Page 15 of Rule
I tore my gaze away from her, my heartthudding in my chest, and Court gave me a curious look. “Bran, what is wrong?”
“That is not the right human.”
Court jerked in surprise, and the littlehuman made a soft cry and cringed away. Her mouth was trembling, and she staredwide-eyed at Court as he turned and studied her. “What are you talking about?”
“That is not the human I hired to be ananny. That is not Sabrina Green.”
“Of course, it is,” Court said. “She wasscanned at the ship and I saw the screen. It said Sabrina Green.”
I had joined them now and I showed Courtthe picture on my tablet. “This is Sabrina Green.”
Court’s skin turned a light green. “Thatis the other female from the ship.”
“Krono! The stupid humans mixed up the identificationchips.” My agitated tone made the human cringe again. I ignored my weird urgeto soothe her and scowled at her instead. “What is your name?”
“She does not understand you. Remember?”Court said.
“Oh, for the love of Krono.” My irritationat being given the wrong human and my unexpected attraction to her, made mytone harsh.
I glared at the human, immediately feelingguilty when she wrapped her arms around her torso and backed away until she wastouching the wall and could go no further. She was making quick darting glancesaround the room, wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue, and I could seeher body shaking even under Court’s thick cloak.
“You are scaring her, Bran.” Court’s tonewas disapproving, and I turned on him.
“What do you care? You hate her.”
“I do not hate her.”
“Please, you hate all female humans.” Iran my hands through my hair. “We need to call the agency and tell them therewas a mistake. Find out where my nanny was sent to and trade her for thisone.”
“Have you forgotten the storm?” Court said.“Communications with Earth will be impossible by now. And lower your voicebefore you wake Bella.”
“So, what are we supposed to do?” Isnapped. My gaze wanted to keep returning to the intoxicating human. I wantedto touch her skin and see if it was as soft as it looked, and it was making meeven angrier.
“We wait out the storm. Once it isfinished, we will contact Earth and inform them of their error.”
“A moon, Court. This storm will last atleast a moon. What do we do with this human in the meantime? I do not wanther anywhere near Bella.”
“Why not?” Court asked.
“She is a stranger. Who knows what shewould say or do to Bella.”
“Bran,” Court gave me a strange look, “whatis wrong with you?”
“We have a human that we know nothing aboutliving under our roof. What is wrong with you, that you are not concerned forthe safety of Bella?”
I was overreacting, I knew I wasoverreacting, but the human’s presence was making me feel strange and offbalance.
“You know that I will allow no harm tobefall Bella until the day I die,” Court snarled at me. His own temper washitting the breaking point. “But you are acting like a froden. The girl isharmless, and you know it.”
I took a step back, breathing deeply as mytail flicked back and forth. Court was right. I was being a froden.
“I will take the human to her room andbring her some food. She can stay in her room until morning. No doubt thetranslators will be working by then. We can explain the mistake and that wewill send her to where she is supposed to be once the storm ends,” Court said.
“Fine.” I was suddenly extremely weary.“But I do not want her to have anything to do with Bella.”
“All right. Come with me, human.”
I watched as Court made a ‘come here’gesture to the human. She stepped toward him hesitantly, and then made anotherstrange curtsey in my direction before following Court from the room.
