He stood, unable to move as he spoke to him, his body held by a psychic restraint. The head elder sat silent as his voice harshly penetrated his mind. The baby will come soon. The laws were broken. YOU helped to break those laws. You did not inform the council when the vampire in question blatantly violated our laws and took a human as a mate. YOU yourself violated that very law by taking a human as well, although she was adequately disposed of. However, she carried a child, a child that by law would have belonged to this world. And now, this vampire Nickolas has impregnated his own vermin, a human, and now the child will belong to us. And it is your duty to bring that child to us. It is also your duty to dispose of those who are in violation of the laws of the darkness…and when that is done, you will be allowed to live…as will your mate…

Jaecar fell to the floor as the council released him. His mind drained as he looked up from the cold stone floor. Slowly he stood, drawing himself up to his full height and looked directly at the head elder. He growled softly as he watched the council stand and vanish silently from the room until he stood alone. "Jaecar…" the voice behind him was quiet. He turned to face her. His eyes dark with rage as she stood before him, her eyes searching his for some forgiveness. "You told them…" He snarled, "You TOLD them about her…about Serena…about the baby. MY baby. And you told them about Nickolas and Jess…about their child!" "I had to!" Taite stepped forward, her voice sharp, "Jaecar, I had no choice! It was my duty…" Her voice faltered as she watched him. "You don't understand…you don't know…you haven't found your soulmate Taite. I agreed to rule with you, but I'm NOT your soulmate. You are my mate. And right now, I could care less whether you live or die. You don't know what you've done…" Jaecar raised his eyes and looked directly at Taite, "You don't know what you've done to Nickolas…to Jess…and to their child…"

Jaecar walked past Taite, pulling away as she reached for his arm. "Don't…do not ever…touch…me again." Without looking back he walked from the council room, his mind spinning with questions, wondering how he could save Nickolas's child the way he hadn't been able to do for his own child.