Page 8 of Rule

“Right. Well, it’s not just rumours. TheDraax like to share.”

“He’s a king. He’s not going to share hisqueen with someone else.”

“He might,” Candy said. “Most Draax lovethreesomes.”

My unease was growing by leaps and bounds.What if I had to worry about pleasing two Draax males?

“Have you been with two Draax?” I asked.

“Yeah, quite a few times. They’ll give youextra juice if you take two of them on at once.”

I swallowed. “Uh, how was it?”

“Amazing,” Candy said. “Like, change mylife amazing.”

I gave her a doubtful look and Candynodded. “It’s true. I mean, at first, I was a little worried because theirdicks are so friggin’ big, but they always go slow and use plenty of lube.Honestly, if the king does invite a friend, you’re gonna want him to keepinviting a friend. Two is always better than one.”

I didn’t believe her for a second, but Ikept my doubts to myself. It didn’t matter if I was nervous or afraid, I hadsigned the contract and I was about to be mated to a Draax male. It was toolate to back out now. If I couldn’t relax enough to cum, I would just have tofake it and hope the Draax didn’t notice.

Chapter Three

Evelyn

I woke slowly. My lower back and side werethrobbing, and pain was radiating up and down my shoulder. I rolled onto myside, staring blearily at the wall of my small bedroom.

I was lying on the cold floor. Why wasn’tI on my mattress?

I sat up, groaning at the agony it causedin my lower back, and tried to focus as I rubbed my aching kidneys. Why did Ihurt so much?

The memory of last night came rushing back,and I pinched my lips shut against the moan that wanted to escape. Alex had comeinto my room late at night, drunk and looking to fight. He’d taunted me aboutmarrying Troy and when I refused to respond, he’d started punching.

I rubbed my shoulder and slipped my top downto stare at the bruise blossoming across it. I climbed to my feet and grabbedthe wall for support when a wave of dizziness swept over me. Hot and intensepain shot through my side, and for a moment I thought I would vomit all overthe floor. I swallowed grimly and bowed my head, pressing my hand against mykidneys and waiting for the pain to subside.

After a while, alongwhile, itdid. I raised my shirt and studied the bruise on my side. It was the exactshape and size of Alex’s boot. I vaguely recalled him slamming his foot downon me while I was huddled on the ground with my arms over my head to protectit.

More nausea, and I took a few deep breathsbefore shuffling to the full-length mirror against the far wall. I turned myback to the mirror and carefully twisted my head to study my back. A horrifiedgroan snuck past my lips. No wonder my kidneys and lower back felt like theywere on fire. My pale skin was covered in angry red welts and mottled purplebruising. The whole area felt swollen and hot, and I couldn’t bring myself toeven touch my lower back.

I had blacked out as Alex was punching andkicking me and normally that made him stop, but it looked like this time, he’dkept going. I lowered my shirt, wincing at even that pressure and quietly leftmy bedroom. I hobbled down the hallway, pausing at Alex’s bedroom. I couldhear his loud snoring through the door, and I stepped over the squeaky spot onthe floor and continued to the bathroom. It was doubtful I would wake Alex up,not after how much he drank last night, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

It burned and hurt like hell to pee and Iwasn’t surprised when I stood up and saw blood in the toilet. It wasn’t thefirst time I’d peed blood after being beaten by my stepbrother.

It’ll be the last.

I blinked in confusion at my reflection inthe bathroom mirror. Why would it be the last time? I was sure Alex wouldfind a way to beat the shit out of me even after I was married to Troy andliving…

My eyes widened. I was leaving. I wasmoving to the planet of Draax and being married to their king. I would neverbe beaten by Alex again.

Fuck! What time was it? I staggered outof the bathroom, forcing myself to walk quickly despite the agonizing pain, andlooked for my PAR phone in my bedroom. It was shattered on the floor, Alexmust have broken it, but I didn’t have time to mourn its loss. I needed toknow what fucking time it was.

I snuck back out into the small and messyliving room. It didn’t matter how many times I cleaned, Alex and his friendswere pigs and never picked up after themselves. I glanced at the clock on thehologram screen and dismay filled me. It was ten to eight. The people fromthe agency would be here in ten minutes to pick me up. If I wasn’t downstairs,they might leave, or worse – knock on the door. If they woke up Alex, who knewwhat he would do. Hell, he would probably try and kill me before he let me go.

I walked back to my bedroom, avoiding thesqueaky spot again, and grabbed the large backpack from my closet. I had verylittle clothes or personal possessions, but I still wouldn’t have time to packeverything. I was going to get up early this morning and pack – it was toorisky to pack beforehand – but I hadn’t planned on being beaten unconscious bymy stepbrother last night.

I stuffed some clothes into the bag, then mywallet, and my broken PAR phone. It was probably pointless, but it had a tonof photos on it. Maybe I could somehow get the phone working and transfer themto a memory stick or something.

I bent – God, did it hurt my back – andslid my hand between my mattress and the floor. The picture was still safelytucked under the mattress and I studied my father’s face before pressing a kissagainst the photo and carefully sliding it into the backpack. It was the onlypicture I had of him, Alex and his mother had burned the rest when he died, andit was my most precious possession.

I slipped out of my bedroom. It hurt toomuch to lift my backpack and I had to drag it on the floor behind me. Distracted,I didn’t avoid the squeak in the floor, and I froze when I stepped on it. Alex’ssnoring cut out and I pressed my hand over my mouth, the tears dripping down mycheeks.

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