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answer. “The Gifts,
wives, and his concubines. Ryder released them all upon Alazander’s
death; however many could not return to their homes. Some because
of the fear of how their families would treat them and some because
of the relationships they had found here. This is a sanctuary as
much as anything else these days. Please keep this in mind when you
think of this place. It’s more than a harem as you have called it,
Synthia. To these women, being removed would crush them more than
they already are.” His swirling eyes begged for understanding. In
all of my imaginings of the harem, this was the last thing I had
expected.
    Ristan stopped inside one of the brightly lit
rooms and motioned for me to follow him in. There was a beautiful
petite woman with long, inky black hair seated on the bed. It
looked like she had been reading and her silver and black patterned
eyes narrowed on me when I stepped through the door to stand beside
Ristan. She and Ristan shared a strong resemblance, minus the
missing brands on her arms.
    “Alannah,” Ristan nodded to the woman.
    “Hello,” I said, not sure of what was
expected from me.
    “Who is this lovely being, Ristan?”
    “This is my Flower; isn’t she beautiful?” he
asked the woman.
    “Very. She’s Blood Fae, though; very touchy
that bunch.”
    “Syn is very touchy,” Ristan said, wiggling
his brows at me.
    “Stuff it, Demon,” I grumbled and smiled as
the woman broke into a beautiful smile that made her face look even
younger.
    “She’s witty. Will you marry her?” Alannah
teased lightly.
    “You know I can’t, and I think she might take
offense to me offering,” he said and moved to shoo me from the
room.
    “She would be your equal,” Alannah said with
a look of mischief in her eyes.
    “She is new to the Horde Kingdom. I thought
she should meet you.”
    “Is that so? No, I don’t think so,” she said,
lifting her eyes back to me. “You brought her here to smooth her
transition from the human world, into the pavilion. If you wish for
her to become accustomed to this place, keep that snake from her
nest. Claire is itching for power, and she isn’t going to stop
being a thorn,” Alannah said softly with a knowing look.
    “Alannah, Synthia is skilled in warfare and
would wipe the floor with Claire’s pretty face. She shouldn’t be
worried on that front. She needs friends, and you would make a
great ally.”
    “Is that so? And why not bring this
blossoming beauty to Ciara?”
    “Because she’s a bad influence on everyone,”
Ristan said as he ran his hand over his face. “That girl is not
sane.”
    We stayed and chatted for about a half an
hour about inconsequential things, and with a new friend firmly in
place, we left the pavilion. I had to admit that the Demon was
trying his best to cheer me up and help me feel more comfortable in
this new world I had landed in. A Demoness in the pavilion had me
curious in light of all that I had seen today.
    “Was she brought here for you?” I blurted
softly, not sure how he would respond with this place’s history. He
started laughing.
    “Not intentionally,” he chuckled.
    “Ristan, dating from inside of the harem?” I
quipped, but continued. “Shock me with that deviant behavior,
Demon,” I joked.
    He snorted and shook his head. “Don’t go
making matches for me, Flower. I’m too busy with Danu inside my
head to make any attachments; I like playing catch and
release for now.”

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    I was lying in bed, considering ways of
killing Ryder for not coming for me when he said he would, when he
finally showed up. He sifted in, threw off his cloak, and eyed the
giant tub. I watched in silence as he waved his hand and the tub
filled with spicy scented water. It occupied the room, as much as
the man did.
    I felt like I lost my courage and everything
I wanted to say as his jeans melted away, and he slipped beneath
the bubbled surface. His arms hung over the sides, and the once
huge tub