Page 82 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

Dakota held up one finger. “No, we don’t. Not only no, but fuck no. There are no more. Zero. Zip. None. Absolutely under no circumstance. No more. Do you know how many children four is? Four!” His eyebrows raised. “Do you know how many children two sets of twins is? At least eighty.”

“All right then. I think that during adoring-the-pregnant-person time at my house, we should be child-free.”

“I think this is a fabulous idea. I think personally—” Samuel smiled at over at Bryant, eyes twinkling. “—that Bryant and Jake and Logan could have Daddy time altogether. Bryant could practice. It would be a beautiful idea.”

Lars nodded. “I like it.”

“I like this a lot.” Mickey came and sat. “Do I get to play too? Do I get to join in this whole let the alphas have the baby’s thing?”

“Absolutely new rule. I think once a week there should be alpha daddy time and Bea, of course.” Lars couldn’t stop giggling. “Alpha daddy and Bea.”

Bea grinned over at Lars, flexing her muscles. “I’m totally a daddy.”

They all cracked up, every single person, and the little boy twins began to cry. Then sure enough, Logan and Lachlan and Bryant actually all went over, which was handy because as soon as Lachlan made a move, Ari and Mari were leaping on him.

“Uncle!”

Well, that was impressive.

“My baby girls. How are you today?” Lachlan danced them in a circle, his wings fluttering at the tips, which made the girls squeal.

“Lachlan should definitely help the alphas out. He’s got a knack for it,” Mickey murmured.

Amber hooted. “He does. I can help too, even if Mari and I haven’t joined the club.” Mari was a beta, so she and Amber would have to adopt.

“Oh, we want you to help. Even if you bring Teaball,” Lars teased. That lizard bird loved Slippy. So he would never tell Amber she couldn’t bring him, even if she often left him at the bookshop to guard it. Since it sat outside the wards of Oro, on the main road, a little extra security was a good idea.

Bryant tilted his head. “Why don’t you guys have two birds,” he asked Mari.

She made a face. “I’m a beta, remember? I’m not sure I’ll get one.”

Lars shook his head, and Bryant let it drop, which was perfect. Mari could be a little sensitive about it. He thought once they decided on adopting, if they did, that Teaball’s mate would show up.

Maybe she would anyway… Or he. Lizard birds might be more like dragons.

“Anyway,” Amber said, “I’ll take someone’s little one and read them books.”

“Books are always good.” Lars looked around at all his stacks of books. “I want this little one to start early and read everything.”

“What about you, Bryan? Are you a reader?” Samuel asked.

All eyes turned to his mate, and Bryant chuckled. “I am. Mystery and suspense. And financial reports.”

“Ew. Finance.” Dakota shuddered. “I’m so glad you took a lot of that over from Logan.”

“It keeps me busy, and I can work from home.” They all heard a baby start to cry, and Bryant went immediately to help.

“That bodes well for you,” Dakota said, nodding toward Bryant.

“I think he’s amazing.” In fact, Bryant got more so to him every day. They were learning the reality about each other, not the surface level, and it was so much better than he’d imagined, even when Bryant had been charming him after they’d first met.

“Honey, he thinks you hung the moon,” Mari said.

“Well, I should hope so.” He winked. “Oh, this is so fun!” Yes. He was ready to lean on his wing again. It had been like he and Bryant were in a cocoon, but now they were ready to fly. Well, not literally.

But soon that too.

“Here. I brought you a dessert.” That was Jake, who was clearly checking in on Samuel. But he handed Lars a plate of little pastries.

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