Chapter 19
Invigorated, Gramlithyn tugged on his tie to loosen it a smidge.
He’d woke that morning with a zest that had been missing from his life for years.
There was no question why he was different.
His discussion with Pyxlevir had changed everything.
He’d needed a day to absorb what he’d learned, but reality was settling in.
So, as soon as Gramlithyn had opened his eyes, he’d taken the elf’s advice and called Ardusian.
His friendly assistant had squeezed Gramlithyn in for an appointment, and Ardusian had hired him within minutes of his arrival.
Now, Gramlithyn had an income and could focus on what he and zebra wanted the most—Pyxlevir.
Thanks to his lack of impetus and cowardice, the past loomed over them.
Gramlithyn refused to let that get in the way.
Not now. Not after Pyxlevir confessed that he wasn’t unhappy with Fate’s decision.
It was up to Gramlithyn to prove to Pyxlevir that they could be together.
There was no room for moping about his own stupidity or worrying about the future.
He needed to stay rooted in the present.
With that thought in mind, Gramlithyn stood in the lobby of Elven D’Vaire’s headquarters and tugged his phone out of his slacks.
His finances hadn’t stretched to include a proper suit, but Gramlithyn had gone to every job interview in his lone sport coat and tie.
Being in a building of mostly elves, his lack of cultural attire made him stick out.
Shaking his head as his mind worried about irrelevant issues like fashion, Gramlithyn fired a text to Pyxlevir.
Gramlithyn: Sorry for the late notice, but I’m at Elven D’Vaire today. Any chance you can grab lunch with me?
A few seconds later, his phone beeped, and Gramlithyn grinned even before he saw Pyxlevir’s response. His zebra whinnied with delight. The best thing about their late-night conversation was the joy of being Pyxlevir’s friend again.
Pyxlevir: Lunch sounds great. Are you here now?
Gramlithyn: Yes, but I can come back if now doesn’t fit into your schedule.
The elf’s answer was directions to his office, so Gramlithyn hopped into the elevator and hit the correct button.
Prior to slipping his phone into his pocket again, he assured Pyxlevir he was on the way.
It didn’t take Gramlithyn long to get to the correct office, and he grinned at the plaque outside the door with his mate’s name on it.
From the time they met, Pyxlevir had wanted to work for his father’s company, and it pleased Gramlithyn that he’d followed his dreams.
To Gramlithyn’s surprise, Pyxlevir’s assistant wasn’t an elf but a centaur. They’d barely exchanged greetings when Pyxlevir’s door opened. Gramlithyn wasn’t sure what to expect or how to feel, but he relaxed as Pyxlevir smiled.
“Hi, I’m so glad you texted. Should we head out? There’s a restaurant across the street with great food,” Pyxlevir remarked as Gramlithyn offered him an awkward wave.
“Sounds good.”
They said farewell to Pyxlevir’s assistant and headed to the elevator.
“You look nice,” Pyxlevir offered. “What brought you to Elven D’Vaire?”
They stepped into the elevator, and Gramlithyn allowed himself the pleasure of appreciating how the black-and-blue silk of Pyxlevir’s beaded ensemble highlighted the lovely shade of his skin.
“I like your outfit; it suits you. D’Vaire colors. Did Evlithar make it?” Gramlithyn asked. “I’m here thanks to you. I took your advice and called Ardusian. His assistant made time for me on his calendar.”
“Yes, this is Evlithar’s exquisite craftsmanship,” Pyxlevir replied as they stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby. “Did you already meet with Ardusian, or is that after lunch?”
“Not only did we already meet but he offered me a job on his team.”
“Congratulations,” Pyxlevir enthused. “But I’m not surprised; he’s pretty desperate for another body in his office.”
“Thanks a lot, at least pretend like I’ve earned my spot.”
Pyxlevir grinned at him cheekily. “Nope, I think I’ll stick with honesty, but thanks for the advice.”
They left Elven D’Vaire and were lucky enough to hit the light, so they didn’t have to wait to cross the street. Gramlithyn opened the door to the restaurant Pyxlevir directed them to, and a server brought them immediately to a small table next to the window.
“Somehow I always forget how evil you can be,” Gramlithyn offered conversationally as he glanced at the menu.
“Evil? Me?”
“Yes. I wonder if your parents know how often you convinced me to break rules.”
“My parents think I’m a wholesome treasure and are happy to have me in their lives.”
“Despite how often you snuck beer the second they left the house,” Gramlithyn muttered.
The restaurant was packed with elves, and the staff hurried around taking orders. Gramlithyn imagined it was a normal lunch rush. Their server popped out of nowhere with water, and they gave him their order.
Gramlithyn was surprised that Pyxlevir had gone with a carrot-heavy selection. The elf had avoided them for weeks.
“Carrots, huh?” Gramlithyn asked.
Pyxlevir raised a dark brow. “Is that a problem?”
“They were your favorite growing up, but I haven’t seen you eat one since I got back.”
“We decided on honesty the other night, right?”
“Yes,” Gramlithyn said. “Trust takes time to build, but whatever you tell me stays right here between us. I’m going to be as fucking brave as possible and let you know what I’m thinking or feeling.”
“I believe you. So, here goes. The whole carrot thing is related to this thing between us.”
Given how crowded the restaurant was, Gramlithyn wasn’t surprised that Pyxlevir hadn’t mentioned mates, but he was confused.
“Okay, how?”
“Scent,” Pyxlevir responded.
Gramlithyn sat there stupidly as their server rushed over with their vegetables and set them down. Once he was gone, Gramlithyn picked up his fork and speared a cucumber.
“Scent?”
“Yeah. You smell like carrots.”
His brow furrowed, Gramlithyn wondered why he’d be carrot-scented to Pyxlevir. A heartbeat later his zebra snorted, and a tiny waft of carrots hit his own nose thanks to Pyxlevir’s close presence.
“Shut the fuck up,” Gramlithyn said loud enough that a nearby patron scowled at him.
Unlike Pyxlevir, who’d been raised as much by centaurs and other races as by elves, the other people enjoying their food were products of thousands of years of tradition and didn’t use or appreciate curse words.
Gramlithyn mouthed a sorry at the irritated elves and focused on a shocked Pyxlevir. “I do not smell like carrots to you.”
“I think I know what you smell like,” Pyxlevir argued. “Why is that controversial?”
Gramlithyn leaned in. “Because your scent is carrots.”
Realization dawned in Pyxlevir’s eyes, and they filled with humor.
He tucked his lips in, then chuckled. “We both smell like my favorite food. That’s weird.
I didn’t want to eat them because I was mad at you.
But I couldn’t explain that to my family, so I’ve had to choke them down against my will for six years.
Now I’m reclaiming the past and eating them again without wanting to gag. So, thanks for that.”
“The strangest thing is that carrots don’t have that strong a scent,” Gramlithyn mused.
“It’s stronger if it’s surrounding a person.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Are you excited about working at Elven D’Vaire?” Pyxlevir asked. “Or is it just a paycheck?”
“Right now, it’s a paycheck. I don’t know what I want. Eventually, I’ll figure it out, but I have other things on my mind right now. So does my zebra.”
“When do you start?”
“Monday. I need time to do some clothes shopping. Ardusian’s assistant is a dragon and wears a shirt and tie. This is my single dress-up outfit.”
“Makes sense,” Pyxlevir replied with a nod. Gramlithyn wasn’t sure why, but it pleased him that Pyxlevir didn’t suggest elven attire. It’d been years since Gramlithyn had worn tunics and loose pants, and he’d grown more comfortable in other options. “I was thinking about the apartment.”
“What about it?”
“Well, we asked the twins to move out of their parents’ house, and we have Dasan there too.
We need to honor our agreement and hang out together…
the five of us. What do you think about having dinner together?
At least on the weekdays because I know the twins are going to keep heading home for a meal or two on the weekend. ”
“We should’ve been doing that from the beginning. I’m surprised none of them demanded it, given the whole situation and what they’ve agreed to.”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad you stopped. You worried me yesterday.”
Gramlithyn nodded. He’d spent the entire day in his room or in zebra form. “I needed some thinking time. To settle everything. Sorry if I made you second-guess anything, I got stuck in my own head.”
“Interesting. As a kid, you liked to pretend you were calm and collected. But you worried about everything. If we were sneaking beers, for example, you’d drink half as much as I did because you’d be envisioning scenarios of being caught or me getting yelled at after you went home.”
“Did I?”
“Please, you know you did,” Pyxlevir countered. “How many times did I urge you to relax?”
“Maybe I had to worry because you were always flirting with danger. If I’d been more daring, we’d probably be sharing a jail cell right now.”
Pyxlevir laughed. “I haven’t done anything outrageous in years. Maybe I’ve matured.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“At least you still have a sense of humor.”
“And apparently, you’ve stayed weird.”
“I’m a D’Vaire,” Pyxlevir said. “Weird is my favorite compliment.”
“Then I take it back because I’m not in the mood to compliment you. Not after you called me a worrywart who can’t relax enough to have fun.”
“Who knows, maybe you’re different now.”
“I thought I’d cultivated an entirely new adult version of myself, but you’ve dashed my hopes in our first normal conversation since I returned.”
“Gramlithyn, stop calling me or anything I do normal. That’s gross.”
For reasons Gramlithyn couldn’t pinpoint, a sudden urge to weep hit him.
Only he wasn’t sad. Quite the opposite. Nothing had ever felt as wonderful as talking to Pyxlevir.
Even before Fate had paired them, Pyxlevir had been his favorite person.
The heartbreak of believing Pyxlevir hated the thought of a future with him hadn’t managed to change that.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I missed you.”
The humor fell from Pyxlevir’s face, and his expression sobered as they stared at each other in the crowded restaurant.
“I missed you too, idiot. Next time you run off without explaining anything to me, I’m calling Alaric.
I’ll beg the Lich Sentinel to gather up every available sentinel and scour the earth for you.
You’ll have no choice but to face me, and I’ll poke and prod you until you explain yourself. ”
“I don’t think the sentinels will let you torture me. But that won’t be necessary. I’ve learned my lesson. Communication is vital.”
“I disagree. Pretty sure Alaric will let me do whatever I want given the situation, but I appreciate your assurance that my tactics will be unnecessary.”
“I hope working in the same building will let us have lunch occasionally.”
“Count on it. The only people I have lunch with now are my parents, and that’s not every day. But on those days, you can still join us.”
The idea of being around Pyxlevir’s parents was daunting. Although he’d once been comfortable running through their house as easily as his own, the heavy weight of his decisions had affected every aspect of his life.
Pyxlevir understood why Gramlithyn had fled and had somehow accepted it. The lovely elf smiling at him was even open to the possibility of fixing the past. But they had a matebond. One Gramlithyn and Pyxlevir had agreed to keep secret for now.
Which meant Gramlithyn had to face the other people in his life without answering questions about his behavior. Or lie. He’d done enough of that already, and he couldn’t fix anything if he continued to hide from his feelings or tell half-truths.
“They probably don’t like me much anymore,” Gramlithyn said.
“They’re upset because they love your parents and me. But they aren’t going to bring that up and make you uncomfortable. I won’t let them.”
“Don’t make things any more awkward by giving them orders.”
“Think about this…they’d probably like you more if they knew we were rebuilding a relationship. If they could witness that themselves.”
“For someone who overthinks everything, I didn’t give any thought to what would happen if I ran out of town with my zebra’s tail tucked between my legs,” Gramlithyn muttered.
The beast in question was overjoyed at the recent turn of events.
All Gramlithyn had to do to please his zebra right now was to be around their mate.
Six years was far too long to neglect his zebra’s wants.
“But I’m the one who messed up, so I’ll face the consequences.
I’ll have lunch with you guys if that’s okay with everyone involved. ”
“It will be, no worries.”
“Okay, let’s get the bill taken care of, I have shopping to do. Can I walk you back to your office?”
Pyxlevir’s grin lit up his blue eyes. “I’d like that.”
Gramlithyn didn’t answer; he was too busy smiling like a fool at the most beautiful elf in the world as his zebra whinnied with ecstasy.