"What are you talking about?" Laurent asks, grinning. "That sounds ideal. I've been trying for years to be scandalous enough to give Melva a stroke."

He sips at his tea, considering the request. His eyes linger on Nyx, weakened by that smile and that little wink, and a soft blush rises to his cheeks. "I'll allow relatively more formalities in court. I do want to be formally addressed in court. You may behave as you wish otherwise, as long as you're prepared to react positively to my whims."