Page 52 of Rule

Chapter Thirteen

Bran

“Bella went to bed easily tonight,” Courtsaid when I walked into the living room.

I sank onto the couch and stretched my legsout. “She wanted Evelyn to put her to bed.”

Court stared at me over his tablet. “Areyou serious?”

I nodded. The storm was particularlyfierce this evening and the house was creaking and shuddering with the wind. Iwondered idly if I should give Evie more blankets for her bed. I had alreadygiven her an extra two, but I doubted it would be enough to keep her warm.

Dana had experienced one cold season and ithad driven her nearly mad with irritation and boredom, but I didn’t rememberher constantly being cold like Evelyn was.

“Bran? Did you hear me?” Court said.

“Sorry, what?”

“I said it is strange that Bella wantedEvelyn for her sleep ritual. She does not even like me to do it.”

“I know but she insisted,” I said.

“Does that bother you?”

I stared at the flames in the fireplace asI thought about Court’s question. Did it bother me? It had only been a weeksince the little human had confessed about being abused and her real reason forjoining the breeding program, but Bella was very taken with her. She followedher around and insisted that Evelyn play with her, bathe her, and be in herroom for her bedtime ritual.

To my surprise, Evelyn had indulged her,and I even suspected that the human was growing as fond of Bella as Bella was ofher.

“Does it?” Court asked again.

“It does not,” I said.

“She is a sweet girl,” Court said.

“She is.”

Court didn’t say anything else, and Iraised one eyebrow at him. “Say what is on your mind, Court.”

He tossed his tablet on the table next tohis chair. “We should not allow Bella and Evelyn to grow so close. Evelynwill be leaving after the storm, remember?”

“I remember,” I said, “but I do not see howwe can keep Bella away from her. She is relentless and very stubborn.”

Court smiled a little. “That she is.”

He picked up his tablet and I continued to stareinto the flames for nearly half an hour. In the last week, the human hadstarted to relax around us. She assured us that her bruising was completelygone, but we still insisted that she drink gallberry juice every day and shedid not fight us on it. Her anxiety was much less, but she still flinched ifCourt or I moved too quickly around her.

My scowl deepened. How a human male couldhurt any female let alone a female as sweet and kind as Evie, I would never understand.

“Why are you scowling?” Court asked.

“Why do the human males treat their femalesso poorly?” I asked.

Court shrugged. “I do not know. But Eviedid say that not all of them are like that.”

I made a snorting noise as another blast ofwind shook the house. “I do not understand females. We would never hurt themin such a manner, and yet they still will not breed with us without getting thejuice in return.”

“Some do,” Court said.

I looked away from his gaze, fresh guiltsearing into my guts. Dana had been willing to mate with us, at least she madeus believe she was. Perhaps it was better that most of the human females onlybred with us in exchange for the juice. At least we knew their intentions fromthe start. At least we did not believe that they truly loved us the way we lovedthem.

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