Breath (Scales 'n' Spells 2)

Alric blinked at her. “I wasn’t planning to!”

…What? Tori stared at the king in confusion with the one eye not pressed against Ha Na. “Then why do you bring up my old clan?”

“There are many questions about them I need to ask,” Alric explained quickly, his hands held up in a ‘don’t shoot’ manner. “And you’re technically still part of them. If we are to take you in as a Burkhard, I would need to issue a statement of our intent to your clan head. I’m not suggesting you return to them, Tori. Far from it. Be at ease, Halmeoni.”

Ha Na relaxed her grip but didn’t retreat. “Don’t scare us like that, Alric.”

Yes, please don’t scare him like that. Tori’s heart was still trying to beat its way out of his chest.

Alric’s eyes were shrewd on Tori, as if he could see every doubt and insecurity. After living five hundred plus years, he was probably quite good at reading people. “There seems to be some question about you staying, Tori. I apologize if I haven’t made this clear. We quite like you. If you wish to have a place in my clan, I will welcome you with open arms.”

Those words failed to compute for a moment. They whirled around in his brain without coalescing, until they suddenly did with a snap. He could stay. He could stay if he wanted. These kind people had spent a day with him and decided they wanted him here, and all he had to do was agree.

He opened his mouth, throat working, brain scrambling as it sorted through the many emotions wrecking through him like an iron ball. All that tumbled free from the jumbled mess was, “Yes.”

Ha Na let out a whoop and hugged him again, rocking him back and forth.

At the same moment, Baldewin left his chair and hugged him on the other side, placing a kiss on the top of his head. Tori laughed a little, the sound choked as it was strangled by tears, and he felt far more loved than he ever had. Some of his fears fell away as he realized that these people had demanded he have the right to stay. There was no doubt that he’d been evaluated—and deemed enough.

“Thank god,” Baldewin breathed against him, his arms tight around Tori’s waist. “I didn’t want to influence you, but I hoped you’d say that.”

Oh. Was that why he’d sat all the way over there? Tori tried to put an arm around both Baldewin and Ha Na, hugging them both to him. After a squeeze, Ha Na let him go so she could hug Alric.

“You made the right decision,” she informed her grandson-in-law.

“I’m glad you think so,” Alric returned, a touch sardonically. “But really, do you think I’d say anything else? Every single woman in this room was glaring daggers at me, daring me to say something different. I do have some survival instincts, you know. Never mind that Baldewin would pout for centuries if I didn’t bring Tori in.”

Baldewin pulled Tori tighter against his side. “I would not have. I would have followed him.”

Tori flushed, a smile lighting his face by degrees. Baldewin really did like him, didn’t he? The idea that this dragon would have run away with him if that were the only choice made him ridiculously happy. He was a little giddy under the emotion. He couldn’t help but react to it all. Tori lifted a hand to Baldewin’s cheek, pulling his head around so he could kiss him, sweet and lingering. Baldewin didn’t let him go with just one kiss, pressing back in for another, this one impossibly sweeter. It felt like an affirmation. He was very important to Baldewin, and the feeling of growing affection and desire was mutual. It wasn’t just on his end.

And wasn’t that incredible? Tori felt like he was flying under that emotion. The way Baldewin touched him made it clear he felt the same.

“Yes, Ha Na, I see the obvious when it’s right in front of my face.”

“You and Cam are just as bad,” Ha Na informed him, a trace of evil in her tone.

“I have no doubt,” Alric returned placidly.

Reminded of their audience, Tori pulled back. But he had every intention of following up with Baldewin later, when they had privacy. Baldewin’s declaration was sincere, and it hinted that the dragon was serious about him. And damn if Tori would ignore that.

There were indulgent smiles on everyone’s faces as Baldewin withdrew a few inches, allowing Tori to see the room again. Tori refused to feel embarrassed by it, though. He cleared his throat and tried to get them back to practical matters. “Thank you, King Alric, for inviting me in.”

“You are quite welcome. And truly, thank you for accepting. I know something of the road you have walked to arrive here, and I’m grateful you gave us a chance.” Alric leaned forward slightly in his chair, smile benign. “There’s a bit of formality yet to do, as we have paperwork to change your name over and citizenry forms. But as far as we dragons are concerned, you are now a Burkhard. I’ll find a moment to formally introduce you to the clan in the next few days.”