him. Cursing himself, he liked that idea more than was good for him. Of course, if she was out of the dungeon she would want to go home to her family. That thought opened another can of worms. He didn’t know what he’d do when she left the compound.
“Hopefully they will be out of here by then. We know they’re ready to get back and join their families. What do their leaders think of them being here?” Mack asked, popping a handful of nuts into her mouth.
“Their leaders agreed with Zander and the council about keeping them here until the scientists have had a chance to gather the information they need,” Elsie answered, curling her leg under her body.
Cringing at the thought of what happened the last time they tested an antidote, Gerrick wondered how they were ever going to get the answers they needed. Neither Jace nor the scientists would be too keen on taking the chance again. Shae tried to volunteer before and she’d try again. That protective instinct reared its head with that thought and Gerrick vowed to do everything in his power to stop her. His chest constricted at the idea of her being injured, or worse, killed.
“I, for one, would like to see the dungeons with fewer occupants,” Gerrick added. “I assume Zander used this as an opportunity to open talks with the Harpies. How did that go? Are they willing to come to the table with the alliance?”
“Och, they are being bluidy stubborn. Even with me there, the females refused to join our forces,” Breslin added. “Regardless, if they become alliance members, we will have the Harpies loyalty after this which is a win. I have to believe these females will be oot of the dungeons by the time of solstice. I canna fathom keeping them much longer. On another note, we need to get the final details to Nate for the layout. He needs to familiarize himself with how the ballroom is going to be designed because this is his first celebration since becoming the majordomo. How big should we make the dance floor?” Breslin asked the room at large.
“Ugh, please tell me I don’t have to dance at this thing. I don’t dance for a reason. It’s not pretty,” Mack complained, throwing her body dramatically into her chair.
Rhys smiled. “Just wait until you have some of my hey juice. It’s guaranteed to make you think you can dance.”
“I thought you said it was guaranteed to make women rub on you and say hey baby, while begging to experience your…magnificence,” Elsie teased.
Rhys walked over to Elsie and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “That’s how most females will react, but Mack is mated. It’s a shame that you had to go and get mated before you got to try me, but I promise my juice will help you shake your thang. That’s what the super-secret blend is designed to do.”
Gerrick narrowed his eyes at the playboy warrior. The lecherous comments couldn’t hide the longing Gerrick could see within his friend. The male was far more caring than he let on and was deeply connected to everyone in the house. He may tease and carry on as was expected of a cambion, but he would never disrespect any of the females in the compound. Hell, Gerrick had spent enough time around the warrior to see that he respected all females.
“Getting mated was the best decision I ever made. And, like I said, I don’t dance. So, are you going with Thane?” Mack asked, turning to Jessie and trying to act casual.
“I like him and I’m sure we will dance, but we aren’t going together,” Jessie admitted, shrugging her shoulder.
Mack leaned back against the cushion and crossed her legs. “I’m surprised he didn’t ask you.”
The Tehrex Realm had different rules and expectations and their expectations had undergone a major change after the mating curse had been lifted. These females didn’t really understand the depth of what that meant. “He’s a Dark Warrior. Honor is our middle name. He won’t get too close because he doesn’t want to give you the pretense of a relationship. One day, he will find his Fated Mate and you will be left on the sidelines. When he finds his female, nothing and no one else will matter.” Gerrick knew all too well what that felt like and his loss was still a knife in his gut. That he was drawn to Shae in a way he had only felt with