Page 84 of Rule
Before Evie could reply, Bella appeared inthe doorway. Her hair was sticking up and she was holding her favourite doll.“Hi, Papa.”
“Hello, meena. Do you feel better afteryour nap?”
“Yes. I want juice, please.”
“All right, meena,” I said.
I walked toward her, smiling when she gaveme her sweet smile and held out her hand toward Evelyn and Court. “Uda and Eviegirl come too.”
* * *
Evelyn
“Court?” I leaned against the doorjamb inthe kitchen.
Court was staring out the kitchen windowand he didn’t turn around. “I thought you were joining Bella in her sleepritual.”
“I just finished,” I said.
“Where is Bran?”
“He’s having a quick shower.”
He didn’t reply. I joined him by the windowand rested my hand on his back. The poffin bread he’d made earlier was sittingon the counter and I said, “The poffin bread was delicious. Maybe I’ll get youto show me how to make it tomorrow?”
“There is no point. As the queen, you willalways have someone else cooking for you.”
Court’s voice was sullen, and I rubbed hisback. “Look at me, honey.”
He turned and I studied his face, my heart achingat the anger and sadness etched into it. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“There is nothing wrong.”
“Court, you shouldn’t bottle up yourfeelings. It isn’t healthy to – oh!”
Court had picked me up and I didn’t sayanything as he carried me down the hallway to his bedroom. He set me down nextto the bed, cupped my face, and kissed me hard on the mouth. I returned hiskiss but when he tried to unbutton my shirt, I caught his hands.
“Court, wait.”
“I want you, Evie,” he said.
“I want you too, but Bran is stillshowering.”
In the last two and a half weeks, I’d neverhad sex with one Draax without the other being present. There’d been more thanonce when Bran or Court had woken me in the middle of the night, or early inthe morning and we’d had sex, but the other was in the bed with us, even ifthey didn’t wake up. It was always the three of us together and, truthfully,that was the way I liked it. I didn’t want to sleep with one without the otherwith us.
Court’s face turned dark green and his tailthumped angrily against the floor. “Earlier today, you were more than happy tohave sex with Bran without me.”
“We weren’t going to have sex without you,”I said. “You’re overreacting because you’re upset and -”
“The last two times we have been together, youhave fucked Bran but only sucked me off.” His tail thumped against the floor again.
“Stop, honey. You’re reading too much intoit.”
“I am not!” Court’s anger was radiatingfrom him in thick slow waves. Three weeks ago, I would have been terrified andbacking away while trying to protect my kidneys.
Now? Now, I knew without a doubt thatCourt and Bran would never hurt me, and I didn’t feel a lick of fear. Instead,I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his chest.
“Honey, it’s okay,” I said. “I want you asmuch as I want Bran and -”
