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As if summoned, the stern-faced security chief entered the room. He was obviously human, probably in his fifties, with the kind of weatherbeaten face that spoke of years in the harsh Egyptian climate.

"Good morning," he said in accented but clear English. "Allow me to explain safety procedures for touring the bazaar."

Din settled back in his chair, prepared for what would likely be unnecessary but well-meaning advice. Beside him, Max had adopted a similar posture of polite attention.

"You need to stay together at all times," the chief said. "The market is a maze, and it's easy to get lost, even easier to get separated. Pickpockets work in teams. One distracts while others grab valuables."

Standard tourist warnings. Din nodded along, noticing Fenella hiding a smile behind her coffee cup.

"Second, do not accept tea from vendors unless you intend to buy. It creates an obligation. They will pressure you, follow you, make scenes."

"Good to know," Kyra murmured.

"Third," Ahmed's expression grew more serious, "and this is most important—the ladies must always remain in the center of the group, with the men surrounding them."

The amusement faded from Din's face, and he noticed Max responding in the same way.

"Excuse me?" Fenella set down her cup with a sharp click.

Ahmed seemed oblivious to the shift in atmosphere.

"The local young men make sport of harassing foreign women.

Following, making suggestive and offensive comments, touching, grabbing, and worse.

They are very aggressive, and sometimes things can get ugly before the police arrive.

It's safer if the ladies are protected by their male escorts at all times. "

Kalugal set down his coffee cup. "Ahmed's warnings aren't exaggerated, I'm afraid.

You might remember the CBS correspondent who was assaulted in Tahrir Square during the 2011 celebrations?

She was there with her crew, surrounded by security, covering what should have been a joyful event.

" He paused, meeting each woman's eyes in turn.

"A mob of men surrounded her, separated her from her team, and subjected her to a brutal sexual assault that lasted nearly thirty minutes.

Her own security couldn't reach her through the crowd.

It took a group of Egyptian women and soldiers to finally pull her to safety.

" His jaw tightened. "This wasn't in some dark alley or lawless area—this was in the city's main square, during a public celebration, to a prominent journalist with professional security.

That's the reality we're dealing with in Cairo. "

A stunned silence followed.

Din hadn't been aware of that, and given the others' responses, neither had they.

"It is an unfortunate reality," Ahmed said with a shrug that suggested he found it distasteful but inevitable. "Western women, especially, are targets. They see movies, think all foreign women are... available."

Fenella tensed beside him, and Din's heart ached for her. She'd told him about her years on the run, how she'd had to constantly calculate her safety, modify her behavior, and shrink to avoid unwanted attention.

"How is it allowed to happen?" Fenella asked. "Who raises men who do such things?"

Ahmed shook his head. "These men are like pack animals when they sense vulnerability. Terrible things happen to women who walk alone or even in small groups."

Max's jaw had gone tight. "What do the police do about this?"

Ahmed's laugh was bitter. "Police are men too. Often worse. They see Western women as rich targets for bribes or..." He trailed off, but his meaning was clear.

"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."