Abir gave Alden a sad look. "It sounds like your life is... rather lonely. I can't imagine what it would be like to be on your own all the time. I've never been on my own, always had my brothers and my tribe with me."<br/><br/>The prince reached out and gently held Alden's hand. "My love, I've traveled to many different lands, studied many cultures, and I have seen that every culture holds a few basic beliefs in common. One such belief is that it is not good for a man to be alone in the world. Many cultures punish their criminals by isolating or banishing them, and they celebrate their heroes by gathering people around them in large numbers. People either marry or they find a close personal friend with whom they wish to spend their lives. I'm sure your monsters fill some of that void for you, but a man who eats nothing but dry bread his whole life doesn't know what he's missing out on until he tastes honey cakes."<br/><br/>Abir reclined again, placing his hands behind his head. "I have a hookah in here if you would like to try some. The vapors are wonderful."<br/><br/>(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f0/6b/54/f06b54355d16dfef1f2a014fde7b9cc9.jpg)