Page 21 of The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate (Oro Escondido #3)

Chapter

Nineteen

“ I think Lars is about to rebel, Logan.” They were having a guardian breakfast meeting, which Lars had sent him to, claiming exhaustion. He was just starting to show, and he told Bryant that every move was like slogging through molasses right now.

“Dakota says that will pass. He says soon he’ll be full of energy and constantly horny.”

“I would much rather he be at that point.”

Logan put bacon on his plate, giving him a sideways look. “I bet.”

“Not that way.” Although, sure. “I just mean I hate seeing him sick and worn out.”

“Trust me. It gets better,” Bea said when she came to pour some bright pomegranate juice. She applied a liberal dose of ginger ale.

“And then it gets worse,” Logan said. “Especially if it’s twins. Swollen feet. Always uncomfortable. A little grumpy all the time.”

Jake snorted. “You would be too if you were growing a dragon.”

“That sounds like you parroting Samuel’s words.” Logan winked at Jake.

“Yep.” Jake grinned hugely. “I’m not stupid. I just nod and smile and say, ‘Absolutely, love.’”

“Smart dragon.”

Lachlan came over to inspect the buffet, wings rustling. They all stared at him, and he raised his eyebrows. “Don’t look at me. Not mated.”

“Yet. You’re not mated yet .” Logan rolled his eyes dramatically. “You see, I think I started something with the guardians…”

Bea arched one eyebrow. “Excuse me? Hello? Mickey was pregnant when Dakota came along. I am the OG.”

“Look at you using slang like you know what it means!” Jake clapped Bea on the back. “I’m so proud.”

“Shut up.” Bea punched his arm, and he oofed, and everyone cracked up.

Bryant rolled his eyes, but he had to laugh. Those two were as close as siblings, and pretend violence was never far away when it came to them. “Lars says he’s sorry to miss the meeting, but that I can take notes for him.”

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to work, to be honest, having a bonus guardian, but I like this.

I like that you and Lars can share the load when necessary, and I think…

I think this works for us. It’s a good balance.

” Logan yawned suddenly, looking surprised at himself.

“Of course, I could just sleep, you know. Seriously, I could just sleep.”

Logan had dark circles under his eyes, but Bryant thought they were lighter than before the boys had been born.

“How are the twins?” Lachlan asked, and Bryant grinned, because he knew that Lachlan wasn’t asking about the new babies. He was asking about the girls.

Lachlan was busily creating a wonderland for little ones in his castle, complete with ball pit and a playhouse. It was absolutely fascinating, and one day when Lachlan was mated, he was going to be the greatest dad ever.

“My boys are so different from the girls. It’s like night and day.

The boys are chill and laid-back, easygoing.

” Logan shook his head. “I mean, my girls are firecrackers. Constant motion. Constant excitement. It’s just—” Logan stopped and shook his head like he was clearing out cobwebs.

“And then those boys are just… Well, they’re happy to cuddle, they want to sleep.

They want to hang out with their dads. They like to, you know, watch the cats. Literally.”

Jake stared, head tilted. “Well, that’s good. I can’t imagine having four firecrackers.”

“Speaking of firecrackers, how’s Grant doing?” Bea’s expression was pure naughtiness.

Jake shook his head, a fond look on his face. “All I can say is thank goodness for Celeste. We’re learning very hard not to use our skills when we’re angry. Samuel’s very patient with him, but sometimes that battle of wills gets a little overwhelming for him, I think.”

That didn’t surprise Bryant. Samuel was quiet, gentle—he didn’t seem like he would win a battle of wills, but Bryant could be wrong, he supposed.

“Well, you know, he’s always welcome at my house,” Lachlan offered. “He can come and play any time.”

“Right now, we’re learning to earn fun things.

We’re trying to frame everything in the positive, you know?

” Jake sipped his coffee. “Yeah, a gold star for not setting somebody on fire and a gold star for not getting angry and opening all the kitchen cabinets and breaking all the glasses.” Jake blew out a frustrated breath.

“No. No, that’s not it. He gets praised for saying please and for waiting for someone to get you what you need and for getting through the day without a temper tantrum.

Having a good day. The last thing I want to do is be the dad who is all negative about my son. ”

“I think that’s great.” In fact, Bryant thought that was fabulous, and he was going to learn from that.

Because, honestly, he could see where it would be hard, where everything would be like a world of no.

“It’s got to feel so great to have this.

To have things framed in a way that he feels good about himself. ”

Jake offered him a grin. “Thanks. It’s hard. It’s really tough sometimes. And I feel like a bad father. But thanks.”

They all settled with their food and their drinks, and Bryant loved it. It was so necessary to how they lived their lives here—to be together and social and be with one another. Bryant felt as if they were working together to build something. Even better, he had friends here.

Of course, he had friends back in his old wing. He hadn’t been miserable. In fact, he’d loved it. It was a beautiful place, quite different from here. More green, more fertile, but less beautiful. He found the mountains to be stark, but stunning. But this was home now.

For so long, he’d felt like an outsider, which was completely and totally on him. He’d come to this whole situation in an utterly wrong-headed state of mind, and he’d done some incredibly stupid and hurtful things. But they had forgiven him, and now he was where he belonged.

“So, Lars is okay? Just tired?” Logan nibbled a big piece of fried cheese.

They came frozen, he’d found out, and they just popped them in the air fryer.

He was learning about faster food, even if it was organic cheese and shit.

He had to be able to stuff food in his mouth on the go sometimes as a guardian.

Now, though? He could graze.

“He is. He said to say he was so sorry he didn’t come, but he’s just so tired. I worry about him, but the midwife… Sally is it? She says it’s normal.”

“Yeah.” Bea shook her head. “Jason’s mate, Theresa? She was always dragging her tail around when she was pregnant. The first trimester would kick her ass. And then? She was Wonder Woman.”

Logan chortled. “Don’t dare let her hear you say she’s not now. Do you know how many grandkids that lady has?”

“Oh god. Grandkids.” Jake swallowed after he almost choked on a celery stick full of ranch cheeseball. “Can you imagine Grant’s kids?”

Lachlan beamed. “Oh, they’re going to be amazing. I cannot… Well, that’s not true. I can wait to meet them while I watch your babies grow up.”

Bryant frowned a bit. “And your babies too, right?”

Face shuttering like a closed store window, Lachlan shrugged. “I have no mate.”

“And a year ago, I didn’t have one,” Bryant said. He was aware that the rest of the group were watching him and Lachlan like a tennis match. Back and forth. But he wasn’t going to listen to Lach belittle himself, which was where this was coming from.

“Well, who knows how long it will be before I find one, if I do.” Lachan kept his tone light, but Bryant knew better. His eyes flashed a clear, metallic platinum, and a little heat filled the room, as if the sun was beating down on them.

“Of course.” Bryant held up his hands. Sorry, brother. I just don’t like for you to say you’re not going to get a mate because you’re different.

I didn’t say that!

But you were thinking it. Now turn off your light.

Sorry. Lachlan subsided, and the heat died down.

“Ahem.” Jake eyed them both. “Anyway, like I said, Lachlan. You can have mine anytime.”

“That’s perfect.” Lachlan was back to smiling, and Bryant let it go.

For now.

“So, Lachlan, have you had any time to talk to anyone about a Keeper for your house?” Bea asked.

Now it was Bryant’s turn to smolder, and Lachlan raised an eyebrow at him.

No talking.

You suck, he told his brother.

“Not yet, no. I’m told Simon is looking into it. Please tell him how much I appreciate it.”

“Sure.” Logan grinned. “He’s so dear to me.”

He wanted to snap about how lucky that made Logan, but that was another thing he needed to keep to himself. The thought of bringing another Keeper into Lachlan’s home terrified him though.

He’d had to kill the last one…

The thought made him queasy, and he clenched his hands. And his teeth.

Love? Lars’s sleepy mental voice came to him. What is it? What’s wrong?

Nothing, sweet. You need to rest.

But you’re upset.

Mmm. I just let my thoughts get away with me. No one was mean, and neither was I. I promise.

Do you need me to come?

No, love. Sleep. I’ll be home soon. Bryant hated that he’d woken Lars with his bitter musings. They were fewer and farther between these days, but they still cropped up.

I love you.

I love you too.

Bryant glanced up, realizing everyone was watching him. He stuffed a bacon-wrapped date in his mouth to keep from babbling.

“We ready to talk business or what?” Bea asked, and that gave him the perfect excuse to smile and nod.

And if everyone in the room, and at his own home, knew that he was not okay, well, at least no one said a word. So he would do his best to just move on with what he needed to do.