Page 20 of Rule

I turned to the human and I could see herlower lip beginning to tremble and her too-white skin paled even more. “I’mvery sorry. I would never have… I mean, if I had known he wasn’t the king….”

“King.” What she was saying was finallysinking in. “Are you here to breed with King Quillan?”

She nodded, and I turned to Bran. “Krono,she is our future queen.”

“The king is taking a human mate?” Bransaid.

I nodded. “I’d heard a rumour last moon inthe market that he would be taking a queen soon.”

“About time,” Bran said. “If he dieswithout an heir, King Eastolf would take the western province and then we wouldall be fu-”

He stopped and glanced at Bella who wasstill staring wide-eyed at the human. Normally she’d be hollering for herbreakfast by now.

“So, um, now that the translators areworking, do you think you could, uh, get in touch with the palace and let themknow about the mix-up,” the human said. “Sabrina’s translator must not be workingyet either.”

“It could be,” I said as Bran moved awayand stirred the faven that was bubbling in a pot on the stove. “The storm hasknocked out all communications.”

“Oh.” The human bit at her bottom lip in away that made my dick stir in my pants. “Well, do you think I could troubleyou for a ride to the palace?”

“A ride,” I said.

I hadn’t meant to sound derisive, butembarrassment crossed her face at my tone. “Um, yes, in your land vehicle.”

“You think it can drive in the storm?”

“I’ve never been in a vehicle before,” shesaid defensively. “I didn’t know it can’t drive in, um, bad weather.”

“It is more than bad weather.” Bran set abowl of warm faven in front of Bella. She was still staring at the human andBran ran his hand over her dark hair. “Eat, meena.”

She didn’t move, and Bran sighed and pulledup a chair next to her and sat down. He held a spoon of faven in front of herand she opened her mouth and ate the bite without taking her gaze from thehuman.

“No vehicles or ships can be used in this storm,and we have lost all ability to hologram or email with the palace,” I said.“Draaxan storms are not like the storms on your planet. We are cut off fromeveryone until it ends.”

“How long will it last?” the human asked.

“A moon.”

“A moon?” She stared at me in shock.“That’s a month in human time, right?”

I shrugged. “Give or take a few days.”

“I – but, what do we do now?” Evelyn was chewingon her bottom lip while she rubbed her side. “I’m supposed to be breeding withthe, uh, king.”

“He will have to wait until the stormends,” I said. “Just like we have to wait for our nanny.”

Her gaze flickered to Bella. “So, we’restuck with each other for the entire month?”

“Yes.”

I moved to the stove and spooned some faveninto three bowls as the human smiled tentatively at Bran.

“Okay, well, uh, my name is Evelyn.” Sheglanced briefly at me. “I know his name is Court, but, uh, I didn’t catch yourname.”

“Bran.” Bran deliberately avoided lookingat her as he spooned another mouthful of faven into Bella’s mouth.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Evelyn said.

He just nodded, and I grabbed some spoonsfrom the drawer. Evelyn was sitting on the other side of Bella and she smiledat her before reaching out to touch her arm. “Hi, honey. What’s your -”

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