"I need weapons," she said to the group. "And leathers. A phone for communication. "
Wrath growled low and deep. Like he was going to try and lock her down in spite of Rehv's pass.
Walking forward, she planted her palms on the king's desk and leaned in. "Lose me or run the risk of losing them. What's your answer there, Your Highness. "
Wrath rose to his feet, and for a moment she got a clear sense that although he was on the throne, he was still lethal as hell. "Watch. Your. Tone. In my fucking house. "
Xhex inhaled deeply and calmed herself down. "I apologize. But you've got to see my point. "
As the silence expanded, she could feel John looming--and knew that even if she could break through the king's roadblock, she was still going to have a hell of a time getting around the male by the door. But her departure was not open for discussion from anyone.
Wrath cursed low and long. "Fine. Go. I won't be responsible if you get yourself killed. "
"Your Highness, you never were responsible. No one but me is--and no crown on your head or anybody else's is going to change that. "
Wrath looked in V's direction and all but snarled, "I want this female covered with weapons. "
"No problem. I'll hook her up right. "
As she went to follow Vishou
s out, she stopped in front of John and wished she had a different hand to play--especially as he took her biceps in a hard grip. But the fact was, an opportunity was out there and she had until sundown to take advantage of it: If there were any clues to where Lash was, she'd better use them to get to him if she wanted a clear shot at the bastard. Come nightfall? John and the Brotherhood were going to get unleashed on the situation--and they weren't going to hesitate to kill their target.
Yes, Lash had to pay for what he'd done to her, but she needed to be the one to collect on that debt: She was batting a thousand when it came to burying those who had wronged her, the living, breathing "bitch" in that jolly little saying about payback.
Quietly, so no one else heard, she said, "I'm not someone you need to protect, and you know exactly why I have to do this. You love me like you think you do, you're going to let go of my arm. Before I rip it out of your hold. "
As he paled, she prayed she wasn't going to have to get forceful.
But she didn't. He released his grip on her.
Heading out the door of the study, she marched past V and barked over her shoulder, "Time's wasting, Vishous. I need some steel. "
Chapter Forty-eight
As Xhex took off with V, John's first thought was to go downstairs, put himself in front of the door that opened into the great outdoors, and physically block her from leaving.
Second thought was to go with her--although that would just turn him into the vampire equivalent of a Roman candle.
Jesus Christ, every time he thought he'd reached a new low with her, the rug got pulled out from under him and he landed at an even harder, hellish place: She'd just volunteered to go into a total unknown that she herself admitted was too dangerous for the Brothers. And she was doing it without backup and without any way of him reaching her if she got hit.
As Wrath and Rehv walked up to him, the study came back into focus and he realized everyone else had left--except for Qhuinn, who was hovering in the corner, frowning at his cell phone.
Rehvenge exhaled hard, clearly in the same fuck-me boat John was in. "Listen, I--"
John signed fast: What the fuck are you doing, letting her go out like that?
Rehv drew a hand over his brush-cut mohawk. "I'm going to take care of her--"
You can't go out during the day. How the hell are you going--
Rehv growled deep and low. "Watch your attitude, kid. "
Right. Okay. Such the wrong thing to say on the wrong day: John got right in the guy's grille, bared his hardware, and thought loud and clear: That's my female going out there. Alone. So you can fuck my attitude.
Rehv cursed and nailed John with hard eyes. "Be careful with that 'your female' stuff--I'm just telling you. Her end game doesn't involve anyone but herself, feel me?"
John's first instinct was to punch the bastard, just pop him in the headlights.