Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Kieran couldn’t believe how awful Gareth looked.
That was probably a terribly unkind thought, but Gareth had always been so handsome and slick and smooth and suave.
He’d had he best of everything, after all.
The best money could buy. His family was wealthy and somewhat ruthless when it came to dealing with dragon politics.
Gareth had never really been a part of that as far as Kieran knew.
In fact, he had tended to rebel, hence having a relationship with Kieran and getting him pregnant.
But he had always adhered to a very strict code of appearance.
He looked thin and a little bit gray and pinched— very tired and unhappy.
“Gareth.” He inclined his head as if he was some sort of prince, but he had to start out like he meant to hold out.
“Kieran. I’m so glad to see you’re doing well. You look amazing.”
Thankfully, Gareth didn’t reach out for him. In fact he kept his hands firmly in his pockets, shifting from foot to foot, as if trying to decide what sort of stance he should be in.
“This is my mate, Lachlan. I think you’ve probably heard of him.”
Gareth nodded, seemingly completely unsurprised. “I have. Only recently, really. I mean, I just heard the whole story. I have to apologize to you both. I had no idea what was going on or what sort of pawn I was being used as. I feel horrible for what happened to you, Kieran.”
“You should. You deserted him. He almost died.” Lachlan’s growl vibrated through the air, the threat clear. “The baby almost died.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with it. When I found out, I left. I turned them in. I’m—I’m a traitor, I know it, but I would never have hurt you or our son.”
Kieran blinked. “Wait. You turned in who?”
“My family. When I found out what they’d done to you, Kieran.
That they’d accused you of something so bizarre, and then used you to hurt a guardian of another wing…
” Gareth shook his head, his expression changing, going anguished.
“It was too much. They could do what they wanted to me, but to my son? No. Even if knew I wasn’t fit to be a father, and that we weren’t mates… ”
“Why did they want to hurt Lachlan, though?” Kieran didn’t understand. “What did Lachlan do?”
Gareth shrugged one shoulder. “He killed my cousin.”
Lachlan blinked. “The hell I did. What cousin? I’ve only killed two dragons, and they were during the attack that did this to me. One was my house dragon.” He waved at his body and wings.
Gareth nodded, scrubbing his face with one hand. “My cousin. I had no idea. None. They were… they wanted to kill two birds with one stone. I didn’t know!”
Kieran glanced at Lachlan, who looked like a thundercloud. Kind of literally. “Can we all sit down?”
“In the front room. I’ll stay with Gareth if you want to get drinks.” Logan said.
Yes. No taking this man to the kitchen. To the heart of their home.
Lachlan seemed as if he was going to explode, so Kieran grabbed him by the arm, tugging hard. “Drinks. Come on.”
Lachlan followed him. “I didn’t kill his cousin,” he burst out as soon as they were in the other room.
“I know.” Kieran turned to put a hand on his chest. “I do.”
“So what does he want?”
“Mate, if he turned them in — for attacking you, for attacking me? He’s on the run.” Gareth had been…brave.
Lachlan’s mouth went tight. “Then he did the right thing.”
“He did.”
With a gusty sigh, Lachlan shook his head. “He can stay in the wing, but not with us.”
“That’s up to Logan, isn’t it? Not us?” Kieran didn’t want that pressure on him, that stress.
“I suppose it is. I’ll make sure to put in my thoughts however.” He got a rough smile, Lachlan trying for him at least. “I know I’m not being reasonable.”
“I don’t want you to be reasonable, love. I want you to be you. I want you to be my platinum guardian.”
Lachlan struck a thumb over his cheekbone. “And you’re my courageous mate. I’m so proud of you.”
“What should we take out there for drinks?”
“Arsenic?”
He whapped Lachlan on the arm. “Be serious.”
“Logan will want coffee. We also have iced tea we can take out.”
Kieran got a tray down and put coffee mugs on it so Lachlan filled a carafe with coffee and then pulled out milk so he could fill a little creamer.
Kieran added sugar and then a pitcher of iced tea and a couple of glasses.
It was all very civilized, and it made him want to scream and throw some shit across the room, but it was what it was.
“I’m not taking out sweets.” He pursed his lips. “I’m not evil, but I’m not hosting a party, right?”
Lachlan nodded. “Absolutely. If he needs food, which he looks like he does, we can get him fixed up once we know if he wants to stay in the wing.”
“Yes. Someone else can. He still… he deserted me.” Gareth had left him alone, pregnant, scared and unhappy. He’d given birth alone, in a hospital, with no one there who cared for him.
All of his friends had disappeared, all of his support — he’d been a worthless dragon who everyone thought was a gold digger.
“You were not! This is not your fault.” His mate was rumbly as hell.
“I feel like it.”
“Well, you should feel brave and amazing.”
Kieran squared his shoulders. “I should. For Micah if nothing else.”
“That’s my fine mate.” Lachlan gave him a kiss, and he added some crackers to the tray before they walked back out to find Logan looming and Gareth pacing. Neither of them had sat down.
“You should sit,” Kieran murmured. Once they were all arranged on couches and chairs, Kieran poured drinks.
“May I?” Logan asked.
Lachlan nodded at him.
“So, Gareth. Are you just here to apologize?”
“I—Yes? I mean, yes. Yes. I was banished. I did the right thing, but it didn’t matter, I went against my family, and I’ll pay that cost.” Gareth met Kieran’s eyes. “I came to say you’re safe now, and I’m so sorry.”
“What does that mean? I’m safe?”
“It means my family is out of power. They’ve been displaced. Some killed, some sent to remote keeps as a sort of prison sentence. And I was told not to come back…”
“Oh.” Goddess, how awful. “Lachlan…”
That is Logan’s call, mate. He’s the boss.
I know. I do. But I want to be a better dragon than his family.
I understand. And he could see it when Lachlan began to communicate silently with Logan.
Gareth shrugged and offered Kieran a half smile. “Is he beautiful, your son? What did you name him?”
“Micah. He’s perfect. He loves the world. It’s amazing.”
“I’m so glad. Your mate? He’s going to be a good father?”
“He is. He loves Micah so much already and he is so good with him.”
Gareth’s expression softened, his lips curving. “I’m glad to hear it. I had such worry.”
Kieran wanted to shout that Gareth was so worried then why did he just disappear, but it had worked out for him in the end.
“I would have tried to get you money and help. I just got free about three months ago, and I had to find you, apologize, tell you it’s over.”
“Wait, they were holding you hostage?” That hadn’t factored in the story before now. Banished. Going against the family. Sure. But holding him against his will?
He nodded, eyes on the ground, cheeks burning. “Not very alpha of me, huh? I just…I didn’t know how to get away. But once I found out the truth, I paid someone to help me, to leave the door unlocked.”
“Resourceful.” That was Lachlan rejoining the conversation. “Well done.”
Gareth winced. “I’m not an asshole. I’m not. I’m not great, but I didn’t have choices. I do now. I’m here…”
Logan cleared his throat. “I’m the gold guardian here, Gareth. I know I introduced myself, but that fact is worth noting. I know you have nowhere to go. And I will find you a place to stay, but it’s provisional. If you distress Kieran or Micah in any way, I’ll have to ask you to go.”
“I won’t. I don’t…I don’t know what to do.”
“Stay and rest. That’s what you’ll do. Isn’t there someone that will take him in?” Kieran knew he wasn’t supposed to care, but he wasn’t a monster.
He cared.
“Mari has the cabins if you like to live alone. They’re clean and comfy and near the coffee shop and stuff. Or there’s some bachelor males who room together who are always needing a new roommate.”
He needs to stay in the wing, mate. Kieran worried someone would hunt Gareth down and kill him.
“Are you willing to stay with some friends of Logan’s? The bachelor male dragons? There’s a big adobe with three of them and five bedrooms.”
“That’s perfect. I swear I’ll be quiet and hard-working.”
I’ve never seen him frightened before. It was a little unnerving, truth be told. Gareth had been confident; even when he’d told the alpha dragon he was pregnant, he’d been brave, sure of himself. Sure that he hadn’t wanted Kieran or the baby, but maybe he’d thought he was protecting them.
He had Lachlan now, though. And Micah and the new little girl, who was singing happily. Surely she would be upset if this was bad.
“Well, thank you for the apology, Gareth. I’m sorry for how things went for you.”
Gareth gave him a ghost of a smile before draining his tea and standing, clearly understanding the interview was over. “Thank you, Kieran. You’ve given me more than I deserve. Logan, would you mind taking me and my bag to the new lodgings?”
Logan snorted, but stood as well. “You got it. You two call on me if you need me.”
“We need to get our son.” Lachlan was very definite in his words.
Not Kieran’s son.
Their son.
Gareth was silent as Logan led him off, waving as they shut the door behind him.
He stood there, shivering a little bit. Was it true? Was it over?
“I love you.” The words were simple and sure.
“Yes, mate. I love you.” He flung his arms around Lachlan, who was stiff for a moment, but then he grabbed Kieran tight and hugged back. The kiss Lachlan gave him curled his toes. It was possessive, yes, but he felt protected too. Utterly safe.
He was home. I need Micah.
Alban’s on his way home.
That was Lars, and they pulled back to grin at one another. Of course Alban was on the ball. He was as much a part of them as anyone.
Kieran felt… a little drained. A lot like he needed to cuddle with his family.
But he also felt a sense of closure.
He could stop looking over his shoulder and only look ahead.