As Rydak pulled up in front of Jaron’s house, he sat for a moment trying to understand what he’d witnessed. One of Jaron’s three sisters had an arm wrapped around her maman and both females seemed to be having a fit of girlish giggles. Jaron’s papan came from around the back of the house, a dark frown pulling down the sides of his mouth. Not a common expression, since Donil always found a reason to smile.

Like their son, Jaron’s family possessed a healthy sense of humor. Each of them. Which meant something was going on. Rydak exited the hover-car wondering what to expect.

Suddenly, Jaron came barreling from the back of the home as well. His sister and maman squealed. Then both females darted toward Donil and hid behind him. Ignoring his maman, Jaron reached over his papan’s shoulder, trying to get to his oldest sister. Tuali continued to laugh and dance out of reach.

“No, Jaron!” His maman stepped forward and held up her arms to block, all the while grinning.

“Maman, do not encourage her.” Jaron stopped his efforts and planted his hands at his waist to glare.

Donil shook his head at their antics. “Trelia, my Chosen, let them resolve it.”

Jaron’s maman eased from behind her Chosen and assumed a more serious expression though her eyes still twinkled. “You are right. Jaron, your sister meant no harm.”

Jaron’s loud growl said different. More giggles burst forth from Tuali and Jaron’s youngest sister came flying from the back of the home, her little legs kicking up dirt, feet bare. “I hid from Jaron. I win.”

Jaron caught the little one as she tripped saving her from a spill on the ground. He swung Jaeli in the air and more laughter poured forth to fill the yard. Rydak folded his arms and waited. The Aches family made no secret of their enjoyment of personal time together.

The middle sister strolled outside at a more sedate pass, though she wore a smirk plastered on her face. Her blue eyes landed on Rydak and her expression took on a familiar cast. Hopeful and filled with want as she let her gaze moved over him from head to toe. Rydak ignored it as he ignored most females, who seemed to be taken with his physical appearance.

Many found his features more than favorable and his team mates took every opportunity to teasingly reference his looks. He knew they meant no harm. He also knew Misha didn’t truly have an interest in him. She was appreciating the view and not afraid to show it. If his cheeks heated a bit, he ignored that too.

Jaron set his baby sister on her feet as soon as he saw Rydak and with one last glare for his other sister, Tuali, bid them farewell.

His maman ran behind Jaron and hugged him close. Rydak heard her whispered apology, then she waved at Rydak, lips quirked up in greeting. He nodded in return and acknowledged Jaron’s papan, Donil, as well with a respectful incline of his head.

“We are sorry to delay you, Jutak Jaard,” Trelia said.

“It is not a problem.”

Jaron made his way over to the hover-car at last and jumped in the front passenger seat with a sigh. Rydak joined him and arched a brow. “Trouble?”

Jaron grimaced. “My sisters are precog like my maman. It is getting harder to surprise them or find them when they seek to torment me. They have not learned to harness the abilities yet. Today Tuali decided to share the knowledge that she has seen my Chosen in her dreams.”

Rydak snorted as he drove off. “Did she give you a name?”

“No.” Jaron’s voice rumbled. “I threatened to have maman and papan take away her shopping privileges if she dared.”

Rydak held his silence. For some reason, Jaron remained adamant about avoiding presentation for as long as possible.

Dismissing his family from his mind, Jaron perked up and stared through the window. “Where are we headed?”

“I forgot to pick up my nonja’s gift from my room.”

They arrived at the base and Jaron accompanied him in silence. Rydak grabbed the colorful wrapped package he’d returned for and placed his palm on the door sensor to lock it behind him.

“I also have another stop to make.”

The friendship Rydak agreed to with Lissi was more than he could have imagined. The more time he spent with her, the more he’d lowered his guard. Not sure how she did it but the awkward tension between them was gone. Without realizing, Rydak had let himself enjoy her company. When she laughed or smiled, a piece of him inside lit up. If he could keep the goodness she filled in him forever, his life would be complete.

“Really?” Jaron raised a brow. “Where?”

“To get Lissi.”

Jaron’s confused gaze quickly morphed to shock. “Lissi Alonson? We are getting Lissi Alonson?”

“Again, yes.” Rydak shot him a glare as they walked down the hall. He jerked his leather gloves from his pocket and slid one on.

Outside, the wind kicked up and blew hair into his face and Rydak grimaced. He hated to appear unkempt. He tucked the remaining glove at the waist of his black pants and slicked his hair back to tie off with a leather band from his wrists. Once done, he noticed Jaron was no longer keeping pace at his side.

Rydak glanced around. The Team One Lead stood behind him, mouth flapping without sound. He should have known the man wouldn’t let this go.

“Why are we going to get Lissi?”

Jaron’s question plucked at Rydak, rubbing his already worn nerves raw about his decision. “I am taking her with us to see my nonja.”

“What?!”

Rydak sighed and rolled his eyes toward the sky. If only he had thought about Jaron’s reaction prior to inviting Lissi to join him. Now it was too late. “Hurry, Jaron, I don’t wish to be late.”

His nonja would not hesitate to chastise him.

“O-of course.” Jaron jerked forward, casting Rydak curious glances from the side of his eyes, questions evident in the gaze. Questions Rydak had no intention in addressing.

Rydak shoved the outer door open. Jaron stumbled into him and it was pure reflex which had Rydak gripping Jaron’s forearm to keep him upright. With his bare hand.

Surprise, curiosity, relief. Rydak released Jaron’s arm instantly.

“Shit! Sorry, Rydak.” Jaron thrust the black glove which had fallen to the ground at Rydak. “How long before the pain hits and you need to get somewhere to lie down?”

Rydak shook his head. Tiny zings pricked his skull. “No time for that.”

As soon as they reached the hover-car, the backlash from the physical contact caught up with Rydak and he slumped against the door. Dimly he heard Jaron call out as he rounded the front of the vehicle.

Thoughts tore into Rydak’s mind, flooding his head with things not his own. He dragged in a deep breath as he absorbed the meaning of the emotions and words he’d unintentionally pulled in. Not about Rydak but about the whole Unit. His teammate worried. Jaron also wondered if Rydak was sex sharing with Lissi without Torkel’s knowledge.

“No!” Rydak snapped, standing up straight as Jaron neared him, caution on his face as to how to proceed. Rydak tugged the glove over his shaking fingers.

Shocked, Jaron raised his hands in surrender. “What? What do you need from me to help?”

Rydak glared, the pain already ebbing because the contact had been brief. “I am not sex sharing with Lissi.”

Jaron flushed. “I never said—”

“You thought it.”

Jaron winced and dropped his hands to his sides. “Yes. Sorry. You have to admit the two of you seem...closer than usual.”

Heaving a deep breath as the pain eased and became tolerable, Rydak snatched the door open and climbed in. His annoyance and anger whipped at his control but Rydak leashed the remnants of all the emotions coiling trough his gut. Jaron’s and his own. He was closer to Lissi but that wasn’t what he wished to talk about.

“Let it go, Jaron.”

For once his playful friend didn’t pursue his line of thought. “Right.”    

As he sat in the driver’s seat, Rydak paused for a brief moment, wondering if he should share what he’d discovered when he’d touched Jaron’s arm. He faced a still leery Jaron. “You are more your family’s son than you think. Time will tell if you reach their potential.”

Like him, Jaron’s family was one of the original five to settle on Enotia. Unlike him, Jaron didn’t show any signs of his family’s affinity for their gifts to see the future. Yet.

Jaron’s horror stricken features made Rydak feel slightly better.

***

As soon as the hover-car arrived, Lissi raced out the door. Today, Rydak was taking her along with him to meet his nonja. It was a huge step and one she didn’t doubt he’d struggled with making. It was no secret how much he cared for his last living relative. Inviting her to accompany him gave Lissi a renewed sense of hope Rydak that was coming around to accepting and believing in them as a couple.

“Lissi, wait.” Her papan stopped her before she could actually leave. Standing on the pathway from the house, she waited for him to continue. “Be careful, for me?”

Not sure what he meant, Lissi paused. “Careful how?”

“You and your brother possess the same quality. A gentle nature which often worries your maman and I. We fear for your hearts and how love will hurt harder because of it.”

Marlin Alonson was exactly what Lissi wanted in her Chosen. Strong, honorable and loving. It surprised her to hear him mention concern for Torkel as well. It meant her parents weren’t singling her out about her feelings for Rydak.

“You think Torkel will be unwise when he falls in love too?”

Her papan winced but nodded back gravely. “You both have a capacity to love intensely. It will take someone special to not damage such a gift.” He blew out a breath then shrugged. “It’s not Rydak we are against but his ability to hurt you because of...who he is. I’m not asking you to walk away from your feelings but to be careful and wise in your actions.”

She softened in the face of his explanation and the subtle approval she only now realized she craved. Lissi hugged him tight to murmur in his ear. “Of course, Papan. Thank you”

They separated and her papan stared at her a moment longer than comfortable. Right when Lissi started to fidget, Marlin said, “Rydak Jaard is a good soldier. He is a good man. If he is your choice, I will support you and your maman will come around. She wants her children happy.”

Which meant they both believed Rydak wouldn’t be able to do that in some way. Lissi shook off her own doubt about Rydak. “Whatever happens between us, I will know that I allowed my heart to make the decision. If I get hurt, I will gather my strength around me as you and maman have taught me. Loving someone means risking the pain of hurt. But I promise not to be foolish in the endeavor.”

He nodded and after a squeeze to her elbow, he left her go. Relieved to have such a huge weight behind her, Lissi tried not to look overeager as she walked toward the waiting hover-car.

Rydak sat in the driver’s seat, an elbow resting on the edge of the window, his gaze never leaving hers as she approached. When she peered around him, she noticed another in the vehicle. “Greetings, Jaron.”

He saluted her and winked. “Greetings, Lissi.”

The rear door opened and Lissi hopped in, her body vibrating with expectant energy. Jaron turned to lean over the seat. “Has Rydak explained why we’re going to see his nonja?”

He hadn’t. Lissi met the devilish blue gaze and frowned in admonishment at whatever antics he wished to start. “No, he has not. I am pleased to be invited though.”

Jaron snorted. “It is his nonja’s natal day. You will like her.”

Lissi held her tongue. She worried more about his relative liking her.