Page 3 of Flying Blind (Betas in Waiting #27)

Z ara was still wearing her convention costume, so she went to her bedroom and changed into a sundress. Emma was specific about how to greet a gentleman caller.

She was seated and preparing tea for herself and Emma when there was a knock at the door. Zara got to her feet and went to greet the visitor who was a swirling vortex of nothing. Hello. You must be Randolph. I am sorry. I can t see or hear you, so you will have to trust me that I know you are there.

A hand carefully caught hers. She heard his voice. Pleased to meet you, Zara. My grandmother speaks very highly and incessantly of you.

She blinked as his shadow had gotten close to her, and then he released her hand and faded away. She nodded, turned, and walked back to Emma. She sat and heard a muttering voice that sounded like it was underwater talking to Emma.

Emma said, He says you can only hear him when he touches you. May he touch you? Watch it, Randolph.

Zara smiled. He can.

Good. He has to explain some things that my little grandbaby should not be discussing. I will be in the next room. Shout if you need something.

Zara smiled. I will flash some knee. That usually brings you running.

Smartass. Emma leaned toward her and kissed her forehead.

When Zara felt alone, she felt careful fingers touch her arm. Hello again, Zara.

Randolph.

He chuckled. Please, call me Rayd.

The name reverberated through her head, and she blinked. They had been near each other at dozens of events over the last few months.

You are Nikolai s business partner?

I am. I partner with various family members in different businesses. Your friend Luna spoke to me at the Shattered Diamond.

Oh, strip club. Watching nearly naked people isn t really in my wheelhouse lately.

He chuckled. Sex sells. It is very profitable. We protect the ladies, and they entertain the men and women.

How fascinating. Don t care.

His fingers stroked the inside of her wrist. Interesting. Your skin...

Oh, that. Luna says that it happens a lot with betas that alphas have infected. We end up with omega skin. It has made the scars on my back easier to manage.

Those scars. May I see them?

Sure. That s why I picked this dress. She moved her hair to one side and bent her neck. She heard a ragged inhale, and some fingers touched the marks, moving down her back. Fire flared in sensitive places as he traced the brands.

Okay. Stop playing.

He lifted his fingers from the marks and sat next to her. You are marked for three demon alphas. Three openings have been made in your psyche to create doorways for a demon alpha to slot into. We have to do it as a group for it to work properly.

Can t you just... uh... plug yourself in or something?

No. Three holes drilled into a boat have to be fixed for the boat to be sound. They bored three holes into your energy pattern, and if you exert yourself, you can drain the emotional energy very quickly. My grandma knew that and encouraged you into the public eye. You feed off a crowd when you sing.

Oh. I wondered what that was. I do feel better after performing.

But it is a temporary measure. Whoever suggested that avenue of performance probably saved your life.

Zara thought briefly of Roane and nodded. I will send her something nice. I haven t really mentioned anything to her since that day.

She offended you?

She told me to wear a lace band over my eyes. That since I couldn t do anything about it, to have fun with it.

Ah, this was shortly after everything happened.

Right. She was very blunt.

And you rebuffed her.

Yes. It was none of her business.

Where were you?

At a Book Club meeting.

So, it was everyone s business. That is why you were there.

Yes. She didn t say anything, so I am sure it s okay.

He said, When you have your alphas, you will regain sight. That will help you to see the ladies of the Book Club in a new light.

So, there has to be three of your kind.

Yes. I have been shopping for demons who are well-behaved and are not violent or vile. That is harder than you think. Two local demons were killed in the last six months.

She blinked. Was one of them a banker?

Yes. How did you know?

I think he was the spotter. The other guy was a thug.

So, that is making a bit of sense. The thug blinded you?

Yes. The banker told him to prep me.

Randolph paused and then nodded. How did you get away?

He left me to go for lunch, and I dislocated my thumbs and got out of the cuffs, and then I ran, holding onto the buildings. Wren found me on the street and got me to the hospital. She stayed with me until she handed me off to Luna, and then they got me away again, and your grandma offered to take me in and help me through this.

She is very perceptive and always at the right place at the right time.

She definitely is. I could not have come this far without her.

He continued stroking her arm. So, you have some choices rising. You can either spend the rest of your life on the stage, waiting until another triad of demons converge on you, hobble you, and keep you in their clutches, or agree to let me find others to complete your legion. The marks are on you. Nothing else can be done.

She stared forward. So, who are the other guys? So far, I know you like to fly helicopters and enjoy strippers. It sounds like a fascinating start to a relationship.

He chuckled. That is not a no.

Well, as much fun as being stalked and pounced on by voids I can t see coming, the hobbling is a little much. What is hobbling?

Breaking one of your legs so you are dependent on your mates. It keeps you from running.

The matter-of-fact voice made her shiver.

He sighed. I will not be doing that, nor will the others I have chosen. Demons are not usually pleasant, but I have selected a few that value business over rutting. Unfortunately, one is out of town for a few more months.

Delightful. So, which of the others is here in town?

He isn t, but he s nearby. He will focus on his work until our third returns to town.

Randolph?

Rayd.

Mr. Nickelson.

He snorted.

What do the marks mean?

Dedication, focus, passion. He was smiling. She could hear it.

You are kidding.

No. They represent each of the primary interests of your mates. I am dedication. It is my responsibility to select the others.

What about the original team?

I am guessing that it was focus who took you. They aren t good at violence and have minimal dedication. Passion was the one with the brands and cuffs.

And acid.

Yes. May I see the damage?

She paused and then pushed the lace out of the way. She turned her head to where he was seated, and he touched her cheek, tilting her head. Well, thankfully, he was neat. Once you are mated, you will be able to regain your vision, in a way.

What? She could feel his breath on her skin, and it sent a weird pulse through her.

You will be able to pull on our vision through that brand and regain your own. You will be able to see again. He brushed his lips against hers, and she blinked.

What an oddly compelling selling point, she whispered.

He chuckled.

I have to ask a question.

His lips brushed hers again. Go ahead.

How did the other two die?

Oh, well, one had his neck broken, and the other was sprayed with snake venom. Exceedingly toxic.

The rustling of serpents went through her mind. No. It couldn t be, could it?

She paused. I know someone who may be venomous.

Interesting, but it is much more likely that their third found out and killed them both. He would be their dedication. He would be more dangerous to you. He probably wanted to wait, but the other two went early.

Oh, so there is another one out there, and he s dangerous. Good to know.

He smiled and kissed her more firmly, a hand threaded into her hair.

Randolph!

He lifted his head. Yes, Grandma?

Do not maul Zara on my good couch. And I do not have a bad couch. Emma was stern.

He chuckled. She can t see me if I let go of her.

She can t see you now, Randolph.

Grandma, no one else calls me Randolph.

Emma chuckled. Zara does.

I may have to beg her not to.

I can save Randolph for special occasions.

He chuckled. Thank you. He lifted her hand to his lips.

Are you staying for dinner, Randolph? Emma s voice was sly.

No. I have a meeting to attend with Niko. We tried to meet at the convention, but Alita was off getting costume pieces, and we ran out of time.

Emma sighed. Fine. So, are you going to start a courtship? I mean, you have months to wait, so you may as well get her used to you when she isn t practicing or performing.

He sighed. It will be torture, Grandma.

A little pain builds character. Just look at Zara.

Zara used her free hand to cover her eyes with the lace.

He touched it and straightened it for her. Niko is going to laugh at me for ignoring this for so long, but Grandma was stern. I had to wait until you were able to survive on your own. Getting you while you were weak and helpless wouldn t have been a good start.

She inhaled and sighed. I still can t catch your scent.

Yours is muffled as well. When your third is one month away, I will take you to meet your second. He is content to continue his work for now.

Oh. Right. Well, I have some time then. Will I be okay with the other creep skeeving around?

You will be fine. You are never alone, and they will only strike when you are alone.

That isn t horrifying at all.

He stroked her cheek. You will be fine. I will make sure you will be fine, and Grandma will let me know if she ever has to leave you alone.

So, you think they will come for me? What happens if there is only one demon joined with me?

Oh, you will kill him. That is why it has to be done together. Once you destroy him, you will still have two open glyphs, and two other demons can still try and take you.

Oh. So, that is why all three have to be there at once.

Yes. I do apologize. If it had only been two, we could have solved it already, but then I just learned about you. She wasn t wrong. You are definitely primed for my kind.

Delightful. I know enough ladies at the club that have found their matches and also a few whose matches are dickheads.

What is your plan if we are?

Kill you in your sleep? She smiled. Or better yet, get some of the ladies to help me make you disappear. Some of the Elite omegas are terrifying.

He paused. What?

The Elite omegas. They are really tall, and a lot of them have a ton of power. They crackle with it. There are a few in the Book Club. They just stop coming to meetings after a while. We frankly thought they were betas until they shifted, and then even I could feel the energy.

Rayd said, Do you have names?

Do you have the name of the second demon alpha?

Will you look him up?

No. I can t work a computer yet. Emma keeps blocking me. I think she s hiding her porn.

He laughed and groaned. Thank you for that mental image. I am going to have to brush my brain.

I am just kidding. She hides her porn under a doily on her bookshelf.

A muffin came flying at Zara, and she lifted her hand to catch it.

Rayd paused. You can see?

No. I am developing a sort of sonar. So, yes, and no. It s a waving greyscale. I still can t see you, but the waves outline you a little. What did your grandma feed you?

He chuckled. Whatever my chores earned. I did a lot of chores.

Emma said, He s excellent with shrubs. When we realized he was a demon alpha, we prepared a bunch of character-building exercises to make sure he was aware of those around him and how he had an impact on their lives. So, he attended a lot of garden clubs and county fairs. He can grow prize-winning roses if he puts his mind to it.

What about the second alpha? What does he do?

Rayd sighed. He s an artist of sorts. He does custom work for specific industries. He also runs a family business.

Oh. Does he have family?

His father is surviving, and I believe he has a sister.

And he s a he? I have specific preferences, and they don t involve a lady.

Demons are always male. Their children are always male.

Great. She sighed. How many?

On average a single child from records. Demons tend to create a new link when they want to continue.

Oh, so the mates die.

He sighed. They tend to, yes. I am determined to get you through whatever happens. I have access to healers, a dragon, and two other demons who aren t burning to destroy you in childbirth.

What is in it for you then?

Power. Through you, we all share energy. That energy will enable us to do more for our legion.

So, what is the end goal here?

He paused. Feel the completion of being the unit we were created to be by whatever creates alternative alphas to begin with.

She nodded. That both sucks and blows.

Emma laughed.

Yes, but the crime has been committed; we just need to mitigate the circumstances and reshape your future to something positive.

How altruistic of you.

He chuckled. So, in an effort to curtail disaster, I would like to take you out on a date. Tomorrow? Lunch?

Uh, I have a rehearsal tomorrow at Ford s.

After the rehearsal?

Um, sure?

He kissed her wrist and said, I will pick you up from Ford s.

All right. I need your number.

He chuckled. Where is your phone?

Uh, in my room?

Can you go get it?

Yeah, but I may sit on you when I get back. I am not kidding about the fact that you are a black hole.

Thank you. I will consider it a compliment. He chuckled and said, I will be here in the same position when you return.

She nodded, stood, and then slowly pulled her hand away from his. The moment contact was broken, he was gone. She sighed and walked through the house, dodging the footstool that wasn t supposed to be there and heading for her room.

* * * *

E mma looked at her grandson. You are sure about this? I don t want you trifling with her.

I don t want to trifle with her, but I need to let her know she isn t alone, and she can call on someone other than you for support. I am also trying to let her know what will happen and why the first attack happened. I am guessing that she had no clue, and there aren t many of my kind in the world, maybe six or eight more. Getting any of us into a triad is nearly impossible.

Where is your second?

At a winery outside the city. He is also a blacksmith, so he keeps his focus on shaping and weaving metal for movies and videos. He chuckled. He also has family.

Emma scowled. A wife and kids?

Father and sister. Father runs the winery, and sister... well, no one knows what she does.

How old is she?

Twenty-five, thirty? I haven t been able to get much information. The family calls her a little bastard, but they smile when they do so.

So, Zara will have another female in the family. That s good.

She will also have you.

That goes without saying. Oh, you are back.

Zara walked in and moved to the couch, slowly sitting, but Randolph took her hand, and she smiled brightly.

Emma sat back and watched as Randolph put his number in.

Progress was being made. A few months and there might even be a bonded quad in front of her. She quietly crossed her fingers that grandbabies might happen.

Randolph wasn t getting any younger.

* * * *

Z ara was chatting with Luna when she felt the darkness get closer. I think my date is here.

Wren sighed. It s about time. Let me know when the third one shows up. I will make sure you are secure when you are joining.

Zara chuckled weakly. Uh, nice offer, but I don t know if it is appropriate.

Wren said softly, He has agreed to do so. That is the only vulnerable time of a demon union. You all have to move together to weave together evenly.

Zara blinked. Really?

It s just a bite, well, three bites at the same time. That is why they are spaced that way.

Zara felt the hand slipping against hers and could feel his silhouette. Hello, Ran-Rayd.

He chuckled. My guess is that my grandma was talking about me yesterday.

Frequently. She s very proud of her little Randolph.

He snorted softly as his grandmother chortled. I got bigger, but I was a delayed grower.

Zara smiled. The affection was there, and Emma had no hesitant mannerisms when dealing with her grandson. She treated him with the same deliberate care that she did Zara. It was a relief. He had no hostility or irritation when talking to her, and there were no bad vibes coming through the contact.

So, if he were a demon in other aspects of his life, she would just have to find out later.