Grace struggled against her bonds.
Nessa's body and mind flared wide awake-finally. "What is the second attack?"
Lucas looked at the world board again. "Crop dusting."
Nessa swallowed, her stomach lurching. "Excuse me?"
"We've figured out how to disperse Apollo via airplane over a wide range, and we'll hit Dublin next week. The entire city." His eyes gleamed. "It'll be like ridding a crop of bugs."
Nessa fought against the iron bands around her wrists, panic nearly choking her. "That's crazy. You'll kill both humans and witches."
He shrugged. "Dublin will be a ghost town by the end of the month." His chin firmed. "Then we'll systematically attack witches one-on-one in a ground offensive until not one of them is left standing." He looked at Grace. "Except maybe you. I might let you live." His smile returned as he focused on Nessa. "Not you, though. I've had hit squads trying to take you out ever since you arrived in town. Apparently, I have to do it myself. I'm going to kill the Guard Commissioner on live television. Tomorrow, after the first strike is over."
Grace gasped, and her eyes narrowed. "You're the commissioner?" That was definitely hate in the woman's eyes.
"Aye," Nessa said, testing the shackles. The chain held firm to the wall. She turned and looked for an exit besides the one that led underground.
Lucas followed her gaze. "Waiting for a bear to save you? How disappointing for the Commissioner of the Guard, needing a man to rescue her."
Nessa turned on him so quickly her hair flew out. "I'm absolutely fine with a fellow soldier saving my ass, you degenerate idiot. It comes with the damn job. I have no problem, whatsoever, with being nicely rescued." She huffed out air. "Part of my job is to send in rescue to help the most dangerous people on this planet." She sucked in air. "And I'm fully on board, I mean fully on board, with my mate coming to my rescue and ripping off your fucking head." She was yelling by the time she finished the sentence.
Grace gurgled. "You're a worthless bitch, and the Guard is an evil organization. But I would like to see you kill Lucas here. With great pain." She leaned her head back and shut her eyes. "Also, rescue would be nice."
Lucas kicked Nessa in the shin. Hard.
She winced and drew her throbbing leg up. "You are such a dick." Man, Bear had to be going nuts. Wait a minute. Her eyes widened.
"Yes," Lucas said, satisfaction lowering his voice to something way too smooth. "I shot Bear four times in the head. Even if he doesn't die, let's be honest. It'll take months for him to recuperate."
"In the head?" Nessa breathed out, her shoulders tightening.
Lucas nodded, his eyes gleaming. "Last shot was dead center through the brain. If the shot was just right, you know it could kill a shifter. But the shot would have to be perfectly aimed." He cracked his knuckles and bounced back on his heels. "Did Bear ever tell you what an expert marksman I am?"
Nessa jerked against the chains. Bear was alone beneath his war room. Jasper and Boondock were probably locked in cells and couldn't help. How long would it take for anybody to check on them? Oh God. She loved him. Everything inside her loved her predatory and sweet bear, and she'd never told him. She hadn't had the courage or taken the time to say the words to him.
Was Bear dead?
* * *
His face was cold. Pain owned his head, but Bear forced his eyes open. Voices came from far away.
"Wake the hell up, asshole," snapped an angry voice. Bear's head slid on something wet, but he turned it to see Boondock kneeling on the other side of iron bars. "Let us out. Now."
The metallic smell of blood awoke the beast inside him. Bear growled, his head feeling like it weighed three tons. He blinked and liquid squished into his eye. Blood. That was his blood. "Shouldn't I be dead?"
He flattened his hand on the wet concrete and tried to shove himself to a seated position. The world spun.
"Holy fuck." He moved to the bars and hauled himself up hand over hand until he stood, panting. "Nessa." He had to get to his mate. Bile burned his throat and he swallowed, tasting blood.
"You've been shot in the neck and temple," Boondock said, his voice echoing oddly. "Open the bars, Bear. Just one. You can do it."
Bear stretched his arm up above where the bars ended, near the ceiling, and fumbled with a large button, his bloody fingers sliding off. He made a fist and punched it.