Page 83 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

He let Kieran take over then, because it was up to his omega what they gave this man. Period.

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.”