Chapter 42
FORTY-TWO
“ N ot my boyfriend,” Thora mumbled automatically, though the denial lacked its usual conviction.
“Right,” Kalyna winked at Artair. “Just the guy who carried you four blocks while snarling at anyone who got too close. Totally platonic behavior.”
“Is antagonizing my patient part of your healing process, Kalyna?” Willow asked mildly, applying an herbal compress to Thora’s side.
“I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking,” Kalyna shrugged, unrepentant. “Besides, irritation stimulates circulation. Helps the healing.”
“You made that up,” Thora accused weakly.
“Maybe.” Kalyna grinned. “But it got you talking, which means you’re more alert.”
Willow shook her head fondly at the fox shifter before turning back to Thora. “The poison targeted ursine physiology, but your feline system is fighting it incredibly well. Interesting adaptation.”
Jash adjusted his glasses, looking up from his tablet. “According to my research, sabertooths have historically developed immunity to bear bane when they’ve formed pack bonds with bears. Fascinating evolutionary adaptation.”
“We haven’t formed any bonds,” Thora insisted, though her eyes met Artair’s with uncomfortable awareness.
“Keep telling yourself that, honey,” Kalyna said while Willow applied another herbal compress. “Meanwhile, your pupils dilate 47 percent when he enters your field of vision.”
“Kalyna,” Willow chided gently. “Let the girl recover before you tease her about her mate.”
“Not my mate either,” Thora growled, trying to sit up. A wave of dizziness forced her back down.
“Careful,” Willow cautioned. “The herbs need time to draw out the toxin. Rest.”
Artair approached, his expression a mixture of concern and something deeper Thora couldn’t quite name. “How is she?”
“She’ll recover fully,” Willow assured him. “Though she should rest tonight, perhaps tomorrow as well.”
“I’m fine,” Thora insisted.
“Of course, you are,” Kalyna drawled. “That’s why you collapsed in big bear’s arms after heroically taking a poisoned dart for him.”
“It was tactical,” Thora corrected. “He’s more vulnerable to bear bane than I am.”
“Mm-hmm.” Kalyna’s skeptical hum spoke volumes. “Pure strategy. Nothing to do with the fact that you’d rather take a poisoned dart yourself than see him hurt.”
The observation hit uncomfortably close to home. Thora had acted on instinct, her body moving to protect Artair before her mind had time to weigh tactical advantages. That wasn’t like her. She prided herself on calculated risks, not impulsive self-sacrifice.
What terrified her most was that she knew with bone-deep certainty that she’d do it again in a heartbeat.
As Willow and Kalyna conferred over a new herbal mixture, Jash approached with his tablet. “We’ve secured the suspects for questioning. Preliminary scans show they’re using sophisticated anti-magical tech, similar to military grade.”
“Any connection to the other break-ins?” Artair asked, his deep voice rumbling through the room.
“Same manufacturer marks on the equipment. I’m running background checks now.”
“Good. Keep me updated.”
Jash nodded, returning to his computer terminal. Willow and Kalyna moved to the kitchen area, discussing herbal preparations in low voices. Thora couldn’t help noticing how quickly Artair’s network had mobilized—Willow for healing, Kalyna for magical support, Jash for technical analysis. They functioned like a well-oiled machine, each person knowing their role without being told.
It struck her that despite his solitary bear nature, Artair had built something she never had—a community of people who would drop everything to help when needed. The realization stirred an unfamiliar longing in her chest.
Artair knelt beside Thora, his large frame somehow making the gesture appear more significant. “You shouldn’t have taken that hit,” he said quietly, genuine concern in his eyes. “Bear bane could have killed you.”
“It would have definitely incapacitated you,” she countered. “Tactically speaking, I made the right choice.”
“Is that what it was? A tactical decision?” His dark eyes searched hers, seeing more than she wanted to reveal.
Thora looked away. “What else would it be?”
His fingers brushed her cheek, turning her face gently back toward him. “You tell me.”