Page 21 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

“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, italso 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.