Page 37 of Chasing Stripes

The twins giggled, clinging to Artemis’s apron as they peered up at her with unabashed curiosity.

“Can we see your magic handprints?” Jade asked. “Uncle has matching ones on his hands that glow when he says your name!”

“They do not—” Bartek began, but the traitorous marks on his palms chose that precise moment to pulse with golden light.

“Ooooh!” The twins pointed in unison.

Mimi’s grin widened. “Busted.”

Hudson chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “The harder you fight this, son, the more entertaining it becomes for the rest of us.”

THIRTY-TWO

Bartek closed his eyes briefly, praying for patience—or possibly a convenient natural disaster to swallow him whole. When he opened them, he found Artemis watching him, her expression hovering between amusement and something softer, warmer.

Rather than appearing overwhelmed by his boisterous family, she seemed charmed. The realization did dangerous things to his already compromised composure.

Gloria moved to examine the pastries on the counter, her sharp gaze noting the glowing quality of certain confections. She nodded as if confirming something important, then turned to Artemis with the clear authority of someone unused to hearing no.

“You’ll join us for dinner tonight,” she announced rather than asked. “The pride would benefit from understanding your fae baking techniques, especially as they relate to the upcoming festival.”

“And we have so many embarrassing stories about Bartek as a cub,” Mimi added with gleeful malice. “Did you know he once got his head stuck in a honey jar while shifted? The photos are priceless.”

“There are no photos,” Bartek insisted through gritted teeth.

“There are absolutely photos,” Hudson corrected, eyes twinkling. “Your mother had them digitized last year.”

Tilly, who had mysteriously reappeared, immediately chimed in: “Artemis would be delighted! She was just saying how much she wanted to learn about shifter customs.”

Bartek watched helplessly as his carefully constructed professional facade crumbled under the combined assault of the women in his life.

“You probably have plans,” he offered Artemis weakly. “The bakery inventory?—”

“I’ll handle the bakery,” Tilly interrupted smoothly. “You two have festival preparations to discuss anyway.”

The twins grabbed Artemis’s hands, pulling her toward them with the strength of young shifters. “We’ll show you our tiger forms after dinner!” Lily promised.

“They can maintain shape for almost four minutes now,” Mimi explained proudly. “Though sometimes their tails disappear halfway through.”

“Do not!” Jade protested.

“Do too,” Lily whispered.

Hudson stepped forward, his expression softening as he regarded Artemis. “The girls have been asking about meeting you,” he said, his deep voice gentle. “They’re quite taken with the idea of magical pastries.”

“And magical pastry makers,” Gloria added with a pointed look at Bartek.

Bartek’s resistance evaporated at the realization that his entire family had not only accepted the possibility of Artemis in his life but actively embraced it. The weight of his responsibilities to the pride suddenly seemed less burdensome as he watched his father’s approving gaze rest on Artemis.

“I’d be honored to join you,” Artemis replied with genuine warmth that made Bartek’s chest tighten.

“Wonderful!” Gloria clapped her hands together. “Seven o’clock at the pride house. Bartek will escort you, of course.”

“Of course,” Mimi echoed with a suggestive waggle of her eyebrows.

His family departed in a whirlwind of chatter and knowing looks, the twins extracting promises of floating cookies from a bemused Artemis. Tilly conveniently discovered another errand, leaving Bartek and Artemis standing in awkward silence amid the remnants of their testing.

“I can make an excuse if you’d rather not come,” he offered quietly, though his tiger side howled in protest at the suggestion.

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