Moonlight turned its head away, ignoring him.
Coal Ball did the same.
Looking at the two rascals, Raylo sighed helplessly. He let go and patted their little heads instead.
A soft chuckle sounded from beside him.
Raylo turned to see Avril covering her mouth with her hand, her shoulders trembling. Her beautiful eyes curved into two smiling crescents.
In the candlelight, her laughter was like the tinkling of a clear spring, washing away the gloom in Raylo's heart.
He looked at his wife, who was shaking with laughter, then at the two "culprits" on the bed who refused to budge. In the end, he couldn't help but laugh as well.
'Ah, well. There will be other nights.'
Raylo gave up on trying to get the two little ones off the bed. He lay down and pulled Avril into his arm.
Outside the window, the moonlight flowed like water; inside the bedroom, the candlelight was warm and gentle.
"It looks like I'll be sleeping with them tonight."
