Page 7 of Matched By the Dragon

“Nah, he doesn’t take their food. Though, they’re on a blended diet because they’re little omnivores. Razlin would rather eat his tail than touch a berry right now. Obviously at some point they’ll need fruits and veggies but as long as Alby is chest feeding most of their nutrients are covered. Surprisingly, Razlin will let his brothers feed first if they’re in baby form. He doesn’t really shove them around too much at the teat either.”

I made a mental note that Bennie was one hundred percent about his cubs and that Brad’s babies liked berries or at least it sounded like they did.

At Mama Dragon’s we had to wait half an hour because of how much food Bennie ordered. There was food for us adults of course, but he ordered a lot of meat both on and off the bread. He also ordered several fruit platters and some fries despite the early morning hours. He texted one handed while ordering but the teenager behind the counter didn’t seem to mind. He rested a foot on the back of the double stroller while the babies babbled to each other. A fox shifter stopped to look at them, smiling the way people do when they see babies. Bennie glanced at him and he moved on.

“What is it about this town that makes everyone so weird about their babies?” my bear chimed into my thoughts from inside his inner sanctum. “Like seriously, everyone. That fox was just looking.”

I didn’t have an answer so I just followed Bennie away from the counter when he was finished ordering. We sat at a table sharing a basket of fries and drinking sodas. It was earlier than I usually sugar bombed my system, but I figured I’d need the carbs to keep up with Brad. He talked mostly about all five kids, filling in the silence easily while we ate. While he talked, I wondered about Brad. I missed him despite not really knowing him. It was hard to believe that despite what was happening in the here and now that once upon a time we chose each other in the Other World. I’d do anything for him – the same as I had Liza – but it seemed he just wanted me to leave him alone.

Bennie broke a fry in two and gave half to each of the babies. They both licked it and then tried to toss them on the floor. I guess he was right about them being carnivores. Bennie caught the pieces and laid them on the table.

“I don’t think I was that ‘picky’ as a kitten. Then again,” he shrugged. “There weren’t many restaurants when I was a kid.”

The bell above the door chimed before I had the chance to reply and Raziel walked in. He was clad in jeans and a black t-shirt and wore a smile like he’d just burnt down a village full of assholes as he slid into the booth next to Bennie.

“What were you thinking?” Bennie asked him and slapped him on the nose with a fry. The babies busted out in little giggle fits. Raziel let the tiger hit him and then with draconic speed bit the fry in half. Bennie shoved the rest of it into Raziel’s mouth.

“That Brad deserved to be happy,” he shrugged.

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe they needed more time first?” Bennie asked, but there wasn’t any malice in his voice.

“Too much time is just as bad as not enough,” Raziel shrugged.

“Keep that in mind for your own business,” he said and shoved another fry into his friend’s mouth.

“Eh, Durin doesn’t mind, do you?” the dragon asked, meeting my gaze. “He’s the sort of guy who needs something to do. Now, he has a mission.”

Had Star told him that I stepped off a cliff on the day we met or had he overheard some of my thoughts on the pack link? Either way, I didn’t ask because I wasn’t about to discuss my mental health or lack thereof with these two. They seemed like great guys, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk about my suicide attempt.

“You can’t pose the question like that. It’s like a trick question,” Bennie said. “It’s one thing to mess with my life. At least we’re friends—”

“I’m friends with Brad!” Raziel retorted. “Besides, Durin hasn’t run for the hills, and Brad hasn’t bitten off any of his body parts. It’ll be fine. What are you thinking, Durin?”

“That since Liza died my life has become very strange,” Durin said. “Brad is probably normal compared to some things. Like seer dragons.”

“I’m not a seer,” Raziel said.

“Seems like it to me,” I countered, eating another fry.

“Ite! Ite!” one of the babies babbled.

“I hope they hurry up with the food or it’s going to be Clydus biting off body parts,” Bennie sighed.

Raziel got up and walked away. I was about to ask what he was doing but when he skipped past the line at the counter, I pressed my lips together hard. He was about to cause a scene, wasn’t he? Probably some bullshit about him being the son of the leader or--- The man behind the counter just handed him a small paper plate with two beef patties on it.

The dragon walked back, winking at someone in line to order. He sank down onto his knees in front of the stroller and tore a beef patty in half. The meat smelled more raw than cooked, but the babies made little snarling noises at the food as Raziel handed them off.

“There you go. Scorched on the outside and bloody on the inside. Just like you two like them,” Raziel said and then looked up at me and Bennie. “So, what’s the plan with Brad?”

“What do you mean?” Bennie asked before I could say anything.

“Not you. You,” he nodded at me. “What’s the plan?”

“Uh… Wait until he feels better,” I shrugged.

Raziel sighed at me as if I said I was never going to do anything about anything ever again and shook his head.

“Raz,” Bennie warned and shot him the side eye.