Page 1 of Flying Blind (Betas in Waiting #27)

B ethany sat in the bank office and watched the loan officer go over her paperwork. Well, Miss Kendrik, it looks like you have everything in order for your new storefront. You have a solid floor plan, the equipment list, and a client list for your dessert catering arm. The plan is complete. All is looking very good. Leave this with me, and I will get back to you in a day or two.

Bethany nodded and said, Let me know if you need anything else.

He nodded to her and smiled. I am sure the decision will happen quickly. You will be onto the next step before you know it.

He stood and extended his hand, and she got up to shake it. Thanks. Working with you on this will be very interesting. I look forward to it.

Bethany smiled and left the bank.

She headed back to her teeny bakery and looked around, smiling at the space and imagining the joy of blowing out one of the walls and expanding into the enormous space beyond and into a bakery and deli.

Bethany went over the lists of orders for the following day and checked the supply list. Eggs. Why did she always need eggs?

She put her purse on, locked up the front door, and walked to the alley on the way to the grocery store. She felt happy and bubbly until the hand wrapped around her mouth. She smelled sulphur, and everything went dark.

Bethany woke with her hands cuffed behind her, her shirt torn, and a leering alpha with protruding fangs leaning over her. There we are. Hold still. This is going to hurt.

He hissed at her, and a fine mist struck her eyes. The world went dark, and she started screaming. There was laughter, and a familiar voice spoke. We just have to wait for him to arrive, and we can start marking her. Will you finish preparing her?

The alpha with the venom muttered, Oh, my pleasure.

The door opened and closed, and Bethany gasped and shuddered as she tried to get control. He released one handcuff and stretched her arms forward, attaching the cuff back onto her left wrist. She could smell hot metal.

This is going to be so much fun for me. You don t know why you are here yet, but you are so welcome to our little gathering. I am going to prepare you for the three of us. We need a mate, and you are just perfect.

The heat smell got closer, and Bethany screamed as the brands pressed into her skin and heard sizzling. She blacked out.

When she woke, her back and eyes were burning, and she was shackled to a bed.

Now that you have proved you are alive, I am going to get some food. Even demons need to eat.

She heard the door close and did something she had stopped doing in high school. She dislocated her thumbs and pulled her hands free of the cuffs. It was difficult to do both and then put them back in, but her hyper flexibility was handy. She sat up and closed her eyes, feeling her way in the room to where the door noise had been. There was a cuff on her left ankle, but it had a long chain, and she couldn t get it loose. He had the key, but he was going to come back.

Bethany s heart was pounding as she walked as far as the chain would go. She found a table. Her hands groped, she found a fork and a plate, and she sobbed when she found chopsticks. She could do this. She had to do this.

She stood behind the door, on the side where it opened. She had pulled a chair to the side and was standing on it. She measured on her own head and clutched the chopsticks in her hand. Her muscles cramped, her body sweated, but he came in. She slammed a hand on his head and jabbed the sticks into his ear. He went down silently, and she started sobbing. A groping of his pockets gave her the key, and she released her ankle and headed for the door.

When she stepped outside, she smelled downtown. She walked with one hand on the rough walls, and when she heard a feminine voice, she said, Call the police, call an ambulance, but call someone. Please.

The voice was startled, then there was a gasp, and an arm came around her. I ve got you. You ll be okay.

Bethany sobbed and held on as she heard the distant sound of an ambulance getting closer. Thank you.

Who did this to you?

Bethany sobbed. I don t know. I think my loan officer was there, but I don t know.

Okay. You are safe now.

What s your name? Bethany whispered.

Wren. My name is Wren.

Like the bird?

Yup. Do you want me with you in the ambulance?

Yes, please. I can t see. I don t know what they sprayed in my eyes, and I can t see.

I ve got you. Just keep breathing.

Bethany nodded. Yup. Breathing. Got it. She whispered, I think I killed him.

She felt Wren touch her back and hiss softly. Right. We are going to make this right. He doesn t matter.

Who is we?

I will tell you once you have received treatment.

Oh, great. Can you see the ambulance?

Yeah. They are two blocks away. Oh, a guy on a bike just about needed his own. They are pulling up, and two EMTs are coming this way. One female, one male.

Okay. Stay with me, Wren.

I will.

The medics touched her, examined her on the street, cursed, and then got her into the ambulance. They didn t give the other woman any flack when she insisted on coming with Bethany, and Wren held her hand the whole way to the hospital.

At the hospital, they tried to separate them, but Wren must have done a mind trick on them because they let her remain as they treated Bethany s burns and took samples from her skin. The police came in and took Bethany s statement, but she felt something coming from them. Contempt.

Um, officer, I don t know who these guys were. I was just going to buy eggs for my bakery.

Miss, we understand that certain people choose certain lifestyles, but you can t expect us to correct these bad decisions.

Bethany went cold. What?

You are an attractive woman, and I am sure that your partners enjoy it, but we have seen the lengths that fetishists go to get to the next level. Your pursuit of pleasure is not something you can regret and then call the police for.

She looked with bandaged eyes toward his voice. I am a virgin, you colossal asshole. I don t play; I don t have fetishes. I have a career I love, and I was just planning an expansion for my bakery. I don t care about men. I don t give a frosty fuck about men, and the only time they enter my mind is when there is a bride and groom trying to agree on a cake. I was grabbed off the street, blinded, and branded, and you are saying that I did it to myself. Fuck you. The only thing that I get excited about is getting my sourdough to rise on the first try. If you don t want to help me, get the fuck out of here. I have to learn how to live without seeing and figure out how to walk through a room without falling. Bethany started sobbing as her self-control cracked.

She felt a business card placed on her hand and flung it off. What am I supposed to do with this? I can t read the fucking thing.

Wren murmured, I have it. It has your file number on it.

Thank you. Why are you being so kind?

Because I knew something was happening, but I couldn t find you. Those demons hide really well in plain sight.

Demons?

You have heard rumours about strange alphas?

Yes.

Well, demon alphas are one of them. They make their mate by hobbling and blinding her, and she can only see and walk when they are around.

They have done this to others?

Not in this city. They are usually in areas where women can just disappear and then reappear with their faces worked over with plastic surgery. The demons like to stay near their mate, and they like her pretty.

Bethany shuddered. So, they are done with me now that I got away?

I am going to wait until you are being discharged before I cover that. My friend Luna is going to come by to keep you company when it s sundown. I have to get somewhere safe.

Wait. You are leaving?

Luna has been screwed over by an alpha as well. You will get along. I will be back at dawn. You are safe. They won t come near you when we are around. Our minds don t bend like most folks.

Wait. So the police officer...

The demons are probably outside trying to charm their way in. Fortunately, they don t want to be on the cameras. Luna will turn them into pretzels if they get near you, and here she is.

Wren s voice was soft. Luna, this is Bethany, but she is going to want to change that name so they can t track it on the wind. Why don t you spend the night playing at renaming? I will be back at dawn to make it happen.

Bethany frowned. Wait. Give me your hand.

Wren s small, warm hand was under hers in a moment.

Thank you. Thank you for stopping. Thank you for staying.

I am only sorry I couldn t get there sooner. I will see you tomorrow, and we can talk about erasing traces of you and getting you some help.

Luna s voice was smooth. It isn t as bad as it sounds. Wren, get going. Shadows are getting darker.

Wren s hand went cold. Right. On my way. Take good care of her.

Of course. Luna chuckled.

Bethany felt Wren leave like the light going out of the room. So, you have been messed with by alphas as well?

Luna took her hand. It s a long tale.

I think we have time. I don t want to sleep. I am afraid I will dream.

First, we will get you comfortable, and then if you feel it, you can rest. I will wake you if you dream, and no one is getting in here without my say-so.

Why are you so powerful?

Because one day long ago, I was the lover of a dragon against my will. Consent wasn t a question because he didn t say anything. And I had a baby. I survived that, and my son is great, but screwing that kind of alpha leaves a mark, Luna said softly. And the ability to pull energy out of just about anyone, but that is a longer story.

A rustling came through the door. Luna said, The nurse is here. It looks like there is a dressing change for your eyes and one for your back.

The male nurse said, You can leave until I am done with the dressing change.

Bethany held tight to Luna s hand. No. I don t want to be alone with anyone. I can feel you, Luna, but I can t feel the nurse. No body heat, none of the energy, is he speaking?

Bethany had no idea what happened next, but there was a clatter of equipment, and Luna let go of her hand to lunge somewhere, and the sound of fists meeting flesh was repetitive but strange in the quiet of her ward.

Luna came back and muttered, Thank you for telling me that. That must have been one of your intendeds.

What?

It s fine. He s very broken right now and probably going to one of the others. If I had to guess, this would be the one who injured you.

Why do you guess that?

He had heavy sedatives with him. He was going to tranq you and carry you out. I am not trying to scare you. He had no chance of making it. Luna squeezed her hand. We have other Book Club members watching the doors to the hospital and parkade for a man with a limp.

A limp?

If he were carrying you over his shoulder or even in his arms, he wouldn t be moving normally. I describe it as a limp, but they understood it as any unusual motion.

Luna leaned over and pressed the call button. It took a few minutes, but then a nurse came in and asked, Did your boyfriend find you?

Luna said softly, That was one of her abductors. No more staff in here unless it is female, please.

The nurse froze. That was...

Bethany said, I don t have a boyfriend. Never have. This was a stranger abduction, but I am thinking some stalking had to have happened. All I know is that no man around here is my friend of any nature. When do I need a change on the burns on my back?

The nurse paused and said, Not until the morning. How are your pain levels?

Same as when I came in. Everything burns.

From Luna s hand, a cool wave moved through her body, and she was able to relax slightly.

The nurse said, I will be back to check on you in a few hours.

Luna agreed. We will be fine here.

Luna slowly moved her hand and stroked at Bethany s cheek and temple. Do you feel secure here?

No.

Would you rather be somewhere you felt more secure?

Yes. Where? She turned her head toward Luna s cool presence.

My father owns a hotel downtown. We can get a very discrete doctor to visit you in the morning. Ocular specialists. Whatever you need. Luna was calm.

Yes. Please. Can you let Wren know first?

She already does. She sent me a text when I was beating the hell out of the alpha.

Okay. Yes. I think I can walk.

Don t even try it. My car is out front, and I can easily carry you if you are willing.

I am willing. You confronted him and came back smelling of blood and sulphur. I trust you. Plus, the cooling is really helping.

We will have to leave your clothing, but I will get more for you.

Not a worry. I am always wash and wear.

Luna chuckled and said, Okay, I am going to lift you now. You aren t hooked up to anything, so that makes it easy. I think Wren can inform you a bit more about what is going on here, but we have to wait until after dawn.

Arms forklifted under her, and she was lifted carefully but easily. The body holding her was definitely feminine and smelled like ozone with a light wave of cookies under it. The hands were carefully away from her back, she was carried out the doors, and no one moved to stop them.

Bethany whispered, Why can t they see us? No one is noticing.

Oh, the same situation that made them ignore the male who came in. I can still see the smears of blood on the walls and the broken desk. I am no joke when irritated.

Bethany heard someone greet Luna by the name. Miss Tesso. Luna leaned forward and said, You are in an SUV. Scoot forward and buckle up, or I can do that for you.

Please help. It is hard to reach back.

Of course.

The strap went across her, and Luna kept light touches going so there were no surprises as to where contact ended up. The click made her sigh, and the door closed securely. Luna came around and took her hand again.

The driver glided away from the hospital, and Bethany noticed one thing. She didn t hear one person try to stop them, make them pay for treatment, or call her name. They left, and it was like they had never been there.

They drove through the city, got to the hotel, and Luna got her a room and brought her up so that she was in a safe space and she could relax.

Luna held her hand the whole time.

Bethany woke up, and light was streaming into the room.

Good morning. Did you two come up with a name? Wren s voice was soft.

Luna wrote it down on that piece of paper. Do I really need it?

Yes. They are tracking mentions of your name, so we aren t going to use it anymore. Ah, this is lovely. Give me a minute. There was the crackle of power and the scent of scorched paper.

Wren sighed softly. Welcome to the world, Zara Telz.

Bethany blinked, but then the name made space for itself in her mind. Wow. There it is.

Luna s voice came in. Hey, Zara, what do you want for breakfast? You didn t eat anything yesterday. I ordered a bit of everything.

I... yes... Zara. That s right. I like muffins and Danish, eggs and bacon. Just about anything. I can t believe I slept so long.

Wren said, You were sleeping off the shock. I can help heal and seal up those injuries. The burns on your back. They are putting out some chum in the water, and I want to seal that up.

Zara sat up, holding the bedding to her chest. Do what you need to do. At least you see me.

Wren touched her shoulder, and then there was a slow warmth moving down the centre of her back. The burned feeling faded and was now cool and comfortable, like a new tattoo at the two-week mark. She didn t have a tattoo, but she had plenty of friends who did.

Luna said, I have some clothing for you. Did you want to have a shower?

Is there anything that can be done for my eyes?

No. It was an acid attack. They neutralized the acid, but the damage to the eyes is permanent. We are arranging instructors to help you move around and a sort of a halfway house with a tutor to help you relearn how to do everything on a day-to-day business.

Zara sighed. Can someone help me shower and keep the food warm? I really want to get dressed. This is happening fast.

Luna sighed. We want to get you on the right track before depression kicks in. Most betas who have been in a situation with an enhanced beta that was violent hit depression about a week after the initial incident. That is why we are trying to get you into a network of other people who have been there. Bitten, clawed, broken, left for dead, just to mention a few.

Wren sighed. Since you can t go to the village, a village is about to form around you.

Zara paused. Then, I should really get showered and dressed. Being naked in a village is one of my teenage nightmares.

Luna chuckled and took her by the hand, slipping a robe over her shoulders and walking her to the bathroom.

Thanks for doing this. I hate being helpless.

That is why we are trying to get instruction around you as fast as we can. The faster you learn to sniff out the difference between shampoo and conditioner, as well as body wash, the better. Shaving your pits will wait for another day.

Zara laughed and was efficiently washed by a woman who was chatting about her son getting ready to go to university. Luna didn t sound that old.