Page 61 of Chasing Stripes

“Including fae recipe books?” Bartek growled, his protective instincts flaring.

“And information about cross-species magical bonds,” Kalyna added grimly. “The binding spell they attempted was designed to force Artemis into a magical contract that would give the caster control over her family’s magical lineage.”

“This isn’t random,” Thora continued, glancing toward the stairs to ensure Artemis couldn’t overhear. “They specifically targeted her because of her fae heritage. And now?—”

“Now she’s soul-tethered to me,” Bartek finished, understanding dawning in his amber eyes. “Making her impossible to bind magically to someone else.”

“Exactly,” Kalyna confirmed. “Your connection effectively blocked their spell.”

“Is that why the handprints appeared in the first place?” Bartek wondered, looking down at his chest where Artemis’s smaller handprints glowed through his shirt. “Some kind of magical defense mechanism?”

“The handprints appeared because you’re compatible on the deepest level,” Tilly interjected, having overheard. “It doesn’t create bonds—it reveals ones that already exist in potential.”

This revelation stunned Bartek into silence, the implications profound. Whatever was developing between him and Artemis had been destined long before either of them realized.

Artemis slipped into her apartment,the familiar space welcoming after the intensity of the morning. Sunlight streamed through the small windows, illuminating floating dust motes and the collection of cookbooks that lined her walls. The normality of it—her favorite mug still on the counter, her soft throw blanket draped over the couch—grounded her after the whirlwind of the past twenty-four hours.

As she searched her closet for something appropriate for a council meeting, Artemis found herself humming—a habit her mother had passed down that emerged when she felt content. Despite the danger, despite the uncertainty, a lightness filled her chest that had been absent for too long.

She selected a simple blue dress with a flowing skirt, then struggled with the back zipper, her sore shoulder limiting her range of motion. After several frustrated attempts, she sighed in defeat.

A soft knock at her open bedroom door drew her attention. Bartek stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. His eyes darkened as they traced over her partially dressed form, lingering on the golden handprints visible on her bare skin.

Their eyes met in the mirror, an electric current passing between them that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with growing desire.

“Need help?” he asked, his voice a rough caress.

She nodded, suddenly shy despite their earlier kiss. Bartek approached slowly, his reflection growing larger in her mirror as he closed the distance between them. His presence behind her sent waves of awareness rippling across her skin.

His fingers brushed her spine as he grasped the zipper, causing both their marks to flare with golden light. The delicate touch sent shivers cascading through her body. He drew the zipper up with deliberate slowness, his knuckles tracing her vertebrae.

“I can feel your heartbeat through them,” he murmured.

She turned to face him, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his chest. “Does it scare you? This connection?”

“Not anymore.” His eyes held hers, amber beginning to flicker in their depths. “What scares me is how quickly you’ve become essential.”

The honesty in his voice stole her breath. This powerful alpha shifter, accustomed to control and command, stood before her with his emotions laid bare. His vulnerability called to something deep within her, a recognition that transcended their magical connection.

His hands settled on her waist, aligning perfectly with the handprints. The contact sent visible magic cascading around them—small objects on her dresser beginning to float, her curtains billowing without a breeze, the lights flickering with their shared energy.

This time when they kissed, it carried newfound honesty—no more fighting the inevitable. Their mouths moved together with increasing hunger, the sweet exploration of their earlier kiss deepening into something more primal. Artemis slid her hands beneath his shirt, tracing the contours of his chest where her handprints marked him. The muscles beneath her fingers tightened in response, a low growl rumbling through him.

His tiger nature responded instantly to her touch—eyes glowing fully amber now, his movements becoming more predatory as he walked her backward until she met the edge of her bed. One large hand cradled the back of her head as they tumbled down together, his body a delicious weight above hers.

Magic swirled around them like golden mist, the soul-tether pulsing with heat and light. Her dress hiked up as she moves beneath him, allowing his thigh to press between hers. The friction sent sparks of pleasure through her core.

His mouth trailed down her neck, following the path of golden energy now spreading across her skin. “Mine,” he whispered against her collarbone, the possessive claim sending shivers through her body.

“Yours,” she agreed breathlessly, arching into him as his hand slid up her rib cage.

The entire room thrummed with their combined energy—picture frames rattling, lightbulbs glowing brighter, her collection of cookbooks riffling pages as if caught in a wind.

His mouth traced a burning path down her throat as his hands slid beneath her dress, skimming up her thighs with reverent exploration. She gasped as his fingers found sensitive skin, her back arching in response. The handprints flared brighter, spreading their golden light across their bodies as the bond between them strengthened with each touch.

“I’ve wanted this since I first saw you,” he confessed against her skin, his voice a low rumble that sent vibrations through her body.

“Me too,” she admitted, pulling him back up for another searing kiss. “I just didn’t understand what I was feeling.”

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