"She can have you tortured or - or if you make her mad she might kill one of your friends to get back at you. Or she - she can take away your good memories of people you love back home - they can do that here. They have poisons that are that specific."

He looked at his hands, carefully averting his eyes. He didn't want to talk about it but he needed to know. He needed to know the risks.

"And there's something called 'bidding' where you have to - where they -"

He had to pause to take in a deep breath.

"Where people pay money and you have to - you have to be their mate. For a night. They're allowed to do whatever they want to you. If you're not open for that she can do things to change it so you are. And if you say no she can do something like torture you or take memories of people you love away or kill your friends. And she will, too. If you so much as - as even take the wrong tone with her." His voice cracked. "It can be the smallest little thing."

And now it was clear that this was not hearsay for him, that he was someone who'd made her mad and gotten punished somehow.