Page 59 of Chasing Stripes

She considered the question, allowing herself to truly examine her feelings. The handprints had appeared without warning, binding her to this man she barely knew. Yet sitting here beside him felt more right than anything had in years.

“No,” she admitted, surprising herself with her certainty. “I just don’t understand what they mean for us.”

“Among shifters, such marks are significant.” His voice deepened to a rumble that vibrated through her where their shoulders touched. “They indicate a bond beyond casual interest—a recognition at soul level.”

Their eyes met, and the intensity in his gaze made her breath catch.

“My tiger recognized you instantly,” he continued, each word deliberately chosen. “I fought it because I thought duty required focusing solely on the pride.”

“And now?” she whispered.

He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face with exquisite gentleness. “Now I wonder if this connection might make me a better alpha, not a distracted one. You balance me, Artemis.”

The admission clearly cost him—his rigid self-discipline unraveling before her eyes. The golden handprints pulsed in unison as his thumb traced the curve of her cheek, his eyes seeking permission.

FIFTY-ONE

Artemis answered with action, lifting her face to his. Their lips met in a kiss both gentle and exploratory, testing boundaries both physical and magical. Unlike the frantic connection after the attack, this kiss deepened with unhurried intention. His mouth moved against hers with growing confidence, one hand cradling her face while the other slid to her waist, fingers aligning perfectly with his handprint.

Magic swirled around them like golden mist, rippling outward across the pond’s surface. The tiger lilies multiplied before her eyes, suddenly blooming all around the water’s edge, their petals glowing with subtle light. Dragonflies danced in spiraling patterns above their heads, drawn to the energy pulsing between them.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips, seeking entrance, and she opened to him with a soft sigh. Heat bloomed low in her belly as his hand tightened on her waist, pulling her closer. The sweet exploration deepened into something more primal as the kiss lengthened, their bodies leaning into each other like plants seeking sunlight.

When they finally parted, both breathed heavily. Something fundamental had shifted between them, the tenuous connection becoming something tangible and undeniable.

“Oh,” Artemis murmured, her forehead pressed against his. Her thoughts scattered like the dragonflies above them, her body humming with awareness. “That was...”

“Just the beginning,” he finished, his voice rough with promise.

She pulled back slightly to study his face. His eyes had changed to amber, the tiger close to the surface. “Your eyes shift color when you’re affected.”

“Only with you.” His thumb traced the outline of her lower lip. “No one has ever made me lose control like this.”

The admission thrilled her—that she alone could breach the careful walls of this powerful man. The handprints pulsed between them, weaving golden threads across their skin where they touched.

“I should be terrified by all this,” she admitted. “A week ago, my biggest worry was perfecting my sourdough starter.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in that half-smile that transformed his face. “And now?”

“Now I’m soul-bound to an alpha tiger shifter who makes pastries float when he kisses me.” She laughed softly. “And somehow, it feels right.”

“It does,” he agreed, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers again, an intimate gesture that felt as significant as their kiss. “I’ve spent years building walls to protect the pride. You walked through them like they weren’t even there.”

His honesty touched something deep within her—this powerful man allowing himself to be vulnerable with her. Before she could respond, a deliberate cough broke their private moment.

“Am I interrupting a moment?” Haavi’s amused voice called from several yards away. “Should I shield my eyes from the magical energy? Because those lilies are practically turning into searchlights.”

Bartek growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through Artemis where their bodies touched, but he didn’t move away from her.

Haavi approached with exaggerated caution, an official-looking scroll in his hands. “Council’s called an emergency session. The magical surge from your...connection...set off alarms all over town.”

He handed the scroll to Bartek, who broke the wax seal with his thumb, his other arm remaining firmly around Artemis’s waist.

“‘The council requests the immediate presence of Bartek Arbor, Alpha of the Western Mountain Tigris Pride, and Artemis Blu, Proprietress of Honeycrisp Bakery, to discuss the unprecedented cross-species bond and its security implications,’“ he read aloud, his tone increasingly annoyed with each word.

“Translation: they’re terrified and fascinated by whatever’s happening between you two,” Haavi added helpfully. “Rust said the magical monitoring equipment nearly overloaded.”

Bartek’s protective instincts visibly flared, his body tensing against hers. “Artemis was attacked last night. She needs rest, not council interrogation.”

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