“You didn’t choose very well because we got strapped with Silence,” Johan retorted.

Vanka continued to whisper. “I’m not a whore. You told me—”

Gods, this arsehole simply got worse and worse.

Johan turned to Mars and spoke over his wife. “If you don’t want everyone to know you married a bastard, that your queen and the mother to your future children is spurious, then I’ll have my gods-damned, bloody treasure.”

“I have no care who begat my wife,” Mars told him. “She has not changed in any way in my knowing you aren’t her father.”

Johan looked stunned.

Sadly, he recovered quickly.

“Are you sure those clans and tribes of yours who aren’t so certain about your reign or the wife you chose will be as indifferent?” Johan asked snidely.

“No,” Mars answered. “What I am certain of is that you will not breathe a word of this to a living soul. Not that first one. Not publicly. Not privately.”

“I wouldn’t be so certain,” Johan sneered.

“You are not blood of her blood. You are naught. Naught to me, but more importantly naught to her,” Mars returned. “I would have handled any necessary dealings with you with the understanding you are my wife’s family at the forefront of my mind. Since you are not, I can do as I please.”

“And I can do as I please,” Johan retorted.

“Not of you aren’t breathing after I slit your throat,” Mars replied calmly.

Vanka gasped.

Johan’s mouth fell open and he stared.

Mars shrugged. “You no longer matter. And as such, do as you wish, and I shall do as I wish. Though, be warned, if you do something I don’t wish, I will do something you absolutely would not wish.”

“You can’t threaten me,” Johan declared, but he’d lost his bluster and was now hanging on to bravado.

“It seems I can.”

Johan started glaring at him. “Well then, I’ll simply tell Silence.”

“Did you not hear the part where I said you will not breathe a word to a soul?” Mars inquired politely. “But no worries. I’ll be telling her. I assume she’ll feel some relief that she is not of your blood. It will answer a great many questions she has.”

Johan appeared extremely shocked and equally as offended.

“She will be relieved she’s not of my blood?” he asked in full affront.

“You’re a tremendously unpleasant man. You were an atrocious father. When she understands why, then yes. She will be relieved.”

Before Johan could say more, Mars looked to Vanka.

“Do you know who her father is?” he asked. “She might wish to meet him.”

“I was…he was…” she finished on another whisper, “a Zee.”

“I do not wish to hear this,” Johan spat at her.

“You began this conversation,” Mars pointed out. “If you no longer wish to be a part of it, you’re free to leave.”

“You’re detestable,” Johan hissed at Mars.

“Interesting, you know how I feel,” Mars drawled.

Silence’s not-father’s upper lip twitched into his nose repeatedly in a way that was odd and slightly amusing before he huffed off.