Breath (Scales 'n' Spells 2)

Tori continued to carry Cassie’s earring in his pocket as both a handy translation spell and a talisman of good luck. Even with it, Tori was sure it wasn’t a matter of trying to think of the Finnish word, but rather a properly diplomatic term.

“Well, overwhelming is probably the best word,” Rodrigo concluded with a smile.

The king of the Ice Dragons was very smooth, as well as incredibly friendly. Where Alric was always calm and collected, Rodrigo came across as a passionate man who wasn’t accustomed to reining in his emotions. He laughed loudly and gestured broadly. His personality seemed larger than life.

And yet, when he smiled at Tori, it was like they were the only ones in the room.

Except that spell was quickly broken by a squeeze of Baldewin’s hand or a low grumble from the dragon. Not that Tori minded. The only person he wanted to be alone with was Baldewin.

Tori took a quick drink of his wine and placed the delicate glass back on the table, glad he managed to do it without his hand shaking too visibly. “You’re right. It can be overwhelming, but the Burkhard Clan has been incredibly welcoming, even before I arrived at the castle. In an incredibly short amount of time, it has become the home I’ve always longed for.”

Alric puffed up a little bit, while Rodrigo threw him what looked to be a sly smirk.

“We are so pleased to hear that Burkhard is starting to feel like home for you,” Alric murmured.

“Yes, the fire dragons have always been such a warm and welcoming group,” Rodrigo agreed, earning a look from Alric that Tori couldn’t quite read. There were more political undercurrents than Tori understood, and he honestly didn’t want to know.

“You’ll have to forgive King Rodrigo,” Thiago said a little farther down the table. “He doesn’t mean anything by his comment. The dragon kings have a long history of being incredibly competitive.”

Rodrigo nodded. “My advisor is once again correct. My poor ego is rumpled because King Alric has uncovered the first four mages anyone has seen in five centuries. But his discovery and generosity will benefit us all.”

Tori couldn’t hold back his frown. There was no mistaking the hope in Rodrigo’s voice or in the eyes of all the Valerii dragons gathered at the table. Hell, he could even see it in the eyes of Ravi and Gunter, as they also hoped that Tori and his former clan might hold the key to them all finding mages.

He wasn’t sure what to even tell them. How did he explain that his own clan hated him and thought he was a waste of skin, not only because he was born a male, but a gay male at that? From what little he’d seen of Rodrigo and the Valerii dragons so far, they didn’t give a damn that Alric’s mate was a man. They didn’t care that Tori was a male mage rather than a female. All they seemed to see was mage, and in their eyes, mage equaled hope.

Would that feeling of hope still exist if they realized the kind of beliefs his former clan had?

“I know you are hopeful of integrating more mages into both the Valerii and Burkhard Clans from the Taavi mage clan,” Tori started slowly. He kept his eyes locked on the soup bowl in front of him. It had started out tasting quite lovely, but now it seemed to sour in his stomach, and he found himself placing his spoon back on the table. “I just worry that the Taavi Clan might not be what you’re expecting. Particularly after you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Cameron and his sister Cassie.”

Cameron laughed loudly on Tori’s left, pulling Baldewin’s gaze up to the tall young man. “Trust me, I think they are hoping your clan is nothing like my sister.” He winked at Tori, and his smile remained encouraging.

“Well, the Taavi Clan is nothing like Cassie,” Tori agreed.

“You needn’t worry, Tori, that anyone here is going to judge you because of what other members of the Taavi Clan believe. I’ve already spoken with Rodrigo and his people about some of the…difficulties we are potentially facing,” Alric added.

Rodrigo spat something out in a rough, almost guttural language that left his ears ringing and the translation spell scrambling to figure out what he meant. While Tori might not understand the word, Rodrigo’s look of disgust and hostility was clear. It eased some when he looked at Tori.

“It is abhorrent to me and my clan that any mage should have suffered the things you have,” Rodrigo growled, his voice becoming surprisingly deep, as if his dragon were trying to take control of his body. “We are not pleased to know that elder mages treat younger mages in such a fashion. And such nonsensical homophobia…” He drifted off into more guttural curses that Tori still couldn’t understand, but he looked down the table at Thiago, who cleared his throat, looking a little red faced.