Page 68 of Grin and Bear It

Thora looked up at him, golden eyes luminous in the darkness. Her lips—those lips he now knew the taste of—curved into a determined smile. “And then we hunt for your brother.”

“And then we hunt for my brother,” he agreed, brushing a strand of wet hair from her cheek.

The gesture turned into a lingering touch, his thumb tracing the delicate line of her jaw. Thora leaned into his hand, her eyes never leaving his. The unspoken acknowledgment hung between them—whatever had begun in this cave wouldn’t end here.

As they prepared to emerge, Artair noticed Thora attempting to straighten her ruined gown, trying to restore some dignity to the tattered fabric. She caught him watching and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said softly, unable to contain the warmth spreading through him. “I was just thinking that you make disaster look like an opportunity.”

She rolled her eyes, but the blush on her cheeks and the lingering softness in her expression told him his words had landed. “Save the poetry for when we’ve recovered your diamond, Maxen.”

“That wasn’t poetry,” he replied, suddenly serious. “That was observation.”

Something vulnerable flickered in her expression before she masked it with her professional demeanor. “Let’s go. We have a diamond to recover and a family legacy to protect.” She paused at the cave entrance, then added in a softer voice, “And a conversation to finish.”

As they stepped into the rain-washed night, Artair felt a curious sense of certainty. Despite the chaos—his twin’s betrayal, the stolen diamond, the danger still ahead—something precious had been found in that cave. Something neither of them had been seeking but both, perhaps, had been needing.

His bear agreed with a satisfied rumble.Patient. Steady. She’s coming to us now, not running away.

With one last look at the shelter that had witnessed this turning point, Artair followed Thora into the night, his steps lighter despite the gravity of their mission. The diamond could be recovered, his brother confronted, the mysteries solved. Butthe soft vulnerability he’d glimpsed in Thora’s eyes as she’d melted into his kiss—that was a treasure beyond price, one he intended to cherish and protect with every fiber of his being.

SIXTY-ONE

The wrought iron gates of the Tiikeri estate loomed before Thora, flanked by massive tiger statues with amber eyes that seemed to follow her every move. She gripped the steering wheel of her rental car until her knuckles whitened. The twenty-minute drive through winding mountain roads had given her far too much time to think.

She couldn’t put this off any longer. Before she could move on, she needed to know who she was. Maybe she’d get the answer here.

Her phone chimed with a text. Artair.

Make it safely?

Something warm unfurled in her chest at his concern. It wasn’t the first time he’d checked on her, but these small gestures—the quiet ways he showed he cared without smothering her independence—had begun to matter more than she’d expected.

Just arrived. Haven’t gone in yet.

She hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen before adding:Thank you for worrying.

Thora placed the phone in her lap, surprised by her own candor. Three weeks ago, she would have dismissed his concernas unnecessary, even irritating. Now she found herself drawing comfort from it.

The gates swung open without her touching them, and Thora instinctively tensed.

“Not magic” came a voice as a slender woman emerged from a small gatehouse. “Motion sensors and a very attentive security team.”

Her silver-streaked auburn hair was pulled back in an elegant twist, and amber eyes—remarkably similar to Thora’s own—studied her with warm interest.

“Louisa.” Thora recognized her from their brief encounter in town.

“Welcome, Thora.” Louisa moved toward the car with graceful steps. No sudden movements as if approaching a skittish animal. “Thank you for coming. The others are eager to meet you.”

Thora stepped out of the car, smoothing her hands down the fitted blazer she’d borrowed from Bryn. The forest-green fabric complemented her complexion, but the formality made her skin itch.

“Don’t look so terrified,” Louisa said softly. “They’re just people who’ve waited a very long time for this.”

“That’s what terrifies me.” Thora glanced toward the imposing main house with its stone facade and climbing roses. “I’m not who they think I am.”

“You don’t know who they think you are,” Louisa countered gently. “Perhaps you should find out before deciding.”

As they walked up the curved driveway, Thora caught glimpses of the estate. Gardens stretched in every direction, and smaller buildings dotted the expansive grounds. It wasn’t just a home but a community—a place built for generations of tiger shifters to live together.

---