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She didn’t hear the other names, trying to recall where she’d heard Merus’ name. He was somehow related to the Conclave.

“Nice to meet you.” She nodded to them.

“And who is this?” Merus looked at the little beast in her arms.

“Oh, this is Tarsus. Aculus also rescued him on my planet.” She waved Tarsus’ paw at them.

“I’m not surprised,” Merus chuckled.

“He’s precious.” Lacuna smiled genuinely. “Can I touch him?”

“Yes, but he’s a baby and likes to nip and scratch,” she warned the Osivoire woman before realizing it was probably unnecessary considering the woman’s hard shell.

“Just like Osivoire young,” Lacuna cooed as she stroked Tarsus’ exposed belly. “He’s vibrating!” The woman looked up at her wearing a stunned expression.

“That means he likes that.”

“Oh,” Lacuna smiled and continued spoiling the little panther.

“You say my sobrus also rescued Tarsus. Does that mean he rescued you?” Merus asked.

“Yes, he did, I think. I’m sorry, that word’s not translating.” She tilted her head.

“What term?”

“Sobrus?” She did her best to repeat what she heard.

“It’s a kinship term. Aculus and I share the same sire,” Merus explained.

“You’re brothers!”

“No, but you honor me. Axilla bore him, and Bregma carried me.”

They’re half-brothers.As far as she was concerned that still equated to brothers, but apparently with the Osivoire there was a distinction. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she thought about the way Tellar had his arm around both Axilla and Bregma.

“So, your father has two mates?” she asked.

“No.” Merus shook his head. “There are five matrons in his conclave.”

“Wow. Five. That’s a lot of wives.” She gaped.

Tellar is married to all those women. Holy shit.Apparently Aculus inherited his playboy traits honestly.

She glanced back at the trio of women beside Merus then panned the room and noticed all the groupings of several women with a single man.

The Osivoire are polygamists.

“Five is not that many. Aculus has seven. There will probably be more before his conclave is cemented,” Merus chuckled.

“Wait, what?” Her gaze swung back to him.

“He’s the Premiere Servant. It’s not that uncommon. Tellar’s Patrem had twelve females in his conclave.”

He’s married!Her gaze zeroed in on Aculus still surrounded by his seven wives, which was a whole lot different than girlfriends.

A sudden sharp pain in her chest made the breath rush from her lungs. She didn’t hear anything else Merus said over the rushing sound in her ears. Nothing broke through the stunned void that swamped her mind.

“I–I think I need to go lie down. It’s been a long day,” she stammered when she finally found the words. “It was nice to meet you.”