“I’ve felt better,” Mitch admitted, running a hand through his hair.
He was certain he looked a fright, but until now, such things hadn’t bothered him. Only with Gina—and especially in front of her father—he wanted to make the best possible impression. Instead, he’d nearly fainted at the king’s feet and he probably stank too. He’d been through hell since the last time he’d taken a shower. Was it only a day before? Or had it been two days since the attack on the dojo? He’d lost track of time somewhere along the way.
“Are you going to keel over on me again?” She smiled as she pushed off the door and walked a few steps toward him.
“I certainly hope not.” He tried to laugh it off, but he really did feel lousy. “But I won’t be running any races for a while.”
She walked right up to him and touched his shoulder. It wasn’t exactly an impersonal touch, but it wasn’t the full-body contact he longed for. How he could think of the tiger princess that way was beyond him—especially after the audience he’d just been granted with the most elusive of tigers, the Goddess-blessed king of them all. But Mitch couldn’t control the attraction he felt for Gina.
And what was worse—he didn’t want to control it. Maybe it was the poison affecting his judgment or the knowledge that he could easily die of it, but he wanted her touch. He wanted to feel her kiss again. He wanted it almost more than he wanted his next breath. But she was back to business as she felt his forehead with the back of her hand and then checked his pulse.
“Any more dizziness?” she asked, all business.
“Not now, but you saw what happened when I tried to kneel,” he admitted grudgingly.
“Dad doesn’t go in for all that rigmarole anyway,” she said as she examined his eyes, shining her small penlight at his pupils one at a time. “He’s a fairly simple man.”
“Honey, I hate to break it to you, but he’s the Tig’Ra. There’s nothing simple about him and there never will be. Nothing simple about you either, princess.” His voice dipped to intimate tones on that last part and she met his gaze with a tinge of fear and determination in her own.
“Maybe not, but it’s what he’s chosen. What he was destined to do.”
“Destined?” That was news to Mitch.
He’d never really thought about why the king had gone into exile. Nobody knew the reason, other than the violence that had hounded him and his family. Mitch had never quite believed that the king of all tigers would run from danger, but he hadn’t known the details behind his departure.
“Dad doesn’t talk about it much, but he once told me he’d been directed to do what he did. He answers to a higher power, you know. Being the Tig’Ra is more of a spiritual position than most believe. I believe he’s had direct contact with the Mother of All, and I know for sure he believes She guides our actions.”
“Have you ever had direct contact, as you put it, with the Lady Goddess?” Mitch dared to ask. He wasn’t a particularly religious man, but he had great respect for the actions of the Goddess in all their lives. He’d seen evidence of Her divine intervention too many times to discount it.
Gina’s head tilted to the side. “I’m not entirely sure, but I think at times I have felt Her influence. Look at how you came into my care. I think it was fate or destiny, or whatever you want to call it, that brought us all into the same place at the right time.”
“Without you, I would already be dead, milady,” he agreed. “So maybe the Goddess did send you. And if so, I sincerely thank Her for Her intervention.”
Gina smiled and it was as if the sun had come out on a cloudy day. For a split second, Mitch thought he saw the sparkle of magic in the air and heard the divine notes of the Lady’s chimes in the distance, but it couldn’t be. Mitch was only a poor servant. He would never be so blessed. He wasn’t nearly devout enough for such fancifulness.
It was probably the poison still coursing through his system.
“You should lie down,” Gina instructed. “Dad will take care of security for now. I know it goes against your Alpha nature, but for the time being, you have to trust in him and his loyal helpers to see to your safety.” She smiled to soften her words and he gave in and scooted back on the bed as best he could while she adjusted the pillows and covers, tucking him in.
“I know when I’m beat. Right now, I’m about as weak as I’ve ever been,” he admitted. “I meant what I said before. If this kills me, I want you to feel no responsibility. You’ve done your best for me at every turn. Thank you, princess.” He caught her hand and pressed the back of it to his lips for a tender kiss. She stilled, looking down at him with a startled yet pleased expression on her lovely face.