Page 75 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

So sweet.

They all crowded into the vehicle, including Alban, and off they went. Wiver was curled around Micah’s legs and feet and was lying in the footwell on Micah’s side of the back seat. It was amazing how small he could make that long body.

Wiver didn’t like to leave Micah alone in any way, anywhere, anytime. He took his job as a protector very seriously.

Which was great, because he had a feeling Micah was going to start running faster than he walked at this point.

They headed out from the castle with Lachlan jabbering idly, and when it became clear Kieran was distracted and worried, he just turned on the radio.

The music was obviously some kids’ Halloween special station, and before he knew it, Kieran was singing along to the goofy songs and laughing, and he felt better.

Their first stop would be at the school, where there would be all sorts of games and bobbing for apples and trick or treats. Then they would go to Logan’s house, where all of the kids who were guardian kids would have another round of fun.

He didn’t think there were that many people in Oro Escondido until they parked at the school and his eyes widened at how many trunks there were for trunk or treat. All the lights were on in the school and outside where they had set up the trunk-or-treat area. It was all fairy lights and sparkly stuff.

“Wow.” Okay, that was surprising.

Lachlin smiled at him. “I know, isn’t it beautiful? I think everybody’s here. I just wanted you to meet your family.”

“I know my family.”

“Okay, so your extended family, your town.” Lachlan offered him a warm smile. “You realize how incredibly important you are to all of these people, don’t you?”

He shook his head. “Me? Why me?”

“You’re a guardian’s mate. Like Dakota, Samuel.”

He chuckled softly. “I can only imagine how much pressure Lars has.”

Lachlan nodded. “Lars is a miracle, like you. He made my brother happy. You made me whole. You gave me a family. Come on, let’s go play.”

Kieran relented. How could he not? “I’d love to. Let’s go.”

They gathered all the stuff they would absolutely need out of the car and left the rest for when they got to Logan’s house. Micah was excited, singing a little song and bouncing about seeing his friends. His little eyes were so wide because there was so much to see: all of the noise and lights and people in costumes but nothing was scary. It was all child appropriate.

“This is amazing, guys.” Kieran looked around. “Do you always do so much?”

Lachlan nodded. “Yeah, we tend to try to give the kids something special for the holidays, Halloween, Christmas, all of them. I know that you were with us last year, but everything was different.”

“It was.” He’d been hiding. Trying not to make waves. Scared.

But now he was brave, dammit. He was a guardian mate. That was enough to make him puff up a bit, to be proud.

“Come on, love. We’re going to be a menagerie, all three and a half of us.” Lachlan held out one arm, and he took it, waving to Alban, who was passing out candy for them.

Micah made a wild squealing noise. “Tweeeeet.”

“That’s right, baby boy. Oh! Look at the giraffe!”

“Da! Da! Raffi!” Micah lifted his little stuffed giraffe and waved it. “Raffi. Baby!”

Kieran chuckled. “That’s right. That’s a little giraffe. A giraffe baby.”

“Should we go say hi?” Lachlan led him over to the family with the giraffe. They also had a little girl with amazing blue scales and a feathered mane who was dressed as a pirate.

And then they were making the rounds, everyone greeting Kieran warmly either in Spanish or English, some dragons bowing to them, others hugging them tight. All of them exclaiming over Micah.

He couldn’t have been more proud.