Chapter 29
Pyxlevir kissed the corner of Gramlithyn’s mouth and grinned at him. “Did I mention how much I love my hair?”
“It’s been three days—yes, you’ve told me many times,” Gramlithyn mused, running a hand over the tresses glittering with a mixture of silver and zebra-striped beads.
Shifting his leg to get more comfortable, Pyxlevir reveled in the brush of his naked skin against Gramlithyn’s.
A frisson of desire flowed through him, but he was far too sated for his dick to spring to life.
They’d explored each other for a good hour, then practiced their oral skills.
Pyxlevir was already addicted to the taste of Gramlithyn’s come on his tongue.
His lone complaint was his desire to take things further.
However, tradition demanded their matebond be completed before Pyxlevir could have Gramlithyn buried inside him.
That part of elven culture was annoying, but Pyxlevir didn’t despair.
He grew closer to Gramlithyn every day, and there was no question that he loved him.
At six, he’d been enamored of the hybrid, and that adoration had blossomed in the past eighteen years.
Their matebond was inevitable. The thought pleased Pyxlevir immensely.
“Are you complaining about me, Gramlithyn?” Pyxlevir teased. “Could you possibly be upset that I’m praising you for working so hard to decorate my hair according to the traditions our people have clung to for over fifteen thousand years?”
“You sucked my dick way too hard for me to find big enough words to have this conversation,” Gramlithyn muttered, smoothing his palm down Pyxlevir’s back and settling it on the curve of his ass.
“Then let me bitch about you for a second.”
Gramlithyn’s brows lifted. “What did I do?”
“Your pajamas are a disgrace. Larissa makes plenty of PJs for everyone; why are clinging to two old faded pairs that are barely holding together?”
“Because I haven’t been to my parents’ house to grab more.”
“But we were at D’Vaire.”
Gramlithyn kissed Pyxlevir’s nose. “I’m an idiot and didn’t think about what is in the closet or drawers in my room there. We’ll be there this weekend, remind me to grab some.”
Pyxlevir bit his lip. “This is the first time I’m not looking forward to our monthly D’Vaire weekend.”
“Why is that? You love being with everyone.”
“Because I’m worried about how to sneak into your room without getting caught.”
“Shit.” Gramlithyn closed his eyes. “Yuck, I don’t want to sleep without you.”
Stacking his hands on Gramlithyn’s chest, Pyxlevir rested his chin on them and stared at his relaxed mate. “I’ve been thinking, but maybe right now isn’t the right moment to bring this up.”
“Talk to me, Pyx.”
“What if we did something to help your relationship with your parents and prevent us from having to sleep in our own little beds at D’Vaire?”
“Do you mean tell people we’re mates?”
Pyxlevir nodded. “I know it’s a big step and you’re worried about how your parents will react, but we can’t avoid it forever.
If it’s too soon and we need more time to build our relationship, then we wait.
I’m fine with it. It’s just if we’re sure we know where this is headed…
well, I’m keeping a secret from my family too. ”
“How do you feel about us?” Gramlithyn asked.
There was vulnerability naked in his gaze, but it was the caring in his eyes that made Pyxlevir smile.
“Because I love you. Maybe we’ve moved fast. It doesn’t feel that way though.
I guess because you’ve been such a big part of my life for so long.
You’ve been in my heart since the day we met.
Even before I knew Fate had tied our souls, I wanted a future with you.
Not once did I picture anyone else at my side.
I can’t fathom adoring anyone else the way I love you.
But we don’t have to rush into anything. I’m not going anywhere.”
Not caring where his tears landed, Pyxlevir shifted to drop a kiss on Gramlithyn’s pliant mouth.
“Thank you, that was beautiful. I love you too. No one else could fit me like you. All my life I wanted to find my mate when I was young. I was too damn scared to hope it was you. Thank Fate it’s you.
Only you. That’s how I feel about us. Someday soon I hope to bind our souls completely and finally understand what everybody who’s had a shifter bite is bragging about. ”
Gramlithyn cupped Pyxlevir’s cheek. “Then I guess it’s time for us to move forward and announce our matebond.”
“I know you’re frightened, but it’ll be okay. We’ll do this together.”
“I’ll face whatever I need to so that I can have a future with you.”
“Because you’re a wonderful mate,” Pyxlevir assured his other half.
“What if we keep it relatively simple? Start with the most important people. Your parents. My family. I’d like to include Evlithar and Cadlyr too.
They’re like my second parents and helped raise me.
Plus, they understand being separated. Evlithar was so afraid of Cadlyr’s tribe that they spent two thousand years apart. ”
“Good point, six years is a blink compared to that. If my parents want to murder me, I’ll hide behind Cadlyr. He’s intimidating and knows how to use a spear.”
“There won’t be any weapons around,” Pyxlevir said, rolling his eyes. “We’ll let the centaurs host, and everyone will be so excited to get together that no one will suspect we’re gathering them for a big announcement. Surprise attack.”
“I’m not allowed to fantasize about weapons being involved, but you’re referring to this whole thing as an attack, General Pyxlevir.”
“Hush, are you on board or not? Let’s see if we can get this done before D’Vaire on Friday.”
“It’s already Tuesday.”
“I already know my parents have nothing going on this week; we had lunch with them yesterday, remember?”
“Of course.”
“So, we ask them to do dinner on Thursday, and if anyone is busy, we figure out an alternative. Deal?”
Pyxlevir squeaked as he was unceremoniously tossed onto his back and a deliciously naked zebra-elf pinned him to the mattress. Spreading his thighs so Gramlithyn could nestle comfortably between them, Pyxlevir wound his arms around the hybrid’s neck.
“It’s a deal,” Gramlithyn murmured, nuzzling Pyxlevir’s neck. “Want to stay up too late again tonight?”
Pyxlevir’s lips curved, and he lifted his legs to cross his ankles, trapping Gramlithyn against him. “Absolutely.”
∞∞∞
Gramlithyn was sweating. True to his word, Pyxlevir had gathered their chosen group at his family’s house on Thursday night. His zebra was unsettled, and they both wanted the comfort of their mate, but they couldn’t touch him thanks to the secret they were poised to reveal.
“Are you okay?” Pyxlevir whispered as he sidled close to Gramlithyn.
“Shitting myself, thanks for asking.”
Pyxlevir grinned up at him. “It’ll be fine. Trust me. Let’s get it over with.”
Thanks to the number of elves in attendance, Pyxlevir’s Uncle Tyndarios had opted for a menu of cheeses, vegetables, and sandwiches for the centaurs.
Since there was nothing hot on the stove, they didn’t have to wait for everyone to start their supper to broach the topic Gramlithyn and Pyxlevir had assembled them to discuss.
Everyone was chatting and relaxing with drinks in the living room, which offered Gramlithyn no excuse to delay the inevitable, so he nodded at Pyxlevir.
The elf Gramlithyn adored clapped his hands. “Sorry to interrupt, but Gramlithyn and I need to talk to you. Is it okay if we do that before dinner?”
Gramlithyn blew out a shaky breath as everyone assured Pyxlevir it was fine, and the crowd stared at them both.
As the person who’d chosen to defy Fate, Gramlithyn wanted to be the one to take the initiative.
If their announcement caused anger, then he wanted to be in the line of fire instead of his other half.
Pyxlevir glanced at him, and Gramlithyn offered him a lopsided smile. “Thanks for agreeing to let us come over tonight. We know it was short notice, but we’ve already waited too long to have this conversation with everybody.”
“We’re family, of course we’re happy to be here,” Gramlithyn’s mother assured them.
“The truth is…shit. The truth is, I’ve had years to figure out how to say this, but…
but I’m not sure,” Gramlithyn sputtered.
Pyxlevir took a step closer to him and, without a care who was watching, slipped his hand into Gramlithyn’s.
His zebra snorted with pleasure. Closing his eyes, Gramlithyn took a moment to center himself.
No matter what awaited them in the next few minutes, Pyxlevir would be at his side.
Nothing could tear them apart. That gave him the strength to dredge up whatever courage was in his soul, and he squared his shoulders.
“Whatever you need to tell us, we’re here for you,” Gramlithyn’s father stated firmly.
“I have been living a lie,” Gramlithyn said.
“Six years ago, I left everything behind. There was only one person who understood the full story. That I hadn’t given up on a job or school.
I did, but those weren’t important. They could wait.
What I chose to do was defy fifteen thousand years of tradition.
To disregard the most important aspect of—”
“Gramlithyn,” Pyxlevir interrupted. “Be kind to yourself. Just tell them.”
Gramlithyn’s nod was frantic, and he was grateful that Pyxlevir was holding on to his hand, given how damp it’d become in the past few minutes.
“Pyxlevir is my mate,” Gramlithyn rushed out.
The silence in the room was deafening. Too terrified to gauge the reaction of their families, Gramlithyn lifted his chin and concentrated on the ceiling.
He stared at it as if the off-white paint held the secret to the universe.
Pyxlevir tugged his palm free, and Gramlithyn turned to watch his other half get embraced enthusiastically by Evlithar.
Behind him stood Cadlyr, and the Cwylld Chieftain smiled at Gramlithyn.
“Congratulations,” Cadlyr said. “The past six years must have been difficult; I hope it is a relief to say those words aloud.”
His limbs were barely cooperating, but Gramlithyn flung them around Cadlyr. The blond elf grunted at Gramlithyn’s gusto.
“So much makes sense now,” Evlithar chirped as he rushed over to embrace Gramlithyn the second he released Cadlyr.
“Yes, it does,” Gramlithyn’s father said, rising from his chair.
His mother remained seated and was sobbing.
“No matter how many discussions we had about the past six years, we couldn’t make sense of things.
There was a puzzle piece missing. It never occurred to me that you were mates.
I’m not sure why. Perhaps because you were close friends.
I would’ve assumed being paired by Fate would be welcome. ”
Tired of being brave, Gramlithyn reached out, and Pyxlevir stepped into his embrace. Gramlithyn clung to his other half while his zebra continued to reel with fear.
“It should’ve been simple, but I overcomplicated it,” Gramlithyn said, swallowing thickly.
“We both made mistakes,” Pyxlevir stated firmly.
Kalthekor stood and smiled. “Nothing that happened between you is any of our business. Congratulations. I apologize it took me a moment to find my tongue. The only excuse I can give is that, no matter how old your child is, it’s still surprising when they reach adult milestones.
In my heart is a tiny boy who needs my help to put his dishes away because he isn’t tall enough to get them into the upper cabinets. ”
Behind Kalthekor, Aristos rose and chuckled. “You and Pyx are both grown and can’t reach anything. Congrats to you both. I’m guessing from your hug that this is something you’re ready to celebrate.”
Although he was reluctant to release Pyxlevir, Gramlithyn forced himself to let go so they could exchange hugs with Pyxlevir’s parents.
The other centaurs sprang up, added their felicitations, and there were more embraces.
Since Gramlithyn’s parents remained frozen in place, he found it difficult to relax despite the positive response from Pyxlevir’s relatives.
“For the first time, I wish there was something besides beer in the house,” Timotheus mused. “An announcement like this deserves champagne.”
“We’ll have it at D’Vaire after Pyxlevir and Gramlithyn announce it to everyone this weekend,” Evlithar enthused.
Unable to stand it any longer, Gramlithyn left Pyxlevir surrounded by his beloved relatives and headed to where his father remained rooted in place.
“Mom. Dad. I’m sorry,” Gramlithyn said.
His father shook his head. “No, I am the one who is sorry. I wish…well, we’ll save that for another day, I think. Congratulations, you deserve all the happiness in the world. Both of you do.”
At Laconifel’s side, his mother pulled herself up and wiped her cheeks. “How lucky you are to be granted your mate so young. Fate must adore you nearly as much as I do. Congratulations, my dear Gramlithyn.”
A sliver of peace hit Gramlithyn as his parents hugged first him, then insisted on doing the same to Pyxlevir.
No one had objected or yelled, which Gramlithyn would take as a win, but the air hadn’t been cleared either.
Unsure where that left him, Gramlithyn let his gaze lock with Pyxlevir’s, and his other half smiled. It lacked the verve of his usual grin.
Gramlithyn ignored the rest of the people in the room to scoop Pyxlevir into his arms again.
“We survived,” Pyxlevir whispered.
“Barely.”
“Everyone needs time to digest it. Let’s herd them to the table so we can get out of here early.”
With a nod, Gramlithyn dropped a kiss on Pyxlevir’s head.
Their secret was out, but Gramlithyn still had work to do if he wanted to rebuild his relationship with his parents.
That would have to wait for another day, and it’d start with Gramlithyn explaining why he’d walked away from his mate and life six years earlier.