Page 64 of Brandt's Rule

“Are you in the habit of lying?”

“No, but said that way it just sounded like I achieved more than I probably did.” Brandt pulled her to the doorway of the truck, then held her steady as she stepped out. He kissed her cheek quickly, then with his hold on her hand, he guided her to the left away from the door of the truck so he could close it. “You said that Enthrall’s mate was human before he turned her. Turned her into what? What is Enthrall?” he asked, having seized on that comment and being too curious to let it go for long.

“Oh, he’s a Vampire,” she said, turning to face Brandt’s parents as they started down the steps of their front porch.

Brandt turned to look at her with his brows raised, but she was already walking toward the steps.

A Vampire? he shot at her in his mental voice.

She didn’t miss a step, didn’t turn around to look at him as she answered in her own mental voice. Yes. He’s our leader.

Is there any kind of being you don’t have there? he asked.

Anything you can imagine lives in Whispers, she answered.

“Tempest, welcome. I’m so glad you came,” Janie said, extending her own hand.

“Thank you so much for inviting me,” Tempest said, taking Janie’s hand and immediately being pulled in for a hug. Tempest allowed the warmth of Janie’s hug to surround her, and lingered there for as long as Janie was willing to hold her.

“And this is my husband, my mate,” Janie said. “Bane.”

“Mr. Marchande’, I’m very happy to meet you,” Tempest said.

“Bane. Call me Bane. I’m happy to meet you as well. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope you’ll reserve your opinions for later after you’ve gotten to know me yourself,” she said with a nervous laugh.

“Too late. But most of my opinions are based on my daughter and my mate and their impressions of you. They both consider you family already. And I value no one’s opinions more. So, it’s a good thing,” Bane said. “Would you like to go inside?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Tempest said.

Bane took her hand and placed it on his forearm, then slowly escorted her up their stairs and onto their porch. “I’m not sure what Brandt has told you about our family, but we’re very tight knit. We take care of each other. But I still feel the need to apologize in advance.”

Tempest’s head turned to Bane quickly, her brows raised in question.

“I hope you won’t mind too much that we do have family joining us tonight. I wasn’t having much luck dissuading them. They all wanted to meet you. So I gave in and invited them. It was better than having them all come up with ridiculous excuses to drop by until every damn body was here anyway.”

“Dad, could you give me back my mate?” Brandt asked from behind them. “And who’s here?”

“In a minute. I’m getting to know her.”

“No, what you’re doing is making her nervous. She’s not been around a lot of people. They live in a secluded community,” Brandt said, wrenching Tempest’s hand free from his father.

“If I’ve made you nervous, I do apologize. They’re just family. We share all our milestones, good and bad. And you’re a good one.”

“It’s okay. I’ll manage,” she said, glancing over toward Brandt.

“Together. No matter what, that’s the landscape of our future. I will fight anybody that tries to say otherwise.”

“You know, I could probably run them all out of here, but they wouldn’t go very far, and they’d get their feelings hurt,” Bane said.

Tempest smiled and shook her head. “Not at all. I don’t mind in the least. If there’s something you’d like to know about me, please just ask. You won’t learn much trying to get a read on me. If you have questions I wont be offended. I may not answer, but please feel free to ask.”

Bane nodded appreciatively. “I like that. Direct, no games, to the point. You seem like a very smart lady.”

“Thank you,” Tempest said. “I like you, too. Very guarded, very honest, integrity as intense as the day is long. Loyal. Fiercely protective of your people. And I give you my word I will not harm your son — in any way.”

Janie smiled at Bane. “Told you she was something special.”

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