“I had some men look into your case two years ago,” King Krythar said. “At the behest of Alex and Cryss. They were hoping they could find something to spring you from the trap you were in. It took a while, but they did it.”
“No wonder my grandfather loved it when you came to visit him with me,” Cryss said. “I think he might’ve known. Why he never came forward, I don’t know.”
“There had been rumors about Qylar’s papa and your grandfather having an affair for years. I wasn’t sure if it was true, but once the genetics were compared, there is no doubt,” King Krythar said. “Qylar is his son. And now he has a new family.”
“He always had us as family,” Cryss said. “Now we just have proof it’s in our blood.”
Qylar met Cryss’s stare. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you would be nice,” King Krythar said. “Iamputting my neck out a bit here.”
“Thank you,” Qylar said. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Oh, no worries. I’ve anonymously sent a copy of the genetic results to the Duke. I’m gleefully waiting for reports of his meltdown. I’ve offered a bonus for photographs.”
Qylar chuckled. “That asshole is my brother.”
“Halfbrother,” the king corrected. “But yes. I don’t know if he knew that you were related, but I suspect he might. That may be why he agreed to make you Cryss’s steward. He could keep you under his thumb.”
“Are you saying I wasn’t a master negotiator at eight?” Cryss asked, shaking his head.
The king chuckled. “I bet you were a force to be reckoned with, even back then.”
Qylar scrubbed both his hands over his face. “This feels surreal.” He lifted his gaze to Cryss and Alex and chuckled. “I’m at a loss of what to say besides fuck. A whole lot of fucks.”
“Well, after all the fucks are said and done, let’s ensure we do one thing,” King Krythar rose. “On your feet, boy.”
Qylar rose unsteadily.
“Qylar of House Qlr, welcome to the family.” The king smiled before walking closer to Qylar and giving him a hug. “And Merry Christmas.”
Qylar hugged the man back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The king eyed him. “Anddon’tmake me regret this.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll take my leave,” King Krythar said. He eyed Kenji again. “By morning, I’ll have a wardandhis mate in the family. House of Qlr grows by the day.”
Qylar’s shining gaze whipped to Kenji’s. He walked closer and pulled Kenji out of his seat, giving him a massive bear hug. Qylar yelped and lifted Kenji off the floor, spinning them around. When he let Kenji slide down his body and back to the floor, he stole a kiss.
“Give me a second,” Qylar whispered in his ear.
He walked to the opposite side of the table and gave both Alex and Cryss massive hugs.
“How long have you two known this was happening?”
“We had an inkling when you came to Nefyria,” Cryss said. “But nothing was finalized, and we didn’t want to get your hopes up and it fall through.”
“It’s been driving us nuts holding it in,” Alex said.
“Fortwo years,”Kenji added.
“Well, there was nothing for so long that it wasn’t so hard to keep a lid on it. It’s only been in the last few months that the pieces fell together,” Cryss said. “The last six days were hell. That’s when Krythar signed the finalized petition.”
“And now we really are a family,” Alex said, yawning. “Though we always were. We just couldn’t get you to believe it, Q.”
“I think that’s my cue to get my husband to bed,” Cryss said. He grinned at Qylar. “Are you going to wait until midnight still?” He checked his watch. “Three hours to go, my friend.”
