Page 50 of Grin and Bear It

“Tracked a rogue wolf shifter through those mountains last winter.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Three feet of snow and he thought he could outrun me.”

“Did he?”

The smile bloomed fully. “What do you think?”

The simple exchange soothed something inside Artair. If she could banter, she was truly recovering.

“Tiger healers use purring vibrations to accelerate healing,” Thora offered unexpectedly. She demonstrated with a powerful rumbling emanating from her chest that seemed impossible from her relatively small frame.

The sound struck something primal within Artair. His bear recognized it as profoundly right, meant for them. He watched, transfixed, as the last traces of her wound faded completely beneath the vibrations.

Jash practically vibrated himself, fingers flying over his tablet. “Documented cases of sabertooth healing vibrations are extraordinarily rare! The frequency appears to be operating at a complementary wavelength to ursine energy fields...”

“Bear-tiger healing compatibility is extraordinarily rare,” Eira announced, not bothering to hide her matchmaking delight. “I’ll update the mating ceremony preparations accordingly.”

Thora nearly choked on her tea. “Thewhatnow?”

Artair shot his grandmother a warning look, which she cheerfully ignored. “Eira enjoys her little jokes,” he said diplomatically. Though his bear growled in disagreement—there was nothing joke-like about their growing connection to Thora.

A connection she might not be ready to acknowledge.

FORTY-SIX

Two days passed, marked by the gentle rhythm of healing and increasingly restless energy. Thora had recovered with remarkable speed, but Eira’s strict orders—reinforced by Willow’s healing mandates—had kept her confined to the cabin.

Artair finished a business call on the porch, sliding his phone into his pocket as he stepped back inside. He paused in the doorway, taking in the sight before him.

Thora stood at the window, tension visible in every line of her body. Sunlight streamed through the glass, catching in her dark hair and illuminating subtle auburn highlights he hadn’t noticed before. Her fingers tapped an impatient rhythm against her thigh as she stared outside, clearly longing for freedom.

In just two days, he’d cataloged dozens of her small habits. How she rubbed her thumb across her fingers when thinking. How she tilted her head slightly to the right when suspicious. How she always tested the temperature of her coffee with her pinkie before taking the first sip.

The women he’d dated in the past had been easy to understand—most wanted his money, his status, or the prestigeof a Maxen connection. Their motivations transparent, their behavior predictable.

Thora remained a mystery. She bristled at luxury but appreciated quality. Rejected help but offered it freely to others. Maintained fierce independence while risking her life to protect him—a virtual stranger at the time.

She turned at the sound of his footsteps, amber eyes narrowing. “How much longer am I under house arrest?”

“It’s not arrest. It’s medical recovery.” He crossed to the kitchen, pulling out ingredients for breakfast. “Omelets?”

“I could make my own breakfast at my apartment.”

“You could,” he agreed, cracking eggs into a bowl. “But my omelets come with insider information.”

Her interest sparked visibly. “About?”

“The Shadow Bazaar.” He diced peppers with practiced efficiency. “And Ajax Blackwater’s potential next move.”

Thora crossed to the kitchen island, leaning against the counter. The borrowed flannel shirt she wore—his, several sizes too large—slipped off one shoulder. The sight of her in his clothes did something primitive to his insides.

“I’m listening.” She filched a piece of cheese from the cutting board.

Artair pretended not to notice the theft, hiding his smile as he whisked the eggs. “The bazaar moves locations to avoid detection. Word is they’re setting up near Whisper Lake this week.”

“That’s where Ajax will try to offload the artifacts.” She straightened, mind clearly shifting into bounty hunter mode. The transformation fascinated him—how quickly her energy channeled from restless to focused.

“We should conduct reconnaissance,” he suggested, pouring the egg mixture into a heated pan. “Learn the territory before he shows up.”

“Agreed.” She snagged another piece of cheese, meeting his eyes with a hint of challenge. “I need to get my gear from my apartment.”

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