The Tigers Shared Mate

by Bonnie Burrows

  One of them, at least.

  The realization stunned her; she was willing to die beside another. But the tigers were upon them, and she didn’t have time to reflect on matters of the heart.

  The first tiger lunged at Jareth, but Jareth threw him to the side in one swift motion. The tiger hit the ground, rolling for quite some distance before coming to a stop. Lydia watched him shake himself and pull himself back to his feet and rush towards them again. But he was the least of their worries.

  A second tiger was mid-leap, sailing through the air at Jareth. Jareth grabbed this one in his teeth, rolling onto his back and slamming him into the hard ground beside him. The tiger yelped when his head bounced on the ground and his eyes rolled back in his head. He wasn’t knocked out, but he was holding onto consciousness by a thin thread. He would be up soon enough, but Jareth was already focused on the next.

  Frantic, Lydia scanned the field, noting that two more tigers were coming from their right, with Carter and his small group coming up behind Gavin and his men. Jareth was locked in battle with one tiger when another shot into the air, his sights set on Lydia. Lydia grabbed a heavy stick nearby, swiping at the tiger while it circled her.

  The tiger was toying with her. Already, a second tiger had jumped on Jareth, forcing him to fight off two while Lydia was left defenseless.

  Lydia jabbed at the air between them, fear overcome by the rage welling in her. The slightly mangled shape of the face ensured that this was Adam. Adam, who had torn their little world apart for his amusement. Adam, who had ruined everything in a bid to impress Gavin and win his favor.

  Lunging at Adam, she caught him in the cheek with the sharp tip of the branch. He howled in pain when she buried it into his freshly stitched wound. He tossed his head, flinging her through the air and breaking the tip of the wood off in his face.

  He clawed at his own skin, frantic to get the wood out and roaring in pain and rage. Lydia grabbed a large rock from the grass. She rushed toward the tiger on top of Jareth, his back to her, focused on tearing into him.

  Lydia jumped onto the tiger’s back, slamming the rock down onto his head with all her might and then again. He shook her off and she hit the ground. Jareth lay beneath the other tiger, motionless and bleeding heavily. The tiger she’d pelted with the rock advanced upon her. She dug her heels into the ground, trying futilely to get her feet under her so she could stand and run. He was almost on top of her when a blur of silver and black slammed into him, taking him down and rolling with him.

  “Martin,” Lydia exclaimed in delight, but her voice was drowned out by the fighting around her.

  She looked up to see that the others had finally made it to them. But even with the extra pair of tigers, they were still outnumbered. Jareth was still lying beneath the other tiger, and Adam had finally dislodged the limb from his face.

  He turned to Lydia. She looked around for something to protect herself with, but there was nothing handy. The other tigers were already locked in battle with each other, and only Lydia and Adam stood in the middle.

  The scene slowed down as if in a movie. Lydia heard each breath and heartbeat as she took it all in. They were in trouble. Jareth was still trapped beneath one of the tigers, and Adam was slowly moving towards Lydia with what passed for a smile on his bloodied face.

  “I don’t have a choice,” she whispered to herself.

  She threw her head back, focusing with everything she had. A scream of pain ripped from her throat and dissolved into a roar. Her front paws hit the ground beneath her, silver stripes catching the sunlight as the last of her body shifted. She shook and let out another roar which shook the trees a short distance away.

  Adam-who had been lazily advancing on her and drawing out the torture in hopes of terrifying her – stopped in his tracks, head tilted to the side.

  Lydia crouched low, as much to intimidate Adam as to get her legs beneath her. She hadn’t shifted since she was a small child, and her muscles ached with the unfamiliar pain of a hurried shift.

  She raced towards Adam, closing the distance quickly and leaping into the air. She landed hard on him, sinking her teeth into his neck before he could get his bearings. Mouth clamped down on him, she flung him hard into the ground. His head whipped back and she heard something snap. Adam was instantly limp, dead before he hit the ground. Lydia watched him shift back into human form as the last beat of his heart pushed blood through his veins. His body was mangled beyond recognition.

  But she didn’t have time to mull over the life she’d taken. Jareth was still in trouble, and every other tiger was still locked in a battle to save her. She had to do something.

  Lydia turned, eyes trained on the tiger still on Jareth. Jareth’s eyes were open, but he was barely alive. She let out another roar as she charged. The tiger stopped, a bewildered look spreading across his face an instant before Lydia slammed into him. They rolled in the grass, claws flying wildly at one another, a blur of silver and orange fur.

  Lydia sank her teeth into his neck, shaking violently while she held him down with her paws. The tiger struggled beneath her. He twisted and writhed, finally getting his back feet between himself and Lydia. He thrust upward with his feet with amazing force and Lydia sailed through the air and slammed into the ground. She lay there for a moment, wind knocked out of her, trying desperately to catch her breath. The other tiger advanced on her, and Lydia knew by the look in his eyes that it was Gavin.

  She pulled herself up, silver coat glistening with Adam’s blood as well as a little of Gavin’s. Still fighting to breathe, she gave Gavin a look that dared him to take her down. She might be beaten, but she wasn’t going down that easily. If he wanted her dead, he was going to have to fight for it.

  A roar to her right caught her attention. She took her eyes off Gavin for a moment and was surprised at the scene around her. Martin was limping her way, pulling up to stand beside her. Another tiger roared in Gavin’s direction, coming to Lydia’s other side and readying himself.

  Gavin kept coming, eyes locked on Lydia. He leapt into the air and a shot rang out. A sickening thud announced the entry of the bullet into Gavin’s body, knocking him violently out of the air. He hit the ground in human form, blood pouring from a hole just below his heart. His expression was incredulous. Blood was rushing through his fingers as he tried without success to staunch the flow.

  Lydia looked around, bewildered. When she saw a man she didn’t recognize tip his head and drop the arm holding a shotgun to his side, she knew what had happened. From across the short distance, she lowered herself to the ground, bowing to him in thanks. He smiled and turned, heading back towards his truck, parked a short distance away. He got into the truck, hand out the window to wave before he put it into gear and disappeared towards the road.

  CHAPTER 12

  Lydia shifted quickly, ignoring the pain and her nakedness as she ran to Jareth. His breathing was labored, the blood seeping into the dirt around him. He was holding on the best he could, his body slowly shifting to human form, his energy depleted.

  Carter and Siva were upon them quickly, both in human form. Marvin and another tiger looked on while keeping an eye on their surroundings. They were ready for a fight, should any more tigers come looking for one.

  Jareth looked up at Lydia, forcing a weak smile.

  “You’re a tiger?”

  “You saw that?”

  “Of course I did.”

  He coughed, wincing with the pain that brought.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Jareth asked.

  “Don’t worry about that now. We have to get you some help.”

  She looked to Carter.

  “Can you call an ambulance?” she asked.

  “No. We can’t risk humans coming here to find this mess and there’s no way to explain his injuries without revealing the cause. We’ll call a doctor I know who makes house calls.”

  He looked at Jareth. “Can you hold on? Help will be here shortly.”

  Jar
eth nodded and Carter took off towards the house, leaping into the air and shifting with a pained roar. Siva stood beside Lydia, pulling her in and offering her comfort.

  “He’s going to be okay. Doc Bowyer is a magician.”

  Lydia nodded, watching Jareth with heavy concern. Siva walked a short distance away, disappearing behind one of the canopies that was still up from the wedding and returning quickly. She held an armful of clothing.

  “Here,” she said, handing Lydia an oversized shirt, “there isn’t much left over, but some clothes got left behind.”

  “Left behind by who?”

  “You’d be surprised what gets left behind at a wedding. Luckily, it was only clothes.”

  Lydia shrugged the shapeless tee shirt on, relieved to be somewhat covered in the presence of the other tigers.

  Siva did the same and moved to kneel beside Jareth with Lydia.

  “Who is the other tiger with your uncle?” she asked, motioning to the orange tiger a short distance away, scanning the horizon for threats.

  “Tristan. He and I kind of have a thing.”

  Siva blushed, but she didn’t elaborate.

  There was a sudden gasping and choking, and both women looked over to Gavin laying a short distance away.

  Lydia stood.

  “How is he still alive?” Lydia wondered aloud as she stood.

  She was angry, striding up to him and kicking him squarely in the ribs. He coughed and sputtered, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t waste your energy on him, Lydia. He’s dying and no one will mourn his loss.”

  Lydia stood above him.

  “What was the point of all this? Was it worth your life, Gavin?”

  “You saw too much. I couldn’t let you live.”

  “Who was I going to tell? I have no family, my only friends are shifters themselves, and I have no reason to tell. I didn’t see anything. I was tied up and hidden away.”

  Gavin opened his mouth to speak, but a fountain of blood bubbled up in its place. His eyes rolled back in his head and his body convulsed, blood filling his lungs as his heart tried desperately to fill his body with life. He shuddered once more and then he was gone.

  Lydia walked away, passing another dead body that she recognized from her wedding.

  Her face was stricken, gazing down on his slack face, tears filling her eyes.

  Siva went to her, hand on her friend’s shoulder.

  “He died protecting me?”

  “Lydia, if Gavin had attacked yesterday, hundreds would have laid down their lives for you, because Gavin is wrong. His laws are wrong, and he doesn’t represent us. He only represents himself.”

  “Do you know him?”

  “I do.”

  “When this is over, I want to send something to his family. There’s no telling how this would have turned out without him.”

  Siva nodded.

  Lydia heard the SUV bumping over the rough terrain before she saw it. Carter was in the driver’s seat, a harried looking man in the passenger seat holding the ceiling of the vehicle to keep his head from slamming into it.

  “That was fast.”

  “Doc Bowyer was at your wedding. I know he lives fairly close by, too.”

  “Lucky for Jareth, I don’t know how much longer he can wait.”

  She looked down at him, terrified that he wasn’t going to make it. He looked pale and sallow.

  Carter threw the SUV into park and jumped out of it.

  “Is he still?”

  “He’s alive, Carter. But I don’t know how much longer.”

  Doc Bowyer stepped out of the SUV, large medical bag heavy in his hands. Lydia stared at him incredulous.

  “That’s it? How is he going to-?”

  “I’m going to stabilize him and we’re going to take him to my home. People tell stories about me, but I’m far from a magician.”

  Carter stood beside Lydia and Siva, watching the doctor go to work on their friend. He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket and handed it to Siva.

  “Can you call the cleanup crew and get them here, ASAP?”

  “No problem.”

  She took the phone and stepped away, dialing a number that was answered on the first ring. She began to speak without identifying herself and hung up within seconds.

  “They’re on their way,” she said when she came back to the group.

  “Perfect. Are Gavin and Adam dead?” Carter asked.

  “There’s nothing left of Adam. Lydia demolished him. Gavin took his last breath taunting Lydia, but there’s nothing surprising about that.”

  “What about the rest, the two that survived from Gavin’s group?”

  “They ran like yellow-bellied house cats,” Siva said.

  “Of course they did. It’s one thing to be loyal when things are going well. But no one was going to die for Gavin. He was a job, like anything else.”

  Carter pulled Lydia close, watching his friend fight for his life. When Doc Bowyer had him stabilized and ready to load up, Carter helped the doctor load his friend into the open back of the SUV.

  Carter turned to Lydia and pulled her in for a quick kiss.

  “We’re going to take Jareth to Doc Bowyer’s house. Can you stay here and make sure the cleanup crew does their job?”

  “I don’t want to leave him.”

  “I know,” he kissed her roughly, “but I need you here. Please. He’s going to be fine and I will bring him back to you.”

  Tears streamed down Lydia’s face, but she fought back her argument. Carter was right, and with the seats all folded down to make room for him, there was nowhere for her in the vehicle anyway.

  “Thank you. I’ll be here when you return.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Carter jumped into the SUV and headed out, cutting through the field and onto a worn dirt road that disappeared into the trees.

  Lydia watched them leave, turning to the others when the SUV was out of sight. She looked at Siva and her face crumpled in despair.

  “It’s going to be okay, Lydia. Jareth will be fine.”

  Lydia buried her face in her hands, mournful sobs tearing through her. She wanted to believe Siva, but deep down, she wondered if anyone could survive all he’d been through. Sure, shifters were stronger and healed faster, but they were still mortal.

  Siva put her arm around Lydia, leading her away from the bloody scene and towards the house. She left Tristan and Martin to guard the bodies until the crew arrived. The two walked back, Lydia in a sort of daze as they made their way barefoot in the soft grass.

  “If he dies, it will be all my fault.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Gavin is --was ---a horrible man. That’s not about you. That’s about him. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent what happened.”

  “I guess I know that. I just wish things were different. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself if something happens to Jareth.”

  They walked the rest of the way to the house in silence, neither of them quite knowing what to say.

  Lydia walked into the front entrance, groaning when she saw the two men lying dead in the foyer. One of them was Gavin’s, but the other Lydia recognized from her wedding.

  “I danced with that man Saturday night.”

  She choked on a sob and leaned into Siva.

  Siva said nothing, steering Lydia passed the carnage and up the stairs to her room. Siva led her to the bathroom, turning on the tub and drawing her a bath.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You’re no good to Jareth if you don’t get some rest, and you’re covered in blood. Clean up and get dressed. I’ll be back with something to eat.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You need your strength and it’s my job to take care of you.”

  “You’re not my assistant anymore.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m still your friend.”

  Her words caught Lydia off-guard.

  “Don�
��t act so surprised. I’d have to be a fool to pass up being friends with someone like you, Lydia. Maybe you can’t see it, but you’re freaking amazing.”

  Lydia laughed at her choice of words. Siva was often so formal; hearing her step away from that was both disarming and comforting.

  Lydia threw her arms around her friend, hugging her tightly.

  “Siva. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  Siva squeezed her tightly then shoved her towards the tub.

  “For now, you clean up while I get us some food. I’m always famished after a shift, especially when there’s so much fighting involved, aren’t you?”

  “I guess so. I haven’t shifted in years.”

  “So you knew? That you were a shifter I mean.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  She slipped out of the ratty tee shirt and into the water.

  “Fair enough. When you’re ready, I’ll be here to listen.”

  Lydia sunk down into the tub until the bubbles rose to her neck.

  “I know that, and thank you. I have to talk about it soon, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve kept everything to myself for so long…”

  She trailed off without finishing and Siva left the room quickly. In the hallway, she could see the bodies had already been moved from the foyer, the usually invisible maid cleaning what was left of the blood from the glassy tile beneath. Siva smiled at the woman and skirted around the mess.

  There was already a large platter of sandwiches and fruit on the kitchen table as if by magic. Siva wasn’t surprised. Jareth and Carter had a reputation for treating their employees like gold and paying more than triple the going rate in wages.

  The side door opened and a scantily clad Martin and Tristan walked in and sat at the table.

  “Are they done?” Siva asked.

  “There was some grumbling about Adam, but they’ll be done soon,” Martin replied.

  “Lydia did a number on him,” Tristan agreed.

  He grabbed Siva and swung her in for a kiss.

  “And you, my little tigress, are bad ass. Remind me never to go into battle without you by my side.”

  He kissed her again before she shoved him away playfully. Tristan laughed, looking up at Siva and stopping abruptly.