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

Expensive cologne announced his solicitorтАЩs arrival: Saxton always smelled good, and that fit his persona. From what Wrath remembered, in addition to the guyтАЩs great education and the quality of his thinking, he dressed in the fashion of a well-bred son of the glymera. I.e., perfectly.

Not that Wrath had seen it recently.

He put his wraparounds on in a quick surge. It was one thing to be exposed in front of V; not going to happen in front of the young, efficient male who was coming through the doorтАФno matter how much Sax was trusted and consulted.

тАЬWhat have you got for me?тАЭ Wrath said as GeorgeтАЩs tail brushed back and forth in greeting.

There was a long pause. тАЬMayhap I should come back?тАЭ

тАЬYou can say anything in front of my brother.тАЭ

Another long pause, during which V was probably eyeing the attorney like he wanted to take a chunk out of his fancy, pretty-boy ass for suggesting there was an information divide that needed to be respected.

тАЬEven if itтАЩs about the Brotherhood?тАЭ Saxton said levelly.

Wrath could practically feel VтАЩs icy eyes swing around. And sure enough, the brother bit out, тАЬWhat about us.тАЭ

When Saxton remained silent, Wrath clued into what it was. тАЬCan you give us a minute, V?тАЭ

тАЬAre you fucking me?тАЭ

Wrath picked up George and put him down on the floor. тАЬI just need five minutes.тАЭ

тАЬFine. Have fun with it, my lord,тАЭ V spat as he got to his feet. тАЬFuckinтАЩ A.тАЭ

A moment later, the door slammed shut.

Saxton cleared his throat. тАЬI could have come back.тАЭ

тАЬIf IтАЩd wanted that, I would have told you to. Talk to me.тАЭ

A deep breath was taken and let out, as if the civilian was staring at that exit and wondering if VтАЩs pissed-off departure might just cause him to wake up dead later on in the day. тАЬAhтАжthe audit of the Old Laws is complete, and I can provide you with a comprehensive listing of all sections that require amendment, along with proposed rewording, and a timeline on which the changes could be made ifтАФтАЭ

тАЬYes or no. ThatтАЩs all I care about.тАЭ

Going by the whisper-soft sound of loafers treading an Aubusson, Wrath extrapolated that his lawyer was going for a little walkabout. From memory, he pictured the study, with its pale blue walls and its curlicue molding and all the flimsy, antique French furniture.

Saxton made more sense in this room than Wrath did with his leathers and his muscle shirt.

But the law prescribed who was to be king.

тАЬYou need to start flapping your gums, Saxton. I will guarantee you that you wonтАЩt be fired if you tell me how it is straight up. Try editing the truth or softballing it? And youтАЩre out on your ass, I donтАЩt care who youтАЩre sleeping with.тАЭ

There was another throat clearing. And then that cultured voice came at him from head-on across the desk. тАЬYes, you can do as you wish. I have concerns about the timing, however.тАЭ

тАЬWhy? тАЩCuz itтАЩs going to take you two years to make the amendments?тАЭ

тАЬYouтАЩre making a fundamental change to a section of society that protects the speciesтАФand it could further destabilize your rule. I am not unaware of the pressures youтАЩre under, and it would be remiss of me not to point out the obvious. If you alter the prescription of who may enter the Black Dagger Brotherhood, it could well give even further opening for dissentтАФthis is unlike anything youтАЩve attempted during your reign, and itтАЩs coming in an era of extreme social upset.тАЭ