Page 10 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“I know. I do, I’m just so ashamed. I hate that I had to hurt him. I hate that I couldn’t trust him.” And that was that, he supposed.

He hadn’t felt like he could trust Lars.

“Why couldn’t you trust him?” Lachlan munched a fry. “I mean, you really liked him when you were out here before.”

“I know.” Bryant sighed. “But this is about you, not me. I didn’t want to tell him things about your situation. He’s chatty. Sometimes overly so.”

“So you were worried he’d scatter all my secrets about?”

“I mean, I guess?” Bryant felt the tension rising in his chest, his muscles tight. “Maybe?”

“Bryant, you are one of the most decisive people I know. So what the hell is it?” Lachlan stared at him, a tiny bit of ketchup on his chin.

“I don’t have time to mate bond. Especially with another guardian. When you were the guardian of another wing and I was mostly your corporate raider, it was fine. But if we’re going to be co-guardians.”

Scowling, Lachlan wiped his face, his wings moving in agitation. “So this really is about me. Just not about my secrets. You figure if you have to take care of me like some kind of overblown nanny you won’t have a place in your life for a mate or kids?”

“It’s not just that!” he snapped.

“Then tell me what it is! Because you’re never cruel, Bry, and you’re being cruel.”

“What?” He expected his brother to have his back. Just like he had Lachlan’s.

“Well, from what you told me, you pursued him when he would have just avoided you. You gave him expectations. You kept in touch when you left. But when you decided to come back, you figured out you couldn’t trust him?”

“It’s not that simple!” Damn it. He just wanted to have his lunch, not bare his soul. No one in the damn wing seemed to know that Lars was an omega. It had been a harmless flirtation as far as most people had thought when he’d been there before, but if he kept it up when he came back, then it was like shining a spotlight on Lars.

Between that, his brother, his own shit, which he hadn’t even talked to Lach about, it was just not the time.

Right?

Because there was something in the water here, Bryant thought. Babies popped up like daisies all over the damn place.

And he was so not ready for that.

Lach took a bite of his burger, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. “So explain it to me. You came to me to talk. So talk.”

“I’m not sure I can. I just wanted some advice on how to make it up to Lars.”

“You know how crazy that sounds.” Lach shook his head. “You want to make nice, but you don’t want to?”

“Dammit, Lach.”

“I really want you to think about what you want, man.” Lach blew out a breath. “And don’t think about me. I’ll be fine.”

“Really?” Now it was his turn to take a big bite before he spoke so he could think about what he wanted to say. He swallowed. “Why are you hiding, then?”

“I don’t have to be out and about. You do that part. I can still be a fine guardian.”

“Not if you never meet the wing.” He crossed his arms over his chest, giving up on the pretense that he was going to eat until they were done.

“So what, you want me to agree to come to a cookout so you can agree to make nice with your mate?” Lachlan slapped his hand down on the desk, making his lynx jump. “You’re so full of shit. And a coward.”

“This is getting us nowhere.” He rose, grabbing his food.

“You came to me.” Lach could be incredibly stubborn on a point sometimes.

“I did. And I value your opinion. But when it comes to this, you know dick all. I can’t mate with Lars.”

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