Page 32 of Rule

I drank a bit more and then smiled at Courtwhen he pushed a bowl of faven in front of me. “Thank you.”

I stirred it as Court sat down next to Branand ate a few bites. I needed to eat, but it would be impossible to swallowany food past the lump of fear in my throat. What if they told the king? Whatif they told him I was a whore who would make a terrible queen and it would bebest if he sent me back to Earth? Alex would beat me so badly, the pain fromthis one would feel like kisses.

“Eat, human,” Court said.

I had to say something, had to convince themthat they couldn’t tell the king what happened. I could do this. Staying calmand not freaking out would be the best way to convince them. I just needed tobe composed and speak slowly and confidently.

“Human, you must eat.” Court gave me anirritable look.

Okay, I could do this.

“Please don’t tell the king that I’m awhore,” I said. “I’m not a whore, I swear. I didn’t mean to do what I did inthe bed this morning. I was half asleep and I didn’t realize that… I mean, Iwould never have… please don’t tell the king what I did. Please. I’ll doanything you ask. I swear. Just don’t tell the king I’m a whore.”

Nice work, Evie. You sound completelycalm and rational.

Bran and Court were staring at me, thelooks of shock plastered back on their faces. I made a horrified noise when Bellabanged her spoon on the table and sang, “Whore, whore, whore.”

Bran’s green skin darkened, and he put hishand on Bella’s hand. “Hush, Bella.”

His look toward me was tinged with frustration.“Bella will mimic words. You must watch your tongue around her.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I forgot,that is, I haven’t been around a lot of children and I… I’m sorry.”

“Whore, Papa,” Bella said cheerfully.

Bran rubbed the smooth patch of skin betweenhis eyebrows. “Eat your faven, meena.” Another dark look of disapproval passedover his face. “Make no reaction when she says it, human. It will only encourageher to keep saying it.”

“A-all right,” I said.

Bran elbowed Court who shoved his bowl offaven to the side. “Human, what happened this morning was our fault. Notyours. We,” he took a quick sidelong glance at Bran, “did not mean for it tohappen, it will never happen again, and we certainly will not share the detailswith the king. In fact, we were going to ask you not to tell the king.”

His gaze flickered to Bella and it was easyto see the fear that crossed his face. “If the king believes we tried toseduce his queen, we would be imprisoned or executed, and Bella would be alone.”

I shook my head, horrified at the thoughtof the little girl growing up without her father like I did. “No, no, I wouldnever tell the king. Ever. I promise.”

“Good,” Court said. “Then we have an understanding.Now eat.”

I ate a spoonful of faven to appease him beforedrinking some more gallberry juice. “Just out of curiosity, why were you inthe bed with me this morning?”

Now it was Court’s turn to lookembarrassed. “You were very cold, and it was hurting you to shake the way youdid. We were trying to warm you.”

“Oh,” I said. “It worked. I was, um, niceand toasty warm this morning when I woke up.”

Court frowned. “Toasty warm? Toast is cookedEarth bread, is it not? Why would you compare yourself to toast?”

“It’s an expression,” I said. “Because toastis warm.”

They didn’t say anything, and I tookanother drink of juice, feeling like a world-class idiot. “Thank you forgiving me gallberry juice. I feel much better.”

“You are not completely healed,” Courtsaid. “Who injured you this way?”

I supposed I could have told them thetruth. It seemed like they were of the opinion that the less the king knewabout any of us, the better, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit that I wasbeaten by my stepbrother. It was shameful and humiliating, and I didn’t feel likesharing my life story with a couple of aliens I barely knew.

“I was in a vehicle accident right before Icame here,” I said.

“Were you?” Court said.

I nodded, squirming under the sudden intensityof his gaze.

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