The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward Page 0,101

very early on in their relationship … one where they had put the windows down and blared “Dream Weaver,” and she had stuck her head out the window and felt the wind in her face and her hair as they had roared down the road.

It was nice to know, even after all this time, that he still had the ability to carry her away.

THIRTY-THREE

Assail rematerialized at the rear of his mansion, back by the garage. And one after the other, his cousins followed suit, appearing beside him.

“Fates, it is a good job you both remain ambulatory.” He approached the kitchen entrance to his home, and entered in a code by the door. As the lock released, he glanced over his shoulder. “I feel quite certain that you are in need of hydration.”

All he got back was a mumbled response from Evale—which was a surprise as he was typically the silent one. However, an evening of fucking seemed to have reversed their personalities, draining all conversation out of Ehric, and leaving Evale to be the one who spoke.

Rather amusing, really.

Inside, he removed his coat and tuxedo jacket. They did not have to. Evidently, fully re-clothing had required greater stores of energy than they had had; their outerwear was draped over their forearms, their shirts barely buttoned to the sternum, their white ties stuffed into the pockets of their slacks.

“Food,” Evale said. “We require sustenance over that inconsolably small meal.”

“Evale, you have the oddest vocabulary.”

“Sit, Ehric. I shall endive to service you prior to our retirement.”

Assail rolled his eyes. “Endive is a vegetable. ‘Endeavor’ is the word for which you search. And it is serve. Unless you wish to refer to your previous ‘endives’ this eve?”

Leaving the pair of them to do whate’er they would calorically speaking, Assail proceeded onward to his office. As he took a seat behind his desk, he adjusted his cocaine levels first, and then fired up his computer whilst he placed a call upon his cellular device.

The Brother Vishous answered with, “It’s official. I do talk to you more than I talk to my mother. Don’t get excited, though, I can’t stand her.”

“With your warm personality and pleasant demeanor, I cannot fathom any kind of estrangement in your life.”

“You don’t have to jerk me off with the compliments.”

“Speaking of such, may I just say that Naasha is a rather pneumatic little female with a taste for exhibition and an all-access policy that does not refer to her hellren’s venerable landholdings.” After all, when he had tried to leave the dungeon and do a little exploring, she had sent a naked female after him—within moments. “My cousins are happy, if exhausted males, going into daybreak.”

“So apart from the fucking, what do you know?”

“Throe is ensconced in the household. He has a room and her affection. He stated to me that he is estranged from Xcor and the Band of Bastards, ne’er to return unto their questionable fold.” He had to sniff as his nose ran. “There is something worrisome about that male. I do not trust him.”

“When do you go back?”

“She has invited me unto her hellren’s epic birthnight celebration. Has the invitation come through to Wrath the now?” He sniffed again, and brushed at the base of his nostrils. “I believe she is intending to present such soon, if it has not already arrived.”

There was a shhhh-cht and an exhale, as if the Brother were lighting up something. “Not yet. But we’ll be waiting. He has no intention of going, but members of the Brotherhood will be there for sure.”

“As shall my cousins and I.” Assail frowned as something occurred to him. “Pardon me for going a bit off topic, but please allow me to inquire about your armaments.”

There was a long pause. And then the Brother’s voice, which was already low, bottomed out completely. “What do you want to know.”

“Are you in need of any?”

“Why.”

“I have contacts with my black market suppliers that could facilitate such purchases.”

“Now you want to be an arms dealer? Have your ambitions always pointed you toward lofty pursuits?”

“There is naught lofty about graves, is there? At any rate, consider the offer extended. They contacted me for further business and I declined their kind and generous offer with respect to certain powders and potions. But it did get me thinking that there could still be some exchange of money for goods that Wrath would permit me to engineer.”

Vishous laughed in a deep purr. “Always looking for an angle. And will you stop