Page 28 of The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate (Oro Escondido #3)

Chapter

Twenty-Six

“ W here you going?”

Lars stared at Bryant. “To work, you know, guardian stuff. It’s my shift.”

Bryant’s eyebrow lifted. “Is this where I point out that you are pregnant? In fact, you are pretty, significantly pregnant. I’m fairly sure we all decided that it’s time to stop doing your rounds…”

“No.” He had decided that wasn’t going to work for him. In fact, he had pretty much decided he had been pregnant quite long enough, at least today. He could be pregnant again tomorrow. But today?

Nope.

He was ready to go fly and defend the world, or at least the wing.

Possibly get a giant cup of coffee and a croissant and do guardian things before stopping and getting onion rings.

Bryant shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. We’re in the deep part of winter. Have I mentioned it’s dangerous? No.”

“You can’t just tell me no.” He was going to kick Bryant’s butt.

“Logan’s the boss. He can tell you no.”

Oh, he did not just pull the brother card!

“Logan is my brother. If he tells me that, I’ll kick him in the face.”

Bryant’s lips twisted as he fought his grin. “I’d love to see you try.”

“Why are you being so mean?” Lars decided to go for the concerned and a little whiny track.

“I’m not. Any other time, I would be like go. Guard. I’ll watch the baby, but you’re very pregnant. It’s not safe, and I love you. So no.”

“You’re not very nice, Bryant. I don’t like you anymore.” He stomped into the kitchen. “I’m going flying.”

Arthur wasn’t gonna argue with him, right?

“Are you? All right. I’m going to make green chile stew and tortillas for lunch,” Arthur said.

“Homemade tortillas?” He loved those. Loved them.

Arthur nodded. “I’ll save you some.”

Oh, they were so much better fresh off the comal…

“I can stay and have some, I guess.” He plopped down on a stool, ignoring Bryant completely. He didn’t want to look at his stupid, correct mate.

He was more than willing to pout—most sincerely—about this whole thing, but Arthur wasn’t cooperating.

“Oh excellent. I have the good butter out too. What’s the baby’s position on spice levels today? I want you to be able to eat it.”

He shrugged at Arthur. “Somewhere between ‘mmm…fruity with a kick’ and ‘fuck me, I’m on fire’?”

“I can do that. Bryant is a giant spice virgin.” Arthur winked.

“He’s also right here,” Bryant murmured.

“Yes, and we’re going to help develop your palate over the next few centuries…”

Bryant blinked at Lars. “I thought Keepers were supposed to be gentle and helpful and all.”

Lars opened his eyes wide. “You have met Simon, right? Like…he’s evil incarnate. I adore him.”

“Listen to the things you say.” Bryant teased him. “Your poor, poor Simon. I thought he was your friend.”

As if. Lars snorted. “He’s been my nanny; he’s been my confidant.

He has been a pain in my butt. He’s a great joy.

And I admit, when he ended up going with Logan instead of me, my feelings were hurt.

I’ve gotten over it, like all the way over.

Like bump de bump over. But, not a friend.

Now Arthur, you poor thing, you got stuck with us. ”

Arthur’s eyes went wide. “Do you know how rare it is for a pair of twins to need Keepers at the same time? Do you know how long I’ve waited for you guys and Lachlan?

We waited for eons because we didn’t want to be separated.

We wanted to be able to be this complete family together, all of us.

I didn’t think we were ever going to be able to do our jobs and then suddenly—” Arthur sparkled, the colors in his scales seeming to ripple. “I’m so glad that you found us.”

The baby shifted inside of Lars, making an easy circle, and he stroked his belly.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? I think it’s a girl. One way or the other, they’re definitely an omega. She’s very kind of laid-back, lazy.”

“There is nothing wrong with laid-back where babies are concerned,” Lars said.

Bryant’s chuckle was wry. “You’ve met the girl twins.”

Arthur nodded. “And Grant.”

“Poor Grant; he’s misunderstood. He’s actually a really, really good baby. He just has frustration issues.” Lars knew it.

Bryant nodded. “I can see that. He and I went fishing with Jake, and it was hilarious. We’re trying to do ice fishing, and he zipped around the ice, bouncing everywhere.

And then decided all of a sudden he was cold.

He turned blue and started whistling the fish out of the water. Just whistling for them.”

“I’m surprised he went. Last time we talked about it, he had just learned that fish bite. And was telling all of us about it at the top of his lungs. Samuel should never have taught him about sharks.”

“Sharks?”

Lars nodded. “Sharks. Barracudas. Anglerfish.”

Bryant shook his head. “I guess that’s why Jake took him, so he wouldn’t be scared. He pulled a bunch of fish out of the lake, let them freeze on the ice, and then threw them back in the water.”

“Oh, lord. I bet Jake yelled.” Lars chuckled.

“Yes, and made us pull them all out of the lake. Waste not, want not.” Bryant chuckled. “But he’s a doll.”

“He so is.” Lars patted his belly. “I think a girl, but I think she’s conserving energy rather than lazy. I have a feeling her talent is going to be wild.”

“I bet.” Arthur pulled out a cloth-covered baking sheet, which turned out to be rolled balls of dough. He grabbed a tortilla press, then turned the stove on under the comal. Flour tortillas.

Lars almost drooled.

Bryant put his chin on his hand, elbow on the counter. “What kind, do you think?”

“Well, look at Grant,” Lars said, tilting his head. “No more breathing fire for the next generation. I think maybe as the world gets more dangerous, the magic gets more concentrated in places like Oro.”

“Mmmm. Maybe laser vision,” Arthur said.

“Oh, gods help us,” Bryant murmured, and he had to laugh.

“Maybe she’ll be like Jack-Jack in those Incredibles movies. Like have all the talents.”

“Dude, you two make me exhausted,” Bryant murmured.

“Just wait until she shows up.” Lars patted his belly. “Then we don’t sleep for weeks.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. But no twins for us.” Bryant winked, because he knew very well if they were to have twins, his mate would be ecstatic.

“Maybe not, but then again…” he teased. He wasn’t mad anymore, but Bryant had stopped him from going out. So he had to make him pay somehow.

“Yeah, yeah. So what are you making again, Arthur?”

Arthur launched into a description of stew and flour tortillas, all the while pressing out the dough and putting it on the comal.

“You have to try them hot with butter,” Lars told him. “I bet tomorrow we get beans to go with the leftovers.”

“They’re soaking now, and I’ll put them in overnight so we have them for breakfast,” Arthur said.

He laughed when Bryant wrinkled his nose. He accused them of being weird for eating beans for breakfast, but Arthur always said people had been doing it for centuries.

“I can’t wait.” He made nummy noises.

“Weirdos,” Bryant groused.

They all broke out into laughter, and Lars knew this was what he needed. He’d needed to not be alone in his head. He’d needed his family.

He reached over to grab Bryant’s hand. I love you so.

I love you too, baby. Are you feeling better?

I am. You and Arthur… He snorted when Andine and Slippy jumped along the counter to sniff the food. And these guys too. You remind me why I’m a guardian in the first place.

“You’ll fly again soon,” Bryant said out loud.

“Of course you will.” Arthur put a plate of hot tortillas and butter in front of them. “But until then, have some.”

“Oh, I will.” He slathered on butter and then stuffed his mouth. “And are you going to make churros?”