Page 48 of Chasing Stripes (Enchanted Falls #3)

FORTY-EIGHT

A soft tug pulled at Artemis’s awareness again—Bartek moving through the house below. Her body responded automatically like a compass needle swinging north.

“Well,” she said to her reflection, watching golden light shimmer across her skin. “This should make hide and seek interesting.”

Despite her protests about returning to the bakery, Artemis found herself escorted to the family dining room by Gloria, who chatted happily about pride traditions and tiger shifter cuisine.

“...of course, most shifters prefer their protein rare, but I’ve prepared plenty of fae-friendly options. Hudson mentioned that fae often prefer sweet foods with natural magic—berries, honey, things that grow in enchanted soil.”

The twins bounded into the room, stopping abruptly when they saw Artemis. They exchanged a silent glance before Jade whispered loudly, “Uncle Bartek’s not scared anymore.”

“His worried smell is gone,” Lily agreed with a decisive nod.

Bartek cleared his throat, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. “They do that sometimes. Notice things.”

“Emotional scents,” Gloria explained. “Most cubs lose the ability as they grow, but these two seem particularly gifted.”

The massive oak dining table dominated the center of a room with vaulted ceilings and large windows overlooking the forest. Food covered nearly every inch—platters of rare steaks and protein-heavy dishes alongside colorful fruit arrangements and pastries drizzled with amber honey.

Before Artemis could take a seat, twin blurs of motion attached themselves to her legs. Lily and Jade gazed up with identical expressions of wide-eyed concern, their small hands clutching her jeans.

“Are you okay?” Lily asked, her voice solemn. “We felt the bad magic last night.”

“Uncle Bartek went all growly and glowy,” Jade added, making clawing motions with her hands. “He was scary, but not to us.”

Artemis crouched despite the twinge in her ankle, bringing herself to their eye level. “I’m fine now, thanks to your uncle. Were you worried?”

They nodded in unison, their expressions serious beyond their years.

“We could feel you were in danger,” Lily whispered. “Right here.” She tapped her chest over her heart.

Artemis blinked in surprise. “You could?”

“Our tiger spirits woke us up,” Jade explained with the matter-of-fact certainty of a child. “Daddy says you and Uncle Bartek did a special magic dance.”

From across the room, Hudson and Haavi paused their quiet conversation about security measures. Hudson’s eyes crinkled in amusement while Haavi looked momentarily mortified by his daughter’s choice of words.

“Jade!” he called. “That’s not exactly?—”

“But you said their magic made sparkles when they touched,” Jade protested. “Like dancing light.”

Mimi swooped in, gently disentangling her daughters from Artemis’s legs. “Girls, let Artemis breathe. She needs breakfast after all that excitement.” She winked at Artemis. “You’ve got the handprints of a claimed mate and survived your first magical attack. Welcome to the family fast-track.”

Before Artemis could respond, a wave of warmth flooded through her body. The handprints at her waist flared so intensely, they glowed through her blouse, casting golden light across the dining table. Every instinct in her body pulled toward the doorway.

Bartek stood there, his broad frame filling the entrance. Freshly showered, his damp hair curled slightly at the temples, softening his usually severe expression. His simple black T-shirt clung to his shoulders, and through the thin fabric, Artemis glimpsed the faint glow of matching golden handprints on his chest—her handprints.

Their eyes locked across the room.

Every utensil on the table simultaneously rose an inch into the air before clattering back down in unison. A serving spoon flipped, splattering syrup across the tablecloth.

“That’s going to take some getting used to,” Hudson chuckled, rescuing his coffee mug mid-hover.