I do not own any part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. All of that greatness is the work of the amazing J R Ward.
As of 5-22-12 the wonderful GothicBelle has beta'ed this for me. Hopefully this is now easier to read.
I hope everyone enjoys.
Chapter Thirteen
Butch was already gone from the Pit by the time V had come from his room. Probably a good thing he didn't need to push the cop right now. What he needed to do was talk to Jane first. She was his shellan and she owned him. He shouldn't do any thing more until he reasoned things out with her.
He made his way to the to the King's office. He had taken the underground hall meaning to talk to Qhuinn, but the male had been so intent on talking to his cell that V just let him be and passed on by. He nodded to John. He'd be surprised if he had even registered with Qhuinn. He was on the brink and talking to Blay even if it was only voice mail was the only thing holding the male together. Blay better damn well survive or the Brothers were going to lose two great soldiers. Plus V had to thank him.
When V got up stairs he sat down by the cop and kept his mouth shut. Knowing him if he opened it he'd only say something stupid and inappropriate. Butch nodded to him and faced the King. Great minds think alike. This was not the time or place. Plus they didn't need an audience.
Tohr came in last and shut the doors.
"Sorry to call you all in like this, but we have a few important things we need to discuss," Wrath said getting up and moving to the front of his desk. He leaned back onto it. "We're going to wait and go over what happened out there tomorrow night."
That surprised V and from the looks a few of the other Brothers it did them too.
"First off there has been a nomination made for membership."
"What? Who?" Several brothers spoke at once.
Wrath lifted his hand for silence.
"The Scribe Virgin has made a nomination. She is not ordering this, only making a suggestion. She wants to respect our earlier decision of choosing our own members, but she says this warrior has proven himself to her. Therefore, we will discuss this and decide for ourselves if the question should be asked."
"Who has she chosen?" Tohr asked.
"Good questions, but first the ground rules. I will tell you who it is. Then I will call on each of you to state any concerns, objections or any praises you have. No interruptions. Once everyone has had a say then I will again call on each of you to vote. Are we clear?"
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"I will go last," Wrath stated. "The Scribe Virgin, in all her wisdom, has decided to nominate John Matthew."
V was a little surprised, but not shocked. He knew this day would come eventually he just thought it would be farther down the road.
"Zsadist," the King called.
"I think he will be a fine Brother. He is a damn good fighter. Reminds me so much of his father. He shoots like no one's business and he has a good head on his shoulders," Z never one for many words only spoke what he truly meant.
"Phury."
"I'll admit this seems a little soon. He is young, but the male has an old soul and everything Z said about him is right. Mainly I wish this wasn't necessary, I wish he didn't have to fight in this war at all," Phury was the most compassionate Brother in the bunch. That is why he is the perfect Primale.
"Rhage."
"I got nothing bad to say about the boy. So he's young, we all were. Hell, he's way more mature than I was when I joined," Rhage answered.
"Vishous."
"I agree with the others. My thing is why just John. Qhuinn and Blaylock are just as worthy. Hell, look what Blay did tonight to save me. Four bullets he took for me," V wanted to make sure all three got the credit they deserved.
"V, I appreciate you taking up for the boys, but right now is about John. If you believe in them that much then you can nominate them. Tonight if you want, but I really think it should wait until Blay has recovered."
"Yes, your Majesty," V was glad the King saw it his way.
"Butch," Wrath continued.
"Ditto to V and the rest. The male deserves this. If you ask me it seems he was born to be one of us. He deserves it more than I did." V just didn't understand why Butch always had to put himself down. He was a damn fine Brother and had earned his place just like the rest of them. Most of the time Butch seemed fine and at home with the Brothers and then, like now, out of nowhere he starts doubting again. V had no doubt of Butch's place; it was at his side no matter what.
"Tohr."
"As a Brother, this is a good decision. But I still think of him as my son and this war is not what I want for him. Hell, I don't even like that he's fighting now. If I could, I'd keep him as far away from this danger as possible. However, I also won't deny that he deserves this. He is strong and brave. He is smart and capable. He is everything we could hope for in a Brother," Tohr was torn. He loved John like his own. He was proud of him and afraid for him. At times like this V thought how utterly unfair life was. Tohr was a good father to John and if Wellsie had lived there was no doubt he would have been the greatest father of them all. Life was so fucking unfair.
"As the Brother of my shellan, I feel the same as Tohr. John Matthew would make a fine Brother, he is a male of worth and a great warrior for our race," Wrath paused. "Now we vote. Zsadist?"
"Yes."
"Phury?"
"Of course."
"Rhage?"
"Hell, yeah."
"Vishous?"
"Fuck, yes."
"Dhestroyer?"
"Well if we're being that formal. Yes, my Lord and King. To have him as a Brother would be a great honor," Butch always had to be the smartass.
"Put a sock in it cop," Wrath grinned at him. The looked at their last Brother, "Tohr?"
"Yes, nothing would make me prouder. This would greatly honor me and his father."
"I'm glad we all agree on this. Now for the next part or our business."
"What about the boys?" V asked.
"This first, I really think we need to see how things turn out down stairs first," Wrath responded. "Now that we have decided about John I think it best to wait for Blay to recover and settle things with our other guest."
"Do we know who she is or where she came from?" Thor asked.
Wrath picked up the phone on his desk, "You two can come up now," he hung up. "Fritz and Saxton are going to join us. They will have the details we need."
"Her name is Syhren," V said. "Her etiquette and body language suggest she is high glymeria. Plus I saw her closet, defiantly high class."
"She did look the part, when I saw her out on the drive it reminded me of the first time I laid eyes on Marissa," Butch added.
"She has the most remarkable lavender eyes," Tohr said. "Her hair is longer than yours, Wrath, and just as black."
"She fights like a soldier, someone had to have taught her," Rhage said. "She took out nine lessers with only the help of an older doggen. Barring Xhex I've never heard of a female doing anything like that before."
There was a knock on the door and Fritz came in followed by Saxton.
"Good evening my Lords," Fritz bowed.
"Gentlemen, your Majesty," Saxton bowed to the King.
"Alright Fritz spill," Wrath said.
The doggen looked uncomfortable as he stepped forward and handed the King an envelope, "Would you like me to read it to you now, sire, or do you wish to open it later in private?"
Wrath held the envelope out to his side, "Tohr read it. Then tell us what we all need to know."
"Of course," Tohr took the letter.
"Now Fritz, please tell us what you know?" The King commanded.
"She came to us as an infant. I do not know were from. Master Darius hired two doggen, a brother and sister, to care for her. He set up a separate household for her. He visited her every night. He brought her here after the mansion was completed. She was very precious to us and he felt she was safest here. He made it very clear early on that the Brothers were not to know of her. He went to great lengths to keep her separate from the rest of our world."
"Why not tell us? We're his Brothers. We would have helped him, supported him," Phury said.
"I do not know for sure, but he was not comfortable with it and I do not think it was his choice. I believe he received instructions from someone on Lady Syhren's care from the beginning. He treated her as daughter right up to her transition."
"She's Darius's daughter?" Rhage's jaw practically hit the floor.
"Not according to this," Tohr said. "In this he states she is his shellan. He calls her 'his most beloved', but says he never bonded to her and that their relationship was not sexual. He states that because of one night of indiscretion he took her as his shellan. He would not bring dishonor to her."
"That sounds like D," Zsadist said.
"How old is she," Butch asked.
"Ninety," Fritz answered.
"Fuck," Wrath said. "He hid her from me for almost a century."
"This says he had to. Direct order from the Scribe Virgin. She is the one that placed the baby with Darius. Wanting her to have a proper upbringing," Tohr said.
"What the hell? It's never good when she's involved," V said wondering what was up his mother's sleeve this time. "Where has she been all these years?"
"Originally the townhouse," Fritz replyed. "Then here when the mansion was completed, then when Master Darius passed Tolliver and Eva took her to the safe house per his orders."
"And the young?" Phury asked.
"Her eldest is her only biological young. He is Wahr, son of Darius," Saxton answered moving forward with some folders in his hand. "Havers confirmed and documented his bloodline, these are copies," he handed a folder to Tohr. "She adopted the other two through Havers clinic. I did all the paperwork. They are Ahnger, son of Dunnhill, son of Ahnger. His mother died in child birth and his father wanted nothing to do with him. Syhren was visiting the clinic at the time and offered to take the child. Mariah's father is unknown. She was also born at the clinic. When her mother died Havers called upon Syhren and she took her as well," he gave two more folders to Tohr.
"She truly isa female of worth," Wrath spoke.
"Wrath, your Majesty, we can't send her away," Phury spoke.
"She is one of us, she stays," Wrath said, "Saxton, I want you to go over those records you brought with Tohr. Fritz I want to talk to John a.s.a.p. Everyone else is dismissed. Get some rest."