Page 36 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“Samuel is Grant’s ammu. Get it? Sam-u-el?” Lars appeared like a jack-in-the-box.

“Yes, I understand.” He nodded, feeling a little stupid. “Hi, Lars.”

“Hey.” Lars beamed at him, leaning down to help little Grant up to what was obviously the children’s table.

“Are the babies beautiful?” They couldn’t be as amazing as Lars, but they were his nephews.

“They are. Everyone’s sleeping. I had laid down for a few minutes, and then I heard the sweet, babbly thoughts of my happy little Grant.”

“That’s me.” Grant beamed at Lars.

Lars nodded, so easy with the little dragon. “It is you. You are my very favorite Grant.” Lars stole a piece of banana. “These are yummy.”

Grant scowled for a second, then he relaxed, the storm passing. “Yes, yummy. My naners are so yummy.”

“Well, thank you very much for letting me have one. I appreciate it.” Lars bowed dramatically, and the little boy cracked up.

He’s trying very hard to learn things, to be the eldest.

He’s the one whose mothers died?

He is.Lars sighed, nodding just barely.His uncle Jake inherited him, and then his uncle Samuel came to help out. And then they mated. Jake and Samuel, that is, not the baby.

Oh good.He rolled his eyes.That could have been awkward.

I know, right? So weird.

Bryant nodded. He felt as if maybe they had raised in esteem of the rest of the wing today by coming to help, which, weirdly enough, was not even his point. He wasn’t trying to get his place solidified. He was trying to help. He just wanted to help.

Don’t stress it, you did just fine. Everyone was glad for the assistance.

Good. I’m so glad to beableto be of assistance. It makes me feel useful. There’s only so much online wheeling and dealing a guy can do before he starts to feel adrift.

Lars winked.Logan says the same thing.

“You’s talking in your heads? Like Das?” Grant asked.

“Something like that,” Lars murmured.

“You want some cereal, Lars?” Bryant asked, changing the subject.

“No, thank you. I think I need a cup of coffee as big as my head and possibly a banana. How about you?” Lars offered him a smile. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Oh, yes please.”

Lars started playing around with the incredibly fancy espresso machine, singing softly under his breath as he did.

As soon as Lars unpeeled the banana, the little ferret was right there making grabby hands. Lars handed his familiar, who had rethought staying home he figured, a good chunk of the banana. “Here you go, Slippy.”

Grant waved to the ferret, and to Bryant’s utter shock, the ferret just waved back.

Okay, that was new and different, but incredibly cool.

“Slippy likes kids,” Lars said. “I mean, I know you’ve met him a couple of times, but he really is very fond of children. So quick. So smart.”

“He has a very intelligent face,” Bryant admitted. “I mean, seriously, he’s kind of adorable.”

“Yes, he’s also kind of bitey if you make him mad. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen very often.”

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