Page 2 of Flying Blind (Betas in Waiting #27)

T he first week went fast. Zara had no idea that healers were a thing, but they all took a look at her eyes and pronounced them damaged beyond fixing. Reducing the scarring on her back was all they could do, but they still helped make it feel less like she had something taped to her spine.

Zara s first visit to the Book Club astonished her. Her body s desperation for input began to give her an idea of the energy of the women around her. Wren crackled with quiet energy; Luna was a soft snowfall; Roane had the soft rustle of a serpent; Kora smelled like fresh blood; Minnie smelled like wet granite. They all gathered around her and introduced themselves with handshakes, and then the ladies hung around and ate cupcakes.

Karaoke broke out, and Zara laughed as the sounds were truly astonishing.

An older woman sat next to her and introduced herself. Hello, Zara. My name is Emma Nickelson. I am going to be your tutor and your housemother. Do you want to take a turn singing?

Um, I can t read the words.

So, some of the best memories are made by using your own memories to build them. Emma sounded grandmotherly with a hint of iron.

She laughed.

Emma scooted next to her and read out song title after song title. Zara perked up and said, I know some of those.

You don t say. Which ones? Emma asked, and there was a sly note in her voice.

Zara knew what was happening. Well, at least I can t see the faces. She rattled off three, and Emma did something with her hand, and when the last song was done, she was escorted to the mic.

The familiar notes started up. She fumbled for the mic and then hung on as she sang. Her chest expanded, and she felt a rush of joy that she thought wouldn t come again.

She powered through the song and then went on to the next. When the third had been belted out and the world got quiet, she paused and put the mic back on the stand.

A wave of applause roared out with quite a bit of whistling. Roane came up and said softly, Zara, may I speak with you?

Sure. You have to steer, though. This isn t my best week, she murmured. Roane took her arm and led her off to a quiet portion of the club they were in.

Zara, I work for a video game company, and I work for the marketing department. I was wondering if you could become the voice of one of our games. Not a character voice, but would you sing the songs for the cut scenes?

Uh, I don t know. I don t know how to read yet. I can t even guess how it would work. Ask Luna or Wren. Luna appears to be my pimp.

Roane chuckled. You and me both. Yeah, I have to go through admin and get a studio to record in for you. Sorry to spring this on you, but your voice is great, and since you have to find a new career path, singing might be something that is profitable. You are certainly good at it.

Zara smiled. I will think about it.

Minnie, Wren, Luna, and Karo are all really good at playing instruments. I think you guys would make a fun band.

I am thinking that my current appearance might be a detriment to popularity.

Once your eyes are healed, a strip of lace will make things look nice. Masquerade masks. Since you can t fix it, have fun with it.

Zara turned her head toward Roane and said, Fun with it? I have been blinded. How much fun do you think this is?

Roane sighed. I didn t mean it that way, but at least your situation isn t advancing. I will get Emma over here. Sorry, I wasted your time.

Roane remained with her, and then Emma was at her side. Roane left.

Zara was still irritated when Emma asked, What did she say to you?

Oh, she said I could join a band with Minnie, Wren, Karo, and Luna. She said that I could tie a strip of lace over my eyes if it bothered me.

Hm. A pretty good idea, actually. For those video games she is always going on about?

Yes. I can t just cover my eyes and pretend everything is fine.

Of course not. What else did she say?

Since I can t fix it, to have fun with it.

Emma chuckled. Well, that took a lot of strength from her and a lot of courage.

Zara clenched her jaw. Why? She wasn t the one blinded.

No, she bumped into an alpha and now has agonizing scales spreading across her body. There is no part of her that hasn t been affected by the changes, and it is quite common to see her weeping or wincing, and then she pulls herself together and pastes a smile on and tries to help others.

Oh. Now I feel bad.

No reason for it. She has her pain; you have yours. Comparing isn t fair to either of you. She tries to look past the pain to what could happen later. You are still in the early stages. Emma patted her leg.

Zara swallowed. Where would I get lace to cover my eyes when the bandages are done?

Well, that sounds like a trip to the fabric shop. Did you want to come along and choose another dessert? Some of the ladies brought cookies and squares.

Already? I thought I would have a few days to have things brought to me.

Nope. Right into the deep end. Come on. Emma stood and took Zara by the hand. It was time to start learning how to do things herself. No time to wallow.

The ladies of the Book Club had been in rough positions, and they just helped each other through it. It was astonishing to be around all these women. They took lessons from their lives and made sure that things didn t repeat the same cycle.

Zara lifted her chin and tried to feel the difference between a chocolate chip cookie and a monster cookie. One thing at a time.

Two weeks after the first meeting, Zara was in the kitchen after her braille homework, baking cookies by tasting ingredients. She smiled as she heard Emma walk into the house. How was your visit with your grandson?

Randolph was his normal polite self. He asked me if I needed anything, offered to do the lawn for me, and asked me what all the rakes were doing in the backyard.

Zara stirred, moved slowly to the cookie sheets lined with parchment, and made a ball of dough before patting it down. She worked her way through the tray, wiped her hands, and put the tray in the oven. She spoke to her phone. Set alarm for eight minutes.

The phone repeated it, and she smiled at Emma. You didn t tell him that the backyard has been turned into an obstacle course for me?

None of his business. I don t want him in here chatting at you and distracting you. He s a good-looking fella and can charm the pants off anyone.

Um, good-looking is not really a concern, Emma. Was he in the house? I didn t even hear anything.

You didn t? He and I spoke in the dining room before we went outside to have a visit. He was looking right at you.

Zara took the dishes to the sink carefully and started to run the water. I didn t sense anything.

How odd. I am going to consult with Luna on that. Your senses have been expanding gradually, and he was well inside your perimeter. Maybe because he was male?

No. I have been keeping an eye on the mailman, and I can sense males in the grocery store and on the street. Maybe it s something he is doing?

He was perfectly visible to me.

Visible isn t my concern. I just had no idea he was here. She washed the dishes and set them on the drain board. There was a lot of patting and touching and verifying that she had gotten all the ingredients out of the bowl, but Emma was a hard taskmaster, and it was giving Zara confidence in her everyday motions to be able to do something as simple as making cookies. It took her three tries to get the right ingredients together, and Emma didn t help. Emma made her eat every cookie, which incentivized her like nothing else. The baking soda and baking powder mix-up wasn t as bad as the salt-sugar debacle. From there, the shortening and butter confusion was very edible.

She got her oven mitts ready, and when the timer went off, she spoke to mute it and made sure that her phone wasn t next to the spot where she was going to put the hot pan. She got the pan out and set the cookies down. She inhaled. They smelled right, but now they had to wait.

Emma walked toward her. Those look lovely and smell amazing. Are you bringing some to Book Club on Tuesday?

We have to taste test some first. She set the alarm for ten minutes.

Zara cleared her throat. Has Roane come to any meetings since my first?

You haven t felt her there?

No. Was she?

She kept to the back, stayed out of the way. Her body is still changing, and it s agony, but she s still trying to keep up with her visits. She needs the reminder that she isn t alone. That is the whole purpose of the Book Club.

She nodded. Luna said that they wanted us to lay down a track for the game and that it would pay. She sent me the lyrics, and I think I can do it.

Excellent. Do it.

It wouldn t be weird?

No. You have picked a very pretty lace. The doctors have said that you are stable, and you can wield your white cane like a champ. You can even walk through most rooms without stumbling. You are coming along.

Zara smiled and nodded. She stopped the timer, called Wren, and agreed to the situation. Wren laughed and said she would make the arrangements and get back to her.

Emma hugged her. I am very proud of you for making that move.

Thank you. You have made this marginally less terrifying. Have you heard what happened to my shop?

Emma sighed. There was a fire.

So, they had surveillance in there. Zara grumped. I put myself into that shop. I had customers, regulars, and plans. So many plans. She felt tears behind her lacey eye wrap and wiped her cheeks. Right. Cookies.

She picked up a cookie carefully and took a bite. She sniffled and smiled. They are good.

Emma moved to try one, and Zara tried to understand the substitute for sight that had formed. Things were black and grey and vibrated with intensity, but there was definitely something that was letting her move with greater ease.

Things were changing, and Zara was happy for any positive moves in her situation. Emma was an angel, and the Book Club was just what she needed. Every day felt like progress.

* * * *

F our weeks later.

Zara smiled as they left the stage at the convention, and fans swarmed her and the others. They had a portion of the admirers that the elf queen had, but the elf queen was off tidying up with her mates.

Karo kept her arm pressed to Zara s, leading her through the crush, and she murmured, Just one game, and you are a sensation. There are ladies in the audience with lace over their eyes. She paused. And a couple of guys.

Zara laughed.

Karo paused and said, Minnie, can you take Zara to the exit? I see someone I know. I am going to meet up with you in a few minutes.

Minnie came up and used her forearm with Zara s. Yup. See you soon.

Karo tapped Zara s arm and left them.

Minnie asked, Do you know who she saw?

They smell like blood.

Oh. So, a blood alpha.

Yes, but she wasn t hesitating, so I am not worried. Her body was tense, not afraid.

Good. I think Hector and Helen are going to be picking her up at the exit.

Ah. Yeah, her carers are definitely going to be concerned if she isn t with us quickly. Minnie s smile was in her voice.

Zara chuckled. Oh, right.

They walked through the building, and Zara felt her senses expand to look for threats. She found an empty spot in the sensor web she now had a grip on and breathed slowly. The empty spot was a threat. She stayed with Minnie, and the empty spot remained in the crowd and then left in the opposite direction.

Emma was waiting in her lifted truck, and Zara was settled in the truck and off home a moment later.

You could have stayed and played with your friends.

They all had other things to do. I think Karo is going to be returning to her blood alpha.

How do you know?

Just a feeling I have. Zara smiled.

Interesting. Has Luna mentioned a demon alpha to you?

Zara shuddered. No. She hasn t. I am not really interested in those acid-drooling freaks.

I see. They aren t all the same.

How do you know that?

Um, I may know one.

Zara hissed, What?

He s a good man, polite, charming, and he was raised to respect women.

Emma, you are making me very suspicious.

Well, good. I feel rather embarrassed that I didn t make the connection until I talked with Luna about it, and then I had to confirm it.

Oh. Your grandson. Randolph. She gasped. That s why I can t feel him.

He wants to explain your situation to you, and since he can t do that directly, he is going to speak through me.

Wait, is that what s happening now?

It is best to get it over with so that you understand. Luna said she would explain it to you, but her life has been busy recently.

Oh, right. Zara brushed her hair behind her ear. So, he s going to be there when we get home?

No, he is waiting until I call him in. We didn t want to ambush you.

Zara asked, Was he at the convention?

Yes. He was there with his business partner. Nikolai. He s a dragon, and his wife is adorable.

I have met Alita. She was at Nora s shower when we were all rocking out.

Time has spun so fast. It has been wonderful watching you bloom. You have come into your own.

Uh, thanks. Is this the part where you kick me out and wish me the best of luck?

The truck swerved dangerously. Of course not, Zara.

Right. Okay. You just seem really intense right now.

Well, Randolph has sworn that he won t do anything to harm you and that he will move slowly, so I am confident that he will be careful. He also knows what you are and can explain why they did what they did.

Oh. Good. I have wondered. She smiled. How long until we are home?

If I was following the GPS, twenty minutes. The way I drive? Five.

Zara laughed and hung onto the panic bar above her head. No one drove like Emma, and if they did, it wasn t for very long.