Page 95 of Rule

I paced the room as Bella studied me. “Whatwrong, girl?”

“Nothing, honey. Nothing’s wrong.”

“We go outside?” she said.

I hesitated before crossing the room toBella’s closet. I pulled out her cloak and a warm pair of boots. “Yes. Comehere, baby.”

She let me wrap her snugly in the cloak andboots and I carried her to the front door. I could hear the faint sound ofvoices as I grabbed Bran’s extra cloak and threw it on before stuffing my feetinto Court’s boots. I picked up Bella and set her on my hip and then openedthe front door and stepped out into the sunshine.

The cold took my breath away and I checkedto make sure Bella’s cloak was secure around her. She was staring at the Draaxwho were standing in front of her father and her uncle, and my stomach dropped.There were so many of them and all of them carried swords.

Sabrina was standing next to the biggestone and weirdly, holding his hand.

“Where is the human named Evelyn?” The biggestDraax said.

Neither Bran nor Court replied, and a Draaxwith bright blue eyes scowled at them. “Your king has asked you a question.”

They remained silent, and the Draax steppedforward, raising his sword. “Answer your king, or -”

“Here, I’m right here.” I pushed my way pastCourt and Bran. Bella clung to my neck, staring wide-eyed at the Draax in frontof us. I licked my lips nervously and took another step forward before I waspulled to an abrupt stop by Bran and Court’s tails around my waist.

I held Bella closer to me as Bran and Courtmoved until they were flanking us. I stared up at Bran and then at Court, mygaze wavering from the tears. I had to leave. I had to leave them, and it woulddestroy me.

Faintly, I could hear the soft murmur of Sabrina’svoice and the deeper pitch of the Draax beside her. I paid no attention,continuing to stare at my two Draax as they glanced at each other over my head.

Before I could tell them not to do anythingstupid, Sabrina ran forward and grabbed my arm.

Bran immediately reached to push her hand awayand all of the Draax drew their swords at once. A voice rang out over the ringingsound of the swords. “Touch my queen and I will remove your hand, farmer.”

Bran’s hand paused over Sabrina’s, and thethree of us stared at her. She rolled her eyes and turned to glare at theDraax. “Quill, stop. It’s fine. Just give me a minute.”

She turned back to me and studied Bran andthen Court before giving me a large smile. “You love them, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I said. I didn’t care that the kingwas standing right there. I would not deny my love for them.

To my surprise, Sabrina let out a whoop andthrew her arms around me and Bella. Bella made a small squeak of surprise andthen giggled as Sabrina hugged me tight and kissed my cheek with a loud smackingnoise.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I said.

Sabrina grinned again. “Girl, you’re aboutto be as happy as I am. Come on, let’s get out of the cold, and I’ll explaineverything.”

* * *

I stared numbly at Bella. She was sitting onthe king’s lap in our small living room. Her colouring book was propped up onher knees, and she held a fistful of crayons in her hand. As I watched, she grinnedup at the king. “Quill, hold crayons.”

The king held out his big hand obligingly, andshe dropped the crayons into his left hand before putting one in his righthand. “Quill colour with Bella?”

She gave him her most charming smile andthe king grinned before beginning to colour.

“No, Quill!” Bella nudged his hand toanother part of the picture. “You colour this part. Bella colour trees.”

“Evelyn?” Sabrina touched my hand, but I turnedto stare at Court and Bran who were standing by the fireplace with identicallooks of shock on their faces.

Most of the other Draax had stayed in the landvehicles, but two of them had joined us. The one with blue eyes stood next toQuill’s chair and the other stood beside Sabrina who was sitting next to me onthe couch. Both had sheathed their swords, but they kept their hands claspedloosely around the handles.

“Galan? Can you stand back a bit?” Sabrinasaid. “Give me and Evelyn a little breathing room.”

Galan hesitated and glanced at the king whonodded. The Draax moved back, and Sabrina smiled at me. “You okay?”

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