The Platinum Dragon’s Courageous Mate (Oro Escondido #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Silly Micah. What do you think you’re doing?

Kieran watched, wrinkling his nose as the baby thought about walking across the floor. It had been almost a year since he’d given birth, or at least he thought so. Micah was just beginning to walk and still shifted into his dragon form immediately if frightened.

Micah nodded, made a half-hearted cooing sound, but that was all.

He tried not to let it bother him that Micah wasn’t communicating anymore. He did understand. There had been a lot of trauma and a lot of fear, and Micah was trying to thrive. He just didn’t seem to be able to get there.

And that broke Kieran’s heart.

But he did feel as though they were in a safe place now, at least, and Kieran was trying as well. Maybe they just weren’t very good at being in the moment.

He was in such big trouble if he ever left this place.

He hadn’t known who Gareth was when he got pregnant.

It had been a dalliance. They’d both been in college, and he’d been learning to be a teacher.

Gareth had been studying music. Everything had been normal and easy, just a simple affair.

Until it wasn’t that anymore. The last couple of years hadn’t been simple or good or anything near all that.

But then he felt like there had been sort of a rescue, and now he was tucked away in this place called Oro Escondido, where things seemed allowed to be easy, at least. If he let himself trust it; he wasn’t sure he could.

A soft knock came to the door. “Kieran, it’s me. I’m just here to bring you some wool and to say hi to the baby.”

Lachlan was sweet, dear, and Kieran wasn’t scared of him at all.

In fact, it was one of his favorite times of the day — when Lachlan came in to say hello. He always brought something — a teacup, yarn, new knitting needles, or a pattern he’d found.

This was the most wonderful set of rooms — there was a bedroom, a smaller room for Micah, a sitting room, and a lovely bathroom. Lachlan had even arranged a little kitchenette for him.

And he wasn’t a prisoner here.

He only had to step outside the door, but he just couldn’t bear it, so he sat there and smiled, offering Lachlan a wave. “Hey, come on in.”

“How’s it going? I see Micah is trying to walk.” At his nod, Lachlan smiled. “The twins are going to come over soon, both sets. The boys are the same age as Micah. If you want, I can bring them in for a visit?”

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s probably good for the baby, but I don’t know if he’s ready.” I don’t know if I’m ready. “I made you a sweater.” He held it up. “It has places for your wings. You can just button it up behind.”

He thought it was important that he wasn’t trying to cover any part of Lachlan.

The dragon was fascinating.

Apparently, he could change into a dragon fully and be fine, but in his human form, he was very, very, very dragon.

His face looked human but for the scales that lined his cheeks.

And his eyes, which glowed with dragon fire in multitudes of color.

But the wings and the slight show of horns in his shaggy hair and his faceted scales made it impossible for him to hide.

Definitely not someone one could take out in public outside of the wing village of Oro Escondido without being him being noticed.

“Oh wow, thank you.” Lachlan took the sweater from him and stared at it like it was something amazing and miraculous. “I can’t believe you made this; it’s beautiful.”

Kieran’s cheeks flushed some, and he glanced down at the floor.

“Thanks. I had a really good time making the pattern.” He’d had to adjust it from a costume, but it really worked.

“I hope you like the colors.” He’d made it in deep reds and blues and greens, showing off Lachlan’s platinum scales in a most amazing way. It was stunning.

“Can I try it on?”

“Of course. It’s yours. I’ll have to button it in the back, and then you can just slip it on and off at will.”

He went to Lachlan, carefully buttoning up the buttons and then adjusting the back, touching the huge dragon as little as possible.

He wasn’t sure if touch hurt, and he would hate to cause harm.

“It’s amazing.” Lachlan turned in a circle, then lifted Micah up to snuggle him.

The sweater did fit beautifully, and Lachlan looked so comfortable. His wings stayed out, but the rest of him was snug as a bug.

“It’s perfect.” Lachlan smiled at him over the top of Micah’s bright copper curls. “How can I thank you?”

Kieran rolled his eyes. “Are you serious? You gave me a home. I’ve been here for almost a year. You don’t ask me to leave my rooms. You come in and play cards. I have a television. The baby has a room. I have a little kitchen. There’s not enough sweaters in the world to thank you.”

Lachlan chuckled, “Well, I guess we can just be a mutual admiration society. I’m glad you’re here. I mean, not that I think you have to be here, I’m not keeping you here, but I am very glad you’re here. You and Micah.”

He thought Lachlan might just be babbling a little bit, which was interesting and also wickedly attractive if he admitted it. He didn’t know if he should admit it because he wasn’t in a space for that, was he? Lachlan was gentle and kind and huge and protective and just all around amazing.

He wouldn’t be a creature with feelings if he didn’t admire Lachlan at all.

“And any time you want to come out to the main house and hang out, you’re welcome. Baby steps.”

“I know. I do, but this feels safe. There’s only the window, and it doesn’t look out on anything where other people can see in. I feel protected here. I don’t think I could fit in anywhere else.”

“I understand.”

Lachlan’s expression was kind and knowing, all at the same time.

This was the first time they’d discussed it, and something had to have happened. Something magical and traumatic, otherwise Lachlan wouldn’t have looked the way he did.

“I hope I’m not being too forward. I would hate to do that to you. I just wanted you to know that I understand how hard it is to trust again.”

Kieran nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. “I hate that I wear his scars. I didn’t even know his name.” He’d been injured. Used as bait. Accused of terrible crimes against his wing. And for someone he’d never even met by some dragon who just wanted revenge against Lachlan.

“You didn’t know him?”

Kieran shook his head and said, “No. No, I didn’t know him, and he didn’t know me or Micah, but that didn’t mean anything, did it?”

Lachlan sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t suppose it did, and I’m sorry you were hurt, but I am glad you are here rather than somewhere else.

For what it’s worth.” Lachlan smiled at him.

“And I do love the sweater.” Lachlan picked up the bag that he’d set down when he’d come in and held it out.

“Some yarn for you. I didn’t know what you might like to do with it, but it matches your eyes. ”

His cheeks heated, and he peeked in the bag. The yarn was utterly lovely, a beautiful alpaca, hand-painted with deep greens and golds and a little hints of copper running through it. “It’s stunning.”

“I’m glad you think so. My friend had it specially brought in.”

“Your friend?”

Lachlan beamed. “Yes, Amber. From the bookstore. She loves to find presents.”

“Have you told people about me?”

“Bah.” Lachlan winked at him. “I’m a busybody.

I’ve told everyone about you. Like I said, if you’d like to meet the twins, I can bring them in, or I can take Micah out into the hallway even.

You can see him through the door. We’ll leave it open.

He can meet the children. It’s hard to be all alone. I can’t imagine it.”

No, he didn’t imagine so. Lachlan had a twin, a twin with a baby almost exactly the same age as Micah. Kaden. They were a happy little family.

Happy and normal, and Kieran thought the stories Lachlan told about them made them sound amazing. He couldn’t decide if he was jealous, or if he desperately wanted to meet them, just to prove no one was that perfect.

He couldn’t really figure it out a hundred percent, but it didn’t matter because he wasn’t ready. “Maybe someday soon, but not today.”

“Of course.” Lachlan just gave him a gentle smile and then reached out to touch his cheek, fingers gentle. “I won’t push. Is there anything you’d like me to bring you to eat? There’s always some kind of amazing food being made here at the house. I think today we have carrot cake.”

“Doesn’t sound like it should be yummy, does it? Who thinks about cake and thinks, “Oh carrots”? But I have to admit, it’s so good.”

“Right? I would love to bring you a piece. Maybe come back in a while and eat with you and have a cup of decaf?” Lachlan appeared so hopeful that Kieran really couldn’t say no. He just couldn’t bear it. He felt as if disappointing Lachlan might cause him physical pain.

“I would like that.”

“I’ll be back in a bit. Just hang on, and I’ll bring good cake.”

With that, Lachlan left him, and he felt like he could take a deep breath for a change. Which was funny because it was only since Lachlan had walked into his rooms that he felt like he could draw a full one.

There was something about that big platinum dragon that just sucked all the oxygen out of the space but then put it into his lungs. Which made no sense.

He turned back to Micah, who Lachlan had sat back down on the floor before he left. “Come on, sweet one, let’s get you changed and bathed and everything. That way when he comes back for coffee and dessert, I have all the time in the world.”