"I love you," he murmurs. "I want to strive every day to be worthy of that."

He leans down for another tender kiss. Percy bumps his brow against Essek's and he cannot help the smile that appears. Despite the weight of the pasts, they are unfettered moving forward. Essek, a beautiful and capable omega, wants him and to bear children with him. They are trying their damnedest, in fact, to make that happen.

Percy feels his knot give, but he doesn't immediately withdraw. It feels good and soothing to be near Essek like this. He's more gentle with the next kiss, far less desperate.

"We," he murmurs, "are going to make beautiful half-drow children." His smile grows brighter and he punctuates that with another kiss.