Embers (Scales 'N' Spells 4)

Was Nikki truly free here, then? Was the choice to go or stay completely up to them?

It must be. They’d never be given a phone like this otherwise.

“Downloaded onto the phone is a cash app, loaded with some money. We’ll get you a bank account and all of that once we’ve gotten everything else straightened out.” Cassie sighed, eyes rolling. “Just bear with us, we’re juggling a lot of balls right now. Between Ravi’s wedding, rescuing all of you, and trying to figure out where the Jaeggi disappeared to, there’s not enough hours in the day.”

Nikki’s eyes nearly popped right out of their head. They were given money too?!

“Oh, but don’t go out of the castle without an escort,” Cassie tacked on. “Ask a dragon to guard you. Our location here isn’t exactly a secret, and we don’t want the Jaeggi to snatch you guys again.”

Dominique’s face compressed with worry. “Has that happened?”

“Yeah, unfortunately. They got their hands on my brother once. I mean, we obviously got him back, but we’d rather not play that game. So take an escort out with you if you do go, okay? The dragons are super good about it; they’ll be happy to go wherever with you.”

The thought of being taken again was alarming. But Nikki should have expected that, too. The Jaeggi were nothing if not fanatical in their pursuits.

Oooh, did that mean Nikki could ask Gunter to go with them to all sorts of different places? Maybe they should think about that. And scheme.

“Okay, I think that’s it for now.” Cassie paused with both hands on her bag, her dark eyes thoughtful on them both. “You both are okay, right? I can escort you to Sora to get checked out if something is bothering you.”

Nikki waved this away. No way in hell were they willing to spend one-on-one time with a mage, especially a healer. Even this meeting with Cassie had them on edge, and if not for the lure of tech, Nikki would not have stayed this long. “I’m fine.”

“I’ve already been seen to,” Dominique informed her with a winsome smile. “But thank you.”

“Good, good. Just checking. Expect all the memes!” Cassie smiled, but there was mischief in that expression. “And I do mean all. Toodles, peeps!”

And with that, she bounced away again.

Nikki watched her go for a moment, then looked back down at their phone. That meeting had been unexpected in multiple ways. But in a good way? Certainly, this was a much better start than the last time they’d been pulled into a clan.

Dominique turned the phone on, smiling. “I’m not entirely sure how to use this, but I guess I have time to figure it out. It certainly is nice someone thought to give us all this. I feel very welcome here. I think I’ll stay. It’s safer here than out in the world, and I don’t have anywhere else I’d rather go. What about you, Nikki?”

“I think I’ll stay, too.” The words felt right in their mouth as they said them. Nikki nodded, agreeing with their own decision. “You’re right, there’s nowhere else I can really think to go or want to be. And I feel like there’s good possibilities here.”

Dominique’s grin was wicked. “And handsome dragons to flirt with.”

Nikki’s grin was equally wicked. “And that. Really, there’s too many perks to pass up.”

And perhaps, if Nikki stayed, they could figure out how to approach Gunter. Nikki really had to try because it would be a damn shame otherwise.

But first, Nikki had a few things to put to the test.

Nikki was not one to sit still. Even the Jaeggi hadn’t managed to cage them completely. After Cassie had given them the phone, it had been too much of a temptation. Where all could Nikki go? What were the restrictions before they hit a wall?

Could they leave, if so desired?

So many questions begged for an answer.

Nikki started with the obvious one: the main gate.

People were coming and going out of the gates as if there was a sale going on. Part of it was the wedding prep, or so Nikki assumed. A lot of the people coming in seemed to have decorations or food, so a party of some sort. Other people were mages—or wishful mages—come to take the test and see if they had the ability.

Nikki headed for the gate, pace deliberate to give the impression that Nikki wasn’t sneaking. Oh no. They were a person who knew precisely where they were going and had complete permission to do so. It was a fine line to tread, and one Nikki had perfected after a decade of captivity.

The gate wasn’t just wide open. No one would be that stupid during an active war. A very impressive ward arched overhead—truly, the spells were so complex it was like looking at an origami of magic. Nikki may have stopped a few times and studied a choice bit as it caught the sunlight. A person could spend a full year studying the ward and only understand the basic functions.