The Tiger's Mate

By Lynn Tyler

Thrash, tiger shifter and adviser to the king had it all: a high-ranking job, a home in paradise and a friendship with the king. He had everything, including a gaping hole in his soul that was reserved for his mate. A mate that he had yet to find. Until a scientist working on tracking some ancient missing space shuttles, the Final Hope ships, provides him with a spark of light in the darkness.

To everyone on the outside, Leigh lives the dream life. After scoring job as a zoo vet, she settles in Toronto, Canada. Her days are filled with check-ups, specimen collection and analyzing lab results. And her favorite part, snuggling with the tiger cubs. But she just can't shake the restlessness that has filled her since she was young; the feeling that her life just isn't complete.

When the two finally meet, sparks fly but how can they be together when an entire galaxy separates their two planets?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Tyler
• Release date: Oct 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781989220023

Lynn Tyler

Lynn Tyler, erotic romance author, has been writing since she was young. An Amazon bestseller and a strong believer in happily ever after, Lynn writes predominantly male/male paranormal romance. Visit Lynn’s website lynntylerbooks.com

Book preview

1

Could anything be more annoying? He’d rather a teething tiger cub be using his finger as a chew toy than standing idly around, waiting for information based on a vague message to the palace.

Thrash stood in the communications lab of the Final Hope Project space station and glared at the room at large. The gathered scientists probably experienced his irritation in waves, battering against them until they thought they would erode. He didn’t care. He growled under his breath and straightened his spine, standing to his full height.

What had he been thinking when he’d volunteered to oversee this project? It wasn’t like he had spare time. Being the king’s chief adviser was time consuming, even if he and the king had been best friends since childhood. He’d already missed a royal meeting with the ambassador from Talan. Not that King Kennick couldn’t handle it himself. The lion shifter was more than capable of negotiating with the Talans. But it was always better to have a second set of ears when dealing with a representative from another planet, even if that was all Thrash did in the meeting.

He stifled a sigh and glanced at his time piece. It was old, ancient even, and completely out of fashion but it had been a gift from his parents and he was very attached to it. Some of the tabloids called him a fuddy-duddy, a tiger out of touch with modern society, but he knew better. The government controlled the media, and it was made up of a bunch of old mated fools who wanted nothing more than to shut the Final Hope Project down and divert its funds elsewhere. If they could do that by making him look bad to the general public, they would. Fortunately for him, his position as Kennick’s right-hand man and his own status as a very powerful tiger shifter kept them from going much further than speculating about his relationship with the king.

Will you settle down? Nary Ash muttered from his side. You’re going to scare them and then we’ll be stuck here even longer while they change their pants.

It would have been uncouth for him to roll his eyes at the woman, so he settled for turning his glare on her. He hated getting atomized and then sent through a generated wormhole, so he’d taken the royal shuttle to the station. Unfortunately, Nary had taken it with him, though he didn’t know why. She was far more comfortable traveling through wormholes than he was.

Whatever the case, he’d had to endure two hours of her harping on about fiscal waste. As if spending his entire childhood with her hadn’t been bad enough. Politics really was a good career for her.

Still, she was right, at least about the cowering scientists.

The realization that Nary had a valid point irritated him even more. Do you all realize King Kennick and I had a meeting with the Talan ambassador today and that I’ve now missed it because you’ve summoned me here?

Yes, sir, one of the scientists muttered into his console. We just want to be sure we have all the facts correct before we tell you why you were summoned.

The announcement seemed to annoy even Nary. You couldn’t have waited to summon us until you were sure about what you’ve received? I had to ask the Senate to postpone a meeting in order for me to be here.

The heavy scent of unease floated through the room, smelling at once like sour vinegar and bitter fruit mixed with a little copper. He wrinkled his nose. Fear didn’t smell good to begin with, but the combined fear of five people was almost too much to bear.

He nudged Nary’s side. Settle down, he said, throwing her own words back at her.

One of the scientists finally cleared his throat. Perhaps we did contact you a little sooner than we should have, but we knew you wouldn’t want to wait. Approximately three hours ago, we received a message from the Final Hope 3.

The little man was shaking so hard, it was a miracle he hadn’t bitten his tongue when he’d spoken. Thrash could scent his distress from a mile away. If he’d been a slave to his inner beast, the scientist would have been dead—skinny neck snapped between his powerful jaws—half an hour ago.

Luckily for the other man, he was in full control of both his animal and human sides. Control didn’t mean he was immune to irritation though. Thrash sucked in a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best to tamp down his temper. The scientist was a mere bobcat shifter and was more than likely fighting his instinct to flee from the upset tiger in the room.

When he had complete control over his voice, Thrash responded. We’ve had ancient distress calls from other Final Hope ships before. What was so different about this one?

This wasn’t a distress call, sir. It was a message with their final destination.

His heart pounded so hard, he could feel it throbbing in his toes. For the first time in his life, he had hope that he might find his missing mate.

2

Hope could be a dangerous thing. It could make people reckless, make them do things they wouldn’t normally consider. Like the time he’d traveled around the entire world over the course of six months in search of his mate, draining his savings and putting his job on the line.

Luckily for him, Kennick had gone to great lengths to keep him on as his adviser, despite his long absence.

He would never forget the soul-deep blackness he’d returned to the palace with.

Now, in the face of the news that at least one of the missing Final Hope ships may have actually been successful, Thrash was careful to keep his face blank and his heart walled in.

A single message, Nary echoed. You called us all the way up here for a message that could have been relayed to us through subspace?

The little bobcat shifted his weight from one foot to the other. His fingers tapped against his tablet, but Thrash couldn’t tell if he was calling anything up on the screen or doing it out of nervousness. His scent suggested nerves.

Yes, ma’am, he squeaked. He cleared his throat. Like I said, it contained news that the Final Hope 3 had reached a suitable destination. We knew Lord Nile would want to see it for himself.

Before Thrash could speak, Nary was talking again. Then why make us wait? The meeting with the Talans is incredibly important and Lord Nile was expected to attend. It could have left a bad impression on the Talan ambassador when he failed to arrive.

It’s fine, Thrash interrupted before the scientist passed out from fright. His Majesty is more than capable of handling the meeting alone. This is a priority for both King Kennick and I.

The man cracked a small smile. Then I have some good news. While you were on the shuttle, more messages were received. They are still coming in, even as we speak.

The announcement bounced around inside Thrash’s skull. Goddess, this was so much more than he’d been expecting. How many?

At least thirty, sir. We haven’t had the time to analyze them all, but it looks promising.

What do these messages consist of? Nary asked.

There was no trace of venom in her voice now and Thrash was forcibly reminded that she, too, had failed to find her mate.

There are general communications logs, environmental scans, even medical scans. The files are massive, given that they were generated with ancient technology, so some are slow to be received.

Thrash staggered back a step. Everything suggested the crew of the Final Hope 3 had survived. Divide the files between personnel as you see fit. We will hold a meeting as soon as King Kennick is on board.

He didn’t bother dismissing the crew. He stalked across the deck and into the office he rarely used, Nary hot on his heels.

Thrash, what are you going to do now? she asked once the door had shut behind them.

Contact Kennick. You know he would want to be informed right away. And his meeting with the Talans should be over by now.

The woman wandered over to the giant window and gazed down at their home planet. Maybe you should wait until we have more information.

I beg your pardon?

She sighed and touched the glass. He wished he could smell her emotions. She’d started taking a new line of scent blockers a few years ago and it drove him crazy trying to figure out her real feelings. Look, you know Kennick. He’ll get over-excited at the news.

Thrash collapsed into his desk chair and steepled his fingers. Despite their animosity, they were both childhood friends of the king’s. He knew she simply wanted to spare their friend from any heartache. I understand your concern, Nary. But we’ve never been this close before. He deserves to know, if not because he’s aching for his mate, but because he’s the king.

Fine. But it’s your turn to pick up the pieces of his broken heart.

He nodded. You could look at it that way. I prefer to look at it as giving him the first concrete lead on his mate.

She took a deep breath and he could smell the tears welling in her eyes. She might be able to block the scent of her emotions with pills, but nothing could cover the smell of physical reactions.

He was just about to go to her, to wrap his arm around her shoulders, when she turned, her uncaring mask firmly back in place. What’s to say the crew ever made it to the surface of this planet? Even if they did, where’s the proof that their descendants are still there? It’s a waste of money, Thrash, and you know it.

What are you afraid of? he asked. Don’t you still feel the tug of your mate?

She stared at him as if he’d slapped her. Goddess, what if she’d stopped feeling the pull? It could indicate that her mate had died. Nary, I’m sorry, he said. I was out of line.

Call Kennick. I have people to call myself. If we’re going to waste even more resources on this project, the people of Tigris deserve to know.

Which meant she’d be calling the prime minister, who would no doubt call a press conference.

Great.

She stormed from his office. He stared at the door long after she’d left, wondering if he should go after her. He’d probably end up with his eyes clawed out.

Finally, he pulled out his tab and requested a secure frequency. Kennick appeared on the screen, his mouth turned down. I finished with the Talan ambassador half an hour ago and was just about to take a nap. What do you want?

Headache? Thrash asked. The king had been getting them more frequently, probably due to stress. If he didn’t find his mate, he would be the last of his line. Talk about pressure.

Yes. Sorry for snapping at you. Kennick massaged his temples. This day can’t get any longer.

What if I told you that we’ve received some messages. Very promising ones?

The king’s eyes widened. If Thrash didn’t know exactly how his friend felt, he would have laughed. Really? the king asked.

Really.

I’ll be there in two minutes, he said, pain apparently forgotten.

Thrash cut the connection, hoping he hadn’t set his friend, or himself, up for yet another round of heartbreak.

3

Kennick was so excited, Thrash was surprised the man hadn’t vibrated right out of his chair. He drummed his fingers on the table in front of him and tapped one foot against the chair leg. Thrash half expected his friend to start spinning the chair in circles.

Can’t you calm him down? Nary hissed. His behavior is unbecoming of a king.

I can hear you, Nary, Kennick practically sang. And who’s going to see me? It’s just you and Thrash. Don’t worry, I’ll go back to acting all proper and kingly when everyone else gets here.

Thrash smirked. He wouldn’t have even attempted to do anything about the king’s behavior, even if the room was full of press. He liked seeing his friend this way. The king had become far too serious since his father had died a few years ago, leaving him as the last of the royal line.

"So, when is