Page 45 of Grin and Bear It

As Artair carried her through the darkened streets, Thora fought to stay conscious. The bear bane worked through her system in waves of burning pain, each one making it harder to focus. She found herself studying the strong line of his jaw, the determined set of his mouth, the protective intensity in his eyes.

This close, she could see flecks of gold in his dark irises—his bear nature bleeding through as his protective instincts surged. A lock of dark hair fell across his forehead, and she had to fight the bizarre urge to brush it back.

“Stay with me,” Artair murmured when her eyelids drooped. “We’re almost there.”

“Not going anywhere,” she slurred. “Too comfy.”

His steps faltered for a moment before resuming. Had she said that out loud? The bear bane must be affecting her more than she thought.

The next few minutes blurred together—the warmth of his arms, the soft click of a door opening, gentle hands laying her on something plush and comfortable. Voices murmured around her, but she couldn’t focus enough to make out the words.

“The poison was specifically crafted for bear shifters,” a gentle female voice said nearby. “But it’s still affecting her feline system.”

“Her metabolism is fighting it remarkably well,” another woman’s voice added—Kalyna, Thora recognized dimly. “Better than any non-bear I’ve seen exposed to bear bane.”

A cool cloth pressed against her forehead, drawing her closer to consciousness. Thora forced her heavy eyelids open. Blurred shapes resolved into a spacious, minimalist living room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Kneeling beside her was a white-haired elderly woman with kind, perceptive eyes. Kalyna hovered nearby, grinding something in a mortar and pestle, while Jash stood at a sleek computer terminal, typing rapidly.

Her sabertooth’s senses registered Artair before she saw him—his scent, his footsteps as he paced anxiously near the windows.

“Our patient returns!” the elderly woman announced with gentle authority. “I’m Willow. Town healer and herbalist.”

“Good thing your boyfriend called us immediately,” Kalyna added with a mischievous glint in her eye. “That poison was specifically crafted for bear shifters, but it’s still nasty business for other predator types.”

FORTY-TWO

“Not my boyfriend,” Thora mumbled automatically, though the denial lacked its usual conviction.

“Right,” Kalyna winked at Artair. “Just the guy who carried you four blocks while snarling at anyone who got too close. Totally platonic behavior.”

“Is antagonizing my patient part of your healing process, Kalyna?” Willow asked mildly, applying an herbal compress to Thora’s side.

“I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking,” Kalyna shrugged, unrepentant. “Besides, irritation stimulates circulation. Helps the healing.”

“You made that up,” Thora accused weakly.

“Maybe.” Kalyna grinned. “But it got you talking, which means you’re more alert.”

Willow shook her head fondly at the fox shifter before turning back to Thora. “The poison targeted ursine physiology, but your feline system is fighting it incredibly well. Interesting adaptation.”

Jash adjusted his glasses, looking up from his tablet. “According to my research, sabertooths have historicallydeveloped immunity to bear bane when they’ve formed pack bonds with bears. Fascinating evolutionary adaptation.”

“We haven’t formed any bonds,” Thora insisted, though her eyes met Artair’s with uncomfortable awareness.

“Keep telling yourself that, honey,” Kalyna said while Willow applied another herbal compress. “Meanwhile, your pupils dilate 47 percent when he enters your field of vision.”

“Kalyna,” Willow chided gently. “Let the girl recover before you tease her about her mate.”

“Not my mate either,” Thora growled, trying to sit up. A wave of dizziness forced her back down.

“Careful,” Willow cautioned. “The herbs need time to draw out the toxin. Rest.”

Artair approached, his expression a mixture of concern and something deeper Thora couldn’t quite name. “How is she?”

“She’ll recover fully,” Willow assured him. “Though she should rest tonight, perhaps tomorrow as well.”

“I’m fine,” Thora insisted.

“Of course, you are,” Kalyna drawled. “That’s why you collapsed in big bear’s arms after heroically taking a poisoned dart for him.”

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