Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 154735 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154735 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
And stopped dead in his tracks.
Lined up on the far side of his favorite couch, the Black Dagger Brotherhood, as well as all of the other fighters and males of the house, were dressed in long black robes. And in front of them, another table, of similar size to the one in the foyer, had been set up and was draped in black cloth.
“Hey,” he said, looking toward the music.
Seated on a chair, Zsadist was playing the tune, a quiet blend of harmonious notes that Lassiter didn’t recognize.
Clip. Clip. Clip—
He glanced behind himself to see Wrath and George coming in. The great Blind King was also in a black robe, and the golden had a collar made of flowers.
“Good, you’re here,” Wrath said briskly. “Come with me.”
Lassiter glanced back at Eddie. When the angel just smiled knowingly, he realized he’d been managed by the other guy, purposely monitored and kept out of this room for a while, not that it had been a hard job, what with the recharging.
Walking down to the table with the King, Lassiter looked at the warriors and tried to read their serious faces. “What’s going on—”
“We understand that you’re missing something. We didn’t have time to do it all the way right, but we’re making do with what we’ve got.” Wrath put his hand in the pocket of his robe, and when he took something out, Lassiter couldn’t see what it was. “This is from my shellan to you. Well, from me, too. But it’s hers.”
The King put something on the table—
A necklace. A gold necklace that was thick as his thumb and as yellow as the sun.
Lassiter frowned sharply. “What is this—”
Rhage was the next one who came forward. “This is the gold Rolex my Mary wears. I took it off my wrist and gave it to her as a present. This is from us.”
Qhuinn and Blay stepped up, and the former nodded at his hellren. “This was his mahmen’s. When Lyric was named after her, she gave it over.”
A gold bracelet now, ornate and Victorian.
One by one, the males came forward, adding to a pile that grew and grew. There were gold chains that were as long as an arm, and chunky-linked chokers, signet rings and dainty bands, earrings that were hoops and studs and danglers, bracelets that were braided, or solid, or…
When the last male came through, all Lassiter could do was just stand there and stare down at the gleaming load.
“Okay, time to get you robed up,” someone said. “Who brought the slacks?”
“I got ’em.”
“Here we go.”
He stood there as he was stripped and helped into a loose pair of pants that tied at the waist. When they were secure, a black robe was draped on his shoulders and not zipped up.
“I can’t… accept this all,” he choked out helplessly. “It’s too much.”
“They’re loaners,” Wrath announced. “Borrowed, blue, old, bought. I don’t know what the fuck the human saying is. But what we’re clear on is that you’re not getting mated without having a boatload of gold on your body. So let’s get started putting it on—”
“Wait,” someone else said. “We have that other thing.”
“Oh, shit. Right.” Wrath nodded to the assembled. “We did one other thing.”
All of a sudden, the notes Zsadist was playing changed, morphing into…
Lassiter recoiled and looked over at the guy. “What are you—”
The entire lineup of males parted to reveal—
Four life-sized cutouts of Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, and Betty White as Blanche, Sophia, Dorothy… and the great Rose Nylund.
“How did you…” Lassiter started to laugh.
“Fritz is a genius,” the King said. “For real.”
“And there’s nothing you can’t find on the Internet,” V tacked on.
Zsadist’s incredible voice started to sing, “Thank you for being a friend…”
The others instantly picked up on the words. “… traveled down the road and back again…”
Eddie put his arm around Lassiter’s shoulders. “… your heart is true…”
Even V walked over and muttered along, “… you’re a pal and a confidant…”
Lassiter stared at all the gold, all the pieces of the lives he had endeavored to serve, to protect, to save. And suddenly things got wavy.
But not because he was sad.
As they continued to sing, the voices rising and falling as Zsadist strummed the chords, he picked up the first of the chains with shaking hands… and put it around his throat.
CHAPTER FIFTY
I think it’s time.”
Rahvyn looked away from the reflection in the mirror before her. “I cannot thank you enough for this.”
The Queen smiled. “It’s my pleasure, trust me. And you look amazing. I mean, you were good in the jeans, but this is next level.”
Glancing down at the gleaming, silver dress, with its long skirting and lovely bodice, Rahvyn flushed. “I’ve never worn a proper ball gown before.”
“If that male of yours doesn’t cry, I’m the Easter Bunny.”
“You would become a rabbit?”