Page 82 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

“His family is powerful and awful. He wasn’t strong, he didn’t know how to fight them, and?—”

“Don’t make excuses for him. You and Micah almostdied.”

“Do you think I could have had a love affair with someone who would kill my son?”

What was he supposed to say to that? He didn’t, but?—

“And don’t forget, if he hadn’t left me, I probably wouldn’t be here with you now.”

That was unfair, using that against him. Was he supposed to be grateful to this Gareth guy for abandoning Kieran to his tender mercies?

Kieran gave him a sweet smile and reached up to stroke his cheek. “And they are tender mercies. I love you so much. Trust me, he means nothing to me except that we share a connection through Micah.”

“I’m not worried about you. I know you’re my mate. I’m worried about my family’s safety.” Lachlan shook his head. “We’re not going to let him have access to Micah. Right?”

Kieran chewed his lip. “I’d rather not?—”

“Good.”

Kieran sighed softly. “But it’s not an absolute. Micah is biologically his son. We don’t have proof Gareth did anything wrong.”

“We don’t have proof he didn’t.” He didn’t understand why Kieran wasn’t more pissed off.

“I hear you, but we will, right? If Logan can bring him through the wands?”

Oh.

That was a comfort. If this Gareth wanted to cause Kieran or Micah real harm, the wards would hold.

“Exactly. It all depends on what happens now. You know there’s a reason he’s here. I need to find out what that is and react appropriately.”

Kieran sounded so logical, but Lachlan could feel the tension in his mate’s body and he knew how much stress this was putting on his lover.

We’re coming in, Logan told him.We passed the river without a blip. I’m driving him, so it’ll be about twenty minutes.

Perfect.

Lachlan smiled at Kieran. “Why don’t you go get the front room ready for us to meet with him? I’m going to make sure the wards around our house are solid. Logan says we have about twenty minutes.”

“The front room is just fine. Alban cleaned it this morning. I’d rather help you with the wards. I want to see what it is you do.”

His eyebrows went up, but Lachlan nodded, “Fair enough. Come on we’ll start with the front door.”

He walked Kieran through the magical process of strengthening the wards that would keep things with evil intent out of their house. Kieran would use different magic in order to create such a ward because he was a light dragon, but that would be just as strong, possibly stronger than what Lachlan could do. They worked on all the doors and windows and then headed upstairs quickly to strengthen the ward over top of the house from one of the turrets.

By the time they were done with that, he could hear the crunch of gravel on their drive as Logan pulled in with his big SUV. So they went to stand in the foyer and wait, holding hands, giving each other strength and comfort.

Kieran took a deep, deep breath when the car door opened and a man stepped out, Logan coming around from the other side and taking his arm in a firm grip and leading him toward the front door.

“Is that him?” Lachlan asked.

Kieran nodded, brows lowering in a deep frown. “It is him but he doesn’t look good. He’s almost skeletal, and he has new lines on his face.”

Lachlan studied the guy as he came to the front door. Through the slight distortion of the windows on either side of the door, he could tell that Gareth was almost gray and his lips were set in a hard, unhappy line.

Lachlan answered the door then stepped back, allowing Logan to bring Gareth inside their house.

Please. Please don’t be a mistake.