King's Throne(70)

“Unlike the Clan’s finances, your father has run a tight ship with his personal money. He left here with nothing and built a small empire of his own. He’s the perfect man to help the Clan recover financially.” Gears were turning in Mitch’s mind and things were falling into place.
“So are you, Mr. MBA.” She leaned in to kiss his cheek.
He realized by that simple touch that he needed her presence. He needed the touch of his mate. She’d stood by him through everything, and he couldn’t love her more. They left the office area and ate lunch with some of the Millers and a few of the more highly placed staff members. Everyone wanted to get to know him and Gina, it seemed, which he understood, but it made it hard to find any time alone with his mate. The tiger bristled at the constant scrutiny, but Mitch knew it was only natural.
After lunch, he and Gina took a quick walk outside to view the path of the flood from the day before. The day outside the stronghold was bright and sparkling. The mountain was silent and the mood was somber as they took in the scene of last night’s battle. Mitch listened to Harold and Hilda’s reports on the damage assessment from the flood. The stronghold had escaped with very little damage, which Mitch put up to the Lady. Her divine hand had been clear to him in the mountain’s actions during the battle.#p#分页标题#e#
They went back into the ice palace reassured that its location had not been compromised by the challenge. By late afternoon, the mood in the stronghold had grown expectant. Frederick and Candis arrived just after dark with a large contingent of the Old Guard, and Mitch was really glad to see them.
He watched while Gina greeted her parents with big hugs. He noticed there were also a few tears shed on the part of many of those who had not seen Iceland—their original homeland—in years.
They all moved to one of the smaller audience chambers. The largest of the chambers would hold the entire village plus all the newcomers, so the room that was considered small was still huge by Mitch’s reckoning. There was a big central table and plenty of chairs. It almost looked like the round table of Arthurian legend, but Mitch didn’t dare say so out loud.
Frederick and Candis sat first, followed by Gina and Mitch. Then everyone else took seats around the table. Mitch hadn’t planned it that way. It just sort of happened, but it was clear that everyone else was watching very closely to be certain they didn’t seat themselves before any of the white tigers.
Mitch wasn’t sure how that made him feel. Being blanche was still very new to him and he felt like he was still the same person he’d always been. But people around here sure were treating him differently. He tried not to notice the way they quieted and moved aside when he and Gina passed.
As an Alpha, Mitch was somewhat used to commanding the respect of other shifters, but this was much more. This was almost…reverence. And it didn’t sit comfortably.
Some of the other things though, they came naturally. Fixing problems was part of his nature. Applying creative recovery strategies to the multiple messes left by the previous administration was right in his bailiwick. He’d already mapped out a tentative business plan to move the various companies the Clan owned or had an interest in, forward.
Mitch wanted to run his ideas past Frederick and see what he thought. In fact, Mitch was almost nervous about it—in a good way. He might have an MBA, but he’d never used it much, and here was an opportunity to really get his hands dirty, resurrecting a group of companies that had been nearly run into the ground. He was eager to start—if Frederick agreed.
But they had even bigger fish to fry at the moment. They had to settle the leadership of the Clan publicly, so it would be clear and as stable as they could make it for the good of their people. Mitch fully intended to make it plain he’d acted as Frederick’s champion and nothing more. He would happily take a background role and do what he’d always done—protect the monarchy and support the royal family in whatever way he could.
It would be a little different now because he would technically be part of the royal family. That was new and more than a little uncomfortable, but there was no way he would ever give up Gina. She was his mate in all ways and for always. He would walk through fire to be with her. It would be an adjustment—one he was willing and eager to make if it meant spending the rest of his life with her.
So Mitch sat back and let Frederick handle the gathering. Many key members of the Old Guard were present, as well as the highest ranking among Gisli’s Guard. The most important of the support staff were also present, waiting to hear what would happen next.