Then we met the Gryphons and wolves. Now, here you two are, adding to the list.”

Dooley and Kennedy stared at one another a few seconds, then Dooley held out his hand to Lydia. “We accept.” They shook, and Kennedy clapped her hands, wiggling where she sat.

“I’ve never been out of Alaska. This is exciting.”

They talked a while longer and ate thick ham and cheese sandwiches before calling it a night. Lydia climbed into her tent and got as comfortable as she could. Kennedy’s giggle followed Dooley’s whispered words, and Lydia did her best to tune them out. She was happy to have the company, even if their closeness made her miss Beck more than she already did. Lydia closed her eyes and meditated, searching for the mate bond. It was there, but barely. Lydia was afraid to sleep. Afraid she would have another nightmare. Her body took the choice away from her, and she fell asleep wrapped in one of Beck’s shirts.

Three days later, they arrived at the spot where Amara was supposed to be. When they reached the coordinates, there were both human and animal prints as well as larger areas where the snow had been disturbed. Some of the snow was pink, indicating someone had dropped blood. Dooley and Kennedy shifted to their animals. It was Kennedy’s Fox who found the ice cave, yipping to get their attention. Dooley bounded to his mate, and Lydia walked as quickly as possible on snowshoes. Kennedy shifted back, naked as the day she was born. Lydia didn’t understand why some species, like dire wolves and polar bears, could shift with their clothes intact.

“There’s blood and a lot of it.”

Dooley took to his skin and entered the cave with Kennedy and Lydia following. Deep inside they found a set of chains imbedded in the wall with cuffs attached to the end. There were deep gouge marks around where the chains were bolted. Dooley sniffed the metal, then frowned. “That smells off.”

Lydia sniffed for herself, and she jumped back. “That’s wolfsbane.”

“How do you know that?” Dooley asked.

“There are certain poisons that can take down Gargoyles, and we’re taught at a young age what they are and how to identify them by sight and smell. It can cause paralysis, and inlarge doses mixed with hemlock is fatal for Goyles. I’m not sure what the plant would do to a bear though.”

Dooley kicked the chains. “Well, the Empress isn’t here, so we need to find her. If she was poisoned, she might be out there fighting for her life.”

“I didn’t notice sled tracks. Whoever was here must have come in on foot. Let’s see where the prints lead,” Lydia suggested.

“But there are two sets of prints. Which ones do we follow?” Kennedy asked. “Both are bloody.”

Dooley tugged on Kennedy’s long braid. “The smaller ones.”

They exited the cave, studied the prints, and after identifying the direction the smaller ones led, the trio headed that direction.

Chapter 20

Beck had topiss for the first time since he’d been taken. Chloe had split the case of water with him, but he only sipped enough to stay alive, not knowing if they’d be given more. He clambered to his knees and unzipped his pants, pointing away from where he was shackled. He never heard his sister relieving her bladder. Either she did it while he was asleep or… Hell, he didn’t want to think about it.

“Tell me about your mate. At least give me a name.”

Why did she wait until he had his dick in his hand to talk? Maybe the isolation was getting to her. She had questioned him several times about his mate, and each time, Beck changed the subject. Tired of her hounding him, Beck said, “I’m dying, so what’s the point in thinking about someone I’ll never see again?”

“You said before that she’d come find you,” she all but growled. Was Chloe jealous? Why would she be? Or maybe she was counting on being rescued, and Beck was being tight-lipped.

“That was wishful thinking.”

“Was she going to move to Seward to be with you?”

Beck grunted as he sat back down. “No, I was planning to move in with her.”

“Why won’t you tell me her name?”

“Fuck it. Her name’s Nicole, all right?”

“Don’t get all pissy. I’m just making conversation.”

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