“Your female is right. We cannot go around killing humans. It would be a surefire way to bring down their wrath. After so many years of living in peace. It is not something that you want to have happen. Our grandfathers can still recall the days when vampires were hunted, staked and burned. They were dark days.”
Gideon could only clench his jaw.
“You have put me on the spot,” Zane growled. “Your female will not be banished from vampire territory. I can’t just agree to a mating. There are no places in the program.” Zane shook his head.
A weight was lifted off of Gideon’s shoulders. Regardless of what happened next. Of what battle they would need to fight, Jenna would at least be safe.
“What about the next heat? I will ensure myself a place in the program. You know that I am worthy.”
Zane shook his head. “You are definitely worthy but all females not picked during this heat will be sent home. A new batch of females will arrive. I am not sure how we are going to get around this. Jenna will no longer be eligible for the program once she is sent home…not that we will send her home.”
“Did you and Brant not realize that there would be anomalies?” Frustration ate at him. Gideon swallowed hard. “There needs to be allowances for the exceptions to the rule. You are a king, my lord. Surely if it is your decision then it will need to be respected. I am a security leader…one of the elite. A top warrior…I have earned the right to a human female of my choice. I choose Jenna…I will always choose her…there will never be another for me.”
Zane cursed. He clenched his jaw for a few beats. “I realize that. The last thing we want is for the males in the general population to think that if they are compatible in all ways with a female, then they can have her. It won’t work. We’ll have mayhem. There are cultural differences…misunderstandings could arise. There is also bloodlust to contend with. You are lucky that you do not suffer from the affliction or Jenna would be dead today.”
“I never once thought about that side of it.”
“Neither will they. It is a huge risk.” Zane raised his brows.
Frustration ate at him. “The fact of the matter is, my lord, we are in this situation. What is the way forward? Is Jenna permitted to stay as my mate? Or should we leave?”
“Don’t start with your ultimatums.” Zane growled, his eyes narrowed in on Gideon. “I fucking hate ultimatums.”
“This isn’t an ultimatum…it is my life that we’re talking about. My future. Jenna is my future. I had hoped that you would understand that.”
Zane shook his head. “Calm the fuck down. I do understand. Believe it or not, Brant would understand. We need time to sort this out though, to figure this out. Jenna will be safe in the meanwhile.”
His phone rang again. Zane fished the device out of his pocket. “What fucking now?” He grumbled, holding his hand up to Gideon.
“Yeah.” He said as he put the device to his ear.
“York is out of the program. I don’t think we should pick another male…maybe in the next heat.”
“No.” Zane said, his eyes firmly on Gideon. “I know of someone.”
“Who?” Brant growled.
“You told me to trust you to make the right decision. I need you to trust me. I have your tenth elite.”
There was a growling noise on the other end. Then Brant sighed. “Fine. Just so that you know, I gave York permission to mate with that female. I’m turning fucking soft.”
“You’ve always been soft.” Zane smiled.
“That’s not what Tanya told me last night when I had my—”
“We’ll talk later.” Zane interjected, he was grinning from ear to ear. He ended the call and looked up at Gideon.
His heart raced. His hands felt clammy. Everything inside of him tightened. He’d never been one to pray before. Right now he was ready to go down on his knees if that’s what it would take.
“You’re in,” Zane growled. “I should choose one of the others that actually participated, but what the fuck. I’m the fucking king, right?” He shrugged.
Gideon had never hugged another male before in his whole life. Had never wanted to. The thought of doing it had never even crossed his mind. Yet, he gripped the other male about the shoulders.
“Hey,” Zane growled.
Gideon could feel the vibration in the other male’s chest. He released him. “Sorry. I’m just so damned happy. So thankful. You won’t regret this.” Gideon turned and walked towards the castle.
“Wait up!” Zane shouted after him. “We need to go and break this to Brant in person.”