"Lover At Last" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ward, J.R.)

тАЬRoger that,тАЭ V said.

Wrath crossed his arms over his chest. This was a historic moment, and well he knew it. ButchтАЩs induction had been legal because of the blood tie the male had with royalty. Qhuinn was a different story. No royal blood. No Chosen or Brotherhood blood, although he technically was an aristocrat.

No family.

On the other hand, that kid had proven himself again and again on the field, living up to a standard that, as far as the Old Laws currently stated, was reserved only for those of specific lineagesтАФand that was bullshit. It wasnтАЩt that Wrath didnтАЩt appreciate the Scribe VirginтАЩs breeding plan. The prescribed matings between the strongest males and the smartest females had in fact produced extraordinary results when it came to fighters.

But it had also resulted in defects like his blindness. And it restricted merit-based promotions.

Bottom line, this recasting of the laws concerning who could and could not be in the Brotherhood was not only appropriate in terms of the kind of society he wanted to createтАФit was a matter of survival. The more fighters the better.

Plus, Qhuinn had truly earned the honor.

тАЬSo be it,тАЭ Wrath murmured. тАЬEightтАЩs a good number. A lucky number.тАЭ

That low growl of agreement rippled through the air once again, the sound one of complete and utter solidarity.

This was the future, Wrath thought as he smiled and bared his fangs. And it was right.





TWENTY-THREE


As Sola Morte stood in her тАЬbossтАЩsтАЭ office, her body was poised for a fight. Then again, that was her SOP, and not anything specific to the environmentтАФor the way the conversation was going.

The latter certainly didnтАЩt improve her mood, however.

тАЬIтАЩm sorry, what?тАЭ she demanded.

Ricardo Benloise smiled in his typical cool, calm way. тАЬYour assignment is completed. Thank you for your time.тАЭ

тАЬI havenтАЩt even told you what I found out there.тАЭ

The man eased back in his chair. тАЬYou may collect your fee from my brother.тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt get this.тАЭ When heтАЩd called her no more than forty-eight hours ago, it had been a priority. тАЬYou saidтАФтАЭ

тАЬYour services are no longer required for that particular purpose. Thank you.тАЭ

Was he working with someone else? But who in Caldwell did the kinds of things she did?

тАЬYou donтАЩt even want to know what I found out.тАЭ

тАЬYour assignment has been terminated.тАЭ The man smiled again in such a professional manner, youтАЩd have sworn he was a lawyer or a judge. Not a lawbreaker on a global scale. тАЬIтАЩm looking forward to working with you again in the future.тАЭ

One of the bodyguards in the back took a couple steps forward, as if he were getting ready to take the trash out.