“
I was dead until you found me, though I breathed. I was sightless, though I could see. And then you came...and I was awakened.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
What is your name?" she murmured.
He cocked an eyebrow at her and then went back to staring at his brother. "I'm the evil one, in case you haven't figured it out."
"I wanted your name, not your calling."
"Being a bastard's more of a compulsion, really. And it's Zsadist. I am Zsadist.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2))
“
Z: "You know, this was a hell of a lot easier when you were out cold in the back of that truck."
Phury: "That was you?"
Z:"You think it was Santa Claus or some shit?
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
...Bringing the very heavens close enough to touch.
It was Zsadist.
His eyes closed, his head back, his mouth wide open, he sang.
The scarred one, the souless one, had the voice of an angel.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
God, he even knew their names. Rhage. Phury. And that scary-ass Zsadist guy.
Yeah, no Tom, Dick, and Harry names for the vampire types.
But come on, could you actually imagine some lethal bloodsucker named Howard?
Eugene?
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
The warrior (Zsadist) rolled his black eyes. "Come on, man. What does it matter to me? You, Tohr. Britney Spears.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
Look, you didn't fail me. Because you can't fail at the impossible."
-Zsadist to Phury
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6))
“
The staircase that was revealed was lit with a soft red glow.
I feel like I'm walking down into a porn movie," V muttered as they took the steps with care.
Wouldn't that require more black candles for you," Zsadist cracked.
At the bottom of the landing, they looked left and right down a corridor carved out of stone, seeing row after row of...black candles with ruby color flames.
I take that back," Z said, eyeing the display.
We start hearing chick-a-wow-wow shit," V cut in, "can I start calling you Z-packed?"
Not if you want to keep breathing.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7))
“
He knew he was being overbearing as hell, but he couldn't help it. He was a bonded male. With his pregnant female. There were few things on the planet more aggressive or dangerous. And those bastards were called hurricanes and tornadoes.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
For fuck's sake, get off the cross. Someone else needs the wood.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6))
“
She is more beautiful than I have words for. And last night, I was blessed beyond measure to serve her.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
I… What are you saying, Zsadist?" she stammered, even though she'd heard every word.
He glanced back down at the pencil in his hand and then turned to the table. Flipping the spiral notebook to a new page, he bent way over and labored on top of the paper for quite a while. Then he ripped the sheet free.
His hand was shaking as he held it out. "It's messy."
Bella took the paper. In a child's uneven block letters there were three words: I LOVE YOU
Her lips flattened tight as her eyes stung. The handwriting got wavy and then disappeared.
"Maybe you can't read it," he said in a small voice. "I can do it over."
She shook her head. "I can read it just fine. It's… beautiful."
"I don't expect anything back. I mean… I know that you don't… feel that for me anymore. But I wanted you to know. It's important that you knew.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
They’d just left when Zsadist came in at a dead run. “Shit, shit, shit…”
What’s doing, my brother?”
“I’m teaching and I’m late.”
Zsadist grabbed a sleeve of bagels, a turkey leg out of the refridge and a quart of ice cream from the freezer. “Shit.”
“That’s your breakfast?”
“Shut up. It’s almost a turkey sandwich.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5))
“
Go 'head." Those freaky-ass black eyes had stared at Butch with the intensity of a shark. "Crack open that door. Run your little heart out. Run fast, run smart, call for help. Just know that I'll come after you. Like a hearse." - Zsadist
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
I love you."
Z squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't be a tragedy, Bella.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
The front door swung open, and Zsadist strode into the house.
Wrath glared. "Nice of you to show up, Z. Busy tonight with the females?"
"How about you get off my dick?
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
I catch you without your ahstrux nohtrum again, I'm turning you in."
Qhuinn cursed. "Yeah, and then I'll get fired. Which means V'll Donald trump my ass with a dagger. You're welcome.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #8))
“
Will you get off me!"
"But I'm giving you CPR-"
"I will die before kissing you, Hollywood." Z tried to sit up, his breathing heavy.
"Don't even think about it.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11))
“
Although she was ashamed to admit it now, the darkness in him had been the largest part of his allure. It was such an anomaly, a contrast to what she'd known from life. It had made him dangerous. Exciting. Sexy. But that was a fantasy. This was real.
He suffered. And there was nothing sexy or thrilling about that. (Zsadists & Bella)
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2))
“
I can’t… I find that I can’t concentrate. On anything. I can’t really…” Rhage’s eyes drifted to Zsadist. “How do you live with it? All the anger. The pain. The…
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2))
“
How sweetly he came to her, she thought. Even with his bulk and power, he came to her...sweetly.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Tohrment spoke. "Bella's brother called. He's tabled the sehelusion request and asked that she stay here for a couple of days."
Z jacked his head up. "Why?"
"He didn't give a reason-" Tohr's eye's narrowed on Z's face. "Oh... my God."
"What the fuck are you looking at?"
Phury pointed to the antique mirror hanging on the wall next to the double doors. "See for yourself."
Zsadist marched across the room, ready to give them all hell. Bella was what mattered-
His mouth went lax at his reflection. With a shaky hand he reached out to the eyes in the old-fashioned leaded glass. His irises were no longer black. They were yellow. Just like his twin's.
"Phury?" he said softly. "Phury... what happened to me?"
As the male came up behind him, his brother's face appeared right beside Z's. And then Wrath's dark reflection showed up in the mirror, all long hair and sunglasses. Then Rhage's star-fallen beauty. And Vishous's Sox cap. And Tohrment's brush cut. And Butch's busted nose.
One by one they reached out and touched him, their big hands gently on his shoulders.
"Welcome back, my brother," Phury whispered.
Zsadist stared at the males who were behind him. And the oddest thought that if he were to let himself go limp and fall backward... they would catch him.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Love was worth sacrificing for, he thought as he left his room. Even if it wasn't yours.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5))
“
Phury knelt beside him and stroked his face. "I've only ever had you to live for. If you die I have nothing.
I'm utterly lost. And you are needed here."
Zsadist tried to reach out, but couldn't lift his arms as Phury stood up.
"God, Z, I keep thinking this tragedy of ours is going to be over. But it just keeps going, doesn't it?"
Zsadist blacked out to the sound of his twin's boots heading from the room.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
I must confess. Of all of the brotherhood, he was the one I loved first and he remains the one I love the most. For me, he is just the...one.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
Zsadist: I didn't make up the rules of this scenario
Wrath: You'll die if you go by yourself.
Zsadist: Well... I'm kind of ready to get off the ride.
Phury felt his skin get tight all over.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
You are the male I might have been. You are the potential I had and lost. You are the honor and the strength and the kindness she needs. You'll take care of her. I want you to take care of her.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Good? No, that didn't go far enough. She'd made him feel… alive. Awakened.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
I feel like I am wlaking down into a porn movie" V mutteres as they took the steps with care.
"Wouldn't that require more black candles for you", Zsadist cracked.....
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7))
“
He was the first to reach the aircraft, and he went for the door that by some miracle was facing outward and not into the concrete wall. Wrenching the thing open, and getting out his flashlight, he didn’t know what to expect inside—smoke? Fumes? Blood and body parts?
Zsadist was sitting rigid in a backward-facing seat, his big body strapped in, both hands locked on the armrests. The Brother was staring straight ahead and not blinking.
“Have we stopped moving?” he said hoarsely
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11))
“
After a moment the king said, "So be it."
Zsadist cursed. Butch whistled low. Rhage bit into a Tootsie Pop.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5))
“
And mortal terror in a female was Z's favorite turn-on. He got off on it like most males favored crap from Victoria's Secret.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
Rhage burning deep inside
Uncontrollable Phury, unable to hide
Trust me and I'll let my Wrath begin
This Tohrment building up within
My Vischous attitude will shine through
.........I'll let my Tehrror free on you
-my own zsadist quote from the black dagger brotherhood that i found online
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
We don’t have to talk about Zsadist.
That’s okay. He’s the most interesting part of me.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
The chanting grew louder, deep male voice pumping.
She looked to the brothers, the tall, fierce men who were now part of her life. Wrath pivoted and put his arm around her. Together, they swayed to the rhythm that swelled, filling the air. The brothers were as one as they paid homage in their language, a single powerful entity.
But then, in a high, keening call, one voice broke out, lifting above the others, shooting higher and higher. The sound of the tenor was so clear, so pure, it brought shivers to the skin, a yearning warmth to the chest. The sweet notes blew the ceiling off with their glory, turning the chamber into cathedral, the brothers into a tabernacle.
Bringing the very heavens close enough to touch.
It was Zsadist.
His eys closed, his head back, his mouth wide open, he sang.
The scarred one, the soulless one, had the voice of an angel.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
He tasted each one of them. The raw power and majesty of Wrath. The vast strength of Rhage. The burning, protective loyalty of Phury. The cold savagery of Zsadist. The sharp cunning of Vishous.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
Look upon me, Mistress. Watch as I wither!
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
In the far corner, a tenor began to sing, Zsadist's crystal-clear voice sailing up toward the warrior paintings on the ceiling far, far above them all. At first John didn't know what the song was...although if he'd been asked what his name was, he would have said Santa Claus, or Luther Vandross, or Teddy Roosevelt.
Maybe even Joan Collins.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
He thought about all the holes in him, the blank places, the voids where others felt things. When it came down to it, he was really just a screen, more empty than solid, his emotions blowing through him, only angry catching and holding.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
With his fantastic mane of multicoloured hair, Phury should have been in Hollywood's league with the ladies, but he'd stuck with his vow of celibacy. There was room for one and only one love in his life, and it had been slowly killing him for years.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
Oh, by the way, Phury's here again, and he brought that Chosen with him. Figured you'd want to know in case you see a random female ghosting around here."
Whoa. Surprise. "How's he doing?"
Zsadist paused. "I don't know. He's pretty tight about shit. Not real talkative. The bastard."
"Oh, and you're a candidate for The View?"
"Right back at you, Bahbwa."
"Touché.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5))
“
He wanted to see her eat. After the sex, after he came inside her, he wanted to have her eat food he'd bought her, and he wanted her to take the stuff from his hand. Hell, he wanted to go out and kill something for her, bring the meat back, cook it himself, and feed her until she was full. Then he wanted to lie beside her with a dagger in his hand, protecting her as she slept.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
That Zsadist was late was no big surprise. Z was one giant, violent fuck-you to the world.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?”
“Yeah?”
“What are those markings?”
His frowned and flicked his eyes over to her, thinking, as if she didn’t know? But then . . . well, she had been a human. Maybe she didn’t. “They’re slave bands. I was . . . a slave.”
“Did it hurt when they were put on you?”
“Yes.”
“Did the same person who cut your face give them to you?”
“No, my owner’s hellren did that. My owner . . . she put the bands on me. He was the one who cut my face.”
“How long were you a slave?”
“A hundred years.”
“How did you get free?”
“Phury. Phury got me out. That’s how he lost his leg.”
“Were you hurt while you were a slave?”
Z swallowed hard. “Yes.”
“Do you still think about it?”
“Yes.” He looked down at his hands, which suddenly were in pain for some reason. Oh, right. He’d made two
fists and was squeezing them so tightly his fingers were about to snap off at the knuckles.
“Does slavery still happen?”
“No. Wrath outlawed it. As a mating gift to me and Bella.”
“What kind of slave were you?”
Zsadist shut his eyes. Ah, yes, the question he didn’t want to answer. For a while it was all he could do to force himself to stay in the chair. But then, in a falsely level voice, he said,
“I was a blood slave. I was used by a female for blood.”
The quiet after he spoke bore down on him, a tangible weight.
“Zsadist? Can I put my hand on your back?”
His head did something that was evidently a nod, because Mary’s gentle palm came down lightly on his
shoulder blade. She moved it in a slow, easy circle.
“Those are the right answers,” she said. “All of them.”
He had to blink fast as the fire in the furnace’s window became blurry. “You think?” he said hoarsely.
“No. I know.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Father Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6.5))
“
I'm sorry," he muttered. "If I... uh, hurt your feelings or something."
She glared at him. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed off and sexually frustrated."
His head snapped back on his spine. Well... then. Okaaaaay.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
—Estaba muerto hasta que me encontraste, aunque respiraba. Estaba ciego, aunque podía ver. Y entonces llegaste tú… y estaba despierto. (Zsadist, Amante despierto)
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
I didn't mean to make you cry-"
"Oh, God...Zsadist, I love you."
His eyes flared so wide, his brows nearly hit his hairline.
"What...?"
"I love you."
"Say that again."
"I love you."
"Again...please," he whispered. "I need to hear it...again."
"I love you..."
His response was to start praying to the Scribe Virgin in the Old Language.
-Lover Awakened
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
She is more beautiful than I have words for." He lifted his eyes to Phury's. "And last night I was blessed beyond measure to serve her." -Zsadist
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
What did you do with the female?” Zsadist growled to the next slayer. When all that came back at him was a “Fuck you,” Z pulled a Tyson and bit the bastard.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
When he heard light, rushing footfalls, he turned his head. Someone was racing along the second-floor balcony. Then laughter drifted down from above. Glorious feminine laughter.
He leaned out the archway and glanced at the grand staircase.
Bella appeared on the landing above, breathless, smiling, a black satin robe gathered in her hands. As she slowed at the head of the stairs, she looked over her shoulder, her thick dark hair swinging like a mane.
The pounding that came next was heavy and distant, growing louder until it was like boulders hitting the ground. Obviously, it was what she was waiting for. She let out a laugh, yanked her robe up even higher, and started down the stairs, bare feet skirting the steps as if she were floating. At the bottom, she hit the mosaic floor of the foyer and wheeled around just as Zsadist appeared in second-story hallway.
The Brother spotted her and went straight for the balcony, pegging his hands into the rail, swinging his legs up and pushing himself straight off into thin air. He flew outward, body in a perfect swan dive--except he wasn't over water, he was two floors up over hard stone.
John's cry for help came out as a mute, sustained rush of air--
Which was cut off as Zsadist dematerialized at the height of the dive. He took form twenty feet in front of Bella, who watched the show with glowing happiness.
Meanwhile, John's heart pounded from shock...then pumped fast for a different reason.
Bella smiled up at her mate, her breath still hard, her hands still gripping the robe, her eyes heavy with invitation. And Zsadist came forward to answer her call, seeming to get even bigger as he stalked over to her. The Brother's bonding scent filled the foyer, just as his low, lionlike growl did. The male was all animal at the moment....a very sexual animal.
"You like to be chased, nalla, " Z said in a voice so deep it distorted.
Bella's smile got even wider as she backed up into a corner. "Maybe."
"So run some more, why don't you." The words were dark and even John caught the erotic threat in them.
Bella took off, darting around her mate, going for the billiards room. Z tracked her like prey, pivoting around, his eyes leveled on the female's streaming hair and graceful body. As his lips peeled off his fangs, the white canines elongated, protruding from his mouth. And they weren't the only response he had to his shellan.
At his hips, pressing into the front of his leathers, was an erection the size of a tree trunk.
Z shot John a quick glance and then went back to his hunt, disappearing into the room, the pumping growl getting louder. From out of the open doors, there was a delighted squeal, a scramble, a female's gasp, and then....nothing.
He'd caught her.
......When Zsadist came out a moment later, he had Bella in his arms, her dark hair trailing down his shoulder as she lounged in the strength that held her. Her eyes locked on Z's face while he looked where he was going, her hand stroking his chest, her lips curved in a private smile.
There was a bite mark on her neck, one that had very definitely not been there before, and Bella's satisfaction as she stared at the hunger in her hellren's face was utterly compelling. John knew instinctively that Zsadist was going to finish two things upstairs: the mating and the feeding. The Brother was going to be at her throat and in between her legs. Probably at the same time.
God, John wanted that kind of connection.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #4))
“
That Zsadist guy . . . you had to wonder when he was going to lose it. And what he was going to take out with him when he did.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
The brothers chanted as he drank, their voices getting louder and louder, ringing out. He tasted each one of them. The raw power and majesty of Wrath. The vast strength of Rhage. The burning, protective loyalty of Phury. The cold savagery of Zsadist. The sharp cunning of Vishous.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
Z knew the fed EX-tinction package had arrived and wasn’t ready to take delivery
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
It was Zsadist. His eyes closed, his head back, his mouth wide open, he sang. The scarred one, the soulless one, had the voice of an angel.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
Zsadist blinked a couple of times. What the hell just happened? He looked around the room as if the furniture or maybe the drapes could help him out. Then his acute hearing tuned in to a quiet sound. She was…crying. With a curse he went over to the bathroom. He didn’t knock, just turned the knob and went inside. She was standing next to the shower, arms crossed, tears pooling in her sapphire eyes. Oh…God. What was a male supposed to do in this situation? “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “If I…uh, hurt your feelings or something.” She glared at him. “I’m not hurt. I’m pissed off and sexually frustrated.” His head snapped back on his spine. Well…then. Okaaaaay. Man, he was going to need a neck brace after this conversation.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Zsadist scese dall'auto e girò intorno al baule. Dopo un secolo in cui per scelta era sempre stato a stecchetto, adesso aveva messo su dodici chili abbondanti sui suoi quasi due metri di altezza. La cicatrice in faccia restava evidente, così come le fasce che gli avevano tatuato intorno al collo e ai polsi quand'era uno schiavo di sangue, ma grazie a Bella, la sua shellan, i suoi occhi non erano più due pozzi neri d'odio. Quasi più.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood Collection (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1-9))
“
Il timbro tenorile era così terso, così puro da far venire la pelle d'oca, e riempiva i petti di un calore struggente. Le dolci note musicali sollevavano il soffitto con la loro gloriosa magnificenza, trasformando la stanza in una cattedrale e i fratelli in un tabernacolo. Il paradiso era lì, a portata di mano. Sembrava quasi di poter toccare il cielo con un dito. Era Zsadist. A occhi chiusi, con il capo reclinato all'indietro e la bocca spalancata, cantava. Lo sfregiato, quello senz'anima, aveva la voce di un angelo.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood Collection (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1-9))
“
Are you holding her?” Wrath asked.
There was a pause. “As soon as I get this bow tied in the back—hold on, girlie. Okay, up you go. She’s in a pink dress that Cormia made her by hand. I hate pink. I like it on her, though—but keep that to yourself.”
Wrath flexed his hands. “What’s it like?”
“Not totally hating pink? Pretty fuck—ehrm, frickin’ emasculating.”
“Yeah.”
“Do not tell me Lassiter’s been metrosexualizing even you. I heard he talked Manello into going for a pedicure with him—but I’m praying that’s just gossip.”
-Wrath & Zsadist
”
”
J.R. Ward (The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12))
“
Well…it’s nice to meet you, Zsadist.” “So polite,” he mocked. “Okay, how about this. Thank you for not killing him or me just now. That real enough for you?” Zsadist glanced over his shoulder. His eyelids were like window blinds, allowing only slits of cold night to shine through. And with his skull-trimmed hair and that scar, he was the personification of violence: aggression, and pain anthropomorphized. Except as he looked at her through the candlelight, the slightest hint of warmth came through his face. It was so subtle she couldn’t define quite how she knew it was there. “You,” he said softly, “are extraordinary.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2))
“
You've been tired for centuries, Phury. It's time to let go of me.
Don't think I can.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
Ten minutes,” Butch whispered into Marissa’s ear. “Can I have ten minutes with you before you go? Please, baby…”
V rolled his eyes and was relieved to be annoyed at the lovey-dovey routine. At least all the testosterone in him hadn’t dried up.
“Baby…please?”
V took a pull on his mug. “Marissa, throw the sap bastard a bone, would you? The simpering wears on my nerves.”
“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Marissa packed up her papers with a laugh and shot Butch a look. “Ten minutes. And you’d better make them count.”
Butch was up out of that chair like the thing was on fire. “Don’t I always?”
“Mmm…yes.”
As the two locked lips, V snorted. “Have fun, kiddies. Somewhere else.”
They’d just left when Zsadist came in at a dead run. “Shit. Shit…shit…”
“What’s doing, my brother?”
“I’m teaching and I’m late.” Zsadist grabbed a sleeve of bagels, a turkey leg out of the refridg and a quart of ice cream from the freezer. “Shit.”
“That’s your breakfast?”
“Shut up. It’s almost a turkey sandwich.”
“Rocky Road don’t count as mayo, my brother.”
“Whatever.” He beelined back for the door. “Oh, by the way, Phury’s here again, and he brought that Chosen with him. Figured you’d want to know in case you see a random female ghosting around here.”
Whoa. Surprise. “How’s he doing?”
Zsadist paused. “I don’t know. He’s pretty tight about shit. Not real talkative. The bastard.”
“Oh, and you’re a candidate for The View?”
“Right back at you, Bahbwa.”
“Touché.” V shook his head. “Man, I owe him.”
“Yeah, you do. We all do.”
“Hold up, Z.” V tossed the spoon he’d used to sugar his coffee across the room. “You’re going to want this, true.”
Z caught the thing on the fly. “Ah, would have spaced that. Thanks. Man, I got Bella on the brain all’a time, feel me?”
The butler’s door flapped shut.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5))
“
Abruptly, the sea of people parted . . . and then there they were. Bella, with Nalla in her arms, Z standing beside his girls.
Beth broke down all over again as the female came forward.
God, it was impossible not to remember how Nalla had started this, putting into motion the need that had become undeniable.
Bella was tearing up, too, as she stopped. “We just want to say yay!”
At that moment, Nalla reached out to Beth, a gummy smile on her face, pure joy radiating out.
No turning that down, nope, not at all.
Beth took the little girl out of her mother’s arms and positioned her on her chest, capturing one of the pinwheeling hands and giving kisses, kisses, kisses. “You ready to be a big . . .” Beth glanced at Z and then her husband. “. . . a big sister?”
Yes, Beth thought. Because that’s what the Brotherhood and their families were. Close as siblings, tighter than blood because they were chosen.
“Yes, she is,” Bella said as she wiped under her eyes and looked back at Z. “She is so ready.”
“My brother.” Z shoved out his palm, his scarred face in a half smile, his yellow eyes warm. “Congratulations.”
Instead of shaking anything, Wrath shoved that ultrasound picture into his Brother’s face. “Do you see him? See my son? He’s big, right, Beth?”
She kissed Nalla’s supersoft hair. “Yes.”
“Big and healthy, right?”
Beth laughed some more. “Big and healthy. Absolutely perfect.”
“Perfect!” Wrath bellowed. “And this is a doctor saying it—I mean, she went to medical school.”
Even Z started laughing at that point.
Beth gave Nalla back to her parents. “And Dr. Sam told me she’s delivered over fifteen thousand babies over the course of her career—”
“See!” Wrath yelled. “She knows these things. My son is perfect! Where’s the champagne? Fritz! Get the fucking champagne!
”
”
J.R. Ward (The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12))
“
As he and Beth hit the stairs, he called out to his brothers, “Thanks for having my back once again.”
The group stopped and turned to face him.
After a beat of silence, they formed a half circle around the foot of the grand staircase, each making a thick fist with his weapon hand. With a great whoop! of a war cry, they went down on their right knee and slammed their heavy knuckles into the mosaic floor.
The sound was thunder and bass drums and bomb explosions, ricocheting outward, filling all the rooms of the mansion.
Wrath stared at them, seeing their heads bent, their broad backs curled, their powerful arms planted. They had each gone to that meeting prepared to take a bullet for him, and that would ever be true.
Behind Tohr’s smaller form, Lassiter, the fallen angel, stood with a straight spine, but he wasn’t cracking any jokes at this reaffirmation of allegiance. Instead, he was back to staring at the damn ceiling.
Wrath glanced up at the mural of warriors silhouetted against a blue sky and could see nothing much of the pictures that he’d been told were there.
Getting back with the program, he said in the Old Language, “No stronger allies, no greater friends, no better fighters of honor could a king behold than these assembled afore me, mine brothers, mine blood.”
A rolling growl of ascent lifted as the warriors got to their feet again, and Wrath nodded to each one of them.
He had no more words to offer as his throat had abruptly choked, but they didn’t seem to need anything else.
They stared at him with respect and gratitude and purpose, and he accepted their enormous gifts with grave appreciation and resolve.
This was the ages-old covenant between king and subjects, the pledges on both sides made with the heart and carried out by the sharp mind and the strong body.
“God, I love you guys,” Beth said.
There was a lot of deep laughter, and then Hollywood said, “You want us to stab the floor for you again? Fists are for kings, but the queen gets the daggers.”
“I wouldn’t want you to take chips out of this beautiful floor. Thank you, though.”
“Say the word and it’s nothing but rubble.”
Beth laughed. “Be still, my heart.”
The Brothers came over and kissed the Saturnine Ruby that rode on her finger, and as each paid his honor, she gave him a gentle stroke of the hair. Except for Zsadist, who she smiled tenderly at.
“Excuse us, boys,” Wrath said. “Little quiet time, feel me?”
There was a ripple of male approval, which Beth took in stride—and with a blush—and then it was time for some privacy.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7))
“
He looked up at her with wild, crazy eyes as he kept rocking and scrubbing, rocking and scrubbing. The skin around the black-tattooed bands was brilliant red, completely raw.
"Zsadist?" She straggled to keep her tone gentle and steady. "What are you doing?"
"I… I can't get clean. I don't want you to get dirty, too." He lifted his wrist and blood oozed down his forearm. "See? Look at the dirt. It's all over me. Inside of me."
His voice alarmed her even more than what he'd done to himself, his words carrying the eerie, groundless logic of insanity.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
¡Por Dios, aunque su cara tenía una expresión dura, la voz de Zsadist era tan suave y hermosa como la llama de la vela!
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Zsadist se levantó como un espectro del suelo ennegrecido, con la cara y los brazos manchados con la sangre de los restrictores. Su aura era un resplandor de violencia que distorsionaba el paisaje detrás de él, y el bosque del fondo parecía oscilar allí donde enmarcaba su cuerpo.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Aunque cantaba en voz baja, la pureza y la belleza de la voz de Zsadist eran impresionantes. Siempre había tenido voz de tenor. En las raras ocasiones en que cantaba, los sonidos que salían de su boca eran asombrosos, capaces de hacer que el tiempo se detuviera y se deslizara hacia la eternidad.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3))
“
Era Zsadist. Aquel hombre cubierto de cicatrices, y sin alma, tenía la voz de un ángel.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
That Zsadist was late was no big surprise. Z was one giant, violent fuck-you to the world. A walking, sometimes talking, usually cursing SOB who took hatred, especially toward females, to new levels.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1))
“
the king dematerialized along with Vishous, Butch, and Zsadist.
”
”
J.R. Ward (Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6))