Page 110 of Brandt's Rule
Brandt inclined his head to both, then focused on Carnage. “Are you the same Carnage who served as General Elite of the Royal Army of the Sovereign of Sentries?”
Carnage’s forehead wrinkled as his eyes widened.
“It’s you, isn’t it? You, sir, are legendary. I am humbled to stand in your presence.” Brandt wasn’t lying. All he’d read about Carnage and the things he’d survived, coupled with the stories Tempest had told him of his generosity and his loyalty to his people in the face of their tyrannical king painted a picture of a male that not many could be compared to.
Carnage’s nostrils flared as he scented Brandt for a lie, and when he found none, he grinned and rested his scythe on his shoulder. “Psssss.”
Tempest looked at Carnage who was hissing at her to get her attention.
“Noo skiin him. Goood boy,” he said, nodding his head for emphasis.
Tempest tried to hide her smile. “I think you’re right, Grand-Papa.”
“Are things straightened out, then?” Carrik asked.
“Not quite, sir,” Brandt answered. “We’re working on it.”
“Let me give you a little advice, something my daughter should already know…”
“Please,” Brandt said.
“If my mate says that things should be a certain way, then things should be a certain way. Trust her.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Carrik. My name is Carrik.”
“Thank you, Carrik,” Brandt said.
“Unless of course, you hurt my daughter in any way, then I’ll help Carnage skin you,” Carrik said pleasantly.
“‘Mon, B’andt!” Carnage said, still gripping his scythe with one hand, and looping his free arm around Brandt’s shoulders to usher him up the steps and into Lily’s house. He walked him into the kitchen where he sat him down at Lily’s table, then went back for Tempest and sat her across from Brandt before handing his scythe to Carrik. He gestured back and forth between the two of them and waited with his hands on his hips.
“Looks familiar,” Lily said with a grin.
“Does, doesn’t it?” Carrik asked.
“He’s expecting you to talk it out. Fix it. Now,” Carrik said.
“And he won’t allow either of you to leave until you fix it. He did the same thing with us a long time ago,” Lily said.
“‘Splain!” Carnage insisted, looking at Brandt.
Brandt reached for Tempest’s hand, which she pulled back, albeit slowly. “I told you about Havoc and Analise, and how Havoc has a child with another woman,” he started.
Tempest nodded.
“That woman is the one you saw me with. She deserted Havoc and their daughter and nobody’s heard from her since. I happened to see her from the top of the ferris wheel, and made sure I didn’t lose sight of her while we were on the ride. She’s bad news, Tempest. She’s interested in nothing but conflict, and what anybody can do to make her life better. If someone has something she doesn’t, she’ll try to ruin it just because it’s not hers. I didn’t want you to even meet her. Didn’t want her to have the opportunity to say anything that might upset you.”
“I don’t need to be protected,” Tempest said.
“No, but you’re upset, and we’re here aren’t we? Exactly the situation I was trying to avoid.”
“You should have had more faith in me.”
Brandt nodded. “It could be argued that you should have had more in me, too. But it wasn’t you I doubted. I know how much strife she caused my family, and I know that there are wedges between some of us that are the result of her actions. I didn’t want her near you.”
“Why’d it look like you were with her?” Tempest asked, her lips pressed into a flat line of irritation.