Her eyes came slowly to his, and when he looked into their bright, happy depths, his stomach flipped, and he strode away from her without a goodnight, covering the remaining lengths to their bedchamber door in fewer strides than it normally took.

He pushed through, went right, and saw her juggling Piccolina on her way to their bed.

Her gaze came to him and she smiled brightly. “Allo, my love.”

“You carry my child,” he declared.

She blinked and then frowned.

Then she asked him, “How did you know?”

“For that purpose,” he began, “you haven’t been taking pennyrium for weeks and I just saw Tril outside our door and she’s about to burst with happiness.”

She glared at their door and muttered, “Bloody Tril. She’s the best friend of a queen and she can’t keep a bloody secret.”

“You wished to keep it a secret?” he asked dangerously.

“No,” she snapped. “Of course not. But when my blood did not come and I asked mother here to ask after her symptoms when she was carrying me, and they mimic things I’m feeling, and I felt sure I was expecting, I decided to tell you.”

She then lifted her arms out at her sides, and in doing so, Piccolina took that opportunity to race down one and leap toward Mars.

With practice, he caught the wee love, put her on his shoulder and continued listening to his wife, who was still complaining.

“I mean, I wore a new nightgown to celebrate after I told you and everything.”

She did not wear that nightgown long, for it was in tatters on the floor while she was naked and taking his cock in their bed.

“I’m reading…from this…you’re pleased…with the news,” she pushed out between thrusts, scraping his scalp with her nails.

“Bloody…yes,” he replied.

She grinned up at him.

He kissed the grin on her face and set about the serious business of celebrating.

It would be when Silence was recuperating after giving him their son that Mars would take the piercing in his cock that demonstrated his body was hers and hers alone.

It was an unnecessary gesture; she already knew that.

But it was important regardless.

So, it was done.

King True

Temple to Wohden, Notting Thicket

WODELL

“You don’t seem very nervous,” Bram noted.

“Why would I be nervous?” Alfie asked.

“She’s a handful, that one. Bossy,” Florian stated.

“Thank the gods,” Alfie muttered.

True grinned.

The door opened and the priest took one step in.

“She arrives. All is ready. If our future husband can take his place?”

He didn’t wait for responses.

He moved out.

“Do or die,” Luther said.

“True down, Alfie down, you’re up next,” Wallace said to Luther.

“Not a chance. Bram’s up next,” Luther retorted.

“I do not think so, it’ll be Florian,” Bram declared.