Page 69 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate
Logan arched an eyebrow at him. “Think about it.”
“He’s the one who wants me to meet him.” It was a weak, weak argument, but it was the one he was going to use.
“Yes. He wants you to meet him. Don’t be a dick. They’re already living there. Look, you don’t trust them. They’re living with your brother and your pregnant mate already, and you’re not even there. So walk me through the logic here.”
“I want Lars to respect me enough to understand that I don’t want to keep this keeper,” Bryant snarled. He was tired of this shit.
“All right. What does Lars want?”
Bryant shrugged, aggravated as hell. “I don’t know. Someone to take care of things around here so that he doesn’t have to?”
Logan’s eyebrow lifted, and the air seemed to get incredibly warm even for him. “I would walk carefully, friend. I’ll put up with a lot. Not this. You are not allowed to disrespect my family.”
Bryant sighed and rubbed his forehead, suddenly ashamed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know how hard Lars works. I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I can trust another Keeper. I’ll never sleep again.”
“All right. And again, I’m asking how are you dealing with the fact that you have two Keepers with your brother and your pregnant mate without you? What is it you’re really worried about? Because you’re sleeping now. What is it that you’re actually scared of? Because if it was them hurting Lars or Lachlan, your ass would be stalking that castle and we both know it.”
Bryant sighed, shook his head. “I don’t want to have to kill anybody else. I don’t want to have to commit murder. It was justified, and I didn’t have a choice, and I know it. But it doesn’t matter. I still don’t want to do it ever again.”
“All right, that’s fair.” Logan held his gaze, and now it felt as if he was coming to Bryant as a friend. “So what you’re saying is you don’t trust yourself?”
“What if I was wrong? What if I misread the situation? What if?—”
Logan waved his hand. “You’re heading back into that stupid area again. The bitch was killing your brother. She didn’t stop, and she paid the price for it. She would have paid the price regardless. She would have been jailed, her magic would have been taken from her, and she would have rotted in a cell. Now. Quit flagellating yourself over something that’s done. You rescued your twin. Now you need to go rescue your relationship. Lars adores Lachlan, but he wants to be with you.” Logan leaned forward, cradling Andine. “He needs to be with you, and you’re missing the pregnancy. You’re never going to get a first pregnancy ever again. The next time you do it, there’ll be other babies. You’re wasting time.”
“I kind of hate you.”
Logan shrugged. “I get that a lot. You’d think it would bother me, but no, not really.”
“I know. That’s why you’re the gold dragon. Hell, that’s why Lachlan is the platinum dragon. He used to be just like you. But he’s cracked.”
“So let him choose what he wants. He seems to be doing fine. Jarrel likes this guy, by the way.”
“He never did like…her.”
Andine chattered, coming to lean on his leg.
“Okay, okay, fine. I’ll go meet these twins and talk to my brother and my mate.” Andine tapped his foot. “Yes, and you can meet Slippy.”
“She’s adorbs. Want me to fly over with you?” Logan watched him carefully.
“No. No, I’m good. Unless Lars would like you to come.”
Logan chuckled. “He didn’t ask me to come talk to you. I did that on my own.”
“Okay. Well, I can dragon up and go do this by myself too.” He took a deep breath, then let it out. “I love him. Lars, I mean. So much. You know that, right?”
“I do. But fear and shame can make us do crazy things.” Logan clapped him on the back. “He’s my brother, and you’re a good friend. I want you happy.”
“Me too.” Bryant chuckled. “I’m not sleeping, by the way. But because I miss him.”
“So, go get him, ruby dragon.”
“Thanks, Logan.” He nodded, then stepped out, holding out a hand for Andine. “Come on, little bit. Let’s go meetyourmate.”
Andine climbed up his arm to sit on his neck, and she clung tight, even when he shifted.
He had a feeling she was going to be the best familiar ever.
