I guess I read it differently. The first being the truth and the second the balm for her heart.
It often causes conflict in a poly relationship when someone develops an interest in someone who is mono only and it's not unusual for someone to want to be the primary in a poly relationship. Yes, "spare lover" is a pretty dismissive way to refer someone who is a secondary in a relationship . . . Shadowheart has some rough edges.
The whole poly thing should have been centered around Tav, not Halsin. The fact that its a Halsin thing is the entire problem, it screws up not only his character but other characters too. The companions should only be poly when Tav is poly.
