Page 1 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

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. Untilit 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,verydragon. 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.