This conversation was interesting to me, but I made it a point to let the men talk. Hodlen's family was still evaluating Damien's. I was part of the family, but I wasn't the part that concerned them. The men needed to have this time to converse, so I sat and knitted, only interjecting occasionally.

The families became more familiar with each other as they discussed life in the T'sparian Mountains compared to the compound. The camp Hodlen's family had come from was smaller than this one and even more tightly knit. Leaving there to come here had been a very big deal, the children were worth it, though.

“Why did you decide to become slavers?" Hodlen finally asked. "We shared male offspring with Kein and Bane and then we were notified you had bought a slave. My Brothers and I were sure there was a mistake...."

Damien looked deeply into the fire before his eyes turned to me.

“We, our bond, were broken. We were lonely," he said quietly. "The gentle affection Ciara gave us healed our bond. Still, we foolishly believed what we had been told about her weakness. It took us a long time to realize how wrong we had been."

I had settled in a chair and Kein moved to kneel before me.

“So many stupid mistakes, Brothers," he said with great sadness.

“You are forgiven," I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. ‘We have talked about this many, many times. I love you all. Family is allowed to make mistakes."

They remembered the lines cutting across my flesh and the cruel Lashes Damien had Laid on my delicate areas. Punishment had been a tool and they'd never known lasting effects from it. It had never occurred to them that I was different. Those horrible marks had scarred deeper than they'd known.

On the compound everyone just expected me to be Paterian. Respecting my thought process or considering I felt differently would have been scoffed at. My husbands tried very hard to respect my human differences now.

“Thank you for that," I said leaning forward and caressing Kein's cheek. "There is no use remembering bad times, though. We have learned and have much to look forward to."

Kein continued to look troubled as his fingers pushed my skirt above my knee. He stroked the delicate flesh they had started their torture on and began to apologize again.

"Enough!" I ordered pushing the skirt down and eyeing Kein sharply.

“We are done with this!"

There was absolutely no way I was Letting them describe to Hodlen's family what they'd done. It was a private matter, it was the past, and it wasn't something anyone else needed to know. I wasn't going to look back.

Kein's eyes met mine and then he leaned forward and kissed my knee. He wouldn't press the issue farther, but they still felt bad about what they'd done.

“Then you need to teach the men who used to own slaves why it is wrong," I said answering the unspoken plea. "Stop apologizing and do something about it! Guilt about past mistakes without doing something about it is pointless!"

Hodlen Laughed and slapped Damien on the shoulder.

"A fine mate, cousin," he said jovially, “strong and to the point!"

A young man's voice sounded from outside requesting admittance and Damien called out to come in. Tyle's family entered and promptly sprawled on any unoccupied mat near the older men. They just wanted to be close to their male families.

Molly followed the young family in Looking slightly uneasy, but they didn't Know enough about humans to understand that. They'd just assumed she'd come with them if she wanted to. Tyle's family did not really understand how her life had been controlled until the day she was freed.

"Sit with me," I offered scooting over in my oversized chair.