Layla was frightened, mostly for her life but also for her physical wellbeing. Was he going to beat her? Having gone through just about every form of pain might strengthen her spine but it didn't make being dealt pain any easier to bear as it happened, that was for sure.<br/><br/>He was angry. She squeaked as he spoke but kept on explaining. He looked like he was ready to beat her. Curse them? What did he mean? Curse who? How? Why did he look scared as well as angry?  Why did he think that she wished to curse them? That was just preposterous and so selfish of him to say!  He truly was self absorbed to think that she wished to curse him because she spoke up.<br/><br/>She wanted to withdraw, to recoil away from him. To run as far as her legs would carry her.  Why did he not listen to her? Was he really so fucking selfish? Her heart was as broken as it could be. She didn't want to be the 'spice' to an existing relationship! She wanted to be loved on her own. Her throat hurt as she wiped angry and saddened tears away. She didn't want to hurt someone who didn't deserve it.<br/><br/>His body showed his anger and she couldn't stand there full of strength.  Her knees started to give way in the shallow water and she fought to remain on her feet. Her head fell, face aimed at the water and she couldn't look at him.<em>"I see now…"</em>She swallowed, her stomach churning painfully, both due to hunger and her being very upset.<em> “I see now that we are on very, very different realms of knowledge and information.”</em>She felt like she was going to lose the contents of her stomach…without actually having any contents to lose.<br/><br/>Waiting for the blows was the hardest part. She knew that they would come, she knew that they would hurt. The anticipation was the worst. Where would he hit? What areas of tenderness would he favor? Trembling hard enough that the water danced around her, she lifted one shaking hand to wipe the tears from her face.  The most worrying thing was that she was in water. He could drown her easily… Or torture her until her lungs burned and begged for mercy.<br/><br/>But those painful punches, lashes, and slaps didn't come. He didn't wind his hand up in her hair as she feared.  Didn't push her, thankfully didn't push her under the water.  Her tear-filled eyes lifted to him in confusion.  At first she'd thought he meant shove her in a box… her appropriate quarters… but then… Want for nothing? She didn't understand? No material of labor comfort out of reach?  What did<em>that</em>mean?<br/><br/>"What joining ritual?" He was apologizing for something that she hadn't even heard of. She was too upset to think that perhaps someone was trying to sabotage his rule. She was not so versed in harem ways… or customs…or really anything.<br/><br/>When he clenched his fists, she jerked away, squeaking loudly and trying to flee his reach. He was going to hit Aisha! She hadn't done anything! But … he didn't hit her, confusing Layla even more if that was even possible.<br/><br/><em>“I may return to visit you tonight.”</em>As he spoke to Aisha, or so she thought at first, she straightened up and felt foolish for running. So much for taking a punishment bravely.<em> “I may not. Just know how proud and happy I am to have two such women under my gaze. I will make this up to you.”</em>Did he mean to both of them? What did he have to make up for? What in the bloody fuck was going on?!<br/><br/>Layla thought not much of the hanging rack breaking for racks fell now and then, it was when he punched the pillar with such speed and anger, such a level of aggression that shot fear down her spine. He was a man who carried a lot of anger and he made her frightened of him, fearful of his wrath even more so than she already was.<br/><br/>The first thought that crossed her mind was that he'd broken his hand, but then she realized that he hadn't.  It was the pillar that had suffered… inhuman strength… She squealed and then started weeping into her hands again, backing away in fright. He seemed as surprised as she did and that was the only reason that she didn't flee from him that very moment and try to escape his home, though the thought did continue to dwell in her mind.  But he had not made a single move to hit her… had he?  Her rational mind struggled with her fear.<br/>