Wild Warrior (The Weavers Circle 2)

“So, let me get this straight,” Lucien said, pointing at Ruby. “You can communicate with your dog and you,” he pointed at Clay. “What exactly does the power of earth mean?”

“I can heal sick plants. I can, I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but I can feel the plants, the trees. How they are feeling. I can command them to do things as well as split the earth. I feel connected to nature completely.”

Lucien pointed at Grey. “And you read minds?”

“I can make people do things, sense connections between people. I can harness Clay’s power—”

“Like a battery,” Baer threw in because he couldn’t help himself.

“Fuck off,” Clay grumbled.

Grey sighed and continued. “We have a lot to learn about that.”

“And I can shift into different animals,” Baer added. “Where are you from? Grey mentioned Arizona.”

“Yes, Arizona. My parents are still there, but I’ve been traveling a lot the past several years. Had this annoying restlessness that’s been eating me alive. Like the goddess said, I was drawn here, and I had no idea why.” He paused and smiled a little. “Guess I do now. Assuming I really am one of you.”

“You are,” Clay said. “I can feel it. You can too, or you wouldn’t have stuck around at the graveyard.”

“Yeah. It’s like I’ve known you my whole life. It’s weird as fuck.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Baer said, his hand still warm in Wiley’s.

Clay gave him a knowing look, but he ignored it. If he wanted to hold Wiley’s hand, then he was going to hold it. Hell, there were a lot of things he wanted to do with Wiley. He regretted bringing him into their dangerous life, but he was still glad to have him around. Flo cleared her throat, drawing Baer’s attention. She was crooking her finger at Lucien.

“Come on. I have a gift for you.”Chapter 10Wiley was grateful that it didn’t seem like Baer noticed they were still holding hands. His full attention was on the conversation going on between Lucien, Flo, and Clay. Wiley was trying to follow as much as possible, but his mind kept going to the image of Baer’s back covered in blood. Not to mention the dozens of bite marks along his arms, neck, and legs.

The moment he’d walked into sight like that, Wiley’s body had run cold with fear only to switch a heartbeat later to red-hot rage. The surge of emotion was more than a little surprising, but Wiley brushed it off, chalking it up to the overall insanity of the entire situation. His main concern was Baer.

Yes, the man was strong and capable and magical. He didn’t need Wiley in the slightest.

But that didn’t change the fact that Wiley had been ready to march out into the night with a baseball bat or a-a crowbar or…something and beat the shit out of whoever dared to touch Baer.

“Are you sure you’re okay now?” Wiley whispered. He was pretty sure he’d asked Baer that question a dozen times already, but he couldn’t stop himself. He knew death. His mother had died at a young age. His father had simply disappeared. Baer was willingly putting himself in danger.

To his surprise, Baer didn’t get irritated. He smiled at Wiley. Releasing the hand he was holding, Baer wrapped both of his arms around Wiley and pulled him in for a warm hug. Wily closed his eyes, sinking into the comfort and strength Baer was offering.

“I’m fine. I promise,” Baer murmured. The sound rumbled under Wiley’s ear pressed to Baer’s chest.

“I’m sorry. It’s just…all the blood…”

“Don’t apologize,” Baer said in the same low and steady voice. “You can ask me that question a hundred times. I don’t mind. I’m fine. The injuries were minor, and Dane’s got me all patched up again. When I go out, I’ve got Clay and Grey at my back all the time.” There was a little chuckle. “And very shortly, I’m going to have Lucien as well.”

Wiley sighed against Baer’s chest. “I wish I could help too.”

“You are.”

Wiley pulled away from Baer enough to look up at the man’s face as his lips pulled down in a skeptical frown.

“You are,” Baer pressed before Wiley could argue. “Holding me like this helps to center me again. Usually after a fight I’m anxious and twitchy, but this is nice. I feel…at peace. And Ruby was much more settled and calmer when I came home. She knows when I leave for a fight, and she gets anxious. I don’t want her to worry or be upset. She says that you played with her and brushed her. She loved that.”

Wiley shrugged, hating the feeling of heat creeping into his cheeks. He needed to remember that Ruby could tattle on him. He had to watch the crazy things he said to that dog for fear of her repeating them. “It’s not much.”