“Bear,” Sam said, accepting the brew. “How are repairs coming?” He kept his gaze on Honor.
“On time. The sensors will be down for at least another day, but then we should be okay. We need to plan a ride.” Bear’s gaze zeroed in on Nessa, who was standing over by one of the grills.
Sam tuned in his senses to look for threats. “The ride. Retribution?”
“Yes.” Bear lifted his chin in acknowledgment when Nessa looked up and smiled at him. She was glowing already, and power emanated from her, even across the distance.
Sam wanted that. With Honor. “Good.” There was no chance the Grizzlies would let an attack go unanswered. “I have feelers out with the demon nation for locations of Kurjan strongholds.”
Bear’s rugged face cleared. “You’re on board for an attack?”
Sam took a deep drink of the cold beer. “I’m a Grizzly Club member, Bear. They attacked us. Forget nations, forget shifters, forget the hybrids, the Seven, and all the rituals. At the end of the day, you were right. We’re brothers, this is our club, and they made a colossal mistake in coming after us.”
“Yeah.” Bear straightened. “Damn straight.” He finished his longneck. “If I have about fifty more of these, you might get an ‘I love you, man’ later tonight.”
“Something to look forward to,” Sam said dryly. Then his attention moved to a spot near the garage, where Garrett was making out with a female whose hair was streaked with bright green. Even through the distance, Sam could read her as a feline shifter. “Come on.”
Bear snorted. “He found her in town. Her name is Claws.”
“Clause?” Sam asked.
“No. Claws. Like nails and claws and danger. She’s some sort of shifter bounty hunter.” Bear’s massive chest rolled with a chuckle.
Sam groaned. “He knows we have bounties on our heads, right?”
Bear shrugged. “Yeah, but she’s not looking for you—is apparently hot on the trail of a feline shifter who robbed a clan in the Rockies. Nessa ran her background the second she arrived in territory, and she checks out. Although there are several state warrants out on her—apparently Claws likes to shoot people.” He tossed the beer bottle across several yards to land in a garbage can marked “recycled.” “But who doesn’t?”
“Indeed,” Sam agreed, irritation nevertheless trying to choke him. “Why couldn’t Garrett’s big breakthrough with Honor have been that he should be celibate for a few years?”
“Come on.” Bear jerked his head toward one of the prospects, and the kid tossed a beer his way. He caught it and twisted the cap open. “Bad girls are good in bed, usually. Let the kid have some fun. Plus, the green in her hair is cool.”
“Yeah. It is pretty cool.” Although this was a mistake, like usual. Sam shook his head.
“Before I forget, a couple of the older female shifters have special teas for you. They swear by them,” Bear said, not hiding a smile.
Sam growled. “It’s not like I can’t get it up, Bear. God. Tell your people to back off before I lose it.”
“Already did, my brother.” Bear clinked bottles with him.
Honor wound her way toward them, stopping several times to speak with people. She really did fit in. When she arrived, worry showed in her eyes. “Garrett.”
“Saw him,” Sam said, hauling her to his side. Where she belonged.
She rested her head against his chest, letting him take her weight. “I’m not sure. I think we did a good thing, digging into his brain, but now he’s on a mission to find the toughest woman out there. Her name is Claws, Sam. Claws. She kind of looks like the woman he dreamed about? Now he says that the woman is hazy.”
He tightened his hold. “I know. Garrett’s a big boy, sweets. He can handle Claws.”
She sighed, her breath warm against his shirt. “He really doesn’t have the best taste in women. Doc Julie tried to get us killed, and now Claws asked if anybody here had drugs, because she’d like a nice buzz. The way I felt about his mate…”
Sam stiffened. “Bad?”
“Yeah. Dangerous and bad and there was a hint of pain. For Garrett.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what to do.”
“You do nothing.” Sam leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Her hair had dried thick and springy, and she looked young and full of life. He was going to keep her that way. Healthy and strong. Safe. “If Garrett’s mate is an assassin or something similar, he’ll take care of it.”
She reared up. “Seriously? An assassin? Are you nuts?”
He grinned down at her. “My brother Logan and his mate met when she lured him out of a bar and kidnapped him, with the intention of killing him. They’re very happy now.”
Bear grinned. “And your mom met Daire by drugging him at an MC party and then robbing him. Didn’t she drug him a few times?”
Sam chuckled. “Yeah. Good times.”
“Has she robbed any banks lately?” Bear asked conversationally.
Honor jolted.
Sam rubbed her rib cage, where his hand hung over her fragile shoulders. “She doesn’t tell me usually. Daire has a handle on it.”
“You have an interesting family,” Honor said, sounding dazed.
“Yeah. They’ll do.” Sam watched as Garrett tossed Claws over his shoulder and disappeared around the building. “At least he’ll be in a good mood tomorrow. For Garrett, anyway.”
Honor cried out, and pain pierced his side. From her. He looked down, and half of her left leg was gone. She paled. “Something has me.”
* * * *
Honor shook with pain as sharp razors shredded her leg. What the heck had happened to Flynn’s web? Apparently it only worked on the fires and not all of the worlds through dimensions. She grabbed on to Sam and tried to free herself. Nothing.
Sam lifted her with one arm and moved around her, his body shielding her from the rest of the party. “Hold on.”
Bear moved to the side. “What is happening?” He looked around. “Stay cool. Keep it cool.”
Sam reached down into the hole, keeping his hand on her leg. “Okay.” A loud snap echoed. He growled.
Flynn immediately approached and took the opposite side of Bear. “I felt a disturbance.” His eyes glowed in his coal-deep eyes. “What’s happening?”
Honor trembled with pain and fought tears, kicking with all her might and holding Sam for balance. “I don’t know.” Whatever had her fought hard to get more of her, and she gasped, digging her nails into Sam’s chest.