Free Tiger Time by Marissa Dobson Page B

impressions tell a lot about a person, and she liked Felix.
     
    “Felix, if you don't mind me asking, what were you doing that you were so close when Ty called?” She snuggled against Ty’s warm body and felt him go tense. A look of fear crossed Felix’s face.
     
    “I didn’t think to tell her. Tabby, leave it be,” Ty said.
     
    She understood whatever it was, Felix didn’t want to talk about it, but she needed to know before she could make a decision about him as one of their chosen team members or not. She would have to talk to Ty about this when they were alone. But for now, she didn’t want to put Felix on the spot. After all, they’d just met. “I'm sorry—it’s personal. Just forget it.”
     
    “No, you have every reason to know. It’s just not something I like to talk about.” Felix set his mug on the coffee table.
     
    “I understand. There is a lot from my past I keep private. So just forget I asked and tell me about the adventure you and Ty took. I love hearing things about him,” she said with a smile.
     
    “My Queen, I shall tell you...” Felix paused a moment as if trying to gather his courage. “I have a twin brother, Henry. Growing up, the whole family thought we would both shift. Both of us had all the symptoms: the fever, body aches and pains, stomach cramps, everything. The time came to shift. I shifted. My brother’s body wanted to shift; he could feel the tiger clawing at the inside of his body, but the shift wouldn't happen. We tried taking him in to doctors of our kind, but no one could find a reason for it. The agony was just too much for him. He went through a number of treatments to try to bring the tiger out. Nothing worked. He let the tiger take him over. The vibrant twin I grew up with is no longer there. He is, for all purposes, insane. He tries to fight anyone that gets close and has to be heavily drugged. Even though he is not in tiger form, he is still deadly. He has the strength and speed of a tiger. The Ohio clan has a doctor who works with mentally ill patients. He has been looking after my brother for some time. My brother isn’t allowed to live among the clan and be treated by the clan's doctor. I tried to bring him among our clan, but we don’t  have the necessary means to take care of him. I try to get back and visit him as much as I can. Most times, he doesn't know who I am, but he is the only family I have left.”
     
    Felix spit it out as if it was a bad drink, and he was trying to get it off his chest. Tabitha could see the pain in him at having to say it aloud, but she was relieved to know. Leaning forward, she took his large hand in hers.
     
    “Felix, I’m sorry. I didn't mean to cause you any discomfort. This must be difficult for you. After my change, please take as much time as you need to be with your brother. I’m sorry we interrupted your visit with him.”
     
    “My Queen, you are most generous. Thank you.”
     
    Mentally she placed Felix on the short list of guards to choose from. He has the compassion and commitment that’s needed. Instead of being with his brother, enjoying his vacation, he rushed to our call. Tonight he proved himself to me.
     

 
     
    Chapter Twelve
     
    “With three hours ahead of us, I think you should answer any questions I have. I don’t want any more speed bumps like last night,” Tabitha said as Ty pulled out on the main road. Felix was following them to Columbus, Ohio in his rental car, and then they would continue to the Cincinnati airport together. There, they would catch their red-eye flight to Fairbanks.
     
    “Sounds fair enough.”
     
    I have a feeling he will later regret this decision.
     
    “Let’s start with easy questions. What's your favorite color?”
     
    “Deep red. Especially the red in the sun as it’s setting.”
     
    “Do you have any siblings?”
     
    “No. I don't believe I do. Like you, I was a foster child. My mother, who was a tiger shifter, was killed by a were-hunter