Page 35 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“Me too. I made the pancakes earlier.”

“Yums. Hungwy.”

“Does your dad know you’re hungry?”

“He’s sweeping.”

“Is he? I bet he’s very tired.” Or a clean freak, Bryant wasn’t one hundred percent sure.

“Uh-huh. Cereal?”

“Sure, kiddo. I know there is some.” He rose, cradling Grant, who was a pretty big boy, but that was okay. He was strong. He could do this. “You like milk?”

“Uh-huh. And naners.”

“Hmmm. I’ll see if there are any of those.” He stepped over a wolf who was stretched out on the floor.

“Tha’s Bumper.”

“That’s a great name for a wolf. Does he live with you?” Lord, it was dark.

“Uh-huh. He’s Da’s.”

“That’s cool.”

“You got one?” Grant asked.

“A wolf? No.” He’d never had a companion as an adult. Not like Lachlan did.

“You got a fuzzy snake? Lars has a fuzzy snake.”

“A fuzzy… Oh! A ferret. Lars has a ferret.” Though a feathered serpent would be a super cool familiar…

“Fay-wet?”

He nodded to the little boy. “Yes. A ferret.”

Grant leaned down, forehead against his, eyes staring into his. “Hungwy.”

“Cereal and banana.”

Grant smiled. “Pwease. Pwease, Uncle.”

“You got it.” They headed to the kitchen, both of them humming. This little guy was a force of nature. He could tell.

Grant watched him carefully, gaze sharp as a knife as he made the little one a small bowl of cereal with bananas.

“Are you excited about the babies?”

“I like babies. I have sister.”

It was a little weird, honestly, having a conversation with a three-year-old. “You do. Sisters and brothers are fun. I have a brother.”

“Uh-huh.” Grant nodded at him, so serious. “My ammu likes babies.”

“Who?” He was so confused.

“My ammu.”

---