Page 18 of Rule

He frowned, and my heart lurched against myribcage. I took a step back, my right hand automatically coming up to protectmy liver – a favourite punching spot for Alex – and sputtered out anotheruseless apology.

A strange look came over his face, and hebacked away from me immediately. He turned and walked across the kitchen,dumping the food from my plate into the garbage as his tail flicked agitatedlyback and forth.

He turned and pointed at the chair as heput the plate into what looked like the Draax version of a dishwasher. I easedmy body into the chair, fuck did it hurt my kidneys and back to sit, and wipedaway the sweat on my forehead as the Draax brought me a glass of water.

“Thank you.”

I sipped at the water. Even though I knewI was dehydrated, I didn’t want to drink too much. This morning, I haddiscovered the door on the right wall of my bedroom led to a small bathroom.I’d used it, but peeing was torturous, there was more blood than before, and I’dnearly passed out on the toilet. I had no desire to pee again anytime soon.

The Draax was leaning against the counter,his arms folded across his massive chest. He was wearing a loose cotton shirtand dark pants that clung to his thick thighs. He was barefoot, and his hairwas sticking up at the back, like he had just rolled out of bed. It was bothadorable and a little confusing. Wouldn’t someone who worked for the king makesure he was more presentable?

Evie, something’s wrong. Just try andthink past the exhaustion and the pain, would you? Something is very, very wrong.This place isn’t big enough to be a palace, and there aren’t nearly enoughservants around.

The Draax said something before pointing athis chest.

“I’m sorry?”

He pressed both hands again his chestbefore saying. “Court.”

I blinked at him, trying to concentrateover the pain. Court. He was saying court. Did he mean the king’s court?“Uh, we’re in the court?”

He nodded and pointed to himself again.“Court.”

“Oh!” The lightbulb went on. “Yournameis Court.”

“Court.” He repeated before pointing at me.

I pressed my right hand against my chest.“Evelyn. My name is Evelyn.”

He cocked his head at me before hesitantlysaying my name.

I smiled and nodded my head. “That’sright. Evelyn but most times I go by Evie.”

He just stared at me and I took another sipof water. “Which I shouldn’t have said because it’ll just confuse you untilthe translator starts working. God, I hope it starts working soon.”

There was a noise behind me, and I shiftedin my chair, pressing my hand against my throbbing kidneys, to see who wasbehind me. My mouth fell open. The king had walked into the kitchen and hewas carrying a little girl. She had long dark hair and purple skin, and she wasstaring as wide-eyed at me as I was at her.

The king gave me an irritated look beforespeaking to Court in a fast and angry tone. The little girl continued to stareat me, her chubby arm slung tight around the king’s neck. I sat back in mychair. Why did the king have a little girl with him? I was certain the ladyat the agency said he was looking for an heir. Maybe he needed a boy? Maybehe…

Evie! Think, goddammit! You know whatthis is!

“Oh no,” I exhaled before touching the spotwhere the woman on the ship had injected me with an ID chip. “They mixed themup. They – she mixed up the chips and they thought I was Sabrina. Oh shit.Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.”

The king – no, not the king – was staringat me and my face flushed bright red. I had kissed him last night, I hadkissed him and touched him and… oh shit.

My head was buzzing, and it was hard tobreathe. I was on the verge of passing out and I pushed back my chair andleaned over, crying out at the pain, and immediately stuck my head between my knees.

Shit. This was so fucking bad.

* * *

Court

“Why is she in here?” Bran glared at me.

“Do you mean to keep her as a prisoner,Bran?” I replied. “If so, then lock her door if you do not want her leavingher room.”

His skin darkened and his tail flickedrapidly behind him. “Of course, she is not a prisoner. But I told you I donot want her around Bella.”

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