Page 61 of Blades of Ice

“Nope. He probably wishes he were though. So, what now?”

“Good fucking question.” Lydia stepped away from Beck. “How’s your side? Maybe you should sit back down.”

“I’ve been sitting for two weeks. If I could shift…” Beck reached into his soul once again. This time, the change came over him, and he was looking through the eyes of his Bear. He took a tentative step, testing his side. There was a slight twinge but nothing more. Beck ambled through the snow toward Chloe, and when he was close enough, he nudged her with his snout. Her breathing was even as she opened her eyes to glare at him. He glared right back. He was still confused about who all was involved, but they were closer to figuring it out.

Chloe sat up, crying out, grabbing her thigh. Releasing her claws, she ripped her pants open where blood seeped through. “What did you do?” With tears streaming down her face, she yelled at Lydia, “What the fuck did you do to me?”

Beck focused on the skin showing through the ripped pants. Chloe’s thigh was a shriveled mess.

Chapter 24

Lydia picked upthe dagger Kennedy had retrieved and held both weapons tightly. Relief stole through her. She hadn’t killed the female although Lydia felt Chloe deserved it for her part in Beck’s abduction. She wanted to call her mate back. Didn’t want him anywhere near his sister. She didn’t completely understand why Chloe had taken part in this whole mess. Or had she instigated it? The whos and whys were still confusing, but at least her mate was back with her, and two of the parties involved were out of commission.

“What did you do?” Chloe cried out. “What the fuck did you do to me?”

“Nothing more than you deserved.”

Kennedy clapped her hands together, and her smile beamed as a polar bear ran toward them. Shifting mid-step, Dooley picked Kennedy up and swung her around. The female giggled until Dooley kissed her. Tongue may have been involved. Lydia shielded her eyes while searching the sky for her cousin. The sun was hidden behind gray clouds, taking away the constant need for goggles. Jon approached, carrying a limp body. Instead of dropping the male, Jon set him down somewhat gently. Orson, whose hands were bound behind him with a bungie cord, was battered, and at first Lydia thought him to be dead until she studied his chest. There was movement if it was slight. His face looked as though it’d been slashed by claws, but the marks weren’t bleeding. Had Amara done that?

Beck, having shifted, ambled along gripping Chloe’s bicep. With her injured leg, she limped awkwardly, until Beck shoved her down beside Orson. “Don’t you fucking move.” Chloe growled at Beck until Lydia took a step in the female’s direction, flipping the dagger. Chloe dipped her head, and Lydia strode over to her mate.

Dooley grimaced when he got a look at Chloe’s leg. “What happened there?”

“Ice happened.” Lydia twirled the dagger around her fingers.

“Then why isn’t she dead instead of… that?” Dooley gestured Chloe’s direction.

“Because death wasn’t my intention.”

Dooley cocked his head to the side and muttered, “Huh.”

Jon retracted his wings and put his shirt and coat back on. “Now what?”

Beck sidled closer to Lydia, but with her being armed, he kept a few feet between them. “We need to call Delaney and fill her in. See if she’s heard from Amara. If not, we’ll let her decide what to do with these two since she’s acting Queen.”

“Is there a polar bear jail?” Lydia asked.

“No. It’s either death or banishment, depending on the crime. Considering Chloe and Orson were conspiring against the Empress, I imagine death will be their punishment, but that’s for Amara to decide once she returns. In the meantime, Delaney will need to find somewhere to hold them.”

“Well, I do own a perfectly good warehouse that only stores one helicopter. We can return the favor and chain them up.”

Beck was solemn when he nodded. “I’m not sure what to tell Delaney about Boyd.”

“Let’s call Carleigh first. Make sure he’s not left Sterling.” With the males around to keep her safe, Lydia returned the weapons to her wrist before digging out her satellite phone.

“Tell me something good,” Carleigh answered.

“Beck is alive and mostly well. The potion worked. Chloe and Orson are the ones who took him. When Beck confronted Chloe, she was ranting about Heather. I think she was in love with the female and felt jilted. It’s like a soap opera but with half the dialogue missing. First, she said Boyd was helping her find Beck, but we know that’s a lie considering she and Orson are the ones we have detained. When Beck asked how Heather fit into all this, Chloe went off on a wild rant.”

“Boyd is still in Sterling. Mystery female who we’re assuming is Heather has come and gone twice. But get this. I’ve been monitoring the Sagan Adventure phones as well as Delaney’s cell. She and Boyd have spoken twice. There have been no more cryptic messages though. What’s the plan? I take it you’re still out in the north four-hundred since you called on the sat phone.”

Lydia toed the snow in front of her, making quasi-wings. “Beck is going to call Delaney in a few to find out what to do with these two idiots. I wanted to see if Boyd was hanging out in Sterling first. Since Amara is still out there somewhere, Delaney is in charge, but we can hold them in the warehouse until she decides their fate or Amara shows up.”

“I knew that building was a good investment. How are you getting the idiots back to civilization?”

“Jon can fly back to the helo, then return for us, but we won’t all fit since it’s a four-seater. We’ll figure it out, and I’ll call you back later when we do. Please let Luna know the amber potion worked, and I appreciate it.”

“You got it. Stay warm, and give your mate a hug for me. I’m glad he’s okay.”