Page 26 of Rule

I looked down, heat rising in my face, andI heard Court make a soft groan. Bella had pulled the neckline of the human’s tanktop out, giving us all a view of her naked and – I didn’t want to admit it butperfect looking – breasts.

“Bella, no.” I pulled her hand away from thehuman’s shirt. “Do not do that.”

“What are they, Papa?” Bella said again.Her tail poked me in the ribs, and I stood and picked her up.

“Court, put the human in her bed. I willbe back with the gallberry juice.”

I carried Bella to her room and placed heron the bed. “Meena, you must stay in your room for a little bit. Play withyour toys and then I will come get you for breakfast.”

“All right, Papa,” she said.

I kissed her forehead and stroked her darkhair. “You are a good girl, and I love you very much.”

“I love you,” she said.

I left her playing on her bed and ran tothe kitchen. I grabbed a glass and the jug of gallberry juice and returned to thehuman’s room. Court had placed her on the bed, and he studied the juice in myhand.

“She is unconscious, Bran. What will wedo? Pour it down her throat?”

“We need to wake her up.”

“How?” he said.

I poured some juice into the glass and setit on the nightstand before taking Evelyn’s arms and pulling her into a sittingposition. Her head fell back and even unconscious, she groaned in pain.

“Prop her up.”

Court slid behind her on the bed, lettingher head rest on his broad chest as I patted her thigh. “Human, open your eyes.”

There was no response and I squeezed hersmooth leg. “Human, wake up now.”

“She is not going to wake up that way,”Court said.

“Do you have a better idea?” I said.

He didn’t reply and this time I patted heron the cheek. “Human, look at me.”

“Her name is Evelyn,” Court said.

I cursed under my breath and gave him anexasperated look before patting her cheek again. “Evelyn, wake up.”

Her eyes rolled behind her eyelids, givingme some hope. “Evelyn, can you hear me?”

Her eyes continue to roll, and she made asoft moaning sound, her hand grasping weakly at Court’s thigh. “Hurts,” shemumbled.

“I know,” I said. “Open your eyes, Evelyn.”

Her eyelids fluttered and she gave me ahazy look. I immediately pressed the glass of juice to her lips. “Drink, Evelyn.”

She didn’t move, in fact her eyes were startingto close again, and I shook her leg roughly. She cried out and Court glared atme.

“You are hurting her, Bran!”

“I have no choice,” I said. “She mustdrink. Evelyn, look at me. Now.”

She opened her eyes again, her look one ofdazed confusion.

“You need to drink,” I said. “Open yourmouth and drink.”

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