“I’ve lost a brother and a father to this shit, Ryon. I’ll not lose more, which means I’ll not lose you. Until we know more about what they’re planning, who’s with us and who’s against us, you’re all staying safe,” Callum fired back.
“Which blows,” Caleb muttered, then rolled his eyes at Ryon when Callum’s expression turned downright ferocious.
“Safe does not blow, Caleb,” Callum clipped. “Safe means our mother, who lost her mate and her son to these rebels, will not lose more.”
Caleb appeared like he didn’t much enjoy being told off, but he said nothing else. Ryon said nothing else mostly because his jaw was clenched so hard, I wasn’t sure he could speak.
So Gregor took this opportunity to butt into the family argument. “Callum, we must impress upon the president the gravity of the situation, and the king sending one of his governors—”
Callum cut him off. “Saint is a skilled diplomat. He has a direct line to me. And if the president doesn’t understand that my number one priority is my family, I don’t give a shit if the gravity of the situation is impressed upon him or not. He makes a fucked-up decision based on the fact that he doesn’t have the attention he thinks he deserves, then he pays for that through his legacy.”
“You wanna fill us in on what you’re talking about?” Abel suggested.
Gregor looked to Abel. “We’re attempting to talk a variety of world leaders into devising a plan to expose the existence of immortals in a way that will not be alarming, at the same time sharing that there is some cause for concern due to those who wish to cause harm and explaining how they could take precautions.”
“And you’re gonna manage that how?” Abel asked but didn’t allow an answer. “First off, humans are gonna totally freak. Then they’re gonna totally fucking freak when you share that there’re evil supernaturals who want to enslave them, are pretty much impossible to kill, can get in their homes without invitation, and are impervious to silver, garlic, shit like that, which means humans are essentially completely unsafe.”
“I’ll admit, it’s a diplomatic challenge,” Gregor conceded, and I swallowed back my snort.
“Yeah, a challenge,” Abel muttered sarcastically, obviously feeling the same as me.
“It’s your destiny not only to ensure humans live freely but also to create harmony between humans and immortals,” Serena pointed out, and I was glad she seemed so positive and didn’t mention it could go the other way.
“Which brings us to you and Lilah, Abel,” Gregor stated, and I looked to him. “We’ve consulted with experts in the field and they believe that, of The Three, with your manner and the fact you’re a hybrid, as well as Lilah’s vivacity and, well”— he flicked a hand out to me—“her attractive every-girl characteristics, you two would be the best poster couple to show how not only are immortals nonthreatening, but that humans and immortals can live in harmony.”
I felt Abel’s tenseness and reached out a hand to curl it around his thigh as he asked, “Poster couple?”
“We’d like to place carefully crafted articles in a variety of reputable media outlets about you and Lilah, sharing that you’re an immortal and she is your human mate. This would include photo spreads,” Gregor explained, and unfortunately he wasn’t done. “And due to our need to prove this is not nonsense, we must utilize television in order that people can see you transform.”
That was when I got tense.
Abel performing for the masses?
I did not like that.
“Are you fuckin’ crazy?” Abel barked.
He didn’t like it either.
Gregor ignored Abel’s question and assured, “This would all occur behind these walls so you both would remain safe. And we’d have approval over what was written or broadcast. It would help enormously if Jian-Li and your brothers would agree to participate too. Our experts feel your close connection with a family of humans would hold much sway with humanity.”
“You are crazy,” Abel whispered dangerously, and I gave his thigh a squeeze.
Gregor again ignored him.
“After this is shared, we’d strategically release Leah and Lucien’s story. And after that, we would share about Callum and Sonia, they being last as both are wolves,” Gregor continued. “However, Sonia’s lifetime as a human would be carefully communicated. We also have other wolves who have taken human mates, not to mention vampires who have recently coupled with humans. We would ask they tell their stories as well. And the concubines have agreed to come out about what they do for vampires and share our own version of…” He paused, “Humanity.”
I knew about concubines, or the women (and dudes) who, for centuries, provided their blood to vampires so that vampires didn’t have to go out and find their meals, freaking out humans in the process. There had been a lot of rules around selecting them and keeping them. Some of those rules ended when Leah, who had been Lucien’s concubine, fell in love with her vampire and he did the same in return, this being forbidden. Until them.
“The Council is crafting a media plan that will eventually expose wolves and vampires within society,” Gregor kept going. “Doctors. Nurses. Businessmen and women who provide jobs. It will be explained we already live harmoniously with humans. We own property. We pay taxes. We purchase goods and services. We provide employment opportunities. We’re involved in our communities.”