Page 81 of Grin and Bear It

“That thing with your eyebrow when you’re skeptical.” Calan demonstrated, raising his right eyebrow in a perfect imitation.

“And you still crack your knuckles when you’re thinking,” Artair countered, a half-smile tugging at his lips.

Something broke open between them—not healing completely, but the first hint of what could be. The hollow space in Artair’s chest that he’d carried for fifteen years began to fill, creating something new from the ashes of loss.

After several hours of planning, Calan rose to leave, promises of future updates and coordination exchanged. At the door, he hesitated, then extended his hand.

“Thank you,” he said, the simple words carrying the weight of years.

Artair ignored the hand, pulling his brother into a brief, fierce hug instead. “Don’t disappear again,” he murmured.

Calan nodded, emotion tightening his throat. “I’ll be in touch. Tell Thora not to worry about Ajax. I got this.”

Artair watched his twin’s truck disappear down the mountain road, something fundamental shifting within him—not healed, not yet, but beginning to mend.

He found Thora waiting for him on the porch swing, wrapped in a blanket against the evening chill. She’d clearly dragged herself outside to give the brothers privacy for their good-bye.

“You should have stayed inside where it’s warm,” he chided gently, settling beside her.

“You needed space.” She leaned against his side as he drew her close, her head finding the perfect hollow beneath his shoulder. Together, they watched stars emerge above the mountains, the events of the evening settling around them like a blanket.

“He reminds me of myself,” she admitted quietly. “Running from a legacy he didn’t understand, only to find himself circling back to it.”

Artair tightened his arm around her shoulders, gathering courage to ask the question burning in his heart. “Is that still how you feel? About staying in one place?”

When she turned to face him, the vulnerability in her amber eyes took his breath away.

“Not anymore,” she said softly. “Turns out when you find somewhere that feels right, staying doesn’t feel like being trapped at all.”

His heart hammered against his ribs as she continued.

“When I was lying there, unable to move, unable to speak... all I could think about was you.” Her fingers traced the line of his jaw. “How I might never get to tell you...” She paused, gathering courage. “I’ve never been good with words. Or feelings. Or letting people in.”

“You don’t have to—” he began.

“I do,” she interrupted. “Because I almost died without saying it. I love you, Artair. Which terrifies me more than any bounty I’ve ever hunted.”

Joy surged through him, so powerful he could barely breathe.

“I don’t know if I’ll be any good at this,” she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Relationships. Staying. Being part of something bigger than myself. I might mess it up spectacularly.”

“It’s okay. You’re in this with me,” he said simply, cupping her face in his hands. “Together.”

“That easy?”

“That complicated,” he corrected with a smile. “But worth every moment.” His thumb traced her cheekbone. “When you took that dart for me... when I thought I might lose you...” His voice roughened. “I’ve never been so scared in my life. Not when my parents died. Not when I thought Calan was gone forever. Nothing compared to watching you collapse and not knowing if you’d ever wake up.”

Her eyes widened at his raw honesty.

“I love you, Thora Halliwell,” he whispered. “My royal sabertooth. My match in every way that matters.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers in the gesture that had become uniquely theirs. “I’m not asking you to change who you are. I’m just asking for the chance to love you exactly as you are.”

Tears shimmered in her amber eyes. “I think I can manage that.”

Their lips met with gentle reverence, sealing the promises they’d made. As the kiss deepened, Artair poured everything into it—his fear during her recovery, his joy at her survival, his hope for their future. Her hands slid into his hair, pulling him closer with growing confidence.

Neither noticed the Maxen Black Diamond glimmering on the table inside the cabin. The ancient stone pulsed with light matching the rhythm of their hearts, revealing patterns unseen for generations—twin circles interlocking around a central star, the ancient symbol for united bloodlines.

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