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"We have a problem," he said.
"Why? What's wrong?" Maela asked.
I lifted my hand, knowing he would blurt the whole ordeal out there. "Talin and his brother seem to have a very strong sibling rivalry."
"Putting it mildly," Talin grumbled as he moved to find his own chair.
Maela just nodded. "Tath's always been jealous of the attention his younger brother got from their father. He said the old man spoiled Talin, trying to make up for the life he was destined for. One of sex and debauchery that he couldn't even appreciate. No offense, Talin, but last year, I would've said he was right."
"A year ago," Talin agreed, "he was. That still doesn't give him the rights he thinks it does."
Maela just looked over at me. "What happened, Nari?"
"Your husband caught Talin and me kissing in the library." I paused to take another sip of water, feeling my mouth suddenly go dry. "Tath wanted to prove that he's more than his brother, so kissed me."
Maela's entire body stilled. "Oh."
"I did not kiss back," I assured her. "I don't even think this was about me at all. I was simply the latest shiny thing for them to fight over."
"That's not - " Talin tried.
But I cut in before he could finish. "You two are both pushing at each other, and that's only making my job harder, Talin. You're so worried about getting your pride bruised, but I can take a kiss. I can deal with men like him. You pulled a blade!"
"You did not consent," Talin replied, his voice eerily cold.
"And it was still a kiss," I told him. "One against my neck. I. Am. Not. Fragile."
"No, but you're still mine," he snarled, leaning forward while holding my eyes. "My responsibility, Nari. I'm why you're here, and I will not let you be abused because of it."
"Which is why he kissed her," Maela said softly. "Because he knew this would hurt you, Talin."
We both paused, then turned to look at her. "Will anything mend this divide between them?" I asked.
Maela shook her head. "No, and it's not Talin's fault. Like I said, a year ago, I would've blamed him. Now, I know better. Tath..." She paused to smile down at her son. "There's a reason he's willing to let me wait before I have another child. It's because he spends most of his time in someone else's bed."
"Oh, Maela," I breathed, moving to kneel before her. "I'm so sorry."
"Can you even understand what that's like?" she asked. "You have no commitments like that, so how could you even imagine what that sort of betrayal feels like?"
"That's not exactly how it works," I assured her. "I have a guardian and a partner. Those are both a commitment, and Talin wasn't the man I expected to be with. I once had another, but he left me for an easier woman."
She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "Then you get it, huh?"
I nodded. "I do. That's why I have no interest in hurting you. I have told Tath that I'm not allowed to do a session with him. It's true, too. But I will do everything in my power to not hurt my friends."
"Me?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. I spend a lot of time with guys, and except for my mentor - who may as well be my mother - you're really my only female friend."
A little smile touched her lips. "I don't care where he spends his nights anymore, Nari. I mean, I do, but it's not so much the where as the fact that it's not with me."
I nodded. "I can see that."
"But Tath is not a nice man, nor an easy one," she warned. "Temptation is one of the most powerful provinces in Calseth. Not only are we wealthy because of it, but our laws are less restrictive than many others. The benefit of Temptation, Tath always tells me. But all it really adds up to is him having the power to do anything and everything he wants. If Tath has decided that he'll have you, then he will have you."
"No," I tried to assure her.
But Maela just pressed her hand over mine. "I was a sweet and innocent girl when we got married. He liked the idea of owning something that no one else could touch. He treats me more like a pet, Nari. Not a wife, but a little toy to brag about at times and ignore the rest. He has his heir, and he isn't ready to put me aside for another pregnancy."
