Page 9 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

“Come on,” Lachlan called.

“Thanks.” He walked into the dark room. “I brought supper.”

“Yeah?” Lach sat back from his desk, the smile on his face pulling the scars a little, his wings casting a shadow across the floor. “The hamburger place here decent?”

“Better than that. It’s really good. I got the green chile on the side.”

Lachlan scoffed. “Probably a good idea. I’m not used to the fire yet.”

“Right?” He grinned, grateful that his brother was feeling good today. “You got a minute to chat?”

“For you? Always.” Lachlan waved him to a chair.

“Cool. Thanks.” He sat, pulling out food to hand over. Fries for Lach, onion rings for him. Double bacon cheese for his brother, mushroom Swiss for him.

They opened ranch and ketchup and shit, and settled in to eat, Lachlan’s familiar, a Canadian lynx named Jarrel, stood and stretched, huge paws spreading, then stalked over to beg a fry. He loved salty shit.

“So what’s up, bro,” his brother asked.

“I think I fucked up, man.” He dipped an onion ring in ranch. “I was trying to make nice with the younger McCallum guardian…”

“Lars?” One of Lach’s eyebrows arched, the scales glistening. “You know you don’t have to pretend that you weren’t?—”

“Yes. Lars. He buried the hatchet to buy me a coffee, and then I stepped in it, hard.”

“I wondered why my training was suddenly with Bea.” Lach studied him, his eyes a mix of silver and gold that befitted a platinum guardian. “What did you do?”

“I just mentioned that I worked for a living.” He sighed, readjusting his bun. “What I meant was that I ran a bunch of businesses, but it came out wrong. I’m so embarrassed by how I treated him that I’m being an asshole. It’s ridiculous. I’m a better man than that.”

“Huh.” Lach grinned at him, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, which stayed watchful. “I mean, you’re supposed to be the diplomatic one.”

“I know!” He shrugged, focusing on his food. “And I feel like a total dick. I didn’t mean to imply he didn’t have a job. You and I both know a guardian has a full-time commitment. But I meant I worked in the corporate world as well, not just for the wing. It just came out like a giant insult.” And he knew that it didn’t have anything to do with careers.

“Did you apologize?”

“No. He just left. And apparently, he’s been, uh, hiding at home since. I got an earful from Logan.”

Lach stared at him. “Not good, Bry.”

“I know.”

“You have to apologize. He deserves it. I—is he that untrustworthy?”

He nodded, shook his head, shrugged. “I don’t know! He knows everyone. He talks to everyone. Everyone talks to him. I couldn’t risk you. You know that. I needed to make sure you were safe first.”

“I’m not—You know I appreciate you, but…maybe you should take him to lunch? Explain?”

“Well, I know your standing order. I don’t know his anymore.”

“It’s been two years, not a century. You know.” Lach rolled his eyes. “And if it’s changed, I think you should find out. I mean, you make a mean custard tart. Maybe you ought to take him something like that.”

“No way am I going to admit to him that I bake.” That was Lars thing, baking. He didn’t want to admit that he hadn’t been as clueless as he’d pretended when he was in seduction mode. “Besides, the situation has changed. He’s not available. I don’t shit where I eat.”

“Crass!” Lach rebuked.

“Okay, I don’t sleep with co-guardians. Fair?”

“Yes.” Lachlan sighed, his wings fluttering. “But still, we do have to work with him. We must find a balance, hmm?”

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