Page 4 of Blades of Ice

Lydia snaked her arm around her best friend’s waist and squeezed. “Maybe I should come with you instead of going to the mall. Trevor’s less likely to lose his shit if I’m there.”

“Why don’t we all go?” Sophia offered. “If he knows I’m onboard with this plan, that might go a long way in easing his mind.”

“Whyareyou okay with this?” Lydia asked.

“Because this is your job, Sweet Girl. Sebastian has already tasked you with finding more shifters. It just so happens you must travel to do so. Besides, I know your dad and I are driving you up the wall, so it’ll be good for you to get away for a while. Just make sure you get the job done before your little brother decides to stop tormenting my bladder.”

“That gives me two months. I think we can handle that.” Lydia stepped away from Cailín and hugged Luna. “Thank you.”

“No problem. And enjoy Alaska,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

As they gathered their things, the bell over the door tinkled. “Lulu? Where are you? I need—” A cute, nerdy guy froze when he saw everyone.

“Lulu?” Cailín snickered.

“No.”

“But it’s—”

“Nope.” Luna pushed on Cailín’s shoulder to get her moving.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Cailín asked over her shoulder.

“Negative. You have a papa to deal with, and I have witchy things to do.”

Lydia waved at the guy as she walked by, and the cutie blushed. As curious as she was to find out what was going on, Lydia had more important things to worry about. Like Alaska.

Chapter 2

The hair onSawyer Beckett’s neck bristled, and it had nothing to do with the harsh breeze coming off the water. He slowed his steps down the gangplank and scanned the people moving along the sidewalk. Groups of tourists stood together in the early morning, and familiar vendors strode to their businesses. He chalked his uneasiness up to the earlier cryptic message from his longtime friend and packmate, Dooley Moore, but he didn’t have time to linger. Beck continued to where his passengers waited. The two biologists, both huddled in their thick parkas, were traveling from Seward, where Sagan Adventures called home, to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. He loaded their bags and equipment in the back of his Cessna Caravan seaplane. Sagan Adventures was a small family business, owned by his mother, Amara, and two sisters, Chloe and Delaney. Beck was given a wage and ten percent of the profits, but his name wasn’t on the deed. They had two seaplanes and one helicopter, but those were enough to keep the money rolling in. Beck and Chloe were pilots, while Delaney ran the office. Their mother had other responsibilities, namely leading their pack of polar bear shifters.

When they first moved from British Columbia to Alaska, the four of them became US citizens while scoping out the best place for their business. His and Chloe’s pilot licenses transferred from Canada to the US, so that was one thing they didn’t have to worry about. Amara wouldn’t commit to opening a business until their citizenship paperwork was official, so while they waited, Beck flew part time with other companies. Once theyopened their doors, their outfit worked primarily with cruise lines, offering excursions. Now, ten years later, most of their customers leaned toward rich people who paid a hefty price to have an arctic adventure.

Beck was loading the last of the equipment when his radio squawked. Straightening to his full six-foot-four height, he pulled the radio off his hip. “Go ahead, Laney.”

“Have you talked to Mom today?” Delaney was the oldest sister at thirty-four. She was also next in line to lead their pack since polar bear shifters were a matriarchal society, thus him not being a partner in the business.

“No, but you know that isn’t unusual.” Beck was loyal to Amara, but he was last in the pecking order of importance, even though he was the eldest sibling.

“I’m worried, Beck. Chloe hasn’t heard from her either.”

Beck rubbed the back of his neck. Thatwasunusual. Amara didn’t micromanage the business, but she spoke to both his sisters every morning, then again, several times throughout the day. Remembering Dooley’s words, Beck worried there was more to their mother’s silence.

“After I make this run out to Kodiak, I’ll go by her house.”

“Chloe’s already been by there. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

Beck did as well, but until he talked to Dooley, he wouldn’t worry his sister more. “Don’t go borrowing trouble yet, Laney. You know Amara can handle herself.” Beck should have saved his breath. His mother was a badass, but there was always someone stronger. More determined. He knew this, and Delaney did as well. It was the reason they left British Columbia. The reason they chose southern Alaska instead of moving to an eastern province of their home country. That and the fact that Chloe and Delaney’s father was a conniving dickhead. Amara had led their pack for almost a century when the girls’ father found a younger, stronger female he convinced to take over thepack. In their world, the Queen could be challenged at any time. Depending on the challenger, it was either a fight to the death, or if the winner wasn’t blood-thirsty, she could spare the loser’s life. Valerie allowed Amara to leave British Columbia, taking her offspring with her.

Beck was glad he had a different father and had been given the male’s last name. Beck loved his papa fiercely, but staying close to him hadn’t been an option when Amara moved their family. He tried to convince Corbin to come with them, but his dad’s pride prevented him from following Amara.

“I know, but still…” Beck could imagine his oldest sister chewing her bottom lip.

“I need to get my passengers boarded. I’ll check in when I get back. Over and out.” Beck hooked the radio to his belt, then climbed down out of the plane. Maybe this was what Dooley wanted to talk to him about. He’d find out soon enough since his hacker buddy asked Beck to stop by after unloading his passengers. Beck put on a professional, friendly smile while escorting the biologists to their seats. He made the necessary small talk before giving out the safety instructions, regardless of whether they’d flown before. Beck took his seat in the cockpit, made his pre-flight checks, and as soon as he was cleared, he maneuvered away from the dock and taxied out into open water before easing the plane into the air. There were no commercial flights from Seward. You either drove to the Anchorage airport, which took four hours, or chartered a small plane. Those with money could fly direct and be in Kodiak in a fourth of the time.

While Chloe loved chatting with customers through the headsets, Beck preferred the solitude of flying the seaplane with only his thoughts as company over the hum of the engine. Lately, though, Beck’s thoughts were riddled with walking away from Sagan Adventures and heading east. His bear was restless in a way it had never been. As shifters, their lives werelong, sometimes reaching into six centuries. At thirty-six, Beck shouldn’t have wanderlust, but something was agitating his other half. It might be that they spent a lot of time in the air, and his bear wanted its paws on the ground. To meander through snowy fields or splash in the frigid fjords catching fish. If Beck wasn’t the son of the Empress, he wouldn’t have moved from Canada.

The biologists had been content to talk amongst themselves, which he was thankful for. As soon as he had them unloaded, at the harbor, Beck accompanied them to where they would catch a rideshare to the wildlife refuge. After Beck ordered his own ride, he texted Dooley to let him know he was on his way. If anyone had a pulse on shifter business, it was his buddy. Dooley was the only polar bear shifter Beck knew who hated the outdoors. He preferred his man cave where he spent at least sixteen hours a day scouring the internet, dark and otherwise.

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