Shock tore through Brenda. “Are you offering to kill her?”

“Kill?” Ali paused. “I could.”

“No.” Brenda was horrified. “You can’t even joke about that.”

“I hate her for being mean to me and mean to Argis. She will be mean to you as well. One of Argis’s friends stopped by and that asshole invited him in against my orders for her to not. She made me leave them alone to talk and that is disrespectful. I have good hearing and I purposely listened from the hallway. She offered her body to him but he left. He is a good friend to Argis who would never disrespect Argis but she still offered her body to another male. If I tell Argis he would have to kill his friend over that coltorian but it would rid us of her.”

“What’s a coltorian?”

A growl tore from Ali. “It means something very bad. It is a woman who gives her body to any male in need and she has no honor or respect for anyone else. They put women like that in medical buildings to let any ill man in need of release use their bodies. It is the worst thing a woman can become on Zorn.”

“I got it. I think on my world your word means whore. You can’t tell Rever what she did if it means he has to kill a friend to get rid of her. That would hurt him.”

“She does not deserve Argis Rever. You can fight her for him. I will teach you how to fight if you wish and then you can challenge her to the death. He mounted you so you have the law on your side since he filled you with his seed.”

“No. I’m not going to fight her.” She was stunned.

“It is rare but we are a race with a brutal past. Women have fought and killed to gain powerful men. You could challenge her. I know Argis would not try to stop you if he thought about how he could be free of her.”

“I’m not going to kill someone.”

Disappointment hit Ali’s features. “Oh. It is against your human code of honor to kill a rival?”

“I’m not a killer.”

“That is too bad. I am not allowed to challenge her. The female asshole has demanded I prepare a meal for her so I’ll go now.” Brenda watched Ali leave. She shut her eyes, relaxing on the bed, and the memory of Rever’s touch made her shiver from wanting him again. The man could be addictive if she let him be. She opened her eyes and a wave of sadness filled her knowing that right at that moment he was with Tina. Would he make love to her? Jealousy and pain were two emotions that didn’t sit well with Brenda but she felt both of them. Tina didn’t deserve the wonderful kind of man Rever was and that pissed her off.

To distract herself she put away the clothes Rever had bought her. She smiled, remembering the fun they’d had together until the killis incident. She’d screamed over bowling-ball sized sheep with sharp teeth. It had been damn sweet the way that Rever had carried her away from them so quickly to calm her down.

She stopped moving, anger flashing through her, feeling helpless that she wanted Rever permanently. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, letting it sink in that she wanted a man she couldn’t have. She wanted to be his bound, she wanted Tina gone, but they were stuck. Maybe the bitch would trade Rever for Volder. Snorting, Brenda knew life couldn’t be that perfect. Then again, Volder would definitely get the bad end of that deal since any man stuck with Tina would live to regret it.

She changed her clothes, putting on the red pants Rever had purchased for her with a thick, soft shirt that fell to her thighs. They didn’t make tight shirts for women or ones that even fit properly. The Zorn women were bigger and taller than Brenda so the pants were a little baggy but not too loose. She left her room about ten minutes later heading for the kitchen to help Ali fix dinner.

Ali was setting the table, so wordlessly Brenda just pitched in and helped. Ali flashed a smile of thanks.

“The other one has never tried to help me. Much appreciated.”

“No problem. Do you need help with anything else?”

“No. The food is prepared and I only made a light meal. Argis told me he ate earlier.”

The memory of lunch alone with him, hours before, flashed through Brenda’s mind.

She nodded. She wondered how uncomfortable this meal was going to be.

She saw Rever first and he looked furious as he approached the dining room. His beautiful gaze locked with Brenda’s before he looked away. When he stepped out of the hallway there was no missing the fuming Tina on his heels. The woman had her short red hair in a tight ponytail that stuck up on top of her head in an unflattering fashion but it matched the loose unflattering dress she wore as she stormed into the dining room.

“Finally,” Tina groaned. “I’m so damn hungry I can probably choke this shit down.”

A soft growl came from Rever. “Ali is a good cook.”

“Then tell her to cook something good. The last two dinners were shit.” Tina threw herself in a chair.

Everyone sat but Ali. She disappeared into the kitchen to return carrying two plates, serving Rever first and then Tina. Tina frowned deeply at Ali.

“Why do you always give him the food before me? Haven’t you people heard of ladies first?”

Ali paused on her way to the kitchen to frown at Tina. “No. I have not. The males are always served first, then the bound, then the guests, and I eat last. It is the way that it is.”

“I want served first from now on.” Tina smirked at Ali. “That’s an order.”

“Argis is always served first. This is his home.” Ali’s frown deepened.

“It’s mine too and I want served before him.” Tina pouted, shooting Rever a dirty look. “Tell the servant to serve me first next time. I’m your wife and I demand you order her to do as I say.”

Rever looked pissed as his mouth tightened into a grimace. “Ali, please serve Tina first if it matters so much to her.”

Unhappily, Ali gave a jerk of her head but she looked pissed. Brenda clenched her own teeth together, feeling a healthy amount of anger herself. What in the hell was up with Tina? She purposely avoided looking at the woman. Rever cleared his throat.

“Tomorrow I return to work and I will be gone for five hours. Would you like to know what I do?”

“Not really,” Tina used her finger to poke at a piece of meat. “Just don’t wake me up if you leave early. I like my beauty sleep.”