Nobody else could have laid down the rules like that and walked without a limp afterward: The king gave out orders to the Brotherhood, not the other way around. But this was the new world, as Wrath had said.

The male in question ground his molars for a while. Then grunted. "Agreed. "

As a collective exhale hit the airwaves, Qhuinn found himself looking over at Blay. Aw, hell, talk about a suck zone - this was why he avoided the guy like the plague. Just one glance and he was locked on, all kinds of reactions rolling through him, until the room spun a little -

For no good reason, Blay's eyes flipped up and met his.

It was like getting goosed in the ass with a live wire, his body spasming to the point where he had to hide the reaction by coughing while he glanced away.

About as smooth as a crater. Yup. Fantastic.

". . . and in the meantime," Wrath was saying, "I want to find out where these soldiers are staying. "

"I can take care of that," Xhex spoke up. "Especially if I hit them in the daytime. "

All heads turned in her direction. Beside her, John stiffened from head to foot, and Qhuinn cursed under his breath.

Talk about your showdowns. . . except hadn't the pair of them just had one?

Man, sometimes he was really glad he didn't do relationships.

Not again, John thought to himself. For fuck's sake, they'd just gotten back on speaking terms, and now this?

If he'd thought fighting side by side with Xhex was trouble, the idea of her trying to infiltrate the Band of Bastards on their home turf put him on the edge of a seizure.

As he let his head fall back against the wall, he realized that everyone and their dog was staring at him. Literally - even George's brown eyes were trained in his direction.

"Are you kidding me," Xhex said. "Are you frickin' kidding me. "

Even after she spoke, nobody looked at her. It was all about John: Clearly, as he was her hellren, they were seeking his approval - or not - about what she'd put out there.

And John couldn't seem to move, stuck in the cold quagmire between what she wanted and where he didn't want them to end up.

Wrath cleared his throat. "Well, that's a kind offer - "

"Kind offer?" she spat. "Like I'm inviting you to dinner?"

Say something, he told himself. Put your flapping hands up and tell her. . . What? That he was on

board with her going to find six males with no consciences? After what Lash had done to her? What if she was captured and. . .

Oh, Jesus, he was cracking up over here. Yes, she was tough and strong and capable. But she was as mortal as anybody else. And without Xhex, he wouldn't want to be on the planet at all.

Rehvenge snagged his cane and pushed himself up. "Let's you and I talk - "

"Excuse me?" Xhex bit out. " 'Talk'? Like I'm the one who needs a mental readjustment? No offense, but bite me, Rehv. The bunch of you need me to do what I can to help. "

As all the other males in the room started looking at their shitkickers and loafers, the symphath king shook his head. "Things are different now. "

"How. "

"Come on, Xhex - "

"Are you people insane? Just because my name's in his back, I'm suddenly a prisoner or some shit?"

"Xhex - "

"Oh, no, nope, you can fuck off with that be-reasonable tone. " She glared at the males, and then focused on Beth and Payne. "I don't know how you two stand it - I really don't. "

Tags: J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net