“The words bounce everywhere when I do that,” Dasan replied. “We’ve been over this. Anyway, Gram’s got stuff to talkabout, and I need him to get it off his chest because the mystery is killing me.”
Gramlithyn forced himself to look fully at the elf lounging on Crispin’s bed. Today, Pyxlevir was wearing a deep purple outfit that accented his light blue skin beautifully. He glanced up, and his azure eyes were as blank as the previous afternoon.
“Pyxlevir…uh, do Colby and Crispin know…anything about, well, us or the plan?” Gramlithyn stammered.
“No, you and I never spoke about it, so I didn’t feel it was fair to tell anyone,” Pyxlevir stated without inflection. “But everyone needs to know now if the plan is going to work. You are free to explain it how you want.”
Gramlithyn nodded and tore his gaze away from Pyxlevir. Both twins were staring at him, and their expressions were as chilly as Pyxlevir’s, which was warranted given the circumstances. Shifting slightly so he could convince himself he was talking to Dasan alone, Gramlithyn wasn’t surprised to find the hummingbird toying with a set of magnets he kept in his pocket. The atmosphere was tense, and Dasan wasn’t good at being calm in the best of circumstances.
“Okay, I have a plan I’d like everyone to consider,” Gramlithyn said, and he swore he could feel the cotton of his button-down sticking to his spine as his body grew uncomfortably sticky. His zebra was too enamored of being close to Pyxlevir to lose his shit, and that was strangely comforting. “What I’m proposing is that Dasan and I find an apartment for the five of us to share for one year. I know it’s asking a lot, but Pyxlevir and I need your help. You see, well…um, Fate chose us. Yeah. When we were teenagers, we found out we were mates. So, we have to follow the law if we want a separation agreement and stuff. I thought you guys could be witnesses for us. I know it’s asking a lot, and I understand if you don’t want to, but I hopeyou’ll think about it at least. This would be a secret thing to allow us to figure out our future without interference.”
Dasan turned his head and stared at Pyxlevir. “He’s your mate?” Dasan whispered.
Gramlithyn nodded.
“Wow,” Dasan mouthed.
“I apologize I didn’t confide in you sooner,” Pyxlevir said, shame hollowing his voice as he glanced at the twins, who wore matching expressions of shock. “But Gramlithyn and I never spoke about our matebond. I didn’t want to break his confidence without his permission.”
Colburn’s lips pursed as his furious, disappointed gaze landed on Gramlithyn. “And you took a six-year trip to Fate only knows where while refusing to answer any of us. Now you want our help?”
“If you want Pyxlevir to get a better shot at finding a mate he can build a future with, I need your help,” Gramlithyn responded.
“I’m in,” Crispin said.
“You are?” Colburn asked his brother, startled.
“Yes. Gramlithyn’s right. The law has to be followed, and it requires mates to spend a year under a roof together. They’ll need witnesses.”
“You can count on me,” Dasan said. “But you already knew that. Like, where the fuck else am I gonna go?” He chuckled awkwardly.
“Don’t worry, no matter what everyone decides, we’re in this together,” Gramlithyn assured his friend.
“Yes, because Gramlithyn never disappoints those close to him,” Pyxlevir bit out.
Gramlithyn swallowed thickly and lacked the courage to glance in Pyxlevir’s direction. Nor did he offer an argument. It was true. Gramlithyn had bailed on everyone. He deserved theircensure, and he hated how he’d hurt them, but unfortunately, he couldn’t go back in time to undo the damage now. Instead, he had to somehow convince them he wasn’t a complete shit and deserved a second chance, which was a herculean task he hoped he would have the strength to complete.
“Guys, Cris and I are Pyxlevir’s best friends. Dasan is yours, Gramlithyn,” Colburn said. “Who the fuck is going to believe us if we go to the fallen knights in year and say you both followed the law to start separation?”
“Two of the Hawthorne-Stones are fallen knights, not to mention the rest of them in your extended family, including the Reverent Knights,” Gramlithyn pointed out. “You can be trusted.”
“You’re part of that same extended family,” Crispin remarked.
Gramlithyn no longer considered himself part of the D’Vaire clan. Six years ago, he’d left everyone behind, and it didn’t feel right to claim them. He loved them, but he’d lost the right to call them family. It was a damn wonder his parents still wanted anything to do with him; he couldn’t imagine anyone else bothering to offer him grace he didn’t deserve.
“I thought the entire thing was supposed to be that separation was a last resort,” Colburn argued. “If that’s your only goal, then we’re starting off by lying anyway.”
“Separation is likely what is best for Gramlithyn and me,” Pyxlevir stated. The whole idea was his, yet nothing hurt more than Pyxlevir’s words.
“Pyxlevir is right,” Gramlithyn forced himself to say. He was immensely pleased he’d kept any emotion from his voice because he dearly wanted to weep. “However, a year is a long time, and we’ll be under the same roof. We’ll have ample opportunity to discover if we’re wrong.”
Colburn narrowed his eyes. “Is that a promise that you’re going into this with good faith? Because we were raised to believe in Fate. To trust her to make these choices for us. Not immediately assume she’s wrong and follow our own path.”
“I vow I’m open to every possibility,” Gramlithyn said firmly. He was desperate to undo the damage he’d caused and convince Pyxlevir to consider him as a potential mate. His zebra pranced ecstatically through his head at the thought.
“I refuse to lie to my parents, my family, or my friends,” Pyxlevir commented. “Nor will I walk away from thousands of years of elven tradition by prioritizing separation. You have my word that I’m as open to the possibilities as Gramlithyn.”
For several seconds, the room was quiet. Colburn’s gaze eventually locked with his twin’s, and they nodded at each other.
