"Indeed?" She snuggled even closer. "What's the way?"
He leaned down, his mouth next to her ear. "A foot rub."
She drew in a breath. "Oh my. You have figured me out."
Bear grinned. "I know."
She clasped his hand. "First, we dance."
When a beautiful woman full of secrets asked a guy to dance, he danced. Even if he was a bear. Bear handed his beer off to Lucas without looking and let Nessa lead him toward what worked as the dance floor. He'd wanted to get his hands on her all night. "I'm leading," he rumbled, turning her toward him.
She smiled. "Of course."
The song was hard rock, the beat fierce. Yet he tucked an arm around her waist and drew her in, moving slowly.
She sighed and pressed her face against his chest, her body one smooth line of relaxation. He moved her, enjoying the feel of her against him.
"Are you having fun?" she asked, her voice dreamy.
"Yes and no," he replied, his hand covering her entire lower back. "It's good to see friends, but there are too many people here I don't know." Which was something he'd remedy soon. "I'm sure Lucas has his reasons, but I don't like it." He usually didn't like being around people. Not really.
Bodies gyrated around them, creating a cocoon for the two of them. Maybe with her guard down, Bear could really get honest answers from her. "Who wants to kidnap you and why, Nessa?"
She stiffened slightly and then relaxed again. "I was a member of the Council of the Coven Nine. Anybody could be after me just for the information I may have picked up. We have enemies even in peacetime, you know."
He inhaled her rose scent. "I have a simple life."
She snuggled even closer. "Sure you do."
Was that sarcasm? "Your point?"
Her lips were close to his collarbone. "You're a bear shifter with dragon DNA. Your sister is on the Council, and your half brother leads a secret dragon nation on an undetectable island."
"That's their lives. Not mine."
She leaned back and tilted her head. "Family is always part of our lives. Our struggles, hopes, and complications."
He paused. There was more to what she was saying than he grasped. "Maybe." Yet his life was a quiet one, with motorcycles, trees, and freedom. "I don't do intrigue, baby."
A veil drew down over her eyes. "Of course you don't." She pressed her cheek against him again, hiding those expressive eyes.
His instincts remained on full alert, even with the warm woman in his arms. Too much was happening around him, and he didn't like being in the dark. At all. "How long will it take for me to heal completely?"
She breathed against him. "I donna' know." Her shoulders slumped. "I may not be able to mend all of the damage. Not without-"
"Mating," he murmured, his breath stirring her hair. Mates often gained the skills of their partners, and if he mated her he might get her ability to heal-perhaps not other people but definitely himself. She'd possibly gain the ability to throw fire, which certainly seemed a needed skill considering bounty hunters were after her.
Yet he didn't have the full story. His instincts told him that much, at least. As they moved, his feet started to ache. Then his legs. He sighed.
She lifted her head again. "You need rest."
"I'm fine," he said shortly.
She rolled her eyes. "I can sense your pain, tough guy. I've been inside your skin, you know?"
That was weird. "Did you see my soul?" he teased.
She didn't smile. "What do you think you ripped apart?"
He couldn't think of an answer. Was she serious? A ruckus flared up on the other side of the room, and he turned them, easily seeing over her head. "Shit."
Angie had fallen against the bar, her body convulsing. A red flame rushed down her arm. Bear released Nessa and shoved his way over just as Lucas reached the woman.
"Get her to the back room," Bear ordered tersely, trying to block the woman from view of the crowd with his body.
Nessa reached his side and gasped, looking down.
Another flame danced along Angie's full lips. Red and purple streaks marred the whites of her eyes, which were wide open in pure panic.
Lucas grabbed her up and ran around the bar, shoving open the door to the back room. Nessa hurried behind him. Bear paused at the doorway and caught the attention of two of his lieutenants. "She's fine. Too much to drink." He motioned around. "Take care of things. Party is over." Both bear shifters nodded. He paused. "Keep the music on."