Page 24 of The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate (Oro Escondido #3)

Chapter

Twenty-Two

“ L ars. May I speak with you for a moment?” Simon, Logan’s Keeper of the Keys, caught him in the market, where he was trying to decide. Decaf mocha cheesecake? Or white chocolate raspberry?

Maybe they would cut him one so it was half and half. If not, he could buy both…

“Simon!” He took a hug, his belly starting to become an obstacle these days. “How are you? I feel like it’s been an age.”

“Your mate, I think, likes feeding you at home.”

“Well, when we first found out we were pregnant, we ate at other people’s houses for a month. I think he’s been wanting to be more of a homebody.”

“Of course.” Simon smiled at Hilda, who stood behind the bakery counter. “Well, I was wanting to chat with you. I might have found a keeper for your brother-in-law.”

His heart started to race. Okay, this was super fraught. He would have to handle this with great care.

“Can you wrap up both for me, Hilda? And a cherry cream cheese for me and chocolate croissant for Simon.” They could get hot chocolate or something at the little stand by the main doors and sit at the little indoor patio. It was getting too cold for the outside one.

“Por supuesto, Senor Lars.” She handed them pastry, then started wrapping cheesecakes.

“I’ll be back for those.”

They got little cups of steamed milk and moved to sit. “So. Tell me.”

Simon grinned, his quills rattling. “They’re cousins of mine. Sort of second gen, but still.”

“They?”

“Twins. Rainbow scales. Gold eyes. They’re so sweet, too. And they’re excited at the idea of being able to both come and serve a pair of brothers. And my guardian’s brother as well.”

“Oh! You mean one for me and Bryant and one for Lachlan.”

“Exactly. He needs someone to keep him company and to help with his house.”

“He really does.” Lars pulled off a piece of pastry. “Bryant will be a hard sell. What happed to Lachlan was awful.”

Simon’s eyes flashed a bright, wild rainbow of colors. “That was an abomination. No true keeper would have been able to do it.”

“And you think this is your cousins’ calling?”

“I have no doubt.” Simon looked at him very seriously.

“Trust me when I tell you that my line could never have done this. I don’t know what’s happening with this situation, but we never even felt it.

And we have a connection much like you guardians do, a network, a vast network.

I’ve been with your family for generations. ”

Simon took his hand and held on tight.

“I believe you. I’m just going to have to talk to Bryant and Lachlan.

Please tell them not to show up until I get a chance to do that.

” At Simon’s concerned expression, he shook his head.

“I’ll do it. I mean, I won’t… I will not procrastinate, but I need a chance to talk to him, to talk to them both. ”

“Of course. I expect nothing less. Do you believe that Lachlan is interested in having a keeper?”

“You know he is. But—” Lars shook his head. “Bryant had to—” He waved his hands. “You know, with the other one, it was up to him to protect his brother. That leaves scars.”

Simon nodded. “It does. It absolutely leaves marks, but you are a guardian, and so are Lachlan and Bryant. You will need help.”

“I know, I know.” And he believed, but Bryant didn’t. So, Lars didn’t have the slightest idea how to proceed.

“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted to the man who helped raise him.

“You have my word that I would never ever send you someone that might hurt you. I was there the day you were born. These people are my family—within their position, yes, but in practicality as well—and I can’t tell you how rare twins are in this particular situation. They’re very excited.”

“What are their names?”

“Alban and Arthur. They’re a special pair.”

“Alban and Arthur. Okay, I can remember that. How many days?” How long did he have to convince Bryant to try?

“Soon. Talk to your mate and your brother-in-law?”

“All right. I’ll do it now.” He sighed and shook his head.

“This is hard. This is really challenging. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, and I don’t want to disrespect him, but this is part of our life.

This is for our child. This is a commitment that will last until the end of this line.

” He looked at Simon, the sheer gravity of Simon’s job weighing heavy on him.

He never considered how vast the responsibility was, to care for an entire line.

“How on earth are you going to know which twin to go with when it happens?”

“I’ll be called.” Simon shrugged. “But I have many, many, many years before I even have to worry about it at all. With any luck. Logan and Dakota will live long enough to where I will be choosing one of their great-great-grandchildren.”

“Yes, from your mouth to the goddess’s ear.”

Mate, are you well? Bryant, of course. It would be Bryant. Bryant always knew.

I’m having a snack with Simon. He had news for me and for you and Lachlan.

There was a pause and then Bryant simply said, No .

Bryant. He blinked at the single commanding word.

I said no, there will be no Keepers of the Keys in my house or in my brother’s house.

We need to talk about this. Surely, he got some input on this. And Lachlan? Lachlan was his own man; he could do as he wished.

I’m sorry mate, but no. You don’t get the final say on this. I won’t have it.

You haven’t even met them.

I don’t intend to meet them, but if you’ve already arranged it ? —

I haven’t. You know that that’s not how it works. This has been happening since time immemorial. You know this isn’t how it works.

I don’t care how it works. There will be no Keeper at my house.

All right.

He turned to Simon. “Send them to Lachlan. Give me an hour or two to talk to him, but send them, have them go to Lachlan’s.” He was not going to cry. He was going to deal with this.

“Both of them?”

“Yes.” He didn’t want to talk about it. “Both of them.” He stood and packed his things away. “I have to go. I’m sorry. I love you.”

Simon took his hand. “I love you, dear one. It will all work out. Have faith.”

“That’s your job. I’m just trying to get through the day.” Then he went to go get his cheesecakes.

He was going to have to go talk to his brother-in-law and see what was going to happen next. Seriously, it was the only option he had. Talk to Lachlan. Make sure that Lachlan was receptive to having a new Keeper of the Keys.

And then make sure that Lachlan was okay with him staying there for a while. Bryant didn’t have to have a Keeper of the Keys in his house.

Lars would just take both twins and move into Lachlan’s house until Bryant came to his damn senses.