“Could be. She’s also not too fond of Xandor.”
“Why’s that?” Qylar asked. “Crying too much?”
“Right after you left, she accurately predicted we were having a boy—and told us she was none too pleased to get a brother and that we should‘put him back’.She also let us know that she was aware of the two eggs we lost.”
“Shit,” Qylar said. “Did you guys tell her it was two?”
“No. Apparently, they were both girls and she now feels robbed to get a brother.”
“Uncle Q!”
Qylar’s head whipped to Zaadi, his hands going back into their position of surrender. “I swear I didn’t touch the baby.”
“I know,”Zaadi said, a smile finally appearing on her face. “One of your babies is a girl!”
Qylar froze. A punch to the gut would’ve been easier to handle. His gaze whipped to Kenji, worry filling him.
Instead of a shocked expression, Kenji wore a hint of a smile.
“At least there will be another girl next door soon,” Zaadi said. “I won’t be the only one anymore.”
“A pregnant mate,” Krythar said, giving him a look. “Yet I don’t see a claim on his arms.”
“Why curse him with it?” Qylar said. “He’d do better to not be ruined by my mark.”
Krythar searched his face a moment. “Perhaps. But that only means he’s open to be claimed by another.”
Qylar tensed. His gaze went to Kenji, whose eyes grew huge.
“Let’s hope one of the fine, upstanding men at the Academy don’t take a shine to him. I hear they’re quite excited to get him there for testing.” Krythar chuckled. “You’d best keep a close eye on your mate.”
Damnit, why did Alex have to tell him?
While Krythar had been speaking to him, Cryss had walked the carrier with Xandor over and laid it beside Alex. When he returned, he scanned the house. “You did a lot more decorating than I expected.”
“Kenji grew up in foster care. He’s never had a big Christmas. I hope you don’t mind I gave him one. I promise to take all this shit down and not leave it for you.”
“It’s fine.” Cryss took a step closer. “What isn’t fine is you refusing to claim Kenji. While he’s being a bastard, Krythar’s right. You’re leaving him open to another’s claim. It’s not right, Q.”
Qylar’s gaze went to Kenji.
“If I grew up virtually an orphan, I would likely want to find somewhere I belonged. To have someone call me their own.” Cryss looked at him. “You grew up virtually an orphan. What do you think? Would you want to feel wanted and to belong to someone you loved?”
“You assume he loves me,” Qylar said.
“No assumption needed. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”
Qylar’s gaze once again went to Kenji. Kenji seemed to feel his stare. He turned and their eyes met from across the room. He turned to Cryss, sadness filling him.
“If I mark him, he will belong to nothing. I’m no one.”
“You’re the man he loves… and the man who loves him. Step up and do the right thing, asshole,” Cryss said before joining Alex and the baby on the sectional.
Kenji lay in their empty bed, no idea where Qylar was. They’d barely spoken all day long and when they did, it was in clipped tones. He hated the feeling of distance spreading between them. They’d come so far only to lose steam at the finish line. One thing—two marks—and they’d have it all.
He spread a hand over his swelling stomach, remembering what Zaadi had said. A girl, and he was assuming that meant the other was a boy. If Zaadi’s abilities were to be believed, and from everyone’s reactions to her comments on Nefyria, he leaned towards belief.
But his decision had come to hinge on Qylar’s. How could he raise two alien babies without a mate at his side? If Qylar wasn’t willing to claim him and show his commitment, how could they move forward together? Maybe he was asking too much, but considering his entire life, he’d asked and accepted too little, he deserved someone who was all in.
