"Fantastic," Fenella muttered. "Just fantastic. Now I just want to go home where women are treated as people."
Din reached for her hand under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We will keep you safe. You know we will."
She glared at him. "I'm not worried about that with Kalugal and you guarding us. I'm just disgusted and disappointed that this barbaric misogyny exists anywhere in the world."
"Are there any other concerns we should know about?" Ell-rom asked, probably trying to change the subject.
"Watch for vendors who get too close," Ahmed continued. "Some use children who are also very aggressive, pulling on clothes and crying, all to distract you while their accomplices rob you. Also, some areas of the market are known for..." he paused, seeming to search for appropriate words, "unsavory activities. Drug deals, other illegal business. I will guide you away from these."
"We appreciate your expertise," Kalugal said diplomatically. "Your concerns are noted."
Din felt nauseous. The casual way Ahmed discussed women being harassed, as if it were just another hazard like pickpockets or aggressive vendors, sat poorly with him, and the others seemed similarly affected.
Jasmine shifted in her chair. "Perhaps we could modify the formation, and instead of hiding the women in the center, we could pair up? Each woman with a male escort?"
Ahmed looked skeptical. "Too risky. The men here do not respect such arrangements. They see an attractive woman with a foreign man and think she is a prostitute. It makes the harassment even worse sometimes."
"Of course, it does," Fenella said under her breath.
"We'll take appropriate precautions," Kalugal said. "Thank you, Ahmed. Please ready the vehicles for us. We will be right out."
As soon as the door closed behind the guy, Fenella exploded. "Pack animals? Sport? What the hell?"
"It's disgusting," Kyra agreed. "Though not surprising. Too many places in the world are like this."
"The question is how do we handle it," Max said. "Because I guarantee if someone lays a hand on either of you, I'm going to tear them apart with my fangs."
"That's the least of my concerns," Ell-rom muttered under his breath.
Din studied him with a frown. What did he mean by that? What could be worse than that? And when he glanced at Jasmine, she looked on the verge of panic.
"Perhaps the two of you should stay behind," he suggested gently.
Ell-rom shook his head. "It's going to be fine."
Jasmine patted his hand. "Of course, it is. Kalugal can freeze a crowd with one command." She looked at their host with desperation in her eyes. "Right? You can do that?"
"Of course." Kalugal regarded Ell-rom with curiosity. "Don't worry, Prince. I'm like an entire army. When we rescued Jasmine and Margo from the cartel, I froze the entire staff. No one could move a finger. Even the gods couldn't do what I did."
"I like the sound of that," Fenella said, some of her tension easing. "Go, Kalugal." She pumped her hand in the air.
Din felt slightly offended that Fenella valued Kalugal's protection more than his, but it was tough to compete with a powerful compeller.
Kalugal swept his gaze over his guests. "Despite the heat, I suggest full coverage. The less skin showing, the less unwanted attention."
"Wonderful," Fenella sighed. "Death by modesty in the Cairo heat."
As they filed out to prepare, Din took Fenella's hand. "Are you alright?"
She tilted her head, considering. "I'm angry. Not scared, just... angry that this is how the world works in too many places."
"I know," he said softly. "And I'm sorry."
"Not your fault." She squeezed his hand. "Though I appreciate you not going all Highland warrior and vowing to protect my honor."
"I didn't have to. It's a given."
