Page 37 of Rule

“It was in her application for the nannyjob.”

“Why does it matter as a nanny if she is aninnocent?” Court asked.

“I do not know,” I said. “But it is one ofthe questions they are required to fill out.”

“We could ask her,” Court said again.

“Ask her what? If she is an innocent or ifshe would like to fuck us both until the storm ends and she goes to the king?”My voice was sarcastic, but Court simply shrugged.

“Both.”

“We cannot,” I said. “What if the humanfell in love with us? Then what?”

Anger flashed across Court’s face. “Fellin love with us or with you?”

“Stop it,” I said. “Dana loved you too.”

“Dana never loved me,” Court said. “Sheonly used me to get what she really wanted.”

“That is not true,” I said.

“It is and we both know it.” Court gave mean angry look. “You are right. Not about mating with this Evelyn, but aboutsharing her. It is not a good idea.”

Hurt flooded through me. “You would fuckthe human without me?”

I winced even as I was saying it. Whyshouldn’t Court sleep with a female without me? Afterall, I’d slept with Dana withouthim. Besides, in the moons after Court moved out, he would have had plenty ofopportunity to go to Earth and fuck a human on his own. It’s not like we couldonly sleep with a human if we were together.

“Do not look at me that way, Bran,” Courtsaid. “It is probably best if I am the only one who fucks the human. If shedoes tell the king, then it will be only me who is imprisoned or killed, andyou can find a new mate and raise Bella with her alone. The way you want.”

“That is not what I want!” Dark anddangerous anger was curling my hands into fists. “That was never what I wantedand if you truly believe that, then our friendship is damaged irreparably.”

We stared at each other, our skin identicalshades of dark green, our tails flicking back and forth, our breathing labouredand rough with anger. This was the closest we’d ever come to talking about Danaand what happened, and there was a part of me that wanted to turn and run awaywith my tail tucked between my legs.

“That is not what I believe,” Court finallysaid.

“Good.” My hands uncurled and I took a deepbreath. Now was the perfect time to talk about what happened with Dana, butwhen Court grabbed his tablet and scrolled through it again, I didn’t say anything.Even after two years, the anger and hurt between us had not lessened.

Maybe it never would.

* * *

Evelyn

When I woke up from my afternoon nap, my cravingfor the gallberry juice wasn’t the only thing that had returned.

I sat up, pushing my hair out of my face andrubbing my shoulder a bit gingerly. “Hello, Bella.”

“Hi, girl!” Bella was sitting cross-leggedat the end of my bed. “Girl have a nap like Bella?”

“Yes,” I said.

She crawled toward me and I didn’t stop herwhen she sat in my lap again. Her tail brushed back and forth over my arm. Ihad stripped down to my tank top and sleep shorts to have a nap and away fromthe warm cocoon of the covers, I was growing cold.

Bella studied the goosebumps on my armsbefore pressing one small hand against my breasts. “What these, girl?”

“Honey, my name is Evie. Can you call meEvie?” I said.

“Evie,” she said. “Evie girl.”

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