Page 9 of The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate (Oro Escondido #3)

Chapter

Nine

L ars sat on the huge sofa, cutting three slabs of cake. “Do you want ice cream or spray cream, Lachlan?”

“Can I have both?” Lachlan was more than willing to laugh and be social, once he relaxed and stopped stressing things like permanent wings and wonky magic.

“Sure. You provided both.” The soup and bread had gone over well, and the heavy weighted blanket seemed to really help, so hopefully the cake would too.

You are magical. Bryant watched him like a hawk. That blanket is ? —

I know. I had one made for Grant. Samuel’s son? He has trouble controlling his magic. It lets him sleep easy, even when his body is trying to teleport. Sometimes, he had good ideas. Lots of times, even. His job in the wing was to protect the hearts of their dragons.

That was why when he’d felt Bryant’s honest fear, he hadn’t been able to deny it.

He would have come to their aid, no matter what, but this was Bryant.

His Bryant.

And no matter what the big, dense asshole said, he was Lars’s Bryant.

Bryant took the plate of cake he handed over after he gave Lachlan his, and he immediately had to lick his fingers as he got cream all over them.

Lars had to stare. Had to. That was so hot.

“Uh, sorry.” Bryant rolled his eyes, and Lars shook his head.

“No, that’s cool. Do you need a napkin? A paper towel?” Did they have napkins? They sort of seemed like the people who would have napkins.

He had napkins, but not fancy ones. They were just cotton. He just liked to think that he was being ecologically sound by using them. Lachlan and Bryant could possibly be fancy napkin kinds. Or maybe high-tech gadget kinds where you stuck your hands in a tube and they came out sparkling clean.

Now you’re just being silly. Bryant winked. Of course I have napkins. They’re red because those are the ones from when we left our wing. Our mom gave them to us.

Oh, is your mom still alive? That’s cool. How about your dad or your other mother or whoever?

Dad. He is also fine. He is a retired guardian at our old wing. I understand your parents are gone.

He nodded, he didn’t want to talk about them, but— Yes, both of them .

Logan and he had decided when they lost their parents that it wasn’t going to happen to anyone else in their wing, and Jason was fully in agreement with that.

Lars couldn’t really believe that Jason was retired, was off with their grandbabies, traveling and doing normal person things.

He’s coming back, though, to live, right?

Of course. He will always have a home here. His children left because this is a small town, and if you’re not into small-town living, then it’s a hard thing.

I think I’ll like it. Once people get to know me.

Lachlan rolled his eyes. “You do know you’re not talking out loud. I would love to be here.”

Bryant laughed, not seeming put out at all. “Sorry, bro.”

“Yes. That’s rude. I’m sorry. I was wondering about napkins.”

“Hunting board. End drawer. They’re not ironed, but they’re folded.” Lachlan winked at him, obviously playing.

“Hey, I don’t iron my napkins, even.”

“Yes, but I know for a fact Simon irons Logan’s,” Bryant teased.

“True, but I don’t have a housekeeper, although, truly, with two guardians in one place, you two should honestly have one.” Lars didn’t know how that could possibly happen.

Lachlan shrugged. “One will appear when we need them. Maybe two. You never know.”

“Have you met Jake and Samuel’s Celeste? She’s stunning, and she makes amazing cinnamon rolls.”

“I haven’t.” Lachlan grinned. “I’m not sure about Bry.”

“Hmm. Samuel hasn’t been my biggest fan, and Jake is staying out of it.” Bryant winked. “I think he’s deep in the baby love.”

“Of course he is. They’re both amazing.” Lars shrugged. “Samuel is my best friend. So…he’s got opinions about things.”

That was fair, right? He thought it seemed fair.

“Doesn’t Jake have the baby that can teleport?”

Lars nodded. “He’s going to have to really work on controlling it, because what if he teleports somewhere dangerous? We’re all working on it. Samuel’s really very good at keeping him grounded, and he loves his baby sister to the ends of the earth.”

It’s totally fair by the way, Bryant told him. I was just saying, that was why I hadn’t popped over for supper or something . Bryant winked.

Well, that seems…reasonable, yes. Silly man. Was he teasing? Should he be teasing? He probably shouldn’t be teasing.

“So, Lars, what’s your favorite part of living in Oro?” Lachlan asked, his chin on his hand.

“The babies. The schools. The community. I love this place and the joy here. This is a good place, a safe one, and we work hard to keep it so.”

“It’s your job, yes? Dealing with the schools?”

“Yes. I volunteered for that one. Logan finds it frustrating, and Bea scares the teachers with her growl. Jake is a natural for the human relations that happen out on the highway.”

Him?

He loved babies. He loved kids. And he adored the teachers. Seriously, it was the happiest place, listening to the little ones reading and singing and laughing.

“What about you, Lachlan?” Lars asked in turn. “What do you want to do here?”

“I’m happy to be the new Jason. Ish. The business of the wing. Behind the scenes. Making sure we have all we need.”

Bryant was nodding, and he got it. These two were wheeler dealers.

“You’re like Logan. He’s an amazing businessman and an organizer.” Lars chuckled softly, shook his head. “He’ll have to be with new babies coming.”

The midwife said twins; Lars was betting on triplets. Regardless, they were going to be busy. Ari and Mari were fierce—both alphas, both wild, both willful.

“Dakota thinks more multiples?” Bryant asked. He looked a little tickled, really. He knew Bryant liked kids, but Lars wasn’t sure if that was in an abstract way, or a concrete one. Like, was it the idea or the reality of kids, which could be different.

“They say once someone has one set, it’s easier to have additional multiples. Still, it’s wild.”

“Will you be taking care of their older two while they’re in labor?”

“Oh yes. I will be Uncle Lars. They have cribs at my house. They’ll always be welcome with me, you know?”

Bryant beamed at him. “I remember that, from when you were sitting them as newborns.”

“I love them. They’re my first nieces.” He beamed. “And Grant and his sister are my next best sweetness.”

“That sounds amazing.” Lachlan looked wistful for a very short moment, then his smile came back full force.

Did he think he wouldn’t get to have a mate and babies?

He’s worried no one will want him as he is. He feels deformed, stuck between forms like he is. Bryant’s honesty honored him, because he knew his first instinct was to protect Lachlan.

There’s nothing wrong with him , Lars told Bryant fiercely. You can see how big his heart is in mere moments.

That’s what I tell him.

Lachlan licked his fork, then sat back, patting his belly. “Lars, that was the most amazing meal. Thank you so much for bringing it over.”

“You’re very welcome.” He smiled, ready to pack up and head out if that was what Lachlan needed.

“I think now, though, I am going to take my stunning new blanket and head back up to bed if you two don’t mind. Feel free to keep Bryant company for a bit. You won’t bother me at all.” Lachlan rose, looking much steadier than he had before, and grabbed his blanket.

“Call me if you need me, brother,” Bryant said.

His lynx, Jarrel, who hadn’t left his side all evening, rose and went with him.

Bryant sat and savored his cake, not wanting to let this moment end yet.

“Did you want another piece?” Lars asked him.

“Does that make me a piggie?”

“Oink? No, it makes you a dragon who I think must have run for miles today.”

Bryant flushed, but Lars knew he was right. Bryant had told him about the stress running. About how he liked the treadmill rather than running outside because it helped him think, gave him fewer things to make decisions about.

“Do I smell bad?” Bryant asked.

“No. You smell like soap. So I know you showered. But I also know how you deal with stress.”

“I used to call you.” Bryant said it matter-of-factly, and then he sighed. “I’m sorry. Did I say that?”

“You did.” He reached over to touch Bryant’s hand. “You can call me when you need to. Anytime. We can be friends, Bryant.”

“I want that, Lars. And I want to—” Bryant cut himself off. “You have no reason to believe anything I say. But I would love to explore other things. Slowly. Like you said. We could hurt each other.”

Lars sat back to cut another piece of cake, carefully slicing it and putting it on Bryant’s plate. Without dropping it. “Slowly. I can get behind that. So we’ll take it on advisement.”

Bryant grinned, grabbing the ice cream out of the bowl of ice it sat in and scooping up another serving. “I can live with that, Lars.” Then his eyes sparked ruby red for a moment, stealing Lars’s breath. “For now.”