Pyxlevir was excited to meet the two men Fate had paired Ardusian with and was desperately trying not to think about the person the goddess had connected him to on his eighteenth birthday. But it wasn’t working. Gramlithyn had spent the past several months on his camping trip with Colburn and was set to return in less than a day unless they opted to extend their trip again.
Although Pyxlevir was happy and hopeful about his imminent return, he was also terrified. Gramlithyn wasn’t taking their matebond well. No matter how often Pyxlevir texted, Gramlithyn waited hours before responding. Pyxlevir’s calls went unanswered. The last thing Pyxlevir wanted to do was overwhelm Gramlithyn, so he’d curbed his desire to communicate with him constantly as they’d done since they were six.
Hopefully, some distance was giving Gramlithyn perspective. Yes, his best friend hadn’t wanted to find his other half, but the match was now made. They both had to deal with reality. Was it bound to be odd suddenly being sexually attracted to each other? Of course. There were bound to be awkward moments, but they were close.
Surely that would help them navigate the hurdles of going from friends to lovers.
But Gramlithyn’s continued short responses and long silences were giving Pyxlevir terrible anxiety. He tried to hide it from everyone around them, which was irritating. Pyxlevir hated concealing his feelings and telling lies. However, Pyxlevir refused to announce their matebond without Gramlithyn’s permission and the elf-zebra in question standing proudly at his side.
Elves were normally mated within a few days of meeting their other half, but tradition be damned. Pyxlevir wanted Gramlithyn happy. Actually, Pyxlevir wanted them both to be filled with joy. With a friendship as close as theirs, it was difficult to imagine that they couldn’t build something wonderful as long as they were fair and truthful.
Putting his hands over his pointed ears, Pyxlevir bit his lip and forced himself to stop thinking about Fate. Today was about Ardusian and the enchanter and sentinel he was building a new life with, and Pyxlevir could deal with his own mess the following day. Or at least wait until after Ardusian, Amaury, and Gerard had finished eating and returned home.
Pyxlevir was desperate for any distraction. A month after he graduated from high school, his beloved Kalliope had crossed the veil, and it’d ripped Pyxlevir apart. He’d barely pulled himself together enough to drag out her bed and toys from his bedroom when his uncle’s dog—a beautiful girl even older than Kalliope—also died.
Although Pyxlevir had his family to help him cope, he’d wanted his best friend too. Gramlithyn and Pyxlevir had spent their entire childhood with Kalliope and Pandora. But Gramlithyn was gone, so Pyxlevir had to face those now-bittersweet memories alone.
A familiar cheery sound filtered through the silk of Pyxlevir’s pants pocket, and every desire he had to ignore the messy state of his friendship with Gramlithyn was long forgotten. Plucking his phone out, Pyxlevir grinned at the notification that he had a new text from Gramlithyn.
Gramlithyn:Hey, wanted to let you know I’m extending my trip. Already let my parents know.
Pyxlevir’s brows snapped together as he read the text five times in a row to ensure he hadn’t misread it. His fingers danced on the screen as he fired off a return message.
Pyxlevir:What do you mean? You already extended it by a week. When are you coming home? Is Colby staying with you? Does Crispin know?
Although his best friend instantly read the message, there wasn’t an immediate reply. Pyxlevir ran his tongue across his teeth and did nothing to quell the fury rushing into his veins. In the past few weeks, he had gathered every morsel of patience within himself to give Gramlithyn a bit of space. He’d convinced himself that as soon as Gramlithyn returned, they could sit down and discuss the massive change in their lives. Instead, the hybrid had the audacity to announce that his trip wasn’t ending again, and this time it was at the last damn minute.
The phone Pyxlevir was clutching in a now-sweaty hand finally beeped, and he narrowed his eyes at the curt response.
Gramlithyn:Colby is going home in the morning. Not sure how long I’ll be gone, I want to do some traveling. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Pyxlevir was being dismissed, which was unacceptable. Without giving himself a moment to think, he sent a second text.
Pyxlevir:I’m calling you in a second, and you better answer. If you don’t, I’ll keep calling.
That was the best threat Pyxlevir could think of, and he wasn’t interested in being coy with endless messages. With a few feverish taps, Pyxlevir had his phone to his ear. It took three rings, but a wave of profound relief temporarily shunted his fury as he heard Gramlithyn’s voice.
“Hi,” Gramlithyn said.
“Hello, Gramlithyn, how are you?” Pyxlevir asked in his best customer service voice.
“Fine. Why are you calling?”
Pyxlevir’s mouth dropped open, and for a split second his mind went blank. What in the world was wrong with Gramlithyn, and why was he acting so ignorant?
“I would have thought it was obvious why I was calling.”
“What do you mean?”
“Gramlithyn, you just texted me that you’re not coming home tomorrow. That’s it. No other information. Where are you going? When are you returning?”
“I’m staying at this campsite for another day. Then I’ll be traveling. There are places I want to visit. I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to get everywhere I want to go.”
“Don’t you think it’d make more sense to come home and plan a trip with an itinerary?”
“I’m already packed and have the essentials with me.”
“What about everyone here?” Pyxlevir dared to ask.