Page 24 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

A ARON WAS NERVOUS. He’d never done the meet the family thing in any of his relationships, but he was tonight.

He had no idea how it would go. He wanted to believe that Birch’s family would like him, but he couldn’t be sure, and it made him anxious.

Birch had told him that they only cared about him being happy, but maybe they’d rather have Birch be happy with a dragon shifter instead of a human.

Maybe they hadn’t said anything about it to Birch because they didn’t want to hurt him.

Or maybe they wouldn’t care that Aaron was a human, but they wouldn’t like him anyway. He wasn’t universally liked. He couldn’t afford not to be liked by Birch’s family, though. Birch was close to them, even though he talked about them as if he was perpetually annoyed by them, the love was obvious.

He looked down at himself, then back at his reflection in the mirror. “Are you sure this is fine? Because I can change.”

Birch stepped up behind him. He wrapped his arms around Aaron’s waist and hooked his chin on the top of Aaron’s head. He was ridiculously tall, but Aaron didn’t mind. In fact, he loved it.

“You’re incredibly beautiful, and my family is going to love you. You don’t need to stress out about this.”

“Put yourself in my position. Wouldn’t you be stressing out if you were meeting my family?”

“ Will I be meeting them eventually?”

Aaron sighed. He wasn’t sad—he’d come to terms with not being close to his parents a long time ago—but sometimes, he missed having people he was so close to.

“No. We were never close, and we drifted even further after I came out to them. I don’t have any contact with them, and I don’t know what they’d think of me being with you.

” He snorted. “Probably that you could have much better.” Either that, or they’d be horrified.

It was a good thing that Aaron didn’t care either way.

Birch’s arms tightened around Aaron. “I really couldn’t. You’re the most perfect man I could have dreamed up.”

That wasn’t true, but Aaron loved it when Birch said these things. He sounded like he believed them. He probably did. “Well, you’re not dreaming.”

Birch kissed the top of Aaron’s head. “I’m glad I’m not. It’s time to go, and you don’t have to change. You’re perfect just the way you are. My mothers will be all over you.”

“And you’re sure they’re happy about you dating me?”

“When I told them, Alaina started crying in happiness and planning how many children we’ll have. Yes, I’m sure. The only one who might give you problems is Curran, but that’s just because he’s a dickhead.”

Aaron laughed and stepped away. He didn’t have time to change anymore, so his dress pants and button-down shirt would have to do. Whatever happened, it didn’t matter. As long as Aaron had Birch, he could take anything. Hell, he’d even punched a dragon and had lived to tell the tale.

He and Birch made their way toward the rooms where Birch’s family lived.

From what Birch had told Aaron, he’d never actually lived with them since he’d been raised with Killian and Marlin.

It explained why the three of them were so close, and while Aaron found it strange, he’d come to realize that he’d find a lot of things the dragons did strange.

They were dragons. They had different traditions, and Aaron not understanding them didn’t make them any less valid.

Besides, Killian and the people close to him were working on changing the traditions that had hurt his people, like the ones that took children away from their parents.

Killian was doing what he could to fix the errors that had been made before he became king, and Aaron respected him for that.

He managed to keep himself distracted until Birch stopped in front of a door. He quickly knocked, then opened without waiting for an answer and strode in. Aaron followed him, looking around with curiosity. He didn’t know what to expect about spending the evening with four dragons.

The room they stepped in was cozy and homey.

The sitting area was decorated with art on the walls and soft carpets on the floor.

There were blankets on the couch, and it was clear that people spent a lot of time there.

There was a dragon sitting on the couch, their feet on the coffee table, their attention fully on their phone.

They didn’t even look up when Birch and Aaron walked in.

Aaron didn’t have the opportunity to introduce himself to the dragon on the couch. Birch was turning toward him, holding out his hand, and Aaron took it and allowed his boyfriend to pull him forward.

He came to a stop in front of two dragons. One of them was a very dark red, while the other was dark blue. Aaron had no idea who was who, but he didn’t have to wonder long.

The blue dragon stepped forward and folded her arms around him. He squeaked, but he hugged back automatically. The dragon’s hug felt a bit like Birch’s—compressing and strong, and they made Aaron feel safe.

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Aaron,” the dragon said. “I couldn’t believe it when Birch told us he was dating you. Do you know how long I’d been trying to find him someone? He rejected all of them, and I thought he’d taken up a celibacy vow.”

“Mom!” Birch complained.

Aaron had heard from Birch that his mothers had been trying to convince him to date for a while.

He’d rejected all their suggestions, even when they’d invited dragons over for blind dates.

Aaron was glad he had because otherwise, they wouldn’t be together.

Birch was annoyed by his mothers’ matchmaking, but Aaron saw it for what it was—a sign they cared and loved him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, still unsure what to do since the dragon wasn’t letting go.

Birch huffed. “He needs to breathe.”

“Yes, Alaina,” the other dragon said. “Let the poor boy go.”

Alaina did, although she didn’t look happy about it. Aaron was pretty sure that his cheeks were flushed as he turned toward Yarra. He held out his hand, but he should have known better. Seconds later, he was being hugged by a different set of arms.

“We are so happy to meet you,” Yarra murmured before letting go. “Dinner’s almost ready. Why don’t you and Birch sit down while Curran comes to help us in the kitchen.”

“Why do I have to help?” a third voice whined.

Aaron turned toward Curran, who was still on the couch. His skin tended more toward Alaina’s dark red rather than Birch’s middle-of-the-way purple.

“Birch will help us when you bring someone home,” Yarra said. “Now come on. Dinner’s ready.”

Curran huffed but dropped his phone on the coffee table and got to his feet. He grinned at Aaron and gently patted his shoulder as he walked past him. Aaron guessed they didn’t need to be introduced. They both knew who the other was.

Birch took Aaron’s hand and dragged him toward the table. “See? They like you,” he murmured as he pulled out Aaron’s chair.

“You don’t know that. They might be talking about me in the kitchen right now.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are. It doesn’t mean they don’t like you.”

Aaron supposed that things were going well. No one had told him to leave, and Alaina and Yarra seemed happy to have him there. They didn’t seem to care that he was human, just that he could make Birch happy.

It was all Aaron wanted, too. He loved his job and the friends he’d made since he’d arrived here, and of course, Lucy, but he also loved Birch. He’d focused on his work for the past few years, but he felt it was time to focus on his personal happiness now, and some of that came through Birch.

They made each other happy, and hopefully, they’d continue to do so for years to come.

* * * *

B IRCH COULDN’T LOOK away from Aaron for most of the meal. Aaron was eating enthusiastically and talking to Birch’s mothers as if it was something they did every day. The three of them seemed to be getting along great, which was what Birch had hoped for.

He wouldn’t deny that he’d been a bit afraid at the thought of Aaron meeting his mothers, but not because he thought they wouldn’t like Aaron.

He’d known they would love him. How could they not?

Aaron was doing the one thing they’d always wanted—making Birch happy.

They didn’t care that Aaron was human or that he was a recent addition to the clan.

As soon as they’d found out that Birch had moved Aaron in with him, they’d started clamoring to meet him.

And here they were.

Aaron fit right in, even though he’d been nervous. It was like he’d always been a member of their family. He’d relaxed and was gesturing as he told Birch’s mother a story, and they both hung on his words.

“I don’t like that sappy expression on your face,” Curran teased.

Since Yarra, Alaina, and Aaron were busy talking, Birch turned his attention to his brother. “You don’t like anything about me.”

Curran grinned. “You’re not wrong. I have to say that you’ve become less annoying since you met Aaron, though. I like him .”

That meant a lot to Birch. He knew that Curran was teasing him, but not on this. “I’m glad. I want you to like him.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I like him more than you, and I’ve only just met him.”

Birch laughed and poked his finger into his brother’s ribs. “Shut up.”

“You shut up.” Curran’s smile slipped into something more wistful. “Seriously, though. I’m glad to see that you’re happy. You deserve that and to be in love.”

Birch could admit he was in love, even though they felt like words that only Aaron should hear. “I am. I didn’t expect Aaron, but I’m happy I met him.” It felt a bit like fate—if Birch had believed in that.

“He’s staying for you. He has to love you a lot because I wouldn’t leave my life behind just for anyone.”

“He does.”

From the way Curran watched Aaron, Birch wondered if he was thinking about Marlin.

Birch and Curran didn’t talk often about Curran’s feelings for Marlin, but they both knew what they were.

Once again, Birch wondered if he should tell his brother about Marlin’s feelings over having kids.

He didn’t want to be stuck in the middle because he cared about both of them, and now wasn’t the right moment to do so, anyway, but maybe in a few days.

He didn’t want Curran to hold on to hope if there wasn’t any.

He had no idea how Marlin felt about Curran, and he didn’t feel like he should ask him.

“And who knows, maybe you’ll have kids soon,” Curran said.

Birch remembered the conversation they’d had with their mothers about both of them having children.

Back then, he’d thought for sure that he wouldn’t have them.

He wouldn’t say that Aaron changed his mind.

He’d just turned what Birch hadn’t believed would be a possibility into one if they were both willing.

“It’s going to be a few years, but maybe,” he confirmed.

Curran’s eyes were wide. “Seriously?”

“Why not?”

“You were really against it when we talked about it last time.”

“I changed my mind. I guess I was thinking about having children with any dragon or something like that, and it wasn’t something I wanted.

I’d be having them with Aaron, though. Can you imagine anything more adorable than children with Aaron’s eyes?

” They’d be some shade of purple because of Birch, probably pale or pastel. Birch could almost see them.

Curran laughed. “You really are in love, aren’t you?”

So was Curran, but Birch kept that to himself. “I am. I’ve never been happier.” To distract his brother, he winked. “And now that I’m with Aaron, Alaina and Yarra can finally move on to find someone for you. What was the name of the last blind date they invited for dinner?”

Curran’s expression of horror was enough to make Birch laugh. Curran had made fun of him when their mothers had organized blind dates, but now, it would be his turn, and Birch couldn’t wait to return the favor.