“I have no wish to harm you, cousin,” Master Damien said calmly. “If you try to fight with me again, we


    will take you to the Administrators.”


    Suddenly, two other men showed up at the aggressor’s sides. They cajoled him and pulled him back


    inside the building. They apologized and bowed their heads to mypanions as they stepped away.


    We continued our walk home without further incident.


    As we walked back to thepound, I wondered about what the man had said. Thinking back on the


    day, I didn’t remember seeing anyone that would have passed for female that wasn’t a ve. By what


    I’d seen, all the ves seemed to be aliens here. Where were the native women?


    I heard my mother’s voice in my head, in one of her few sober moments, rmending I be patient.


    “ALL things in good time,” she would say to me. That seemed Like good advice for now.


    Back inside the Warrior’spound I felt much morefortable walking around in my outfit, even if it


    was mostly see through. Master Evan nudged Master Damien and pointed to a group of men standing


    by the wall. Master Damien turned and walked toward them calling out a greeting.


    I remembered before and kept my head resolutely down. I was a little disappointed when I didn’t see a


    little set of feet with the men. I would have enjoyed talking to someone.


    I was distracted by the pink nts lining the wall. A little silver thing shaped Like a fly was zooming


    around them. Without warning one of the nts shot out a tendril and caught the fly. The tendril


    dragged the bug into the depths of a tiny pink vase. It was fascinating. Bugs seemed to like to Land on


    the Leafy base of the pink nt, but if they flew above it; they got nabbed.


    My new name was suddenly booming into my ears and I jumped up turning around. Master Evan’s


    roguish face was inches from mine. Inadvertently, I had crouched down to watch the funny Little nts;


    when I bounded up he was leaning over me. Any closer and I would have been kissing him.


    He reached forward and pulled the strips of fabric back over my breasts, making a point to brush my


    nipples. He smiled down at me impishly.


    “You are irritating Master Damien by not listening to him, go apologize,” he whispered in my ear.


    I snuck a nce past Master Evan’s shoulder to see Master Damien standing several feet away


    looking annoyed. Everyone else also Looked a little put out. I walked toward them with my head down


    and thought about what to do. They didn’t Like it when I acted scared, so I had to act apologetic without


    being wimpy.


    ninjanovel


    I remembered what Master Damien had told me. They wanted me to touch them without fear. It was


    decided, I would do what they wanted.


    I looked up into Master Damien’s eyes as I approached him and put my arms lightly around his waist.


    “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, Master Damien,” I said leaving my face tilted to his.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    I prayed he wouldn’t strike me or push me away.


    The men from before were still standing around and theymented as I touched Master Damien. I


    just left my eyes on him. He kept his arms folded across his chest as he leaned down.


    “Apologize to my brothers, just as you have to me,“ he said and returned to his former position.


    I apologized to Master Bane and Master Kein the same way. I approach Master Christof, slower. There


    was no way not to do this now. I slowly wound my arms around his waist and looked into his brilliant


    purple eyes; they Looked wild.


    “I’m sorry, Master Christof,” I said quietly and stepped back.


    He had looked Like he wanted to hit me.


    Master Evan was right in front of me when I turned away from Master


    Christof. “You didn’t apologize to me, Ciara, and I had to go get you,” he smirked.


    I put my arms around his waist and looked up to find his face inches from mine again. lny do you put


    your arms around us?” Evan asked.