Synclare asked, completely confused.
Lo'San turned to look at Synclare. “Sink Lar. She is the female that attempted to claim me as soon as we were of age.”
Synclare’s mouth fell open in shock. “I didn’t realize who she was. I’m sorry,” she said at once.
“She is calculating, selfish, and demanding. She makes my mother seem warm and loving.”
Synclare glanced at the female clinging to Ko’San’s arm as they approached. “Maybe marriage has changed her?”
“I highly doubt it,” Lo'San answered.
Lo'San stood as his family approached, and Synclare stood beside him. He made a point of taking her hand in his and linking their fingers tightly together.
“Welcome,” Lo'San said, looking back and forth between his father and his brother.
Lo’San’s mother stopped once she approached the table and waited for his father to pull her chair out for her. Only she didn't sit right away, she remained standing, looking at Lo'San with her eyebrows raised.
“Please be seated, Mother. I won’t be attending you this evening,” Lo'San said. His voice sounded even, well-controlled, but Synclare knew he was pressed to his limit by the fact that Ph‘eel was here.
Synclare looked up at Lo'San wondering what attending meant.
Lo'San glanced down toward her and gave her a tight smile. “In my mother’s culture, the oldest born son tends the mother — greets her with adoration, waits on her every need, and makes her his focus whenever they are in attendance together, even if he is already mated.”
“I see,” Synclare said.
“My culture? This is also your culture, Lo'San,” Mee‘ta said.
“No, it is not, Mother. I am Cruestaci by affiliation and oath. Furthermore, my mate is human, and those of her practices that she values are now mine as well,” Lo'San said, daring her to contradict him.
“I see,” Mee’ta said shortly, allowing her husband to seat her.
Lau'San smiled widely at both Lo'San and Synclare, but didn’t speak.
Mee'ta turned her attention to Ko’San and Ph‘eel. “Surely you will greet your brother and his beloved mate.”
Lo'San moved his gaze to Ko'San. “I am happy to see you, Ko'San. I often think of you and have wished you every happiness.”
Ko'San looked at Ph’eel.
Ph’eel pinned Lo'San with an expectant look.
“And you see, Sink Lar, here we have an example of why I left Eschina. Ko'San is not even allowed to speak to me unless the female he mated gives him permission to do so. She expects me to ask permission. So, this will be a very quiet, very quick meal,” Lo'San said.
Synclare watched the manipulations taking place between all the members of this family and for the first time in her life admitted that maybe there was a family, more fucked up than she’d ever thought hers had been.
“Sit, my Sink Lar. Let us enjoy our food so that we can be on our way,” Lo'San said.
Synclare did exactly what he asked, taking her seat and as she sat, at the exact same time Lo'San did, too. They began to eat their meals, and paid no more attention to Ko'San and Ph’eel still standing beside the table.
“Do you truly think me so unreasonable as to not allow Ko'San to even speak to you?” Ph’eel asked.
Lo'San didn’t look up, he simply took another bite of food, and nodded slowly.
“Ko'San, feel free to speak with your brother at will, my first mate. I would never deny you the opportunity to commune with your brother,” Ph’eel said.
Ko'San inclined his head, as though acknowledging her kindness, then helped her sit, and got her settled before he sat himself. “I am overjoyed to see you so well, and quite mated, Lo'San.” It wasn’t a lie. Ko'San was thrilled that Lo'San was mated and no longer available for Ph’eel to attempt to claim. He’d long known he’d been a second choice to Ph’eel’s first choice of Lo'San. And she reminded him of the fact that he was not Lo'San regularly.
Lo'San met Ko’San’s gaze. “Tell me of yourself, Ko'San. What is it that you do? What is it that you enjoy? What gives you satisfaction?” Lo'San asked, genuinely wanting to know.
“I work on our plantari. I oversee the servants in the field, and help with the harvests. I take great pride in assuring that our produce is the best on Eschina. Our fields yield the most sought after produce,” Ko'San said proudly.
“I suppose I am nothing to be proud of?” Ph’eel said, giving Ko'San the side eye.
“Of course, my Ph’eel, you are the most important part of my life. All I do is for you and your happiness. I had