Dark Lover
Quotes from the Book
You know,” he said, “this is why I love you so much.” Her tone was heartbreakingly warm. “What do you mean?” You don’t ask me to go inside because it’s cold. You just want to make it easier for me to be where I want to stand.
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.
Oh, man there's a marathon of Beaches running tomorrow night. Can we go after ten so I can see it once all the way through?" Everyone in the room turned to the blond-and-black haired guy, who was propped in the corner, massive arms over his chest. What," he said. "Look, it's not Mary Tyler Moore, 'kay? So you can 't give me shit." Vishous, the one with the black glove on his hand, glared across the room. "It's worse than Mary Tyler Moore. And to call you and idiot would be an insult to half-wits around the world." Are you kidding me? Bette Midler rocks. And I love the ocean. Sue me." Vishous glanced at the king. "You told me I could beat him. You promised." As soon as you come home," Wrath said as he got to his feet, "we'll hang him up by his armpits in the gym and you can use him as a punching bag." Thank you, baby Jesus." Blond-and-Black shook his head. "I swear, one of these days I'm going to leave." As one, the Brothers all pointed to the open door and let silence speak for itself. You guys suck.
Life is such a glorious trauma, is it not?
Pull up your big girl panties and just do it.
This was why people got mated, Rehv suddenly thought. Fuck the sex and the social position. If they were smart, they did it to make a house that had no walls and an invisible roof and a floor that no could walk on-and yet the structure was a shelter no storm could blow down, no match could torch up, no passage of years could degrade. That was when it hit him. A mated bond like that helped you through shit nights like this.
Christ, don't you ever knock? It's Lassiter. L-A-S-S-I-T-E-R. How is it possible you're still getting me confused with someone else? Do I need a nametag?
Sometimes in life, from out of a myriad of prosaic decisions like what to eat and where to sleep and how to dress, a true crossroads is revealed. In these moments, when the fog of relative irrelevancy lifts and fate rolls out a demand for free will, there is only left or right – no option of four-by-fouring into the underbrush between two paths, no negotiating with the choice that has been presented. You must answer the call and pick your way. And there is no reverse.
She was glad she didn’t know where it would take her. Because sometimes the only thing that got you through hell was that you were in too deep to pull out. [Ehlena]
No matter what you wear... to me, you will always have diamonds on the soles of your shoes.
Brace yourself , Effie." "Jesus Ch-" A grunt cut off the swearing. Wrath poked his head out of the window and whispered , "You're supposed to be a good Catholic. Isn't that blasphemy ?" Butch's tone was like someone had pissed out a fire on his bed. " You just threw half a car at me with nothing but a quote from Mrs. fucking Doubtfire.
As the Brotherhood got down to business, he found himself putting his hand on the dog’s big head and stroking the soft fur…playing with an ear…dipping down and finding the long waves that flowed from the animal’s broad, strong chest. Not that any of that meant he was keeping the the animal, of course. It just felt nice, was all.
Whether you have sight or not, I see the future in your eyes." -Beth
Funny, transformative events were not always scheduled and not always expected. Yeah, sure, your change turned you into a male. And when you went through the mating ceremony, you were part of a whole. No longer just yourself. And the deaths and the births around you made you view the world differently. But every once in a while, from out of the blue, someone reaches the quiet place where you spend your private time and changes the way you see yourself. If you’re lucky it’s your mate…the transformation reminds you once again that you are absolutely, positively with the right person: because what they say doesn’t touch you because of who they are to you, but because of the content of their message.
You're looking at that chick like you want to roll her up in a taco and put your hot sauce all over her.
All kings are blind. The good ones see this and use more than their eyes to lead.
You must be blind." "Why?" he asked, coming over to her. "Well, I feel like such an ass for saying this." She smoothed the front of her off-the-rack-and-then-some slacks. "But I wish I had better clothes. Then I'd be beautiful." Rehvenge paused. And then he shocked the crap out of her by kneeling before her. As he looked up, he had a slight smile on his lips. "Don't you get it Ehlena." With gentle hands, he stroked down her calf and brought her foot forward, balancing it on his thigh. As he undid the laces of her cheapo Keds sneaker, he whispered, "No matter what you wear... to me, you will always have diamonds on the soles of your shoes.
Payne nailing him in the face woke him up. George brought him back his independence. But Beth handed him his crown.
You keep showing up here? Being who you are?' There was a pause. 'I'm going to fall in love with you.' -Rehvenge
Life has gotten in the way of our life.
No stonger allies no greater friends no bigger fighters of honor could a king behould then these assembled afore me mine brothers mine blood
Do me a favor?” he whispered. Beth's hold tightened on his hand. ”Anything, what do you need?” ”Hum the Jeopardy theme.” There was a pause.Then Beth burst out laughing and swatted his shoulder. ”Wrath-” ”Actually,take your clothes off and hum it while doing some belly grooves.” As his shellan bent down and kissed his forehead, he looked up at her through his wraparounds. ”You think I'm kidding? Come on, we both need the distraction. And I promise I'll tip well” "You never carry cash." He extended his tongue and swept it over his upper lip. "I plan on working it off.
Put on your big girl pants and deal.
Because sometimes the only thing that got you through hell was that you were in too deep to pull out.
John Matthew was her well of soul, as the symphaths called it,or her pyrocant, to the vampires. Her essential weakness.
Slipping in the side door to the VIP section , she scanned the crowd , well aware that she was looking for one male in particular. And he was there. Fucking John Matthew.
None of his brothers dared to throw out a grumble, because the protocol button had been punched: If they were around outsiders, they treated him as their sovereign lord and king. Which meant no fucking around and no insubordination.Maybe they needed visitors more often in the fucking house
Wrath was in a bad mood, and he knew this because the sound of the doggen waxing the wooden balustrade at the top of the main staircase was making him want to light the whole fucking mansion on fire.
Ehlena: Look, the reason I called was -- Rehv: Because you needed an excuse. You shut me down in the exam room, but really wanted to talk to me. So you called me on the phone. And now you have me. (That voice dropped even lower) Do I get to pick what you do with me?
Did you know?
- Lover Avenged is the seventh book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
- The novel focuses on Rehvenge, a drug lord and nightclub owner who is the brother of a Brotherhood member's mate.
- The story is set in the fictional city of Caldwell, New York.
- It was published in hardcover in April 2009 by New American Library, an imprint of Penguin.
- The heroine, Ehlena, is a vampire who works as a nurse.
About J.R. Ward
More by J.R. Ward
All books by J.R. Ward →About the book
Lover Avenged is the seventh novel in J.R. Ward's paranormal romance series the Black Dagger Brotherhood, published in April 2009. Set in the fictional city of Caldwell, New York, where a race of vampires wages a long war against their soulless enemies, the lessers, the book centers on Rehvenge, a drug lord and owner of a notorious nightclub who has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood despite his sister's marriage to one of its members. He harbors a deadly secret that could make him a dangerous liability, and as plots inside and outside the Brotherhood threaten to expose the truth, he turns to Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that grips him.
Like the rest of the series, the novel blends dark paranormal action with a central romance, weaving Rehvenge and Ehlena's relationship through the broader arc of the Brotherhood's war. Recurring characters such as the vampire king Wrath, his queen Beth, and the young fighters John Matthew and Xhex move through the story, and the book advances ongoing series threads while delivering a self-contained love story at its core. Its themes touch on secrecy, sacrifice, loyalty, and finding a source of light amid a darkening world.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood is one of the most successful paranormal romance series of its era, with entries regularly reaching the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Lover Avenged continued that streak, deepening the world's mythology and expanding its large cast. It remains a fan favorite among readers of the series for shifting the spotlight onto Rehvenge, a morally complex figure who had lingered on the edges of earlier books.
Key characters
- RehvengeDrug lord and nightclub owner harboring a deadly secret; the hero
- EhlenaA vampire and nurse who becomes Rehvenge's love interest
- WrathThe blind king of the vampires and head of the Brotherhood
- BethWrath's mate and queen
- John MatthewA young vampire fighter with a mysterious past
- XhexA symphath-vampire who works security at Rehvenge's club
Book details
- First published
- 2009
- Length
- 527 pages
- Reading time
- 6 hours
- Author
- J.R. Ward
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Goodreads rating
- 4.32 (204k ratings) →
Series & reading order
- 1 Dark Lover
- 2 Lover Eternal
- 3 Lover Awakened
- 4 Lover Revealed
- 5 Lover Unbound
- 6 Lover Enshrined
- 7 Lover Avenged
- 8 Lover Mine
If you liked this, read…
- 1Dark LoverThe first Black Dagger Brotherhood novel, the natural starting point for the series
- 2Lover MineThe next Brotherhood book, continuing threads introduced around Lover Avenged
Keep reading
Lover Awakened
Lover Enshrined
Lover Unbound
Sea Swept
Willing Captive
Ain't She Sweet
Simply Irresistible
The Mistress
On the Edge
Independence
A Hunger Like No Other
The Angel
Sweet Evil
Chasing Fire
Bloodsucking Fiends
Unbeautifully
Half-Blood
Burned
Unholy Magic
Dreamfever
Deep
Night Play
Golden Trail
Predestined
Dangerous Creatures
Escaping Destiny
This Heart of Mine
The Darkest Night
Ice Queen
The Fiery Heart
Iron Kissed
The Exiled Queen
Embrace
The Siren
Ecstasy Unveiled
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Natural Born Charmer
Blue Moon
Immortal in Death
Blood Bound
Bloodfever
Romancing the Duke
A Job From Hell
A Shade of Blood
Sacrifice
Whispers in the Dark
Making Promises
Hunted
Tangle of Need
Bone Crossed
Stone Guardian
Burned
Divided in Death
Wicked Beat
Fallen Crest Public
Fall of Night
Allegiance of Honor
Indulgence in Death
The Missing Link
The Marriage Bargain

