VNET-to-VNET and express route

I have a problem with using my Expresss Route connection.

Previously I had several VNETs connected to each other using VNET-to-VNET connection. now I have an Express Route connection. Linking the VNET to an Express Route requires me to have Virtual network Gateway in it set to ExpressRoute type. This means that I can no longer use VNET-to-VNET connections as they require Virtual network Gateways of VPN type.

So, my questions are:

1. Is there a right way of using express route together with a VNET-to-VNET connection?

2. If I simply link several VNETs to the same Express Route (which is possible and they can even communicate with each other) does this mean that the traffic between them will count as flowing through Express Route circuit? Or is it stil flowing and counted as flowing through Azure backbone?