Both Qylar and Alex said,“No,”at the same time.
“Best to make him sure-sure he’s ready,” Alex whispered.
Qylar scrubbed the food off the plate, watching Kenji with a grin.
Once they left the dining room, Kenji seemed resigned to his fate. As Kenji stared down at Xan, a smile grew on his face. His mate started whispering things to the baby, and he wished he could be closer to hear.
The second Kenji leaned down to brush a kiss on Xan’s forehead, Qylar’s stomach clenched.
He’s ready.
“Earth to Qylar?”
Qylar glanced over at Alex. “Huh?”
Krythar and Alex looked at one another.
“He’s a smitten fool,” Krythar said to his son.
Alex chuckled. “He’s going to be wrapped around Kenji’s fingers.”
“Already am,” Qylar murmured, his gaze going back to Kenji and Xan.“Alllready am.”
Kenji was never so happy for dishes to be done in his life, and he wasn’t even the one doing them. While he’d gotten a bit more comfortable, especially after their conversation about not wriggling, not crying, and not pooping, he didn’t like not having a spotter close by. The three men rejoined the table, and Qylar collected baby Xan from his arms.
He could suddenly breathe again.
“See, you did fine,” Qylar said, grinning at him.
“For a few minutes, sure.”
“We’ll bump you up to an hour next,” Alex said, winking at him.
Kenji winced. “As long as I’m not left completely alone again.”
“You weren’t completely alone,” Qylar said. “We were right in the next room.”
“Exactly. Next room. As in, not in this one,” Kenji said. “I have zero experience with babies.”
“Not anymore,” Alex said. “Now you’ve got, didn’t shit his pants checkmark.”
Kenji chuckled. “How do you know if he didn’t shit his pants from all the way over there?”
“I meant you,” Alex said, chuckling. “I’m assuming we have dry briefs around the table.”
“Who says I wear briefs?” King Krythar asked.
Alex eyed his father. “TMI.”
“We rarely wear them due to shifting on Nefyria, so why would I here?”
“TEEEE-EMMM-EYEEE,” Alex repeated.
Kenji chuckled watching the pair together. He peeked at Qylar and smiled, seeing how comfortable his mate was with a newborn. It helped ease his nerves a tiny bit. Just a tiny bit. The pitter-patter of four little feet came bounding their way. Zaadi and Ael came running out in their Christmas pajamas with more energy than Kenji thought he’d had his entire life.
After the cookies, milk, and carrot were put out, Ael tested two of the cookies, Zaadi snuck a cookie for herself, a second round of goodnight kisses, and hugs from Ael, the children were put to bed for all that sugar plum nonsense.
Once all the adults sat at the table again, King Krythar eyed Alex. “I think you should give him his gift early.”
