Claiming Their Royal Mate: Part Four: Claiming Their Royal Mate, #4

By Tiffany Allee

Daniella has accepted her future as a royal tiger—and as a mate to Erick and Owen. But with a stalker on the loose, living to see any kind of future is hardly a given. And when an overheard conversation makes her doubt her ability to ever shift into a tiger, her place among the weretigers is called into question.

But Daniella isn’t one to shy from a challenge. She will claim what is hers—even if it means risking her life. But it won’t be easy, especially when her mates are determined to keep her safe at any cost.

Claiming Their Royal Mate: Part Four is a novella, and it is the fourth and final entry in a four-part sensual, m/f/m serial. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany Allee
• Release date: Dec 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536523997

Book preview

Chapter One

For some reason , Daniella had expected a weretiger funeral to be different. To be somehow foreign and strange and thus less painful. But the day they laid Glenn to rest was much like any funeral. A woman cried—his mate, she was told. His friends were somber and stoic. And his prime—as well as his people—were angry. A chill breeze that was always only a blink away in the Colorado mountains whipped over the attendees.

Worst of all, she could barely concentrate on the funeral given the news Grayson had called with the day before. The stalker had struck again. This time, not taking someone Daniella knew and loved, but it was almost worse. The stalker had taken the werewolves’ equivalent of a civilian.

A shifter so weak that she could barely be called one.

The service itself was similar to what she might've expected for a standard human affair. Erick stood, poised like the king he was, at the dais. He spoke of Glenn's bravery, of his commitment to his people. Even going so far as to mention the man’s dislike of Erick, personally—drawing a low murmur of laughter from the crowd.

But Glenn wasn't the type of tiger to allow such minor differences of personality to dissuade him. He was a warrior. A man of his people. And he died to protect them. Erick finished his speech and stepped down. A woman replaced him. Glenn’s sister, if Daniella had to guess.

After the brief service, Glenn wasn’t buried. Instead, he was burned over a pyre. That part of the service should have struck her as odd. Instead, it felt old. Ancient.

It felt right.

After the fire was lit, and silence reigned over the gathering for several long minutes, the weretigers moved to the main house—the large building that housed everything from a cafeteria to the library to offices. Again, very much like the humans they appeared to be. The tigers met for food and drink. Congregated to share memories of their fallen comrade.

Daniella quickly found herself alone among the many shifters. Erick had a duty to see to Glenn's widow, and Owen was busy as well—greeting and speaking with his people. Daniella suppressed the urge to stick closely by Owen's side. It was uncomfortable to be alone—she barely knew anyone here—but she had to stand on her own two feet. How could she ever expect Erick to trust her with more serious things if she couldn't even manage a social gathering without one of them by her side?

So she wandered. Around her, the weretigers alternated between somberness and laughter—between moments of grief, and moments of sharing happy memories they had with Glenn. She felt bad that she hadn't gotten a chance to know him. He had seemed the most stoic of the weretigers, the most distant. But from the bits of conversation that reached her ears, it was obvious many of his people cared for him.

The faces around her weren't unwelcoming, but they weren't exactly welcoming, either. She was a stranger here, and she felt almost like she was intruding on a very private moment. She barely knew Glenn, and it felt wrong to try to insert herself into conversations with his friends and family. So she did what anyone would in an uncomfortable social gathering—she went straight to the food table.

Her stomach roiled; she wasn't entirely sure she could eat anything. But she grabbed a couple of cookies and a few of pieces of finger food. Small plate in hand, she turned and scanned the room. Erick was still nowhere to be seen, and Owen stood with four people around him, tigers who were raptly listening to whatever was he was saying. She frowned and glanced down at her food.

It didn't help her comfort level that they hadn't had a chance to talk about what happened, what it might mean. The night with Owen and Erick had been amazing—beyond anything she could have imagined. The pleasure, yes—holy cow, the things they'd done to her body were beyond words—but it was more than that. She'd never felt such a strong connection before. When they were together, it was unadulterated bliss. Like she'd finally found a puzzle that her oddly shaped piece fit.

And she was terrified.

She picked at one of the cookies and tried to think of anything else when someone touched her shoulder. Startled, she gave a little jump and almost lost the food on her plate.

Cat grinned at her, managing to stifle a chuckle with her hand. Jumpy much?

She resisted returning Cat's smile—just barely. I have no idea what you're talking about, she deadpanned.

Cat rolled her eyes. A taller form stepped beside her librarian friend, and Cat looked up to smile at him. Chris. The young man Daniella had threatened to sleep with when Erick threatened to leave her behind. He still had a year or two before he grew into his gangly limbs and big feet, but he was already handsome. She put him at around twenty.

Hey, Chris, she said, giving him an apologetic grin. I never got a chance to say I was sorry about—you know, the whole thing… Her cheeks heated, and Chris smiled.

No problem. He glanced around, then added, It was worth it, just to see Erick's expression.

Cat looked back and forth between them, clearly not getting the joke, and Daniella made a mental note to tell her the story at a more appropriate time.

"So how's everything going?" Cat asked, stressing the words in such a way that Daniella knew exactly what she was asking.

Her face warmed again, and Cat's grin widened.

Later. She mouthed the word, and Cat nodded eagerly. Chris was suddenly very interested in what his feet were doing.

Hey, can we talk after this? About something important? Daniella asked.

Cat quirked an eyebrow at her. We can sneak out now if you want.

She glanced around. Owen was still occupied, and Erick still nowhere to be seen. She stomped out the bit of irritation that spiked in her. Today wasn’t about her, it was about Glenn. Do you think that would be rude?

Cat shook her head. People will be in and out now. I doubt anybody will notice that we’re not here.

Meet you in the library?

Sure. Cat headed toward the exit. Surprisingly, Chris followed at her heels. Huh.

She tried