Kenji sighed. “What’s the difference?”
Qylar drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Two Nefyrians can become partners or wed and not imprint. If they don’t feel a bond, they can forego it. It leaves them free, so that if one day, they were lucky enough to meet the one theydohave a bond with, they can separate with ease.”
“But I love youandI feel the bond.”
“I love you as well… and I’m honored to share a connection with you. More so every day.” Qylar paused, searching his face. “Others won’t know of our bond unless we tell them, which we cannot. By leaving yourself unmarked, people will assume you’ve refused my claim and that will help you navigate society with more ease. While you’ll still have those who treat you with disdain as my husband, they would treat you far worse if you bore my mating marks.” Qylar closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’m sorry that you’ve been bound to a man with no family, no house, and no honor.”
“Youdohave a family. Cryss, Alex, and the children are your family. It’s clear they love you, even if you struggle to see yourself worthy of it. Don’t diminish their love in your attempt to diminish yourself,” Kenji said. “And now you have me, too.I’myour family.”
Qylar’s eyes shimmered, and it nearly broke Kenji to see his pain.
“I don’t know anything about Nefyrian houses or their importance, so I can’t speak to that, but I’ve seen enough dishonorable people in my lifetime to know what the opposite looks like. You protect those you care about. You’re a good man. And when you falter, you face your mistake, own up to it, and ask forgiveness… and then you try to do better the next time. If that’s not being honorable, I don’t know what is.”
Qylar looked away and dabbed under his eye. When he finally looked back at Kenji, he chuckled. “I wasn’t so honorable when I chased you and tossed you into a jail cell.”
Kenji snorted. “Now that I’ve met Cryss, Alex, and the kids, I understand why you were so ferocious. You were protecting those you loved. I suppose I can forgive you for what you did knowing the reason behind it.”
Qylar smiled softly.
“I want to bear your mark, Qylar. Nothing you’ve said changes my mind and it won’t change it in the future, either. I believe we will find a way.Together.”
Qylar scoffed, but it almost sounded coupled with a sob. “You don’t truly know what you’re asking of me.”
“Alex said these marks are sacred to your people… and I want them to know you’re the person I choose. And that you’ve chosen me, too.” Kenji shook his head. “I wantto belongto someone for the first time in my life… and I want the world to see that.”
Qylar blinked a few times.
“Can you allow me time to think?”
“So you can come up with ways to refuse me?” Kenji asked.
“I just want to considerallof the consequences we might face if I do this.”
“Fine,” Kenji said. “I’ll give you time. You have until Christmas because that’s the only gift I want from you this year.”
Qylar scoffed, pain in his eyes.
Kenji let out a shuddering breath. “Now that’s settled—for now.” He rose and eyed Qylar. “I’ll go up and get dressed so we can goshopping.”
Qylar cleared his throat, looking away. “I’ll be up in a moment.”
Kenji walked away, his heart torn.
Had he made a mistake demanding something that was clearly so painful for Qylar? In his heart, he didn’t think so.
CHAPTER 22
Qylar wrapped the last of the presents he’d bought on their shopping trip the previous day and slid them under the decorated tree. Tomorrow, Cryss, Alex, and the kids would arrive. He walked the house, searching for anything missing, and saw nothing. When Kenji appeared a while later and added a few presents of his own under the tree, he ambled closer.
“Our hosts arrive tomorrow. I’ll say again that I think we should leave and allow them their holiday alone.”
“Interesting phrasing when you mean run away from the kids.”
“Hardly,” Qylar said.
He sighed, wishing their conversation the day before hadn’t been so difficult. Kenji had been distant since. It was eating Qylar alive. They’d been happy and in love for nearly a month—until Kenji had asked for something Qylar couldn’t give.
Noise at the door caught his attention. It spun open. Cryss and Alex stood in the opening while Zaadi and Aeloran came runningtheir way. He worked hard to cover his surprise as Zaadi jumped into his arms.
