Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #8) - J.R. Ward Page 0,239

walked slowly across the rug. As she came up to her mother, she noticed the other female was much smaller than she, and thinner of stature, and more timid of nature.

"Whatever is your name?" Xhex asked roughly.

"I am . . . No'One," came the reply. "I am No'One--" A shrill whistle whipped everybody's heads around to the door. John was standing just inside the room, his sister the queen by his side, a small red bag with MARCUS REINHARDT JEWELERS, EST. 1893 written on it in his hand.

John clearly hadn't gone for a workout. He'd gone with Beth into the human world . . . to pick out a mating ring.

Xhex looked around at the assembled and saw the tableau they all made: Tohrment by the LV trunk, John and Beth in the doorway, No'One by the bed.

She would remember this moment all the days of her life. And though there were more questions in her mind than answers, she found the strength in her own soul to voice a reply to John's mute question about who her mystery guest was.

And actually, it was because of him she was able to answer at all: Always look forward. There was much in the past that was best left in the annals of history. Here in this room, with these people, she needed to look forward.

Clearing her throat, she said loudly and clearly, "John . . . this is my mother. And she shall stand for me at our mating." 499

John seemed utterly nonplussed--but he got over it quickly. Like a perfect gentlemale, he approached No'One and bowed at the waist. After he signed, Xhex translated hoarsely.

"He said he is grateful for your presence on this night and that you are e'er welcome within our home."

No'One put her hands over her face, clearly overcome with emotion.

"Thank . . . you. Thank you."

Xhex wasn't a hugger, but she was damned good at holding people up, and she clasped her mother's terribly thin arm so the poor thing didn't go down onto the carpet.

"It's okay," she told John, who was obviously freaking about having upset the female. "Wait--don't look over there, you can't see my gown." John froze with his eyes halfway across the room. Gown, he mouthed. Yeah, hard to know what the biggest shocker was: her mother showing up for the first time in three hundred years. Or the fact that, yes, it appeared she was jacking her ass into a mating gown. You never knew where life was going to take you, did you. And sometimes, the surprises were not bad, not bad at all. One . . . John.

Two . . . a gown.

Three . . . her mother.

Tonight was a good night, a very good night, indeed.

"Here, we'll go down the hall," she said, heading over and shutting the dress in. "I've got to get dressed . . . don't want to be late for my very own mating."

As she hustled the wardrobe out of the room, turning down help from the males, she asked No'One and Beth to come with her. After all, when it came to her mother and John's sister, they all needed to start getting acquainted . . . and what better way than to get her well and properly dressed for her future hellren.

For her male of worth.

For the love of her life.

Tonight was actually the very best thing that had ever happened to her.

500

SEVENTY-FOUR

John Matthew was forced to stand aside and watch his shellan heft a trunk the size of a Chevy off down the hall with his sister . . . and her mother?

He was thrilled about the latter two females; not so much about the former deadweight. But he knew better than to play he-man with the muscles. If Xhex needed his help, she'd ask for it.

And what do you know, she was strong enough to do it all by herself. Right, for reals . . . that was hot--he wasn't going to lie.

"Have you got your duds?" Tohrment asked gruffly. As John glanced over at the guy, it was clear the Brother had just been rocked to his core. He was absolutely reeling in his shitkickers. Except, given the hard line of his brow and his jaw, he was not going to go into it. Ah . . . I don't know what I'm wearing, John signed. A tuxedo?

"No, I'll go get you what you need. Hold on." Bam--the door was shut.

John looked around his room, and when he saw