Chapter 9 #3
“Yeah, the other big cat Clans organize themselves a little differently than us jaguars. Many of them migrated away from their countries of origin toward Western Europe around the time of the Renaissance. We’ve always been folks who try to be where the action is, and back in those times, it was centered in Italy and France for our kind. ”
Shelly was impressed. “You mentioned some of this before,” she remembered. “The tigers and lions have a king and queen, not an Alpha like your Clan.”
“Oh, the monarchs are very, very Alpha, I’m sure, but they also formalized their positions into monarchies with all the trappings that were so popular back then in that part of the world.
We’re a bit less formal. More tribal, still, I guess.
” He shrugged elegantly. “The Mother of All also plays a part. It is said the Tig’Ra and Tig’Ren, the tiger king and queen, are Goddess-touched.
They, alone, among tiger shifters have white fur. ”
“White tigers,” Shelly breathed. She knew, even among regular tigers, the white ones were incredibly rare.
Mark nodded. “Though the story circulating about the new tiger king says he was born tigre d’or—a golden tiger—and was changed by the hand of the Goddess so he could reclaim the throne from a total bastard named Gisli, who just about ran that Clan into the ground.
Gisli was a terrible businessman, and an even worse king.
He abused his people, and frankly, I don’t think his claim to the throne was true.
I met him just once, and he made my skin crawl.
I refused to have anything to do with him after that single encounter. ”
“But this new guy sounds better?” Shelly asked, surprisingly interested in shifter politics.
“I’ve had him checked out from afar. Everything about him reads as on the level. He was a Royal Guard before he mated with the tiger princess-in-exile.”
“Wait. The monarchs were in exile?” Shelly was trying hard to follow the story.
“Gisli was the younger brother of the old king. Somehow, he forced the rightful king and queen into fleeing with their only daughter. Their son and heir had already been murdered, so I kind of understand why they would give up and go into hiding to protect their remaining child.” Mark’s expression held compassion.
“Regardless, Gisli set himself up as steward to the Clan in the king’s absence.
Eventually, he pretty much took over and made himself a monarch anyway.
But then, last year, there was a challenge fight, and the former Royal Guard proved himself worthy and took the title of Tig’Ra, the princess, his mate, at his side. ”
“If he was a Royal Guard, was he guarding the king’s family in exile?” Shelly wanted to know.
“No, actually, it’s rumored that he got his training among the pantera noir—literally, black panthers.
They’re mostly black leopards, but I look a bit like one of those guys when I shift, so I’ve been mistaken for one of them on occasion.
I use that to my advantage because they’re like the ninjas of the shifter world.
Highly secretive. Always hidden. And highly skilled.
If the tiger king was accepted by them as a youngster, and trained in their ways, he has to be a formidable fighter, and an expert at stealth.
They say he was Royal Guard to the Nyx, the pantera noir queen.
I hear she’s also newly mated—to a human. ”
“So, if you make friends with the tiger king, you might possibly also open up a channel to these black panthers,” Shelly guessed, seeing the advantages.
Mark smiled at her deduction. “Exactly. You see why it’s important I’m here to greet the royal couple personally.
They won’t stay long, and they may not get past the mansion—depending on how the initial meeting goes—but this is a critical meeting for myself, and for the Clan as a whole.
Plus, there are things I can do to help them.
Gisli ran the tiger Clan’s businesses into the ground, like I said.
I can help them rebuild. Some of my companies are positioned in the same markets, and we could do some beneficial deals to help them get back on their feet financially. ”
“Win-win,” Shelly grinned. “I like that.”
“Let’s hope it works out. I’d appreciate it if you would help me entertain them.
The new queen lived among humans most of her life, they say.
I think she’d enjoy your company. It also might help make me seem a bit less…
threatening, shall we say…if I have a beautiful woman on my arm, whom I am desperately trying to convince to be my mate. ”
He turned her then, taking her in his arms. She saw his kiss coming and didn’t move away.
She would take all he would give her physically while they were together.
She just wasn’t so sure she could be what he needed long-term.
How could a regular human being be his mate?
How could she help him run a Clan of shapeshifters when she wasn’t one?
Would his people even accept her long-term?
She was very much afraid they would not.
“Is that what you’re doing? Trying to convince me?” She smiled, but her thoughts were confused. “Are you sure you really want that?”