Chapter 368 Promises, Promises  

~ ZEV ~

"No, Sash, that's not what I said!" Zev hurried to correct himself. "I was talking about an unmated female. If it's known that she can't have a family, her pool of potential mates is going to be a lot smaller." His mind turned to Kyelle and everything she'd been through—and now, poor Lhars. He wondered how his brother felt about not having offspring? "But if a pair is already mated… I can't imagine any male that would reject his mate over this. He might be disappointed, but the bond is there."

"So he'd stay, just because of the bond?" Sasha said through her teeth.

"No," Zev said, worried. He lowered his voice. "Sasha, I think we need to discuss—"

"I'm not asking about us!" she snapped. Then she stopped herself and blew out a breath. Zev stepped over to where she was standing at the end of the bed, her arms folded.

"Babe, what's going on?"

"Nothing. For real. I'm just tired and sad and… now I'm learning that Chimeran males would reject their mates. It just—"

"No, Sash, that's the thing I was trying to say. Once the bond is formed and they're together, I can't see any male abandoning his mate, even if it means they'll never have offspring. No Chimera is going to leave his mate and go looking for another. I don't think any would even want to. I don't think they could!"

"Xar did."

Zev growled. "Xar was out of his mind and his mate has been dead for years. He was… that was a power play, not a desire for you." But he didn't appreciate the reminder.

Sasha scowled and began to pace the floor. "Poor Mae is up there, trying to catch sight or smell of her mate, but if he showed up, she'd flee. She's convinced that he would be kind to her but that he'd be so upset to learn that she can no longer have offspring, that he'd wish he hadn't mated her."

"I can't see that," Zev said, shaking his head. "I think… I really don't think that's true. The bond is… well, c'mon, Sash, you know. The bond is about so much more than that."

"Yes, but when I said that—when I said that I knew you wouldn't leave me for that, she said it's because we're ardent. Is that true? Is our bond different in that way? Does it make you blind to things that would have broken us up?"

"No! Sasha…. Please, babe. Don't think things like that. I've been waiting all afternoon for you to get free and come find me. I've been aching for you. Please… I'm never leaving—for goodness sake, this morning I made you vow never to leave me!"

"I know, I know," she said, flapping at hand and shaking her head. "I know. It's just… things like this make me so aware of how different we are—and how easily I could make a misstep and tell someone the wrong thing and completely screw all of this up. I was just starting to get comfortable—I'm excited, Zev! I really think we're going to get everyone out of here! But I just… it just hit me again. I know jack shit about this place and these people and… what if the reason we don't get out is because I'm just ignorant, or stupid?"

"Sasha," Zev said, walking over to gather her into his arms, "you've singlehandedly brought us closer to being free of the humans than any Alpha ever has. I am… stunned at what you've accomplished. Whatever's gotten in your head, don't let it stay there. You're doing amazing. I caught how you gave an instruction back there at the cookfires. You didn't ask or apologize. You're doing great."

She gave an awkward smile, but let herself relax into his chest, and Zev finally breathed a little easier.

"Stop worrying," he whispered into her hair. "No matter what happens, we'll deal with it. And no matter how long it takes for the females to feel comfortable and become part of the clans again… we'll wait. I'm just so grateful that you're here and safe and… shit."

He froze.

"What is it?" She pulled back from his chest to stare up at him.

"We have the meeting with the Alphas. I was going to suggest another bath," he said, winking. "But I forgot, the Alphas need to hear from you, Sash, about what you did and what you learned. And your plan—even if you don't tell them the specifics. They need to know that you're staying true to your plan to get us all out from under human rule. Plus, I think they need more caution about the females too. I broke up several conversations with males today who were talking about walking up to see the females. I think even after last night they don't really realize just how bad it was. You need to tell them."

Sasha nodded, but her sigh was heavy.

"Don't worry," he whispered in her ear, then kissed her neck. "We'll go right after dinner, then we'll be back in a couple of hours and we can take the rest of the night for ourselves."

Sasha groaned. "I'd love to do that," she said. "But I feel like I should—"

"Speaking as one Alpha to another," Zev said, one eyebrow up, "I seem to remember someone telling me that I needed to take care of myself first before I could take care of others?"

She looked up at him, and for the first time, one side of her mouth tipped up in a smile.

"So, you're telling me, that going to bed with my mate is taking care of myself?" she asked slyly.

Zev gave her the easy smile and nodded. "Because I'll take very, very good care of you," he said, his voice a low growl as he leaned down to lay his lips on her neck again.

Sasha sighed again, but happily this time. "Do you promise?"

"I promise."