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the human leader, Frank, is a good, upstanding man. I'm not sure what his response will be though. Their greatest concerns now are the creature's out there."

"Those creatures must be handled," Braith muttered. He agreed with most of what Gideon had done here, and understood his aversion to handing out the death sentence, but those things were not rational, thinking beings anymore.

"There is something else we must discuss Braith." Ashby and Gideon exchanged a look that caused Braith to stiffen. Whatever Gideon was about to say, he wasn't going to like it. "It's about the girl."

"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