“I won’t be found out,” Tedrey said.

Her long, beautiful, dark hair flew as she shot an angry look his way, hissing, “Shush!” She went back to her husband. “You saw what they did last time and he did nothing wrong then.”

“I saw it too, my brother,” Faunus growled to Lorenz.

“I’m going, I don’t need your permission.” Tedrey chose Faunus to say these words to, for he’d never speak them to Nyx.

“You are not going,” Faunus returned.

“I am,” Tedrey shot back.

Faunus got nose to nose with him. “You are not.”

Tedrey butted noses with him. “I am.”

“I won’t allow it,” Faunus rumbled.

“I gave you my arse tonight, Faunus, not my leash.”

Faunus’s dark eyes flared.

It was incredibly appealing.

But Tedrey did not back down.

“Oh, caro, you allowed Faunus to have you?” Nyx cooed. “This makes me very happy. I was so worried there was a block you could not get around.”

Tedrey took his face out of Faunus’s in order to stare at the ceiling and wonder why he shared so much with Nyx.

At the same time he knew precisely why he shared with Nyx.

Because she listened.

Because she cared.

And because he loved her.

“And by the way, you were fooling nobody, groaning into your pillow,” she finished. “Why do you think I left that oil by your bed? No one likes chafing.”

Good gods.

“You so very much wanted my cock,” Faunus murmured, and when Tedrey again looked to him, he was looking arrogant.

That was incredibly appealing too.

“And I want it again. And I want to get to know you. And I wish to go to that osteria with you. But I must right wrongs. And that is what I’m going to do, Faunus,” he vowed.

“Tedrey,” Lorenz called, and both a now-glowering Faunus and Tedrey looked to him. “You did not actually commit any wrongs, amico.”

“I treated my Go’Ella abysmally. I participated in a plot against four realms. And I was under your care, receiving your kindness, and I did not share there would be an imminent attack that occurred, and when it did, it took many lives. I committed wrongs, my friend, and I must be allowed to right them.”

“Gods dammit,” Faunus bit.

“No, amore,” Nyx whispered, staring at her husband’s profile. “No, mio amore!” she cried, her voice turning frantic. “He could be hurt, and he has your protection.”

A muscle jumped in Lorenz’s jaw.

“Nyx,” Tedrey called.

She whirled on him.

“I don’t belong here,” he told her.

“You do!” she spat.

“And I won’t until I do right.”

She shut her mouth and closed her eyes tight, dropping her head.

Lorenz noted his wife’s capitulation and slid an arm around her, pulling her close to his side.

She turned into him and rested a cheek to his chest.