Refugee (The Captive #3)(28)
“She’s not open for discussion,” Braith stated flatly.
William took a step forward, drawn by the topic of his sister. “Braith you must understand…”
“What I understand Gideon, is that you better think about what you are going to say before you continue.”
Gideon swallowed heavily; his hazel eyes were turbulent. Braith thought he’d finally gathered enough sense to remain silent. He was wrong. “I understand you care for this girl, love her even,” he amended quickly when Ashby shook his head. “But you must understand that no matter how powerful you are vampires will not accept a human as their queen.”
“They don’t have to.”
“You plan to try and change her then?”
William inhaled sharply, his eyes were questioning as his gaze bounced between them. Braith shook his head sternly. Something shifted and twisted inside of him, it curled through his belly, and clutched at his chest. He would love nothing more than to spend eternity with her, to give her the strength that came with immortality, to protect her from her own recklessness, and to ease the instability the thought of her death created in him, but he couldn’t take the chance. He would not be the one that destroyed her.
“No. I will not risk her life in such a way.”
Gideon and Ashby shifted uncomfortably, William’s eyes were beginning to resemble an owl’s. “She is strong, she’s brave, and she has earned my respect, but you cannot rule with a human Braith. The others will not fall in line for a human, and they will not follow your children.”
“Is that even possible?” William blurted in surprise.
Braith shot him a dark look as the boy gaped back at him in something akin to horror. “It is,” he sneered.
“The child will be either vampire or human,” Ashby elaborated. “The vampire children are often ignored, exiled, or ridiculed. The humans don’t fare any better, but some are given positions as servants within the palace. It’s always been that way, even before the king ruled.”
“There are some of those children here, they were either created here, or they fled the persecution they received while in the palace. Here, no matter what they are, they are treated as equals, but we still wouldn’t accept them as a ruler unless they were full vampire. They are slightly stronger than a human but not as strong as a full vampire.”
“Does that include you Gideon?” Braith sneered.
He shifted nervously. “You can’t hold the truth against me Braith. We are just here, give us credit for that, but do not blame us for the truth. Unless she survives the change, she will not be accepted, and neither will your children.”
Braith shifted as he folded his arms over his chest. “If Aria and I have children then I can assure you they will meet no such fate.”
“Life in the palace…”
“They will not be raised in the palace.”
Gideon gaped at him. “What do you plan on doing with them Braith? With her? Perhaps you could marry another…”
“No.”
“Braith, be reasonable,” Gideon urged.
He was being reasonable; he wasn’t beating the hell out of them right now. He considered that pretty damn reasonable considering the burgeoning rage he felt. “Ask Ashby to marry another.”
Ashby paled, he shook his head fiercely as he took a step back. “No.”
“Ashby doesn’t have to marry another!” Gideon snapped. “His marriage to Natasha is over. No one will question him if he takes Melinda. She is your sister, her blood is pure. It’s a fine match. She’s not a human Braith!”
Braith moved so swiftly that Gideon didn’t have time to react before he seized hold of Gideon’s neck. He slammed him against the wall with enough force to crack the plaster. Gideon’s eyes bulged; shock caused his face to go slack as Braith squeezed hard enough to draw blood. “I told you to watch what you said, you were warned, and this will be your final one. This topic is not up for discussion. There will be no other woman, there will be no talk of changing her, and our children will not know the life that you have described. I will fight with you, I will even help lead this battle, but someone else will rule. When this is over I am taking her and we are leaving that place. I promised her a life of peace and I will give it to her!”
He slammed Gideon against the wall again before shoving him violently and finally releasing him. Gideon’s hand flew to his throat; he bent over as he watched Braith warily. “Who do you expect to lead?” he choked out
Braith shrugged. “I don’t particularly care. You do it, or even Ashby, you said yourself that my sister is of sound bloodlines. Perhaps even Calista or Xavier would be a fine choice. I don’t care who you pick, just as long as we are left alone.”
“She will still die.”
“And I’ll be there beside her, and I will find a way to go with her.”
Gideon was completely flabbergasted; his mouth opened and closed a few times before he was finally able to speak again. “You are the next in line Braith, the one that everyone, including the humans, has expected to take the throne. The infighting that such an abdication would cause…”
“I’m sure that it will all work out,” Ashby inserted quickly. He shot Gideon a silencing look as he stepped forward to break up what was sure to be a battle if it continued. “We must win the war out there first, let us not start one here.”