Page 26 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

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.”

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