Free King's Throne by Bianca D'Arc

on. The main house where the Tig’Ra and his queen lived.
    Gina’s parents. Gina herself stepped into the circle behind him and came to sit on her haunches at his side. For a moment, they just sat there, facing the direction of the main house until finally, he realized why he’d been drawn here.
    Two people stepped into the circle. A man and a woman, both in their human forms, but Mitch knew who they were. Their magic spoke for itself. As did their commanding presence. These were Gina’s parents.
    He’d met her dad before, of course, but he’d never even seen her mother. Gina had her mother’s kind eyes and gentle smile, but she’d inherited her father’s stubborn chin and determined jaw, it seemed.
    The tiger king looked Mitch over and sighed heavily as Mitch bowed his head. Mitch kept his eyes raised to the king in a show of respect. It was their way to not dismiss a warrior’s power. Averting the eyes meant disrespect in the shifter world.
    “I should have known this would happen when Gina talked about your fur sprouting white. In fact, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time but was almost afraid to hope it was near. Be welcome to the tigre blanche , Mitch Thorburn, formerly of the tigre d’or .”
    As the words were spoken, a shaft of bright sun broke through a momentary cloud, illuminating the circle and all within. For a moment, the light almost blinded Mitch, making him wince, but then something happened. The sun felt like it was focusing on him, bathing him in its warmth.
    And then he realized it wasn’t really sun. It was magic. A sparkling, magical beam carried on the sunlight, sent by the Goddess.
    In that moment, his heart opened and his soul became one with the cat whose nature had changed, just a little. The change had been enough to make him feel odd when he first shifted, but now, with the Lady’s intervention, the oddness had gone. It was replaced by a surety that he had never experienced. Mitch finally knew his purpose in this world—to serve and protect as before—but his duties had been expanded to include not just the royalty, but every tiger everywhere.
    Starting here and now. Mitch basked in the magical beam of sunlight a moment more, and then it was gone, dissipating in a shower of rainbow-colored motes of light. Dazzling and enchanting. By far the most magical thing Mitch had ever experienced. He was left standing in front of the Tig’Ra and his lady, who were both still in human form, and Gina wearing her fur at his side.
    “Go back to the cabin for now,” the king of all tigers said in a kind, yet gruff voice. “You’re still on the mend and we have a lot to discuss. I’ll be down shortly.”
    Mitch bowed his head in respect and then, conscious of the fatigue now weighing him down, he made his way out of the stone circle with Gina still at his side. She had stuck by him through all of it, a silent witness to the life-changing events of the past few minutes. He wondered if she’d sensed what had happened, or was it something only Mitch had have been aware of? He wasn’t entirely sure.
    They loped down the small hill and made their way through the icy trees and snow cover to the backdoor that led to the secret passageway that wrapped around one corner of the cabin. He allowed Gina to work the hidden mechanism with her dainty white paws and followed her inside.
    She shifted and went straight into the cabin, opening the door so he had some light. Not that he really needed it. He had excellent night vision. Still, it was a considerate gesture.
    He allowed the change to take him while she watched over him from just outside the passageway. It was easier this time. Felt less odd. More natural.
    He picked up the clothes he’d discarded before and put them back on, enjoying the stretch of his muscles. He’d had too many days of inactivity. He’d need to really get some exercise tomorrow or the next day. As soon as Gina gave him the go-ahead. She was still his doctor, after