He seemed to deflate as a cautious joy entered his eyes. “You love me?” he whispered, as if he didn’t believe her.
On firmer ground now, she sat up a little so she could rest her chin on his chest and gaze deep into his eyes. She smiled at him, loving the feel of his skin under her hands.
“Of course I love you,” she confirmed, watching his reaction. He was getting easier and easier for her to read as time went on. He wasn’t an overly demonstrative man, but there were little signals that heralded his moods if you knew how to read them.
Right now, he looked like he’d had the breath knocked from him. A second later, she felt the same way as he reversed their positions and kissed her deeply while her head sank into the cushioning sheepskin covering the floor.
“I love you too, Gina,” he whispered against her lips, taking them again and again. “I love you with everything that’s in me. With all my heart.” He punctuated each statement with kisses so sweet they made her want to cry.
Her heart was so full. All because of this incredible man.
They moved to the bed eventually and made love off and on throughout the long winter’s night. Gina never wanted it to end. She almost feared the dawn and the responsibilities it would bring. For now, she was content in their little love nest. Just the two of them. Together on a voyage of discovery as they each learned what pleased the other and drove each other to ever-increasing heights of passion and pleasure.
But dawn did come, and with it, a new day in which to prepare for what they both knew was coming. They ate breakfast together and then Mitch spent some time studying the history of their people while Gina took care of some light chores around the cabin. Her parents joined them for lunch again and even though a few pointed and very speculative glances were sent their way, they had decided to keep their growing relationship to themselves for now. After lunch they all went down to the Miller’s dojo for a long afternoon of training and dinner with the other family.
They returned to their cabin to make love long into the night and recover from the rigors of the day. This pattern repeated itself for about a week. After the first day or two, Mitch began a regimen of outdoor exercise in the mornings to retrain his body. He would run in his fur, going farther each day and doing the heavy chores around the cabin.
Gina went out with him for part of each morning. They would climb trees, run and scout the area. He spent a lot of time honing his skills. He taught Gina things he knew that she had never thought of, while she helped him work on his new stealth against the backdrop of snow.
He got stronger and stronger, to the point where she was amazed anew each day by his abilities. He was like no tiger she’d ever known. He was like something out of legend.
Inwardly, she rejoiced. Her uncle’s skills were not to be underestimated. Mitch would need every advantage he could find against someone of Gisli’s cunning. He hadn’t ruled over a stolen kingdom for this long without having superior skills and a deceitful nature.
At least, that’s what Gina secretly thought. She didn’t remember much about her uncle, but she’d tried to keep up with the intelligence reports her father received on a regular basis since she was old enough to understand them. She’d followed her uncle’s activities from afar for many years. She knew he was a force to be reckoned with.
Mitch would need every bit of skill he could muster to win this challenge. Worry about the future was her constant companion now. That and the incredible joy being with Mitch brought her.
Every morning, they would go out for a run in their fur, prowling up snow banks and down hillocks, tussling sometimes in the loose powder, sliding fancifully on ice sheets and sharpening their claws on rocks and trees. This was their territory—okay, well, it was really her father’s territory—but they were welcomed in his domain.
They ranged farther afield each day, bounding along the perimeter, through the woods, well hidden from prying eyes. Their snowy coats and ingrained camouflage made them very difficult to see against the backdrop of the snowy forest. At least, that’s how it had always been for Gina. She’d roamed these woods all her life and never had a problem.
Until an arrow shot out of the misty morning to land not an inch from where her head had been and embedded deeply in the bark of a pine tree.
Mitch growled and jumped in front of her, ushering her to relative safety behind a large boulder while he covered her body with his own. If more projectiles were coming, he had put himself in position to be hit first, protecting her as best he could.
When nothing happened for several minutes, he got up and peeked around the boulder, raising a paw, then an ear, then his head. No more arrows flew at them. Finally, he darted out from behind the boulder and swatted the arrow loose, dragging it back to cover with him.
He shifted quickly to his human form and unrolled a slip of paper that had been wrapped around the shaft of the arrow. Crouching behind the boulder, he read it and cursed.
“We need to get back to the cabin. This place isn’t safe anymore and your uncle is well aware of my existence. He’s issued the challenge.”
Gina rubbed her head against his shoulder in distress. She’d stayed in cat form, knowing she was faster on ice and snow in her fur than her human form. The news made her want to gasp, while at the same time the tigress in her was ready to fight. She wanted this ordeal over with. And she wanted to taste the blood of her enemies.
With a growl, she moved back, watching Mitch shift into his stunning black and white fur. Together, they ran to the cabin, keeping to cover as much as possible. Fear followed her tracks and determination to end this once and for all spurred her on. Their idle time was over.
Whether they were ready or not, the challenge had to be met. This morning’s demonstration only emphasized the point that they weren’t as safe here as she’d always thought they were. Uncle Gisli had let them fall into a false sense of security. It was clear now that they’d been under surveillance all this time. How else could he know about Mitch?
Gina put on a burst of speed to get to the cabin. She had to check on her parents and the other families on the mountain. They needed to send up the alarm. Her sense of peace had been well and truly shattered.
Mitch checked out the cabin before he would allow her to go inside. Things were okay this far inside the perimeter, but it was clear Gisli had his agents in the area and they couldn’t take anything for granted anymore.
Gina shifted to her human form and reached for the phone even before she reached for her clothes. Hitting speed dial, she threw on her clothing as the phone rang at her parents’ house, farther up the mountain.
“Mom. Thank the Lady. Is everything okay?” Gina knew she should probably be a little calmer and explain things, but panic had her in its grip. Her mother seemed to pick up on her urgency, reporting that everything was green up at the house. Gina was able to take a breath and regroup. She knew what she had to do. They’d rehearsed this many times. “Lockdown,” she said in a no-nonsense voice. “Someone launched an arrow at my head near the southeastern perimeter. No damage, but there was a note attached. Gisli has issued the challenge.”
Her mother, much better in a crisis than Gina herself, went immediately into battle mode. She let Gina know as she started the chain that would automatically notify every family on the mountain that the alert status had changed. Reports would start filtering in any minute, so Gina hung up with a promise that she and Mitch were going to head up to the house. It was the most fortified location on the mountain and everyone would be gathering there before long.
The storm had gathered and was almost upon them all.
Mitch’s first view of the king’s home in exile impressed him. They’d built a good, old fashioned stone keep up on top of the mountain. How they’d managed to do so in the middle of the native forest without changing anything too drastically, he’d never know. The structure was only two or three stories high, but it still managed to have an air of antiquity about it. The stone was all native grey
rock. Granite, Mitch thought. Very thick.
Windows were small and raised well off the ground with no perch points that a shifter could take advantage of in either human or shifted form. The only real danger would be from the sky—if any raptor shifters decided to come after the tiger king in exile for some reason. That was unlikely, so the place was darn near impregnable by conventional means.
And if that granite was as thick as it looked, Mitch doubted anything short of a bunker-buster bomb would make a dent in it. He ushered Gina inside as others began to arrive. The queen met them all at the door, her lips tight as she directed everyone to the war room.
They’d named it aptly. Two floors down into the bedrock of the mountain, the war room could hold them all—and there was quite a crowd gathering. Representatives from every Guard family on the mountain filtered into the space. Mitch had met a few of the other families as he’d prowled the perimeter of the mountain over the past week, but he knew the Millers best.
Paul Miller was sitting with his brother Tad and his wife, Mandy. Her mother, Hilda, was seated on her other side. Mitch recognized a few other people from the dojo, where various neighbors had come to meet Mitch and train over the past few afternoons.
Gina gave Mitch a quick tour of the facility while they waited for everyone to gather. There were state-of-the-art monitoring systems that showed all points on the mountain. There were also maps and banks of computers that held who knew what kinds of information.
Mitch was impressed. This was a real control center. He could see the house above and the perimeter already guarded by groups of tigers in human and shifted form. They weren’t easy to spot, but Mitch knew what he was looking for. Despite that, he was impressed by the skill of the Old Guard—as he’d heard those who had gone with the king into exile call themselves.
When Frederick and Candis entered, the energy in the room crackled. They came right up to Mitch and Gina and the king held out his hand. Mitch knew what he wanted. Mitch had already examined the small piece of paper with all the tools available to him and didn’t think it was dangerous in itself. It was the message it held that was the real danger. Mitch handed it over with grim stoicism.
The king unrolled it and read it, his lips turning down in to a troubled frown. He paused a moment before turning to the assembly.
“You know the bare bones of what has happened. An arrow was shot at Mitch and Gina while they prowled near the southeastern perimeter. We logged the intrusion at oh-seven-twenty-six and have video surveillance of a rented car speeding away down Dawson Road shortly thereafter. Heat signatures indicate two humans inside. Enhancement shows what is likely a compound bow lying across the back seat.”
Mitch was impressed all over again by the technology the king had at his command. They were even better equipped than he’d thought.
“The message wrapped around the arrow,” the king went on, “reads as follows. ‘By right of Rule, I, Gisli of House Scangarten, invoke challenge upon the tiger known as Mitch, for I know my brother is too cowardly to face me in single combat himself’.”
Candis placed her hand over her husband’s, which had started to tremble with anger.
“It is not cowardice that keeps me from shedding his blood,” the king growled. “And he knows it!”
“We all know it, majesty.” Paul Miller stood, his voice filled with the conviction of his beliefs. “We, born of the Old Guard, know the truth of the matter and we support you to our dying breath.”
Around the room, everyone added their agreement with Paul’s bold words. Mitch realized these Guards—both the ones who had gone with the king into exile and their children—understood better than any others why Frederick had chosen the path they were all on together.
The king bowed his head for a short moment, visibly calming. “Thank you, my friends. You all know this has not been an easy existence for me, my family and all of you and your families. Yet we were not given much choice. The Mother of All sets our path and we must follow it as best we can.”
Paul sat down again at the king’s gesture and the mood changed in the room once more. King Frederick seemed to firm his resolve as he brought up displays on one wall.
“Those of you born here or who left our chosen homeland when you were too small to really know it will need to look at these maps. The rest of us will have to study up on them as well. Things have changed since last we walked the ice fields of home.”
“We’re going back?” Mandy’s mother asked, her tone hopeful.
“If the Mother of All wills it. But first, a small group will go. With Mitch.”
All eyes turned to Mitch. He felt the weight of their regard and realized this was what every moment since he’d awakened from the poison had been leading toward.
“I’m going too,” Gina piped up beside him.
He wanted to argue, but he knew they should not—could not—be parted. Not now. Their tigers demanded they stay close by each other. They were mates and they needed to face adversity together.
“Kitten—” her father began, shaking his head, but Gina took Mitch’s arm and snuggled close to his side.
“Father, Mitch is my mate. I will not be parted from him.”
Silence reigned for a long moment until finally her father relented. He moved forward and held out his hand to Mitch for a firm shake.
“I wish it could be easier for you both, but I can’t say I didn’t know this day was coming. I had hoped you could wait until after the challenge was settled, but I know you must follow your hearts and your natures. Congratulations and welcome to the family, Mitch.”
Frederick gave Mitch a back-pounding half-hug and then kissed his daughter on her cheek and stepped back. If this had been a normal mating among normal tigers, the rest of the room would have jumped up to congratulate them. But this was not normal. Nothing about the circumstances, timing or situation was normal.
“Mitch Thorburn ne Gustavson.” The king was once more in formal mode, calling Mitch by a combination of the surnames he was entitled to use. “Do you accept the challenge?”
Mitch understood the king’s formality. He stepped forward and answered with due consideration.
“I accept the challenge,” he said in a clear, firm voice. At that moment, he felt something lock into place. Some kind of magical knowing settled in place that would not be removed until the challenge was answered one way…or another.
Things moved fast from there. The moment Mitch accepted the challenge, wheels were put in motion. Simply uttering the words invoked the ancient magic of the challenge and the clock started ticking. They spent time debating details of the trip, but it was a foregone conclusion that Mitch and Gina were on their way to Iceland to face the music.
The whirlwind caught them in its heart and the exiled king’s support staff went into action, arranging flights, ground transport, supplies, clothing and everything else they’d need for the journey.
Mitch and Gina did not return to the snug cabin in the woods. They’d packed their few belongings and brought them along, but one of the Millers would see to closing up the cabin for them. They had bigger fish to fry. Travel plans were being made and Mitch knew he was ready. Physically ready. He’d spent a week getting his body back up to speed. He was at peak performance now and ready to face the fight.
Mentally, he didn’t think he’d ever be prepared to risk so much. He knew if he lost, Gina would be in terrible peril. Not only would she be in danger from her uncle’s court, but Mitch knew—without false humility—that she’d be heartbroken. Just as he would be if anything happened to her.
They were mates now. A pair. Two hearts made whole. One. Together. If one of them fell, the other would be diminished in strength and cast into despair.
He’d talked to her about it. He knew there was every chance that the challenge could go against him. He was prepared to meet his fate, but not if it meant Gina would be in danger. It put added pressure on him to win, though he didn’t really need any additional incentive.
Everything was riding on his shoulders, and he knew it. Gina, her parents, all those Old Guard families…even the entirety of the tigre d’or.
The Clan had suffered under Gisli’s rule. Mitch knew it from firsthand experience, though nobody dared speak against the acting ruler of all tigers. Even so, Mitch felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders for not only his friends and their families, but for all tiger shifters everywhere.
Nobody commented when, after a full day of planning and checking security, Gina brought Mitch to her room. She’d be damned if she’d sleep apart from him now that she’d declared him as her mate in front of her parents and everybody.
It wasn’t a traditional mating ceremony, but these weren’t ordinary times. Things were haywire. If they ever settled down, Gina promised herself they’d throw the biggest party the tiger Clan had ever seen to celebrate their mating.
If. Her entire future was riding on that tiny word. If Mitch won the challenge. If her uncle was defeated and his supporters could be ousted. If her father reclaimed his rightful place. If they all lived through the coming trouble in one piece. If. If. If.
She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted only to lie in Mitch’s arms and not think about tomorrow.
She led him by the hand over to the small bed that had been hers throughout her teen years. It would be a tight fit, but she didn’t care. She didn’t need much room and she was more than happy to use him as a pillow all night. She didn’t think he’d mind either. Not after she got through with what she planned to do to him.
No words were spoken as they stopped at the side of the bed. She tugged the hem of his shirt up over his washboard abs and urged him to slip it off over his head. When it was gone, she stroked her fingers downward from his shoulders, over his muscular torso and then sank to her knees in front of him. She searched for and found the string to his sweatpants with her teeth, earning a groan of appreciation from him that made her smile.
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