He relented, probably because he wanted to keep arguing with Damien. I soaped and massaged him as they sat there. My mind wandered as I worked and I realized how infrequently I did this for Christof.

Damien liked me to bathe him, because he liked the massage that accompanied the bath. Evan liked me to touch his hair, so I always washed it for him. When Bane and Kein weren't off making mischief around the pool, I washed them. Christof never had me clean him.

I scrubbed his left arm and moved to his right still thinking about it. The reason probably stemmed from his dislike of slavery. He probably thought this was a service I provided them because I was acting like a slave. One day I'd have to tell him how human lovers Liked to wash each other. That may make him feel better about it.

His mark was on his right arm, just like everyone else‘s. I traced it with my fingers and smiled at the familiarity. This insignia I could draw with my eyes closed.

Their mark was all over the cuffs and collar I wore. When I knitted or sewed it always had a place in the fabric. It marked my kneeling place and hung proudly above their door. This symbol meant home and safety to me.

There were differences in the marks on the men, of course. Tiny symbols in the background denoted breeders back three generations. I moved soapy fingers over Christof's mark and froze suddenly.

It could not be right. I was sure I wasn't correct. I scooped water up and rinsed the shoulder, but it was still there. I traced the tiny symbol with my fingertip and just felt stunned.

Christof was the grandson of a human slave.

"Ciara," Christof said placing a hand over mine, “what's wrong? You look startled."

My mouth opened and shut with nothing coming out. This was the wrong place to discuss this. It was too crowded here.

“Talk to me," he said urgently, “what's wrong?” I had to think of something, Damien was standing up and walking to me.

“I noticed something and it isn't important. I'm just surprised..." I said looking between them.

Damien Leaned down toward me and whispered in my ear.

“Tell us right now. There are no secrets in this family."

I shook my head and his face got hard. He did not like to be denied.

“I can't, not here. It's just...not something I can say here," I sputtered looking up at him.

Evan was beside us a second later. Bane and Kein appeared at the edge of the pool just after that.

Damien whispered to me again, “We are going upstairs and you will tell us. I do not like it when you keep secrets from me."

We marched upstairs and as soon as the door closed Damien looked pointedly at me.

“Christof's mark," I pointed to his shoulder, "his female breeder two generations ago was a human slave," I finished.

They just stared at me and I started to feel stupid. Maybe they already knew or maybe they didn't care. I thought of ways to apologize for overreacting and cutting our time downstairs short.

“Are you sure?" Christof asked, touching the mark with his left hand as though his fingers could read what I had just said.