Cryss’s shoulders lowered, a little of the pain ebbing from his pinched face.
“Zaadi and Aeloran areyourchildren. Yours and Alex’s. I help raise thoseamazing,beautiful children because youaremy brother…” And because it was as close to being a father as he’d ever get. Qylar leaned against the back of the seat, his chest aching. “I thought I’d reconciled my future long ago. I knew I’d never have a mate and children, but… seeing you all together… I suddenly long for what I can’t have.” He rubbed his chest with his palm. “I come and I work on the ship… to escape for a few hours and try to stop being a bastard.”
Cryss stood silently watching, pain reflected in his eyes. Qylar couldn’t stand seeing the pity that was there, too.
“Now that I’ve told you that, you’re going to feel awkward sharing your love for them in front of me—and that’ll piss me off.” He glanced at Cryss.“That’swhy I didn’t want to talk about it. I don’t want you to hold back your affections for any reason. It’s unfair to your husband and children, and I won’t have it.”
“Who said you can’t have a mate and children?”
Qylar scoffed. “Who would have me on Nefyria?No one.”
“You’ve met and proposed to every, single Nefyrian egg bearer?”
Qylar scoffed, glaring at Cryss. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not,” Cryss said. “Our planet is vast. There are distant kingdoms where people have never heard of House Zyvenoryour family’s story. Maybe we go back and seek those places out.”
“Any family worth their salt would investigate a potential mate for their son. If they didn’t know it already, they’d soon find out.”
“Okay…” Cryss scratched his head, eyes wandering for a moment before turning back to Qylar. “We’re compatible with human females. One could give you the children you wish for.”
“Cryss,you know I’m gay.”
“If you wished for them badly enough…”
“So you’re suggesting I pretend to love a woman, convince her I’m a good little alien who won’t murder her, and then if shedoesn’trun away screaming, use her as an incubator to fulfill my ridiculous craving for children?”
“I would never suggest using someone like that. You could hire one as a surrogate. They have those, you know? Find a suitable male as a husband and a surrogate to have your child.”
“Do you know how many men I’ve slept with in this city?”
“Not the number but I know the list is long.”
“Not one has captivated my interest. There’s yet to be a single spark.”
“You’ve apparently convinced yourself you can’t have more so why bother looking for sparks? You have every right to want a family. If you can accept that, maybe you’ll see sparks have been there all along—and you were ignoring them.”
“I have nothing to give a husband.”
“You have much to give a husband.”
“I have no name, no title, no great house. I’m your servant, living by your good graces.”
Cryss’s eyes narrowed at the word servant. “I havenevertreated you as anything but my friend. You know damned well that position was my father’s idea, not mine.”
Qylar chuckled, but there was no humor in the sound. “Of course. The duke wanted to keep the fallen prince in his place.”
“He said it was the only way he could convince the court to free you.”
They both knew the duke could’ve possibly made Qylar his ward instead, but that would’ve forever linked his disgraced name to House Kreegl. Cryss’s father was too ambitious to allow that. But none of that was Cryss’s fault, and taking out his unjustified resentment was unbecoming.
“I’m thankful the duke saved me from the mines and gave me a place in House Kreegl. I know it might not sound like it at the moment. I realize I’ve had a much easier life than I would’ve had without your family’s intervention. Please don’t think me unappreciative.”
“You never should’ve been tossed in with your family in the first place,” Cryss said. “Had the King’s Council not charged you along with your family, your life might’ve been very different. It was unfair, and I can understand your frustration.”
“Which I have no right to take out on you,” Qylar muttered.
“Perhaps not, but who else can you?” Cryss stepped closer. “In my eyes, you’re no servant. You’re my best friend and companion. The man I trust with my life and the lives of those I hold most dear on this alien world we now call home. You donotlive by my good graces. You’ve made us both a fortune thanks to that big brain of yours.”
