“Morning,” Alex said, perking up a bit. “Arms?”
Both Kenji and Qylar exposed their inner arms with a smile.
Cryss and Alex grinned at them, clapped for a few seconds, and then collapsed against one another, looking like they’d barely slept.
“Was the baby up all night?” Kenji asked, frowning.
“No… he’s actually sleeping very well,” Alex said. “Compared to the other two, Xan is a dream. He wakes up after about five hours, gets a little milk in his belly, and he’s out for another good two or three hours.”
“Then why do you look so exhausted,” Kenji asked.
“Daddy wanted to take advantage of sleepy baby,” Alex said, grinning.
King Krythar leaned over and glared at his son.“TEE-EMM-EYE.”
Alex chuckled. “Payback’s a bitch, Pop.”
The king grumped at his son before turning to eye Kenji and Qylar. “Morning.”
“Morning,Dad,”Qylar said.
King Krythar looked over his shoulder. “Don’t press your luck.”
Qylar chuckled, but when he placed his hand on the king’s shoulder, the man placed his hand on top of his newly adopted ward’s.
No words were shared, and Kenji sensed the weight of the moment, but kept it to himself until later, when he and Qylar could be alone.
Kenji followed Qylar through the tidal wave of packages that hadn’t been there the night before. Apparently there really was a Santa for some kids. He curled up on a corner of the sectional beside Qylar and watched the kids open gift after gift. One thing he did have to say, the children were very appreciative of what they were given, thanking and hugging whoever had given it, if they were there.
“Well, those are the last of my gifts and I really should be heading back,” King Krythar said, rising. “I can’t believe I took two days off this time. I’m terrified what I’m walking back into, though.”
“I’m sure Aken has been doinga wonderful jobcovering for you,” Alex said. As soon as his father turned away, Alex winced.
“He’d best have, or he won’t get this chance again,” the king said. He gave Zaadi and Ael hugs and then pressed a kiss to a sleeping Xan’s forehead. “Until we see one another again. Safe travels.”
The king hugged Alex and headed out.
Once he was gone, Alex clapped his head. “Now it’s time to pick the four or five things that you really,reallylove and want to keep.”
“They don’t keep everything?” Kenji asked, fighting a smile.
“He givestoo much,”Alex said. “So I have the kids go through and pick the few things they’re most excited about. And what do we do with the rest, Zaadi?”
“We give it to little boys and girls who don’t have presents under their tree and need toys,” Zaadi said as she hunted her pile for what she really wanted.
“Have you thought about asking him to stop?” Kenji asked.
Cryss scoffed.“Repeatedly.”
“This way, our house isn’t a cyclone of toys, the kids get a reasonable amount, and kids less fortunate get something for Christmas. I store everything in one of the upstairs bedrooms and cover it with a dust cloth—and then come back around September or October to add to a toy drive.”
Kenji smiled. “I love that you do that. There are a lot of kids this can help.”
Alex nodded.
“Do you think your dad knows what you do?”
Alex winced. “Zaadi kind of spilled the beans earlier this morning. Either he didn’t hear her or didn’t care.”
