Chapter 9
On the flight back to Seward, Beck explained more about the Cessna’s controls and how to maneuver the float plane away from the dock. He taught her how to check air speed and watch the currents. There was more to it than piloting a regular plane, but Lydia was all about learning new things. When they approached Seward, Beck asked questions, like a pop quiz. She aced all but one, but his praise was everything to her. She held onto the yoke, getting another feel for the proper way to descend.
“You’ll be piloting in no time,” Beck said as they eased backward toward the dock. Lydia dropped anchor as Beck spoke to the passengers. He was slipping out of his harness when he muttered, “Fuck.”
Lydia followed his gaze to an angry female on the dock. Turning back to her mate, she reached for his hand. “I guess this is one way to meet the family.”
“How do you know she’s family?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Lydia reached for the door handle but turned and asked, “Do you trust me?”
With no hesitation, Beck said, “Yes.”
Lydia winked and climbed down. As the other passengers made their way up the dock, Lydia stood with her hands on her hips, eyeing Beck as he retrieved their baggage.
Delaney was fuming, but she kept her mouth shut as she waited. The two couples who had flown back paid extra to have their things brought to the parking lot. Beck removed a collapsable cart from the storage area, then loaded their things, securing the expensive cases, ensuring they didn’t move around. When they neared Delaney, she stepped in front of Beck. Before she could spew her vitriol, Lydia waved an imperious hand in the air and pulled out her best southern drawl.
“I do appreciate your care with the luggage, Sugar. That Hermes bag alone cost two thousand dollars. It’s nice to see that Sagan Adventures cares for their passengers. Good customer service is so hard to find nowadays. Wouldn’t you agree, Ma’am? I was telling my momma the other day how it was a shame the way some companies act. Like we, the ones payin’ a hefty price tag, are treated like nothing more than cows headed to slaughter. Like they’re doing us a favor, you know? But not this company. No siree Bob. You can bet your sweet patootie I’ll give a glowing recommendation to all my friends. And my review? Oh, it’ll be better than the time I was given prime seatin’ at The Crab Shack down in New Orleans. Those Cajuns, well, you can’t understand a word they’re sayin’, but they know customer service. You ever been to Louisiana, Sugar? ‘Cause I know all the best places to go.” Lydia stopped and lowered her voice, close enough for Delaney to hear. “You ever need a voodoo doll for someone not treatin’ you right? I’ve got the perfect hex shop for that. Some of them places are fake, but this one? Those witches are the real deal. This one time, I needed a little something to help with all the speedin’ tickets I was gettin’, and those fine young ladies sent me home with a GRIS-GRIS bag, and let me tell you what. I ain’t had a ticket one since. Now, come along, Sugar. I need me a cuppa joe, ‘cause I ain’t had my daily intake of caffeine yet.”
Lydia took a few steps, then turned back to Delaney. “Oh, are you waitin’ for the next flight out? ‘Cause if you are, you’ve come to the right place.”
Delaney, whose mouth was open, closed it. She opened it again, shook her head, then stormed off without a word. “I guess she didn’t want good customer service. Well, come along, Sugar. Best not keep Momma waitin’.”
Beck was either constipated or biting his lips so he wouldn’t laugh. “I was going to tell her you’re my mate, but I guess that can wait, Sugar.”
“Oh. Well, I suppose you could have, but that was way more fun. Besides, whatever hate she was ready to spew is best done in private.”
“You’re not wrong.” Beck pushed her hair off her shoulder. “Do you really know witches in New Orleans?”
“Yep. Solara and Luna are part of our Clan. They split their time between Nola and Atlanta.”
After a few steps, Beck asked again, “How did you know who Delaney was?”
“Cailín may have figured out you were my mate before I did with the whole nausea thing. On the drive to Sterling, we were talking to Carleigh on the phone, and Cailín spilled about what happened and suggested Carleigh check you out. Have I told you how nosy my friends and family are?” Lydia’s phone rang, and when she pulled it out of her pocket, she muttered, “Speak of the devil. You go on ahead, and I’ll catch up with you in a minute, okay? Hey, Cailín, hang on a second.”
Beck leaned down and kissed Lydia. With lots of tongue. And passion. Right there in the open. He tugged her bottom lip with his teeth and pulled. “Take your time.”
Lydia enjoyed her mate’s fabulous backside as she answered. “Okay, I’m here. How’re Trevor and Haylee?”
“They’re fine. Scratched and sore, but doing well. I just got off the phone with Carleigh. Seems you’re having an adventure without me. You and your big bear, huh?” Cailín dropped her voice as deep as she could. “ Take your time. ” She sounded demented.
Lydia glanced around, and there were too many humans within earshot for her to speak freely. “You were right about that.”
“He’s actually a bear, or he’s your mate?”
“Both. Not that I’ve seen the first, but we had a long talk last night. I can’t speak freely. We landed a few minutes ago from a flight back from Kodiak.”
“Dammit. I’m missing all the fun. I want to come back, but Mason needs me for a protection job that came in.”
“No worries. I’m sure things here will be handled soon.”
“And then what? Are you staying in the frozen tundra with your mate?”
“We haven’t gotten that far. We haven’t gotten far at all, if you know what I mean.”
Cailín gasped. “Girl, what the hell are you waiting for? I’d have jumped that big hunka burning love immediately.”
Lydia giggled and rolled her eyes even though Cailín couldn’t see her. “It was leading there, and then he pushed pause, and we ended up talking.” Lydia left out the embarrassing in between. “He has a lot on his plate, so the jumping will have to wait.”
“Carleigh told me about his mom and sister missing, and that fucker Boyd being there means trouble.”
“I’m going to help wherever I can and figure the rest out later.”
“Okay, but if you do decide to stay there, I may have to rethink our friendship. You know there are places in Alaska that get like a whole month with no sunlight? I may be pasty white, but I need my vitamin D.”
“Things with his family are tense, so I have a feeling us staying here won’t be an issue after this mess is resolved.”
“Good. Not about his family because that sucks.” Cailín let out a belch. “Excuse me. Okay, I have to get to my assignment, but if you need me or anyone, call. I might not be available, but we can send Anthony or Tabby to set shit to rights in the great white yonder.”
“I will. Talk soon.” Lydia disconnected and pocketed her phone, then made her way toward the parking lot where Beck had gone. Not finding him when she scanned the area, Lydia figured he’d gone to face his sister. Beck was going to tell Delaney they were mates, and Lydia didn’t want him to face the female alone. Not that he couldn’t handle himself, but she could at least offer silent support.
Since she didn’t know where the office was located, Lydia searched the address on the internet. With the map set, she followed it across the parking lot, toward the harbor, and down the sidewalk. It was the next building, and that’s when Lydia noticed the area in front of it. It was near where Boyd ran into her. He had been racing from the direction of the office. Had he been there to see Delaney? Another question to add to the mystery. When Lydia opened her shifter senses, she no longer needed the map to guide her feet. Loud, harsh words led from the end of the hallway.
“I don’t care if she’s the Virgin Mary or the goddess. You have more important things to worry about than some random bitch who’s one brick shy of a load. You have a responsibility to this family, Sawyer.”
“You watch your mouth, Delaney. Hormones or not, I won’t allow you to disrespect her. I know my responsibilities. They’re why I’m here in Seward and not with my father. But now that I have a mate, my priorities have changed. I’ll find Amara, but once I do, I’m out of here. You have more than enough pilots to handle the load when I leave.”
“You can’t fucking quit. I won’t allow it.”
“You won’t—” Beck growled low. “You are not the Empress, and even she can’t dictate my life. I chose to move with her. To protect her.”
“And a fine fucking job you’ve done of that,” Delaney snarled . Lydia was ready to charge in there and grab the female by the hair and slam her face onto the nearest surface.
“You have a choice, Delaney. Either I fly the planes, or I locate Amara. I can’t do both.”
“Fine. I’ll call Caleb to cover your shift for the next few days. I’ll let the Empress deal with your attitude.” Heavy footsteps sounded before Beck threw open a door hard enough to slam the wall. “Take this fucking cart with you!” Delaney yelled.
Beck ignored her as he stomped toward Lydia. He only slowed when he was a few feet away, and then he pulled Lydia into his arms, pressing his nose to her neck. She returned the embrace, holding her mate tightly. Lydia tilted her head to give him better access as she scraped her nails through his blond hair. She didn’t ask if he was okay. His body vibrated, but the longer she caressed him, the more the tension ebbed.
“I need you,” he husked in her ear.
Lydia leaned back and cupped his cheek. “You have me. From now until my star burns out, I am yours.”
Beck gave her a nod before grabbing her hand and hauling her out of the building. It was a good thing she had long legs or she’d have been jogging to keep up with him. When they neared the parking lot, he slowed his steps. “I’m taking you to my house. It’s not much. I bought it for a song, allowing me to save money for something better. It’s why I drive an old truck. I don’t want you to think I’m poor. I’m not.”
“I don’t care about your money, Beck. I have more than we’ll ever be able to spend. What I do care about is your heart, and you have a good one.”
“How do you know?”
“The fates wouldn’t have led me to you otherwise.”
Beck didn’t speak again until they were in his truck and on the road. “I always dreamed of finding my mate, but I never would have guessed she wouldn’t be another bear. I thank the goddess you aren’t. I was always a little jealous of Dooley. Kennedy’s family is small, but they love him as if he were one of their own. From what you told me about your Clan, the Gargoyles don’t look upon one gender as weaker or not as important.” Beck reached for her hand, and Lydia took it, rubbing her thumb over his skin. “I need to feel appreciated, Sugar, and not less than.”
Lydia smiled at his nickname for her. He didn’t have an accent of any type, but it still sounded funny in his deep voice. “I appreciate you, and my Clan will as well. You can have any job you want. Hell, you can be my pool boy, and they’ll still love you.”
“You have a pool?”
“No. I have a cute little place outside Atlanta. It’s not too far from my parents’ home. I didn’t buy anything too expensive, because once my brother Locke graduates high school in the spring, they plan on moving to New York. My uncle, Rafael, was King until he passed the crown to Sebastian at the end of September. Most of Rafael’s brothers and cousins, which includes my dad, all lived in the Atlanta area for close to five decades. That’s a long time to remain in the same place when you aren’t aging. Rafael and some of the others have already moved to New York. Sebastian wanted somewhere in between the two areas, and he chose West Virginia. It’s where he met Dakota, our now Queen.” If they were going to complete the bond soon, Lydia needed to come clean about what happened.
Beck turned on a side road and pulled up behind a small house that had seen better days. When he reached to push the button to turn the engine off, she grabbed his wrist. “I need to tell you something. Something I did.”
“Let’s go inside where we’ll be more comfortable.”
Lydia released her grip and got out of the truck. She rounded the hood and followed Beck up a cracked walkway to a side door. The inside was in much better shape. Removing her parka, she draped it over a mismatched chair at a two-person table.
“Are you hungry? I have some leftover spaghetti, or I can fix a sandwich.”
“I’d rather not eat before we talk.”
Beck paused with his hand on the refrigerator handle. “That bad?”
“It’s not good.” Lydia’s stomach was in knots, and if she ate… Well, she wouldn’t throw up, but she might feel nauseated.
Beck removed two beers, popped the tops, and handed her one. Lydia was glad to have something to hold onto. She downed half the bottle and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. It wasn’t a very ladylike thing to do, but she didn’t consider herself a lady. Lydia could play the part in a sparkly dress and heels. She could style her hair in a decent updo and apply smoky makeup when needed. Lydia grew up scrapping with cousins in a boxing ring, learning to wield a sword and knives, understanding that protecting your family was more important than how you dressed. Manners were important in social settings, but at home and around her peers, she didn’t worry too much about them.
“Want to sit in the living room?”
“Sure.” Lydia followed Beck and sat on the opposite end of his sofa. As soon as her butt hit the cushions, she bounced back to her feet. She took a deep breath, intending to start at the beginning. Instead, she blurted, “I killed someone.”