Bear nudged her in the shoulder while staying slightly behind her. “You have to do something about this.”
“I was just thinking that,” she agreed. What, she wasn’t sure.
Sylvia pressed her hands to her hips and stretched her back, pushing double D’s against a plain white T-shirt that was cropped nearly to her bra. “What do you say, Bear? A quick knock one out?”
Holy crap. Had the woman just said that?
“No,” Bear said with bite in his tone. “My…wife isn’t the sharing type.”
“She might never know,” Sylvia said, her gaze licking along his body.
Bear took another step back. “Oh, she’d know, and you wouldn’t like the results.”
Honor nodded. She’d seen the witch throw fire, after all.
Garrett loped their way, tucking a phone into his pocket. “Where did you go? I thought you were bringing dinner?” He slung an arm over Sylvia’s shoulders.
Honor shook her head. “She was propositioning Bear instead. Garrett, we really have to talk.”
Sylvia reached out and tugged a piece of Honor’s hair. “We could make it a threesome. Or four.”
Honor shoved her, freeing her head. “You’re in the wrong place, lady. This isn’t a commune.” She glared at Garrett. “Enough of this. Maybe your future…lady, is just dangerous to your heart. Seriously. Stop being a stupid asshole.” It had only been a couple of days, but enough was enough.
Garrett’s left eyebrow rose. “Little sister has some teeth of her own.”
She gritted said teeth together. All right. Mating Sam did make Garrett her brother, and she wasn’t going to let him make such stupid decisions. “Little sister is about to kick you in the balls,” she snapped.
Sylvia ran her hand up Garrett’s hard chest. “This isn’t fun. Let’s go back to your place.”
They turned and headed back down the trail.
“Dude,” Bear said, watching them go. “You really need to fix this.” He turned on her. “And by the way, why were two of my most seasoned soldiers bawling like cubs earlier today?”
She winced. “Well, Sam was sleeping, and they came to the cabin for therapy. We went outside in the sun and worked through some feelings.”
Bear shook his head, his eyes losing their mellow honey look. “Not again, Honor. It’s like you turned on a faucet around here, and I’m done with the tears and getting in touch with feelings. Soldiers shouldn’t have feelings, especially when we’re planning an attack.”
She tilted her head. “You know, maybe we should talk about that. About how you feel.”
He threw up his hands and stormed off toward the grills.
A young female shifter approached her. The woman had to be in her late teens and had stunning brown eyes. “Um, hi. I’m Betty.”
“Hi.” Honor kept her smile in place. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I don’t know.” Betty kicked a pebble. “I was hoping you could, I don’t know, maybe help me talk to my parents about my going to college?”
Honor looked at the girl. “Aren’t bear shifters allowed to go to college?”
The girl sighed. “Yeah, but I want to study the politics of nonviolent resistance as well as philosophy, and my dad just doesn’t get that.”
After meeting several bear shifters, Honor wasn’t surprised. Especially since their people were about to go to war, from all indications. “I’d love to have a sit-down with you and your parents. How about tomorrow morning?”
The girl smiled, brightening her entire face. “Awesome. Thanks!”
“I can’t promise anything except to facilitate a healthy dialogue,” Honor warned.
“No prob.” The girl all but hopped away.
Honor grinned and turned to head back to her cabin, where Nessa was slowly emerging from the door that had been erected that morning while Sam slept. “How is he?”
Nessa rolled her neck. “Seriously beaten up. It’ll take him a few days to get back to full strength, but he’s healing in sleep, so that’s a good thing. Did you see the latest twit Garrett brought back?”
“Not only did I see her, she propositioned me. She also offered Bear a quickie,” Honor said.
Nessa’s eyes darkened. “Is that a fact?” The witch strode away, a multitude of energies dancing around her.
“Yep. That’s a fact.” Honor almost wished she could watch the action, but Sam needed her. He seemed calmer when she was by his side. She gingerly moved inside the cabin and shut the door, heading to the bedroom.
Sam shoved the blanket off his body, his movements restless.
Honor put her untouched coffee mug on the bedside table and slid onto the covers next to him, placing her hand on his heart.
He settled down immediately, his hand flattening over hers. Warmth and safety.
She snuggled her nose into his neck and yawned. Maybe a little nap wouldn’t hurt. She fell asleep and woke up when it was completely dark, fell back asleep and woke up with the sun pouring inside. An entire day later? This mating business took some energy.
Sam was still sleeping, the air popping around him. His breathing was easy, so at least he’d fixed his lungs.
She slid quietly from the bed, used the bathroom, and went hunting for food. Man, she was starving. She reached the tent and dug through the sandwiches there to find a turkey one. Nobody was around the meal tent, so it must be mid-afternoon? She tore into the delicious meal, eating right where she stood. How was it possible she’d slept through an entire night and part of the morning without really awakening?
“Hi.” A woman emerged from the trees and shoved a phone into a big blue purse over her shoulder.
It took Honor a second to recognize her. “Hi, Claws,” she said, frowning. Wait a minute. Garrett must’ve taken Sylvia home that morning. Well, that was something.
Claws grinned and drew a beer out of the cooler. “I ran into Garrett this morning, and he brought me out for the day. Maybe the night.” She leaned her head back and put the sweating bottle against her neck. “The guy is insatiable.”
Honor held up a hand. “Don’t want to know. Really.” Yeah, she needed to fix this. Somehow.
Claws rolled her neck, looking Honor over. “What do you weigh, anyway?”
Honor stilled. “None of your business.”
“But it is.” Claws removed a Taser from her bag and shot the wires at Honor.