Page 59 of Grin and Bear It

“Did you see him?” Artair asked, his face pale with disbelief.

“I saw someone who looked like you,” she confirmed carefully, watching his reaction. “With a scar.”

“It can’t be,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. “He died fifteen years ago.”

FIFTY-THREE

Forest shadows raced past as Thora navigated Artair’s car along winding back roads, her bare feet operating the pedals with practiced precision. Beside her, Artair sat in stunned silence, his scent complex with shock, pain, and confusion.

She slowed as they reached a scenic overlook, pulling to a stop where they could see Enchanted Falls twinkling below like earthbound stars. She cut the engine, the sudden silence heavy between them.

“I never told you about my twin,” Artair finally said, his voice hollow with disbelief. “Calan died with our parents in a plane crash fifteen years ago. At least... that’s what everyone believed.”

Thora turned in her seat, studying his profile in the moonlight. The strong lines of his face were drawn tight with confusion and doubt.

“His body was never recovered,” Artair continued. “The search teams found my parents, but not him.”

“And you think the man we saw tonight was him?”

“I don’t know.” He ran a hand over his face. “It looked like him, but... it’s been fifteen years. Maybe my mind is playing tricks.”

For once, Thora didn’t retreat from the emotion saturating the air. Instead, she reached across the console, her hand finding his shoulder. The contact felt natural now, when days ago it would have made her uncomfortable.

“We’ll figure it out,” she promised, the conviction in her voice surprising her. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

Artair covered her hand with his own, the warmth of his palm enveloping her fingers. “Together?”

“Partners, remember?” The word felt right on her lips now. “I’m not leaving you to face this alone.”

Something shifted in his expression—gratitude mixed with wonder. His hand moved from hers to cup her cheek, the gesture so tender it made her breath catch.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

The moment stretched between them, charged with unspoken feelings. Thora found herself leaning into his touch rather than pulling away, her sabertooth rumbling with contentment.

As their eyes held, an unusual warmth spread across her left shoulder. Glancing down, she noticed a marking that hadn’t been there before—a birthmark in a distinctive pattern that echoed the symbol on the dagger which resembled the marking on the envelope she received from the Tiikari pride.

Her sabertooth recognized it instantly, though her human mind struggled to accept the implication. The timing couldn’t be coincidence, coming right after touching the tiger clan artifacts.

“We should head back,” she said, starting the car again. “Figure out our next move.”

The drive back to town was quiet, but the silence felt comfortable rather than strained. Thora found herself hyperaware of Artair beside her—his steady breathing, his scent, the occasional brush of his hand against hers when she shifted gears.

Instead of the panic such awareness would have triggered, she felt a strange sense of peace. Her sabertooth had recognized something her human side was only beginning to understand—Artair Maxen had somehow slipped past her defenses into territory no one had ever reached.

FIFTY-FOUR

Elder Willow’s unexpected presence at Artair’s cabin did nothing to improve Thora’s already complicated evening. The witch sat calmly at the kitchen table, herbal tea steaming before her as if midnight visits were perfectly normal.

“The Ursine Codex is not merely a valuable artifact,” Willow explained, her weathered hands cradling her cup. “In the wrong hands, it can sever supernatural bloodlines permanently.”

“Including the Tiikeri line,” Thora guessed, the birthmark on her shoulder tingling with awareness.

Willow’s knowing eyes assessed her. “Yes, child. The awakening in you tonight suggests a connection to that lineage. It makes you both valuable and vulnerable.”

“Which explains why my apartment isn’t safe,” Thora concluded, processing the implications. “If Ajax realizes what I might be...”

“Precisely.” The elder witch produced a small wooden token from her pocket and placed it on the table. “This protective charm needs to be placed in your dwelling. Once activated, it will shield your presence from those who might track shifter energy signatures.”

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