Rina stepped out of her bathroom and into the private quarters she had been assigned. She glanced around the room and found it to be void of any windows. She had completely lost track of time. She tucked her towel under her arm as she made her way across the lavish bedroom to the bed.

Folded clothes had been laid out on the bed for her. She slowly fingered the soft material of the dress, made of the most precious silk she’d ever seen.

“Wow,” she murmured, taking in the great detail. The undergarments next to dress were just as expensive-looking. “Who would’ve had these delivered to me?”

She knew the answer before the words even escaped her lips.

Rhodack.

Her heart stuttered with just the thought of his hard jaw sprinkled with the dark shadow of a beard. A shiver passed down her spine at the visual of his lips crushing against hers. She was in awe of how he’d been able to draw her pain away.

At first she’d thought the kiss was just to alleviate her pain, but one look in his eyes allowed her to see his pure hunger for her. She squeezed her legs shut at the memory.

“The kiss was to remove my pain,” she affirmed, reaching for the silk undergarments.

Who am I kidding?

She might as well admit the obvious. No use in lying to herself.

She wanted him.

A knock at the door broke through her thoughts. She paused after she’d stepped into the silk black panties.

“Who is it?” she called out.

“Ajuki, ma’am,” a voice said through the door. “I was sent to assist you.”

“Hold on a second,” Rina replied. She scurried and finished dressing. She passed on the shoes for now as she jogged over to the door. She gripped the handle and opened the door slightly, peeking through the crack.

A beauty with flaming red hair cascading down her back, and the greenest eyes Rina had ever seen, gazed back at her. Curiosity filled the woman’s eyes as she studied Rina.

“I’m not quite sure what you can help me with. I can dress myself,” Rina smiled.

The woman returned the smile and waited on the other side of the door.

“I’m sure you can. I was told to come help you with anything and answer any questions about being down here in our clan’s lair.”

“Where are my manners. Please, come in,” Rina said, her curiosity piqued. She opened the door fully and waved her in.

The taller woman brushed past Rina with a small nod. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” Ajuki announced.

“I do. Not much has been told to me. For starters, I can’t tell if it’s day or night here.” She moved to the vanity in the corner. She sat at the marble table and pulled her hair out of the bun on top of her head.

“Let me help you,” Ajuki offered. She came to stand behind Rina and grabbed the large brush off the vanity. She brushed Rina’s hair.

Rina stiffened at first. She didn’t want to be rude but she itched to take the brush from the woman’s hand and style own hair. She decided to remain silent and allow the woman to help her.

“Thank you,” she said.

“It’s no problem. Most are thrown off when they first come below Earth’s surface to live. The sun is dangerous to our kind, so we live beneath the ground.”

“That’s sad.” Rina met Ajuki’s eyes in the mirror.

“Why would it be sad? Humans don’t realize another world exists beneath their surface.” Ajuki shook her head. She hit a knot in Rina’s long locks. With a few stiff tugs, she untangled it. “It’s not that we don’t go above ground, we go after the sun goes down.”

“Why? What does the sun do to you?” Rina asked.

The steady strokes of the brush calmed her nerves. Her body relaxed as Ajuki styled her hair. Rina watched the woman weave intricate braids in her hair.

“The sun will turn a gargoyle to stone.”

Rina gasped, widening her eyes, and looked at Ajuki. She couldn’t imagine what turning to stone would feel like and was glad she’d never have to.

“No need to be sorry. A gargoyle has always been seen as a symbol on top of certain buildings. When turned to stone, we’re still fully conscious, but our body is transformed into the heaviest of stones. I’ll bet that throughout the city, you may have seen a gargoyle stuck on a building during the day that wasn’t there before. Most humans wouldn’t even notice an extra stone statue on top of their buildings.”

“It doesn’t hurt?” Rina asked, mesmerized by the design Ajuki was weaving.

“The transformation itself can be, but once you’re stone, it will last until the sun disappears. Hence why we’re nocturnal creatures.” Ajuki chuckled.

She finished the last braid, and Rina stared at herself in the mirror.

“Amazing,” she breathed. She smiled in the mirror at Ajuki.

“I can see why she is upset. You are beautiful and powerful,” Ajuki murmured, gazing upon Rina.

Rina swallowed, unsure of how to answer. “Excuse me?” she asked, swiveling in her chair to face the other woman. She stood with her heart racing and took a few steps away from Ajuki before turning back to her.

“Oh, you don’t have any reason to fear me, Rina. I know my place. But Avalena is not pleased.” She chuckled again, sitting in the chair that Rina had vacated. She began brushing her own hair.

“I’m not quite sure I know what you’re talking about. Who is Avalena?” An uneasy feeling passed through her gut. Something was off. Who the hell was Avalena?

“No one has told you, have they?” Ajuki paused the brushing of her hair. Her eyes met Rina’s in the mirror.

Rina shook her head, waiting for the woman to continue.

“We all thought that this suite would one day belong to Avalena.” A small smirk graced her lips as she stood. She walked around the room, taking in the luscious decor. “But he has given it to you instead.” Ajuki paused and turned her eyes to Rina.

“Please tell me what the hell you’re talking about. I’m only here temporarily. If this Avalena wants this room, I’ll move to another. Once Rhodack has figured out why something wants to kill me, I’ll be on my way.”

Ajuki shook her head and barked a laugh. “You’re not going anywhere, Rina. Rhodack has plans for you. This room has been always been vacated. If he put you here, that means you’re to be his head concubine. I believe that’s a term you’d be familiar with.”

Rina’s mouth flapped open then closed. She took a small step back, unable to form a word.

Concubine?

“As in a sex slave?” Rina gasped, trying to drag air into lungs that were currently failing her. What the hell had she truly gotten herself into?

“Slave? Gosh, no. We’re chosen to belong to his harem. It’s an honor to be able to please the clan leader. He provides everything we could possibly want and offers us his protection. Believe me, it’s well worth it,” Ajuki announced, pride filling her face. She stood taller as she gave Rina the once-over. “Like I said, I know my place, and I’ll be glad to help you. You’re going to need it.”

“But I don’t want to belong to his harem,” Rina exclaimed. Here she’d thought the kiss they’d shared meant something to him. She’d read him wrong. He was just looking for another conquest to add to his apparent collection of women.

“One doesn’t turn down a position in Rhodack’s harem.” Ajuki shook her head. Worry crept into her voice. “It’s just not done. Do you know how many gargoyle females would kill to be in your place? You must consider it an honor. You’re not even one of us!”

“I can’t tell him no?” Rina’s anger mounted with the thought he’d try to force her to belong in his group of women. Who did he think he was? She placed her hands on her hips and stared at the shocked woman. “Watch me.”

Rhodack pinned his gaze on Rina while she was escorted into his office by one of his guards. The memory of the kiss they’d shared was burned into his memory. It took everything he had that was decent left in him to allow her to go to her private quarters yesterday. He would’ve preferred to keep her in his suite but knew the one next to his would do for now.

“Rina, you look lovely. I see the clothing I sent you fits perfect.” He stood from his seat and motioned her over to the sitting area of his office. He had sent Ajuki to help her, and it had paid off. The front of her hair was braided in an intricate design while the rest was left to flow down her back.

“Thank you. Was it borrowed from your girlfriend?” she asked, her eyes narrowing on him. She walked past him toward the couch.

Girlfriend?

What in the hell is she talking about?

“Um, no. I had them purchased and delivered specially for you,” he murmured, strolling over toward her.

Instead of the couch, she sat in one of the high-backed chairs that faced it. Confusion filled him. He sensed she harbored anger toward him. He collapsed his hands together behind his back as he stood near her.

“Have you heard word from my mother? I’m sure she’ll be able to clear the air and explain to you that I’m human,” she said, crossing her legs.

He caught sight of her smooth skin, and the familiar stirring in his loins made itself known.

He wanted her.

“I told you already, I know that you’re not human, Rina.” He spoke slow, unsure why she sat in the chair with her jaw locked. If he didn’t know any better, she was upset about something. “And, yes, we’ve made contact with your mother. She should be here any second.”

He eyed her, noting how stiff her body was. A muscle jumped on her jawline, and she shifted in her chair.

She was pissed.

“Have I done something to upset you?” he asked. He wasn’t used to having someone give him the cold shoulder. He was Rhodack, leader of Clan Gahnoth. He took a seat on the edge of the couch and looked to her.

Her eyes lit with fire as she turned them on him. Her power poured from her with her increasing anger.

“That woman you sent—”

“Ajuki.” He nodded.

“Do you sleep with her?”

“Well, yes.” He nodded again and sat back on the couch, unsure of why she was getting upset. Of course he’d had sex with Ajuki, she was a member of his harem.

“So why would you kiss me last night?” she exploded. She flew from the chair, her eyes narrowed at him. “What the hell was that if you have a woman? I’m sorry, you have a harem of women.”

Understanding dawned on Rhodack to explain why Rina was becoming so angry. She’d been raised human so wouldn’t have an understanding of how sexual relationships were viewed in the paranormal world. He slowly stood and took a step toward her.

“Don’t come near me,” she snapped with a raised hand. She backed away from him and moved to the other side of the room near his desk.

He paused, unsure of what to do. He’d never in his long life had a woman snap at him. His mind raced to figure out what he could do to calm her down.

“Rina, let me explain—”

A knock sounded at the door before being pushed open by Vikuth with a woman trailing in his wake. Two other gargoyles followed behind her. Rhodack instantly went on alert, narrowing his eyes on the female.

“Mom!” Rina exclaimed, dashing over to the woman.

The older woman caught Rina when she slammed into her.

His eyes met the woman’s over Rina’s shoulders, and he now had a clear understanding of what was going on.