Stuart looked to her human. “Aye, I see him.” Stuart met her gaze again. “Although, I’m a bit unclear about how he lives on Lochguard since he’s not a human sacrifice.”
Entering the kitchen, Lorna took down another bowl for porridge. “His daughter was a sacrifice and is mated to Fraser. Finn did some negotiating, which allowed Ross to accompany his daughter. He had cancer and needed care.”
From the corner of her eye, Lorna saw Ross stand tall. “It’s gone now, though. I’m healthy as a horse.”
Stuart chuckled. “Too bad you’re not as healthy as a dragon-shifter.”
Lorna sensed Ross’s temper creeping up on him, so she spoke before he could. “Just because humans and dragon-shifters are different doesn’t make humans any less special. You, of all people, should understand that Stu.” While Stu sobered up, Lorna explained to Ross, “Stuart had a human mate.”
Ross’s posture relaxed at the use of “had” and he murmured, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Stuart waved a hand. “Deb will always be with me. But let’s not ruin a perfectly fine breakfast by talking about dead mates. We should focus on the future we have in front of us.”
After handing Stuart his porridge, she moved to stand next to Ross. She’d allowed her human to stew long enough, so she leaned against his side. “Aye, I look forward to the future.”
Ross looped an arm around her waist. For a second, sadness flashed in Stuart’s eyes, but it was gone before she could blink. The dragonman smiled again. “Well, my immediate future includes eating this porridge before it goes cold. Oh, and maybe embarrassing Lorna as well. I’m sure Ross would love to hear about Lorna in her youth. She was quite the firecracker.”
Ross snorted. “And she still is.”
Stuart exited into the dining room. Before Ross could follow, Lorna kissed Ross and whispered, “I can sit on your lap in the dining room if it eases your male pride. But just know I picked you, Ross. Stuart is just a friend, and probably a lonely one. Remember, he was exiled from Lochguard over a decade ago.”
Squeezing her side, Ross answered, “Then let’s try to make him feel welcome again.”
“That was a quick turnaround. I’m surprised I didn’t hurt my neck from the whiplash.”
Ross shrugged one shoulder. “You made the claim, and that’s good enough for me. Considering Lochguard dragon-shifters take honor rather seriously, at least for those who know you and call you a friend, I expect Stuart to fall into that category. Am I right?”
“Aye, you are.” She kissed his cheek. “And since he can hear everything we’re saying right now anyway, how about we join Stu in the dining room? Your porridge will be cold before long.”
“You and the bloody porridge.”
She tsked. “Complain as long as you like, but you’re eating it, even if you have to cut it with a knife because you let it sit too long.”
Stuart’s voice drifted in from the dining room. “Aye, she’ll see through her threat, too, Ross. I once had to eat cold, congealed stew because I didn’t like the cooked carrots in it. Lorna all but had me chained to the table.”
Lorna pushed Ross through the door as she answered, “I was raised to eat what was in front of me, whether I liked it or not. And so were you. So stop your moaning.”
Her dragon spoke up again. Liar. You always found a way to hide your broccoli and later bury it in the garden.
Hush.
Ross pulled out a chair, and Lorna sat down as he slid it back. Once her human also sat down, Lorna picked up a spoon just as Stuart answered, “That’s not what your late brother told me.” Stuart looked to Ross. “Make her some broccoli and then give her the same speech.”
Grinning, Ross nodded. “Aye, I just might. Maybe the
n she’ll stop serving me this blasted porridge.”
Lorna glanced at them. “If I had known you two would form a coalition against me, I would never have let Stu inside.”
Ignoring her comment, Ross leaned forward and looked to Stuart. “So, what else can you tell me? I have a feeling I’m going to need a few cards to play to keep Lorna on her toes.”
Stuart answered, “Well, she does have this thing about dragonflies…”
As Stuart and Ross became engrossed in the discussion of her fears and faults, Lorna couldn’t help but smile. She’d known Ross was a good male, but him taking to Stuart so soon raised her esteem of him. All her human had needed to know was she wanted him and only him. After that, the past was in the past.
She wasn’t sure a dragon-shifter male would’ve been so accepting. More and more she was starting to see the benefits to claiming a human.
She only hoped it would last.