Page 60 of Blades of Ice

Chloe’s innocent façade fell away, but she quickly reined it back in. “No, that’s Orson. He’s helping Heather too. He met us at the helo and demanded I show him the way back to the cave. He—"

“Stop. Just stop, Chloe. I don’t believe you. I heard you and Orson talking in the cave. I know you weren’t there the whole time. Why did you try to kill me? I’m your brother, for the goddess’ sake.”

Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t plan to kill you, Sawyer. I needed to get you away from Amara. You’re much more than a pilot. You’re her protector, after all. Isn’t that why you left home? Left Heather?” Chloe practically spat the female’s name.

“Then why the charade of being trapped with me?”

“Information. I knew my innocent act would have your bleeding heart caving. And it worked.”

“And what exactly did I tell you that you didn’t already know?”

“About our dear sister being pregnant. I knew she was hiding something, but she’s been tight-lipped lately. With Amara out of the way, Delaney is next in line, but seeing as how she got knocked up, she can’t fight, now can she?”

“And Heather?” Beck took a chance at poking the bear, but he wanted the whole truth.

“What about her?”

“How does she really fit in with all of this? Last I knew, you couldn’t stand her. So why is she helping you now? You want me to believe that after all this time, the two of you, what? Buried the hatchet? Came to an understanding? Come on, Chloe. Tell the truth. Is Heather helping you to get me back?”

Chloe took a few menacing steps toward Beck, her face reddening. “It’s not about you! It should have never been you. She was mine, and you took her away from me. She was the love of my life, but she chose you. Then when it was time to move, you tossed her aside for what? To follow a washed-up Queen who has no use for you other than to make her money?”

“It’s called loyalty. Something you know nothing about.”

“Oh, fuck you, Sawyer. I should have plunged the knife in myself. At least then the job would have been done right. Why aren’t you dead?”

“Because he’s my mate, that’s why.” Lydia swung her swords and stomped toward Chloe.

Chloe sneered, gesturing to the metal weapons. “You think you can take me on?”

“I know I can.” In the next instant, Lydia’s swords morphed into ice daggers.

Chloe stumbled backward. “What the actual fuck?” Instead of facing Lydia head-on, Chloe shifted, running the opposite direction.

Lydia whispered against one of the knives, “Do not kill.” She flipped it to where she was holding the blade and took aim.The dagger flew, end over end, impaling Chloe’s flank. Her bear roared as it stumbled. Lydia didn’t move, and Beck held his breath as his sister limped along several yards before falling to her side. Her Bear fell away as Chloe shifted back to human with the dagger embedded in her thigh. Lydia still didn’t move.

“Sugar, come here.” His mate ignored him, her gaze steady on Chloe’s downed form. “Lydia,” he said more sternly. Beck groaned as he pushed to his feet. His side ached, but the burning sensation wasn’t as bad as it had been. Gritting his teeth, he trudged through the snow until he was next to Lydia. He snaked one arm around her waist, setting his chin on her shoulder.

“Do you hate me?” Lydia’s soft words were a punch to the gut.

“Nope. I love you.” That broke her out of her daze. She leaned to the left so she could see him when she turned her head. “I love you, Lydia Stone. You saved me in more ways than one, and I will spend the rest of our days thanking you however I can.” Beck angled his head down to press their lips together, showing her with his mouth how much he adored her. He kept it chaste because he’d only had fish to eat and hadn’t brushed his teeth in two weeks.

Her eyes were misty, but they were smiling when she broke the kiss. “I love you too.”

A loud yip grabbed their attention. A little white fox danced around Chloe’s body. She got close enough to sniff the female, then yipped again. Kennedy gripped the dagger in her jaws and wriggled it loose. Blood dripped from the blade, leaving dots of red along the snow as Kennedy bounded toward them. When she was close, she dropped the weapon. Padding over to where she’d left her clothes, she glared at Beck with her canid eyes.

Beck chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.” He averted his gaze, giving her privacy to shift and get dressed.

Less than a minute later, Kennedy said, “She’s alive.”

Lydia slumped against Beck’s arm. When Kennedy stepped closer, Lydia asked, “What’s going on out there?” She gestured to where Kennedy had come from with her chin.

Kennedy wrinkled her nose. “Dooley and Jon are playing with their food.”

“Say what now? They’re—”

“Not literally. Dooley was fighting with Orson, and when he realized he didn’t stand a chance against my mate, he shifted to his skin and tried to get away on the snowmobile, but Jon caught up to him. Plucked him right off his seat and flew him back to where Dooley and I were watching. When Jon dropped him, Dooley pounced.”

“Is he dead?” Beck asked.

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