King's Throne(75)

Their small group of eight advanced steadily toward the board room. Everyone was on guard and the few workers who saw them pass took visible steps back. So far, so good. Nobody was fool enough to challenge their right to be there.
Gunnar led the way to the board room that was situated on the east side of the building. It was a large room with a bank of windows that displayed the city skyline and streets far below. It was quite a view, but what interested Gina most as they barged in were the reactions of the various board members sitting around the giant, oblong table.
“Who are you?” a tiger shifter nearest the door asked in a snotty tone. Gina didn’t like the look of the man, but she’d give him the benefit of the doubt before making up her mind about him.
“My name is Mitch and I’ve just recently become your biggest shareholder.” His tone was just casual enough to convey the true meaning of his words. He left them in no doubt of his position as he continued. “Gisli is dead. I’m in charge now.”
“You’re the new Tig’Ra?” the same tiger asked in a disbelieving voice. He wasn’t showing the least bit of respect for either Mitch or his new position, and Gina watched to see how her mate would handle the situation. The Guards with them bristled but wouldn’t move until Mitch gave the word.
Their group moved farther into the room and Mandy and Tad closed and locked the doors, standing in front of them.
“Now then,” Mitch took control of the room. “I’d like you all to identify yourselves and what your role is here. I’ve had a hell of a time getting any of you to videoconference with me the past week, so I’ve had to come all the way here. I’m not happy about it.”
Silence reigned for a long moment before one of the two humans in the room stepped forward.
“I’m Norbert Grange, corporate secretary.”
Even Gina felt the wave of magic that leapt from the man. Gunnar growled even as Mitch casually repulsed the subtle magical attack. They’d learned by trial and error that even a thousand miles away from the Grim, Mitch could still use the magic of the earth to protect himself and others. He truly was the Tig’Ra and had powers like the tiger kings of old, seen only in history books until now.
“Your sorcerer’s tricks have no effect on us, so you might as well back off, Norbert,” Mitch informed the man. “The very fact that you’ve tried to attack rather than talk, puts you under arrest.”
Mitch wiggled one finger and the heavy braided silk that bound the drapes to one side untied itself from the curtains and wound itself around Norbert’s resisting hands. It continued snaking around the struggling mage until he was completely immobilized—bound and gagged. Mitch crooked his finger one last time and the man fell back into the chair behind him, well and truly quelled for the time being.
“Now, who else here wants to test me?” Mitch turned on the remaining people in the room. Heads shook and one woman burst into tears. Mitch sighed even as Gina’s gaze traveled from person to person, sizing up their reactions.
“Are you a mage or a tiger?” one brave werewolf asked.
“Yes,” Mitch answered with a grim twist of his lips.
“You’re a fraud. I recognize you. You were part of the Nyx’s household. You’re nothing but a jumped-up Royal Guard.” The man who spoke was smaller than Mitch but not by much. His scent said he was one of the other big-cat species. Gina figured pantera noir by the fact that he’d mentioned the Nyx.
“Horace van Cleef,” Mitch intoned flatly. “Imagine finding you here. Looks like you’ve been up to your old tricks since the Nyx threw you out.”
Outside the bank of windows, the sky darkened with storm clouds. Gina knew enough by now to realize that Mitch’s anger was affecting the weather. He had that ability now—though it seemed to manifest only in moments of intense anger.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Horace tried to defend himself, but it wasn’t very convincing.
“Oh, so she misunderstood that you’d drained the accounts you’d been in charge of to buy yourself a mansion on a hundred acres of prime real estate? Interesting. Seems to me she thought you were setting up your own little kingdom, even though you have absolutely no right to a throne of any kind.”
“The old system is corrupt!” he shouted back, clearly agitated by the way his whole body shook. “Look at you—the Tig’Ra simply because you defeated a wimp like Gisli.”
“My uncle was a lying, cheating bastard,” Gina stepped in, unable to hear her mate insulted. “He never should have ruled anything. And he was never the Tig’Ra.” She looked around the room to press her point, meeting each set of eyes. “Mitch is Goddess-touched. You’ve seen his magic. He is one with the Grim.”