“And how did he react?”
“As expected. With awe.” Qylar banged the back of his head against the wall again. “Then we went to the biolab to check his DNA and see if he was, in fact, Nefyrian. It came back positive—and also showed he’s an egg bearer.”
“That seems like good news, as well.”
“One would think,” Qylar whispered.
“Please tell me you haven’t pushed him away because you think you’re undeserving of a family. Youare,Qylar. Deep down, you know that as much as I do.”
Qylar snorted but said nothing.
“Look at the way the kids rushed to you just now. As young as they are, they sensed you were hurting and came to comfort you—because they love you. A love they have because ofyourlove and care of them all of these years. You’re going to bean incrediblefather. Fuck titles and houses and worthy names. Love is all you need, and you have more of that in you than any other man I know.” Cryss hedged. “Well, besides my own mate, of course.”
Qylar sighed, finally able to breathe a little easier after losing his shit. “While I won’t lie and say my worthiness or lack thereof hasn’t been on my mind, thatisn’tthe larger problem I have right now.”
“What is?”
Qylar paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing. After, he filled Cryss in on the pertinent parts of what happened during their night together, the eggs, the condom break, Kenji’s first disappearance, and what happened after Qylar came clean to Kenji on the ship. Near the end, Alex returned and Qylar told it a second time, too.
“So he just left?” Cryss asked. “And saidnothing?”
“And I still have no way to find him. What if heispregnant and doesn’t come to me?”
“Oh, he’ll come to you,” Alex said. “Have no doubt.”
Qylar’s gaze whipped to Alex’s. “You can’t know that.”
“I know better than either of you what he’s probably feeling. He’s freaking out right now and likely just needed some space to think,” Alex said. “You told him it would take you a day or two to gather what you needed for the test. I’d bet anything that he comes here in the next day or two. If it was me, I’d want to know for sure if I was pregnant or not—and I bet he feels the same.”
“Alex is probably right, Q. He’ll want answers, and you’re the only person he knows who can provide them.”
“And the only one who can get him unpregnant,” Qylar said.
“Not this again,” Cryss growled.
“He’s already asked if they can be taken out,” Qylar snapped. “He doesn’t want a pregnancy.”
Both men grew silent.
“He asked about his options,” Alex said. “He might not know yet what he wants. And even if he’s not ready now, it doesn’t mean he won’t be later down the road.”
“While our story was a whirlwind and everything seemed to happen fast, Alex and I had time together before we learned he was pregnant,” Cryss said. “We knew how strongly we felt about one another. You haven’t had the luxury of that. To Kenji, you’re little more than a stranger.”
“I get that, and I won’t force him to keep a pregnancy he doesn’t want,” Qylar said. “But… I can’t stop wondering if this is my one and only chance slipping through my fingers.”
“You can’t think like that,” Alex said. “If you have a connection with Kenji, and from the sounds of it, you do—there’s a chance.Even if he’s not ready now maybe he will be later.” Alex sighed. “But whatever you do, don’t pressure him. You’ll only push him away.”
“I have to find him before worrying about pressuring him.”
Alex grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Two days. A week, tops. He’ll come round.”
“I hope you’re right,” Qylar said.
“It better be before we leave,” Alex said. “Otherwise, I won’t get to meet him for months.”
“You think we can delay our trip a bit?” Cryss asked Alex.
“A week might be okay,” Alex replied.
