Page 4 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“You’d better not die,” Horvan grumbled as a medic hurried over to them and began tending Brick’s wounds.

“You’re only… saying that because… you wanna do the job yourself,” Brick wheezed.

“You got that right.” He started to rise, but Brick grabbed his arm. Even as hurt as he was, Brick was stronger than Horvan.

“I’m here,” Horvan said in a softer voice.

Tortured brown eyes met his.

“I need him, H. I can hear him in my head, pleading with me to find him. To save him. We’ve never met, but I’m in love with him already. You gotta understand.”

Horvan understood all right.

This was a fight they couldn’t afford to lose.

“You still having dreams about Seth?”

Brick managed a nod. “He’s screaming, H. They’re torturing him. And you wanna know the worst part?” He shuddered. “I can hear those screams even when I’m awake.”

Horvan wanted to tell him it wasn’t real, but Aric had told him and Brick that Seth was psychic, able to project his thoughts to them. Aric had also confided that when he and Seth connected, what made his heart sink was the fear that laced those thoughts. Fear of being alone. Of being unable to find his way home. Horvan knew what that meant.

Home was Aric and Brick.

Aric stared at Brick with undisguised dismay. “You never told me that. How come I didn’t know?”

“Because I locked you out.” Brick’s eyes glistened. “I didn’t want you to be upset.”

Aric’s eyes bulged. “Upset? You hide something like that from me again, and you’ll soon learn whatupsetlooks like.” He glared. “I’ll shift and let my kitty shit in your boots.”

There was silence for a moment before Brick laughed, even though it obviously hurt him to do so. Aric stared at him, and then he too was laughing.

Horvan snickered as he stood. “I’ve got this sudden urge to go hide all my footwear.” He gazed down at Brick. “When they’ve finished patching you up? My tent. We need to talk.”

Horvan’s plate was overflowing right then, bringing the fight to the Gerans, who believed shifters should rule the world. They seemed to be hiding in every corner, under every rock, behind every tree—under every bed.

But if he could stop Brick from doing what amounted to self-harm, he’d consider that a win.

WHEN HORVAN’Sdone with him, it’smyturn.

Aric had done his best to remain calm while the medics patched Brick up, but the effort had taken a lot out of him. He’d watched as Brick made his way slowly to Horvan’s tent, the flap closing after him. Aric had no idea what Horvan had said to Brick, but whatever it was, the conversation had lasted only minutes before Saul Emory arrived and the team leaders were called into Horvan’s tent to be debriefed by the two men. Aric had lingered outside, listening to the deep rumble of Saul’s voice. He didn’t shout as much as Horvan. But then again, he didn’t need to. One hard stare from Saul was enough to have most people quaking.

A man who’d endured whathehad at the hands of the enemy was owed respect.

There was another side to Saul, a rarely seen side that Aric had encountered the first time he’d shifted in Saul’s presence.

The manlovedkitties.

Aric couldn’t be scared of a guy who stroked him the way Saul did.

One by one, the team leaders began to file out of Horvan’s tent, and when Aric couldn’t wait a second longer, he went against the tide of bodies and hurried inside.

Only three men remained in the tent. Brick was in a chair next to Horvan’s bed, his head in his hands, dressings everywhere. Saul and Horvan were deep in conversation, and from the look of it, whatever was being discussed was a bone of contention.

Aric coughed.

“Horvan? Saul? Can I be alone with Brick for a few minutes?”

Horvan blinked. “Sure. We’ll get out of your hair.”

---