Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Kieran brought the baby monitor down with him, and he walked into the kitchen trying not to feel like an imposter.
It was damn near impossible, but he needed to try.
He wanted to make Lachlan cookies.
Alban was already in the kitchen, pouring water from the kettle, and when he walked in, he got a happy smile. “Hello, Kieran. Do you need anything?”
“No, I was going to make cookies. Is the kitchen open?”
“Of course. I was just making myself a cup of tea. Would you like one?”
“I would, thanks.” Tea sounded perfect.
“Milk or lemon?”
“I think milk today. Thank you. Two sugars. Do you mind if I just explore?”
“Of course not. It’s our home, yes?” Albin beamed at him, got out another mug, but didn’t ask any questions or even really watch him. He just made tea.
Our home. That sounded so wonderful. Sharing Lachlan’s home. Being free to roam. It was at once terrifying and freeing. He wanted it so badly. Not only did he want to please Lachlan, he wanted to feel brave.
To be brave.
He owed that to Lachlan, to Micah. To himself.
He opened cabinets, finding all the ways Alban stored things. He felt certain Lachlan had nothing to do with the organization.
“Do we have chocolate chips and pecans?”
Alban nodded. “We do. We have many different kinds of chips, but he likes these.”
Sure enough, in the pantry there they were, marked “chocolate chips,” and there were many, many different kinds and nuts of all different sorts.
“This looks delicious and wonderful. I promise not to make a mess.”
“Messes get cleaned up.” Alban didn’t seem worried at all, in fact. “Would you like company, or would you like me to leave? Either way is fine.”
“I would love company. I just wanted to surprise him. Where is he, by the way?”
“He’s doing his route. He traded with Bea today. She wanted to have a date with Mickey.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“Yes, so he’ll be home this evening for dinner and all night.”
Kieran smiled and shook his mind. “Yeah, it’s funny. I never felt unsafe in this house at night, even if he wasn’t here.”
“This is a great wing. It’s very safe, well-protected—”
Kieran’s eyebrows rose. “Yes, I know. I felt what it was like trying to get through the wards.”
“Well, to be fair, if you’re not being thrown at the walls by an evil assassin, you just kind of get a little tingle and decide that you want to go the other way.” Alban’s voice was so dry it made him chuckle.
“Point taken.”
He rolled his eyes and he and Alban laughed together like the situation was funny.
Finally, Alban sat and started making lists, and Kieran got started making cookies.
The entire rhythm of baking was very comforting. The creaming of the butter and sugar. The brown sugary smell, even the crack of the eggs. It was amazing.
Kieran found himself relaxing into the sensations, telling jokes with Alban as he scooped out dough balls.
At some point around the third tray of cookies, he heard Micah burbling, and Alban smiled at him. “Can I go up and get him and bring him down?”
He had to grin. Alban looked so eager to help, to see Micah. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all. There’s a beautiful sunbeam he can sit in.” Alban bustled off, feathers casting the most fascinating shadows.
He pulled out another tray, thinking about how excited Lachlan would be. I’m making you cookies. You have an amazing kitchen.
Lachlan’s pleasure hit him, sliding down his spine to settle in his balls.
That’s exciting. I’ll be home soon, and I’m totally thinking happy cookie thoughts now.
Happy cookie thoughts. He liked that.
Would you like me to bring you something for supper? Lars and Bryant are going to eat at the restaurant. I could have him bring crunchy fried things. We could share them.
That sounds perfect. He didn’t know if he would ever be ready to leave the wing.
Love, I can’t leave the wing. Remember, we can be here together.
Together was quickly becoming one of his favorite words. While it made him sad that Lachlan was stuck in the wing, it also seemed like it was fate, the two of them did have so much in common and they could make a good life while supporting each other.
And this wing — he had quite a bit to explore.
Hell, he had this entire house to wander through still.
Not long after that he heard the whomp of big wings and the sound of a dragon landing outside. He knew it was Lachlan because he would know that sound anywhere by now. It wasn’t a threat. It meant home and safety.
It meant Micah would be awake soon too. Lachlan adored the baby, and his son thought Lachlan existed simply for him.
It was so lovely to see, and it gave him such hope for the future. He loved how Lachlan adored Micah without reservation. It didn’t matter a bit that he wasn’t Lachlan’s own son.
He headed for the kitchen window, smiling at the sight of the huge, beautiful platinum dragon.
The wing is quite safe, love, Lachlan told him.
You’re my haven, mate. He knew he was safe with his guardian dragon. So was his son.
I am glad. I’ll be right in. Lachlan spread his wings once more as if shaking off the sky, then began to shrink to his mostly human form.
Kieran hummed, his body responding, his soul heating with a sudden need. It was a bit surprising, but very welcome. He was tired of shrinking himself. Tired of hiding.
He was ready to move on. With Lachlan.
Lachlan came in, wrapped in a dark blue fuzzy robe, walking right to him. “The cookies smell good, mate.”
“I’m glad.” All Kieran could smell now was Lachlan. He smelled like wind and lightning and the desert.
“I want to kiss you.” That was direct, and those silvery eyes shone at him.
“I’m ready.” He smiled, opening his arms.
Lachlan came right to him, pulling him close and bending to take his lips in a deep, firm kiss.
For a first kiss, it was remarkably comfortable — heated, passionate, but not awkward, and tingles moved through his entire body. He loved how Lachlan held him as if he was precious, but didn’t shy away from really loving on him.
Lachlan didn’t push him, but they did share a long, lazy set of kisses before Lachlan rested their foreheads together. “Hello, mate.”
“Hello.” He stroked Lachlan’s cheek. “So all the patrolling and such went well?”
“All is well. The wards are good. The sun is shining. There are cookies at home.”
“Mmmhmm.” Kieran kept petting Lachlan because he couldn’t help it.
“And my mate is at home. And my Micah.”
“Yes, Lachlan. We are.” And he was so happy. “Cookies?”
“Please.” Lachlan dropped one more kiss on his nose before moving to the kitchen, holding his hand.
It felt…lovely, as if he belonged here with Lachlan,
“You do, you know. I knew it when I met you. You were meant to be here with me. This is your wing.”
“Do you think so? I was sort of thrown at you all.” Literally.
“I was waiting for you, love.” Lachlan found the cookies, making happy noises as he lifted the cake cover over the plate. “Cooookies!”
The happy roar made Kieran grin. He stole one from under Lachlan’s fingers, popping it into his mouth.
“No fair!” Lachlan grabbed three, and then gobbled them down.
He couldn’t stop his laughter, the sound filling the air. His mate was…a joy.
Lachlan kissed him again, cookie crumbs sweet on their lips. Then he grabbed a cup and made himself a coffee.
It was so normal. So amazing. So right.
“So what is your plan today, Kieran?” Lachlan asked.
“Making cookies and being with you.” Hopefully that was good enough for Lachlan.
“Perfect. Would you like to snuggle on the couch with cookies and coffee and mainline some silly show?”
“That sounds nice. Micah will wake up soon. He took a long nap.”
“He can play on the blanket while we cuddle, hmm?”
“He can.” He had many watchers to keep him safe.
Kieran understood that on a bone-deep level. They both had many friends here.
They had just topped off coffee with cream when he could hear Micah both in his head and on the baby monitor. “You take the cookies. I’ll get the baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. I’ll be down in a few.” He wanted to get Micah changed and ready to see his Lachlan.
“I’ll be ready.” Lachlan gave him a soft smile.
His heart was beating hard, and he almost flew up the stairs to his son.
Micah was calling for him, his baby boy happy and joyous, and Kieran picked him up, checking his diaper automatically.
“Okay, bud. Let’s get you changed, and then you can eat and we can play on the blanket.”
Micah waved to him, blowing bubbles and wiggling hard. Micah was getting heavy, finally, solid in his arms.
He was so proud. His boy was thriving, and Kieran had never been so pleased. Less worried.
Micah was going to be raised in this wing, surrounded by love and joy and guardians.
“Mmm. Cookie?” Lachlan held one to his lips as soon as he walked back into the kitchen.
He opened right up, and Micah’s eyes went wide.
“OOK! OOK!”
Lachlan’s chuckles were warm, happy, and sweet as the cookie. “Do you need a cookie too? I have one, right here.”
Micah bounced and reached so hard Kieran almost lost his grip. “Oh, someone wants that.”
“I can tell.” Lachlan broke off a tiny piece of cookie for Micah to gnaw on.
“Did you hear him say ‘cookie’?”
“I did. You realize now that he’s starting to talk, you’re never going to have a moment’s peace.”
“It’s okay. Let’s be honest, I was a little worried he wasn’t ever going to catch up, and you were right—having other little ones to play with made a difference.”
Lachlan bumped shoulders with him very gently. “We’re not meant to be alone. I’m glad you’re not alone. I’m thrilled you’re with me.”
Kieran couldn’t stop his grin. This was ridiculous, how happy he was, but he was, and he felt as if he could be down here out of his rooms and it was not just safe— it was home.
Lachlan fed him and Micah both more cookies, then munched half the plate of them himself before they went to settle in the family room, sinking into the big couch while Micah had a bottle.
It was, he thought, the perfect way to spend the day.
He thought that he might have to do it again tomorrow.