She hesitated no further, moved to him and took their monkey.

She did not move away for he caught her with one hand on her neck.

His queen lifted wet eyes to his.

He would never wish tears in her eyes.

But for this, this emotion she shared with him, this honesty.

He cherished them.

He forced his voice to a whisper when what he wanted to do was howl with elation.

“We will discuss all of this in much more depth after I reward you for giving yourself fully to me and after I thoroughly celebrate being given that precious gift.”

Her hand fell light at the base of his throat as she breathed, “My love.”

He needed her to do as told or things would swiftly get out of hand.

“Do as I bid, Silence, or be carried from the room.”

“I quite liked it when you carried me from the room,” she admitted softly.

And thus, she was carried from the room.

The maids were sequestered longer than he’d intended.

And Tril did not give that first damn at being summoned to their chamber while Silence was lounging abed, spent, and Mars stood at the door in nothing but his ante pants.

Indeed, Tril was as she had been for the last several days.

Beaming.

And her eyes didn’t once fall to his chest.

Piccola chirruped her dissatisfaction at being taken from her mama and papa.

But Mars would have her brought back.

Later.

He’d learned his wife was docile for a period of time after an orgasm which meant he could play with her at will without having his control tested as his little wanton sought to get her fill.

And it was after he spent a good deal of time doing that, when his Silence was nearly catatonic in his arms, that he murmured, “We will discuss the Necropolis and why that is the way in Firenze at another time. Now, mia piccolina, tell me about your shadow.”

She snuggled deeper, rubbing her face on his chest, and he felt the scrape of her marital chain on his skin there, an eloquent statement that its meaning in their marriage had been fully realized.

She did this before she tipped her head back, aimed a contented smile at him—and further sharing the priceless gift of her secrets—she told him all about her shadow.

69

The Kiss

Prince True

The Antlers Pub and Inn, Five Miles from the Lights

WODELL

“We’ve got men on him all the time,” Bram reported as True, Farah and all his men sat around a table at the back of the pub over a late luncheon of sandwiches made of hearty slabs of beef with their juices soaking into the thick-cut bread.

This was accompanied by a strong ale, which True thought was needed for this discussion.