King's Throne (15 page)

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 set
s 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.

They’d played this game before and she already knew he was a big fan of her oral skills. Almost as big a fan as she was of his oral skills. And oddly enough, she enjoyed pleasing him this way. It gave her a little thrill to think she had so much power over his pleasure.

He was such an Alpha. All in charge—all the time. Only with her did he let go.

And she loved the way he purred for her. She knew how special that was. Only she could evoke that response in him—as he did in her. Purring in human form was something special, reserved only for mates. It was just one of the ways a cat shifter could recognize the one truly meant for him or her.

She tugged his pants down by the elastic waistband. He’d been wearing sweats most of the time since he’d been spending every free moment when he wasn’t helping plan their trip working out with the guys down at the dojo. He’d been in amazing physical shape already, but now he was like a chiseled marble statue of a Greek god. His muscles were hard and supple, his body honed to a fine knife’s edge.

He would need every advantage in the challenge to come, but she still appreciated the sheer animal beauty of him at this peak of physical perfection. Everything about him was constantly amazing to her and she thought she’d never get tired of him. Never get tired of talking to him—for she’d discovered he had a quick and agile mind and interests that marched with hers. Never get tired of laughing with him—for their senses of humor complimented and augmented each other
’s. Never get tired of being with him, or simply sitting with him watching the fire. Never get tired of loving him.

He was her perfect mate. And she intended to show him just how much she appreciated him as often as possible before…
before the trouble that hounded them caught up.

Gina kissed her way down his abs, pausing to lick each hollow and nibble on the six pack that begged for her touch. She liked the way he grunted when she bit a little harder than he’d expected
and then purred when she bathed the area with long sweeps of her tongue. His breathing hitched as she angled downward, pushing his pants away and freeing him to her further exploration.

She took him in her hands, fondling him in the way she knew he liked, teasing him with tiny forays of her tongue over the domed head of his hard cock. She looked up into his golden eyes, entranced by the way his pupils dilated as she touched him. The gold of his irises was a thin ring around the fathomless black pupils as she took him into her mouth. And then she had to look away, angling her head so she could take him deep.

Her fingers squeezed as her mouth enveloped what she could take of him. He was a big man and it took some maneuvering for her to make sure every inch of him was attended. She wanted to do the job right. To give him all she could—as he gave her. Pleasing him was her pleasure and she knew he felt the same way when it was his turn to see to her. They were compatible like that. Each tuned to the other’s needs and desires.

She was just getting into a rhythm when Mitch pushed gently away from her, taking himself out of her reach. She was disappointed for only a moment before he lifted her to a standing position and proceeded to undress her with swift, urgent movements. Yeah, this is how she liked him, commanding and ready to take control. It was her turn to purr.

He drove her to distraction, kissing every inch of her skin he uncovered. She had to bite her tongue when he placed her on the bed, spread her legs wide and proceeded to kiss his way up one thigh and down the other, pausing for a long, blissful moment right in the middle. Mitch had a talented tongue and he certainly knew how to use it.

He blew her mind at least twice before finally joining their bodies and rocking her to the rhythm unique to them alone. He knew just how to touch her, just how to soothe her, just how to drive her wild with delight and passion. She tried her best to give as good as she got, but she was nearly incoherent with need by the time he finally drove them both to the point of no return.