“We fear for it in the pool.”


    The Large woman came to tower over Rose and I as we sat on a step in the water. She appraised


    Rose openly before turning her attention back to Basin.


    “You have had this ve a long time,” she said in almost a resigned fashion. “Your female breeders


    found it a good hobby for you and your Brothers. She has kept you out of trouble.”


    The men were confused and it showed on their faces. None of them understood how Basin’s female


    breeder had kept them out of trouble. The woman chuckled at their confusion.


    “Have you forgotten your fascination with women and mountains, my boys?” she asked yfully.


    “How many times did I have to pull you out of a young female’s den before you got this ve? She has


    saved your hides more times than I can imagine. Teach her to swim. I will expect her in the pool with


    the other human by the next moon.”


    The confusion didn’t leave Basin’s face as therge woman and herpanion left the room. They


    stared at her back and then down at Rose.


    “Our Rose…is female?” one of the Brothers asked sounding confused.


    ninjanovel


    Well, Duh, was my internal thought. That made Damien chuckle, before he answered politely.


    “A female is a female. That ve is female as is the cool one that Stayne keeps. The women here must


    only allow us to buy female ves,” he said.


    I watched Basin’s face with trepidation. He looked at Rose and for a moment his lines darkened.


    “We have lived,” he said slowly, “with a female in our bed-“


    Damien saw where this was going and protected my friend when I could not.


    “Not any female, cousin. You have Lived with your female all this time. That is a female that trusts you,


    because you care for her,” he said emphatically. “She is not female Like the women here. She is weak


    and requires you for survival.”


    The opinion wasn’t his only his, it was mine. I feared for Rose if they believed her to be female. I


    watched Basin’s face as the lines rxed and he calmed.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “Come,” he said motioning her out of the pool, “we will teach you to swim, my Rose. Do not enter the


    water unless we are with you.”


    It relieved me to hear him call her that and speak that way. She scrambled out and nearly tipped back


    slipping on the stone edge.


    “Be careful,” another of them chided as he caught her, “you must not be fearful. We will teach you so


    you do not act this way. It is very unbing.”


    “Of course, Masters,” she whispered holding close to the man who held her.


    I watched as he slightly flinched at her touch and then rxed into it. I was immensely worried these


    men might hurt Rose if they thought she was a woman. Shifting nervously in the water I turned


    imploring eyes on Damien.


    He wouldn’t have it and scolded me internally. Basin and his Brothers were honorable; they would not


    harm the girl. That would prove nothing. They were obviously stronger than her. I was degrading


    principled men and Damien would not hear of it.


    I rxed in the water and shook my head at my own foolishness.