Page 58 of Blades of Ice

“Yes. She was there, but… Fuck. I thought she might have left and come back.”

Lydia kept one hand on the towel as she leaned over so he could see her face. “Bear, we’re pretty sure Chloe’s responsible for this, along with Orson Murray, Boyd, and Heather.”

“Orson? Fuck. I thought his voice sounded familiar.” Beck sucked in a breath. “Help me sit up.”

Dooley lifted Beck’s shoulders, then remained behind him to give him something to lean against. “We found another cave where we think they were holding the Empress, but when we got there, she was gone. There were chains like yours, but it looked like she got loose somehow. There were two sets of footprints, so I followed the smaller tracks that ended in the bay.”

“Good. If she was able to swim, she’ll be fine.” Beck tried to reach for Lydia, but his arm fell after a few inches. “How did you find me?”

“We followed the snowmobile tracks from the Sagan helo. Took us four days, so getting you back is going to be rough going,” Dooley answered.

“Jon, I hate to ask, but could you fly to get the helo and then come back for us?” Lydia couldn’t stand the thought of Beck trying to make it all the way to where they landed.

“I can, but I think we should put a little distance between us and the cave.”

“What does it matter? They’ll be able to follow our tracks if we move.”

Dooley rubbed his hands together. “Not if Jon carries you and Beck. The missus and I can take to our fur and cause a diversion.”

Jon stiffened. “Whatever we do, we need to be quick about it. There’s a snowmobile headed this way.”

Chapter 23

Beck needed toget up and defend his mate, but he was too weak. Not as bad as he’d been, though. Whatever Lydia was pouring on his wound was healing it, if it did burn like acid. Maybe if he could shift—

“Let me take Beck to where we left the packs since he’s in no condition to fight,” the stranger said. No, not a stranger. Lydia’s cousin.

Beck’s Bear growled, and Jon’s eyes widened. He held up his hands. “Maybe not.”

Lydia got in Beck’s face. “Please, My Bear. Let Jon get you out of here.”

“Not leaving you, Sugar.”

“We at least need to hide so they don’t immediately catch on to the fact that you’re no longer their prisoner. Is that okay with you, Beck?” Jon asked.

“You all go ahead. I’ll shift and obscure your footprints.” Dooley made sure Beck wasn’t going to fall over, then he took to his fur before anyone could argue.

While Kennedy gathered the snowshoes, Lydia stuffed a cork in an amber bottle and placed it in a small cooler. They, along with Jon, shoved their feet in the shoes, and Jon looked down at Beck.

“Okay, Big Guy, I’m going to carry you. Maybe keep the bear under control?” Beck nodded. He didn’t have a choice. Jon easily lifted Beck into a bridal carry and took off with the females following. If he didn’t want Lydia away from Orson or whoeverit was getting closer, Beck would be humiliated. Dooley’s bear plowed through their tracks, running back and forth. At least someone was having fun.

The sound of the motor got closer, and Jon picked up the pace. Beck’s side felt like a thousand fire ants were battling to get out, but he gritted his teeth so he didn’t appear even more pathetic. They walked a couple hundred yards before stopping. Lydia placed the blanket on the ground beside four large packs, and Jon lowered Beck, settling him with his back against the largest bag.

Beck reached for Lydia’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “I knew you’d find me.”

“Always. I hate that we couldn’t get to Amara, but at least she escaped.”

“You think Chloe’s in on this?”

“I do. I…” Lydia searched his eyes, then continued. “I had a dream of you in a dark cave. There was a male and female there. The female taunted me and tried to kill me, but I got to her first. Then the man shifted into his bear and lunged for me. I woke up before he could reach me. Remember when I asked Carleigh to have Tabitha make a prosthetic of Chloe as plan B? Well, I got it along with the voice transmitter. When I tested it, I realized it was the same voice as the female in my dream.”

“I had this feeling something was off. Like she wasn’t always in the cave with me.”

“I think your instincts were correct because she’s not here.”

Beck pushed the goggles off and handed them back. He’d rather his mate have the protection. Rubbing his eyes, he thought back. “I was in and out of it for the most part these past few days, but I did wonder if she was leaving because there were times when it was too quiet. I didn’t hear her breathing, so maybe Orson was letting her out. Maybe she was pretending to make me think she was on my side. The last time he showed up,he asked if I was still alive, and Chloe said yes but not for much longer. I…” Beck shook his head. “I can’t believe she would do this to me.”

“Dooley said she and Heather were friends. Maybe the two are planning to take out Amara and rule together. They do have both their fathers helping.”

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