“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.