Page 77 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“There is nothing wrong with laid-back where babies are concerned,” Lars said.

Bryant’s chuckle was wry. “You’ve met the girl twins.”

Arthur nodded. “And Grant.”

“Poor Grant; he’s misunderstood. He’s actually a really, really good baby. He just has frustration issues.” Lars knew it.

Bryant nodded. “I can see that. He and I went fishing with Jake, and it was hilarious. We’re trying to do ice fishing, and he zipped around the ice, bouncing everywhere. And then decided all of a sudden he was cold. He turned blue and started whistling the fish out of the water. Just whistling for them.”

“I’m surprised he went. Last time we talked about it, he had just learned that fish bite. And was telling all of us about it at the top of his lungs. Samuel should never have taught him about sharks.”

“Sharks?”

Lars nodded. “Sharks. Barracudas. Anglerfish.”

Bryant shook his head. “I guess that’s why Jake took him, so he wouldn’t be scared. He pulled a bunch of fish out of the lake, let them freeze on the ice, and then threw them back in the water.”

“Oh, lord. I bet Jake yelled.” Lars chuckled.

“Yes, and made us pull them all out of the lake. Waste not, want not.” Bryant chuckled. “But he’s a doll.”

“He so is.” Lars patted his belly. “I think a girl, but I think she’s conserving energy rather than lazy. I have a feeling her talent is going to be wild.”

“I bet.” Arthur pulled out a cloth-covered baking sheet, which turned out to be rolled balls of dough. He grabbed a tortilla press, then turned the stove on under the comal. Flour tortillas.

Lars almost drooled.

Bryant put his chin on his hand, elbow on the counter. “What kind, do you think?”

“Well, look at Grant,” Lars said, tilting his head. “No more breathing fire for the next generation. I think maybe as the world gets more dangerous, the magic gets more concentrated in places like Oro.”

“Mmmm. Maybe laser vision,” Arthur said.

“Oh, gods help us,” Bryant murmured, and he had to laugh.

“Maybe she’ll be like Jack-Jack in thoseIncrediblesmovies. Like have all the talents.”

“Dude, you two make me exhausted,” Bryant murmured.

“Just wait until she shows up.” Lars patted his belly. “Then we don’t sleep for weeks.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. But no twins for us.” Bryant winked, because he knew very well if they were to have twins, his mate would be ecstatic.

“Maybe not, but then again…” he teased. He wasn’t mad anymore, but Bryant had stopped him from going out. So he had to make him pay somehow.

“Yeah, yeah. So what are you making again, Arthur?”

Arthur launched into a description of stew and flour tortillas, all the while pressing out the dough and putting it on the comal.

“You have to try them hot with butter,” Lars told him. “I bet tomorrow we get beans to go with the leftovers.”

“They’re soaking now, and I’ll put them in overnight so we have them for breakfast,” Arthur said.

He laughed when Bryant wrinkled his nose. He accused them of being weird for eating beans for breakfast, but Arthur always said people had been doing it for centuries.

“I can’t wait.” He made nummy noises.

“Weirdos,” Bryant groused.

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