Page 51 of Brandt's Rule

“Yeah. I believe she is,” Brandt answered.

“Do you plan to walk away from her?” Delilah asked. “Ever?”

“I didn’t plan to claim her. Can’t have somebody making me so off kilter. But, now, I don’t know. No? I’m not walking away. I guess it’s no. I thought I planned to push her away, keep my head about me. But I realized when she talked about leaving that I’d chase her down. Only way I’d walk away is if she won’t have me.”

“Then all you can do is be honest. Let her see who you are. Let her see your concerns, your wants, and even the things you aren’t willing to concede on. She needs to know those, too. Let her make her choices. Do not tell her what she is and isn’t going to do. If she’s as strong as you all say, and you try to make this female bend to your will, it will not end well,” Delilah said.

Brandt nodded.

“I wouldn’t be ordering her around at all,” Maverik mumbled.

“Do you know what she is?” Bane asked.

“I know she said her father is one of the original line of Dragons all of today’s Dragons are descended from,” Brandt said. “She said he’s got some magic, too.”

Maverik nodded.

“How? Do you know how old he’d have to be?” Bane demanded. “I mean, he’d have to be from the beginning of recorded time. It’s impossible!”

“No, it’s not. Not for Dragons, and yes, I’m aware of how old he’d have to be,” Delilah said, responding to the question Bane had put to Brandt.

“And her mother?” Bane asked.

“She said a few things, but I’m not for sure on any of them. She didn’t really explain,” Brandt admitted.

Bane, along with everyone else in Kaid’s kitchen, swung their attention to Maverik.

“It’s not for me to say,” Maverik said, shaking his head and looking down at his boots.

“Are you part of her clan or ours?” Bane demanded.

Maverik looked up and glared at Bane. “I’ll fight heaven and hell for you and everybody in this clan. But I’d do the same for that girl. Don’t put me in the position of standing in the middle, Bane.”

“This is my son,” Bane said emphatically.

“She won’t hurt him,” Maverik said. “Which is why I said I’d kick his ass if he hurt her.” Maverik shrugged. “She could, but she won’t. She’s got integrity.”

“Do you know what she is?” Brandt asked.

Maverik met Brandt’s gaze. “Pretty much.”

“Please, tell me what you know. I know what she said, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Brandt said.

Maverik sighed. “Gargoyle. Her grandfather is Gargoyle.”

“She said he was a member of some elite military. When I tried to look him up, it came up in a fantasy forum.”

“So do stories of Dragons,” Delilah said.

“What did it say?” Kaid asked.

“That Carnage, that’s what she said her grandfather’s name is, was in some royal sentries army and was responsible for leading the revolt that freed their people from their leader.”

Kaid’s brows were raised, as were Bane’s as they looked at each other.

Maverik just grinned proudly.

“Anything else?”

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