Chapter 15 #2
No. I don’t think anyone did, but I can talk to her later and ask her to stop if it upsets you.
It didn’t upset me. It was actually kind of nice to feel like family. It just hit hard out of the blue and made me a little emotional, I guess. I’m okay. Don’t worry about me.
Qylar lifted his gaze from the tablet and lowered the device to the floor. He pressed a gentle kiss to Kenji’s forehead.
“How’s that, Uncle Kenji?” Zaadi asked, finishing up the first big toe.
It was a mess, and he absolutely loved it. “Beautiful.”
“Zaadi, sweetheart… did someone tell you to call him Uncle Kenji?” Qylar asked softly.
Zaadi lifted her gaze from Kenji’s feet, appearing confused, and shrugged. “No.”
“Is there a reason you did?” Qylar asked.
“It’s fine,” Kenji whispered under his breath to Qylar.
“He’s your mate, Uncle Q,” Zaadi said matter-of-factly, painting away.
Kenji eyed Qylar. From the shocked look on Qylar’s face, Kenji’s initial question was answered.
“How do you know that, princess?”
“I just do,” Zaadi replied, her little tongue soon sticking out as she focused on her task.
“Did you hear the grownups talking about it?” Qylar asked.
“I don’t know,” Zaadi replied, never looking up. “I just know.”
Kenji watched all of the adults exchange an odd look.
“Is something going on?” Kenji asked.
“Alex might not be able to shift, but he has a different… unique gift,” Cryss replied.
“He can read minds,” Qylar added.
“I cannot,” Alex said. He looked at Kenji.
“It started when I met Cryss, and it’s with him or the kids more than anyone else.
If they’re having strong emotions, I can feel a wave of whatever they’re feeling, and I sometimes hear broken tidbits of thoughts.
Occasionally, I feel it with others, but usually only the emotion part, not the thoughts. ”
“We call it his ‘sorry you can’t shift’ gift,” Cryss said.
Qylar eyed Kenji. “It’s hard to get something past him when you’re feeling a certain way, so you might want to steer clear unless you want him trying to make you talk about it.”
“Which is how I know when Q’s in a mood. He’ll avoid coming over for a day or two. More, if it’s bad,” Alex said, lifting a brow at Qylar. “Either way, I’ll know.”
“Zaadi’s starting to show signs she might also have the same gift,” Cryss said. “But we’re not completely sure yet.”
Zaadi frowned at her father. “It’s not my ‘magination.”
“I didn’t say it was, sweetheart,” Cryss said gently.
“No. You thought it,” Zaadi replied.
Cryss’s gaze flew to Alex’s before he looked back at Zaadi. “I’m sorry I thought it. It’s obviously not your imagination.”
Zaadi went back to painting Kenji’s toes.
“Is this a Nefyrian thing? Can some of you read minds?”
“Some of us,” Qylar whispered.
“We could,” Cryss said. “Eons ago. Then we lost the skill almost as long ago. It’s suddenly resurfaced in Alex, and no one’s sure why.”
“And maybe now Zaadi,” Alex murmured.
“Wow,” Kenji said. “That’s some superpower. I might choose that one over shifting, Alex.”
To know exactly how someone feels, without doubt? That would make a lot of doubts fade. Or possible bring up new ones he hadn’t even considered.
“All done!” Zaadi declared, sliding the nail brush back into the bottle. She closed it and handed it to Qylar. “Tighten, please.”
Qylar tightened the cap and handed it back.
“Thank you,” Zaadi said.
A light twinkle of bells sounded.
“Oh, thank heavens,” Alex said. “Dinner’s here!”
Cryss leapt to his feet. “I’ll go let them in.”
Alex slowly slid off the couch. “Let’s go get little hands clean before dinner.”
“Want me to take them?” Qylar asked.
“No, in a few weeks I won’t be able to give them as much of my time. Better give it to them now,” Alex said.
Qylar turned to eye Kenji and offered a palm. Kenji slid his into it.
He brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed the back of Kenji’s. “You’re really okay?”
“I am,” Kenji said.
He eyed the tentacle mark he’d left on the inside of Qylar’s arm and traced it with his fingertip. “Will you give me one of these?”
Qylar stiffened, casting him a glance.
Wow, Alex’s superpower would come in handy right about now.
“Are you sure you want one?” Qylar asked, his tone odd.
“I don’t know. Do I?”
“I think it’s something we should wait on,” Qylar said. “Give you more time to know for sure.”
Kenji’s disappointment was swift and brutal. It stung like a rejection, even as he knew Qylar was probably right.
“I have news,” Qylar said.
“What’s that?”
Qylar cleared his throat. “You have an appointment tomorrow morning.”
Kenji searched Qylar’s face, but he averted his eyes.
“For the removal.”
“Yes,” Qylar whispered.
Silence lingered between them for a few minutes.
“Am I doing the right thing?” Kenji asked him.
Qylar closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he reopened them. “Only you know that, Kenji. I can’t make this decision for you. Just know that you have my full support either way. You won’t be alone through this.”
Kenji rested his head on Qylar’s shoulder, his doubts growing. He didn’t have long to decide. Tomorrow morning would be there in no time.
“Dinner!” Cryss called from the dining room.
Qylar rose and turned, offering his hand.
Kenji stared up at it but hesitated in taking it.
Qylar squatted in front of him. “If you need some quiet time, I can fix you a plate and bring it to our room. If you’d like me there, I can make us two plates.”
“I wouldn’t want to be rude.”
“They’d understand,” Qylar said.
Kenji searched his face, this man who felt so comfortable. This man who’d opened a whole new world to him.
This man who made him feel treasured for the first time in his life.
Did he really take away the thing he wanted most out of fear of the unknown? Or was he making a choice out of guilt instead of practicality and reason?
He reached for Qylar’s hand and once up, he wrapped his arms around the man, hugging him tight.
“Thank you for all you do for me.”
Qylar’s arms wrapped around him and squeezed him. “You never have to thank me, Kenji.”
Kenji lifted on his toes and pressed his lips to Qylar’s. He settled back down and smiled. “Now let’s go have dinner with your friends.”