Page 38 of Frost and Felines

"This place won't be the same without you," he said finally, trying to keep his tone light despite the ache in his chest.

"I'm sure you'll manage." Her voice wavered slightly. "You did fine before I showed up."

His tiger disagreed vehemently. Nothing about The Hearthstone would be the same after she left. Who would help him deal with difficult guests? Who would catch his eye across the room and share silent jokes? Who would make him want to be better, stronger, and more worthy?

"Yeah," he said, focusing on clearing another particularly stubborn patch of ice. "But it was never this good before."

The admission hung in the crisp morning air between them. Mallory's shovel stilled, and for a moment, Kieran thought shemight say something. Instead, she turned away, attacking the snow with renewed vigor.

His tiger rumbled unhappily. They'd both gotten used to having her here, to having her in their life. The thought of going back to how things were before seemed impossible now.

He noticed how Mallory's shoulders slumped ever so slightly as she dug her shovel into another drift. His tiger grew restless, hating to see her sad in any way. The pristine snow covering the parking lot sparked an idea in his mind.

While she was focused on her task, he quietly packed a perfect snowball. His enhanced reflexes made his aim true as he launched it, hitting her square between the shoulder blades.

Mallory whirled around, her mouth agape. "Did you just-"

He grinned, already forming another projectile. "What are you going to do about it, storm witch?"

Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh, it's on."

His enhanced speed gave him an advantage, but Mallory's precision with her throws made her a worthy opponent. She pelted him with rapid-fire snowballs while ducking behind a car.

"That the best you got?" he taunted, shaking snow from his auburn hair.

"Not even close!" She popped up from her hiding spot, launching a barrage that had him dancing backward.

His tiger delighted in the chase, in hearing her laugh echo across the lot. He circled around, using his supernatural stealth to sneak up behind her.

"Gotcha!" He wrapped his arms around her waist, spinning them both into a snowbank.

They landed with a soft thump, Mallory sprawled across his chest, both of them breathless with laughter. Snow soaked through his coat, but Kieran couldn't care less. Not with her dusted with snowflakes, her cheeks flushed pink, and her eyes sparkling with joy on top of him.

"I haven't had a snowball fight since I was a kid," she admitted, making no move to get up.

"See what you've been missing out on?" He brushed a snowflake from her cheek. "Sometimes a little spontaneity is exactly what you need."

"Is that your expert opinion?"

"Absolutely. I'm very wise." He affected a serious expression that made her laugh again.

Mallory rolled off him onto her back, both of them staring up at the winter sky. "We should probably finish shoveling."

"Probably," he agreed, not moving. His tiger purred contentedly, savoring these last precious moments with her. "But five more minutes won't hurt anyone."

Kieran's tiger protested at leaving their comfortable snow nest with Mallory, but the cold seeping through his clothes couldn't be ignored. He sprang to his feet in one fluid motion, then extended his hand to help her up. Her small, gloved hand fit perfectly in his larger one.

"You're soaked," he noted, watching droplets of melted snow trail down her neck.

"Because someone thought a snow fight was a brilliant idea." But her eyes sparkled with playfulness as she retrieved their abandoned shovels.

Together they made quick work of the remaining snow, their movements synchronized as if they'd been working together for years instead of weeks. His tiger preened at how natural it felt beside her.

"Race you inside?" he finally said playfully.

"Not a chance. I've seen you run."

They hurried through The Hearthstone's front door, their boots squeaking against the polished floor. Kieran's clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin, and his tiger's fur would havebeen standing on end if he'd been shifted. Mallory didn't look much better.

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