**Ch 350: The Bridge Suggestion

Edgar took a sigh at the sight of Gaston trying to soothe Morticia the best he could. "From this day forward, nobody is to take justice upon themselves without the full support of the council," he reinforced more to Morbius and his allies who disliked the O'Donnell Coven.

"Fair enough." Morbius ratified, though I didn't miss that deception glistening in his eyes as his crooked grin grew wider whenever he peered at Morticia sobbing on Gaston's lap. There was not an ounce of remorse that Morbius had for her, which didn't go unnoticed by me. Morbius seemed to have a chicanery objective in mind.

Satisfied enough with his response, Edgar announced. "Very well. Let's determine if Morticia is pregnant, and then we will rightfully start the trial."

The Headmaster of the Nasberry Coven went to her, and he held his hand over her stomach.

"She's conceived," he revealed with a faint sigh as another gasp was spread throughout the council room by the echo that followed.

"How could he know so soon?" I asked, rather stunned.

"His first gift can detect it within hours," Kai responded as I saw Morbius blow steam from his ears like a train.

"She and her unborn offspring are to be exiled to another planet! Gaston loses his mate! Therefore, he will marry Emily as Vlad and I have agreed!" Morbius declared as umbrage boomed from his vocals.

Gaston growled. "If you exile my mate and unborn offspring, then I exile myself with them!"

Morbius sneered. "Whatever your full punishment will be, you will obey what you are told to do! Your father and I will not allow you to break Emily's heart after what she has been through!"

"I won't marry Emily!" Gaston roared. "If you somehow manage to make me. Her heart will break when I never touch her or love her!"

"You will heed!" Morbius bites back as Vlad seems to be in deep thought.

Edgar propounds more equitable terms. "Since this crime took place under Vlad's palace, it is only fair that he deems the punishment, and Vincent is right. Morticia is his daughter. Therefore, it is only right that he disciplines his offspring for the adultery act she committed. It is up to him to decide whether he exiles his pregnant daughter."

"Well then, it's a good thing my son and his friends had punished her. Everyone already knows Vincent will do nothing to teach her a lesson. I already know Vlad and I are on the same page." Morbius chuckled fiendishly as he besmirched him again, yet Vincent remained quiet.

"Indeed, we are," Vlad confirmed, and I was shocked that he sided with Morbius.

"As I stated, Vlad, I wish for Gaston to marry my daughter," Morbius insisted as he expressed his high pride in his smart-mouth ego.

"I will not!" snarled Gaston.

"Quiet yourself, Gaston!" Vlad overruled him as he raised his hand to hush his son. "Morbius is right. Whatever decision I make, you will obey it!"

"Might I suggest a bridge? It could resolve most of the issues between Morbius and Vincent." Edgar voiced his suggestion as I was confused.

So I asked my husband. "What does he mean by suggesting a bridge?"

"A bridge is a joint marriage to keep the peace between two Covens. In this scenario, my dad would marry my mom and Emily to tie peace between the O'Donnell and the Mill Covens together. He would be considered the bridge to ensure peace would remain between them. Although it's more common for a vampiress to be a bridge between two males."

"That's an odd approach to keeping the peace," I remarked because I thought it was bizarre.

Kai vouched. "Believe it or not, it is effective in most cases, but more so with the females having two husbands. Vampiresses do a better job at being a bridge."

"Care to elaborate?" My curious mind required to be filled in on how this was probable.

Kai clarified. "Because a vampiress is better at charming two beasts between her, rather than a vampire keeping two jealous vampiresses from killing each other. Jealous vampiresses are too pitiful to us, so we naturally get careless to keep them happy."

"Sounds like any typical male," I remarked, and Kai chuckled.

Then he continued. "Anyways, usually what happens is one vampire becomes her lover, or if he is her mate, the other vampire becomes her friend, so he'll mate with mistresses instead of touching her if that's the case, but depending on the terms, she might have to bear offspring to each male to better secure the bridge. Also, if one of the vampires is her destined mate, then they may not be allowed to mark each other to seal it."

"That's kind of hard to believe it can work. It sounds too selfish, in my opinion." I concluded, having my doubts about it because it sounded too weird.

"It can be unfair depending on the terms with destined mates, at least." Kai didn't disagree as I listened back in to hear what else was being said.

Gaston spoke up with a snarl. "If you do that, I still won't mate with Emily! She'll face heartache because I'll only treat her as a friend, while Morticia will attain all my heart."

"Again, you will obey your father." Morbius gave a crooked smirk. "Go on, Vlad, tell him how it will be. However, I suggest no bridge."

Vlad only scowled at his son for the time being until he breathed to ease his seething fury. "Instead of coming to me about this, you chose to tarnish your mate while Emily needed your help. Before coming home, you failed to make sure your enemies didn't follow you home. Whoever they were, learned enough about you to know Emily was your fiancee for them to attack her."

Gaston submitted as he begged, "I know Father, and I will take whatever punishment for the harm I have caused on Emily's behalf. Just please don't make me marry her. Allow Emily to get over me and marry someone else who will love her."

"You are in no position to beg! What you did was unforgivable!" Morbius snapped at him.

"I have to agree with Morbius on this one." Vlad backed him up, and it was apparent that he wasn't acknowledging Gaston's plea.

"I feel everyone here can agree that our firstborn offspring have failed their mission," Edgar authorized, and most of the headmasters disappointedly hummed in agreement.

Vlad dictates, making his decision. "For leading your enemies right to us, Gaston. I decree that your rank as the firstborn, is now demoted and will be handed over to your younger brother Zen, my secondborn."

"Father, no!' Zen opposed, and he walked forward. "I can't disrespect my older brother's birthright."

"Zen, it's fine. I will accept this punishment," Gaston murmured as he peered up at his younger brother.

"As of now, Gaston will fall under your command, Zen." Vlad adamantly declared.