This made his lips twitch, something he stopped them from doing when he opened the door to their chambers.

He saw her first, coming his way.

He saw their wee monkey second, scampering much faster across the rugs to get to her papa.

Piccola climbed his pantleg and was cradling his neck by the time Silence arrived at him and demanded, “What on earth was that all about?”

“How likely am I to talk you out of your gown and into bed so we can fuck fast and hard and then pass out?” he asked in reply.

He saw a shift of interest in her eyes before she mentally set it aside and answered, “Not very likely.”

Mars sighed, took Piccola from his neck and held her in front of his face. “Your mama is stubborn.”

Piccola chirruped.

He held their monkey to his heart and looked to his queen. “She agrees.”

Silence crossed her arms on her chest and said a warning, “Mars.”

By the gods, she was the most precious creature on the planet.

He fought his lips twitching again, and did it thinking of the seriousness of this matter.

Then he said quietly, “It has been a difficult day for us both, particularly you, and your cousin, who you adore. Can we not let Johan’s chicaneries make a bad day even worse?”

“How is True?” she asked.

“Beside himself with grief.”

She worried her lips.

Then she said, “He told me, Father, at the party after our wedding, that you were never going to let me come to Wodell again. Was that a lie?”

By the gods, that man was foul.

“Yes.”

She looked to the side.

“Silence,” he called.

She looked to him.

“I will promise, after your aunt is at rest, and when the time is right, I will tell you the fullness of my conversation with your parents,” he promised. “But for the now, let us find a good way to end a terrible day.”

“Instead of making it worse?”

He decided not to field that one.

“Just tell me, did he hurt you?”

Mars was confused.

“Hurt me?”

“He called you a lurch. I don’t know what that means. I’ve never heard it before. I just know he did not mean it nicely.”

She was worried about him.

She was worried that conversation was unpleasant for him.

“You need to be naked in but one minute, wife,” he growled.

Her eyes got large “Wh-what?”

“Never mind,” he muttered, approaching her, “I’ll make you that way.”

Piccola, very used to the mood that was now in the chamber, scurried off Mars to head to wherever she scurried to in order to amuse herself while they engaged in activities she had no interest in for they paid her no mind at all, no cuddles and no coos.

And Mars took his wife’s mind off the day, the night, and everything but them.

After he accomplished that, and did it thoroughly, they both passed out.

87