“How so?” I asked, wondering what it could have been like to put that hurt in his eyes.
“Flower, when Alazander ruled this world, this was a place of sheer terror. We have done what we can to fix the damage, but some hurts will never heal,” he said quietly, with a distant look of melancholy.
“You’re speaking of the Gifts?” I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to know about what had happened here.
He nodded slowly in 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 looked much smaller, filled to the brim with Ryder. His head was resting back against the rim and his eyes were closed.
I wanted to throttle him for looking so sexy when I was so upset that he hadn’t bothered to show up when he’d promised me he would. Naked Ryder was a catastrophe for my mental state. I went from knowing how to talk, to a brainless sex crazed being.
“Eliran said you were sick earlier. Are you better?” he asked without opening his eyes.