Breath (Scales 'n' Spells 2)

Rodrigo answered with a gravelly and very curious, “Hello, Tori?”

“Hello. I have a request from a member of the Taavi to leave. She’s not interested in staying with this clan. I can vouch for her, sir. She’s a sweet person and a knowledgeable mage. She’ll be a good addition. She wants to go with your clan for a while, visit, and get a feel for it. Is that alright?”

Rodrigo audibly perked up, like a dog with a possible new bone in sight. “Yes, we’d be pleased to have her. Where is she? I can come fetch her.”

Very eager. Tori swallowed a laugh. “I’m fetching her now, as I’m close. Baldewin, that little white house on the hill. Yes, that one. We’ll be back in about an hour. Can you tell everyone that?”

“Of course. This mage, what is her name?”

“Sofi.”

“I’ll welcome her. Assure her of this.”

“I will. See you soon.” Tori hung up, as they were in the driveway now. He wasn’t sure how wise it was for him to go and knock on the door.

It turned out to be a moot point. Sofi darted out the side door with a duffle bag slung over one shoulder, a very large purse in the other hand. She ran for the car like an escaped convict, opening the back and throwing herself in with the bags. “Hi. Go, go, go!”

Baldewin immediately put the car into reverse, a grin growing on his face. “I feel like I’m driving the getaway car.”

“You are, and bless you for it.” Sofi had thrown her light blonde hair up into a messy bun, a soft, over-sized blue shirt baring one shoulder. She looked as if she’d dressed for both style and comfort, with black tights tucked into boots. Her head came up as she took in the two of them, her smile incandescent and mischievous. “Wow, Tori, you look much more handsome! Is this what living with dragons does for you?”

“Basically,” he acknowledged, his cheeks heating a bit. “Dragons are notoriously bad about spoiling people.”

“I accept the blame for this habit,” Baldewin deadpanned. “You make it hard, my heart. It’s fun to spoil you.”

Tori shot him a dry look. “Uh-huh. Baldewin, this is Sofi. Sofi, my fiancé, Baldewin.”

“Pleasure, Sofi.”

“Oh, the pleasure is definitely mine. And thank you for coming to get me.”

“Not at all. Did you escape without telling anyone?” Baldewin’s head canted in question even as he kept his eyes on the road.

“I did. We argued about it last night, but my parents can’t fathom leaving here, or me leaving here, but I’m done with this place. Seriously sick of it. And the idea of marrying Oliver makes me gag, so no. I managed to talk to Tanja last night and got the full scoop on how you saved her. How the ‘dragons are evil’ thing is total bullshit. I’d much rather escape while the opportunity presents itself. Tori, did you ask?”

“I did. King Rodrigo said you’re very welcome to come with him to Brazil. He’s excited to meet you.”

“Awesome. Thank you so much for helping me. I wasn’t sure how to get out of here otherwise.”

“You’re welcome. And trust me, I get it.”

“I figured you would.” Sofi leaned in and asked Tori sotto voce, “Are all dragons handsome? I swear, every single one of them I’ve seen so far has been gorgeous in their own way.”

Tori’s smile matched hers in glee. “I haven’t seen a plain looking dragon yet.”

“Oh yeah?” She rubbed her hands together briskly, practically bouncing in her seat. “The future’s looking up already.”

That it was.

Baldewin’s music collection was something else. Tori had now been in his hoard room multiple times, and still, it took him aback how much was in here. Instruments that were centuries old lined the walls, some of them hanging, some of them on stands. A low row of cabinets under the windows was stocked full of sheet music. It was literally a musician’s wet dream.

The first time in here, Tori had just about keeled over in excitement, as this was the room he’d always dreamed of having.

Then Baldewin had casually dropped the bomb that he played all the instruments, not just collected them. His sex appeal had gone up about eighty percent at that point.

But as much as Tori loved this amazing collection of music, what he loved most was moments like this one, right here. Where he sat with his guitar in his lap, Baldewin picking an instrument to accompany him, and them jamming together.

Tori loved music, no matter the nationality, and Baldewin was much the same. They had similar tastes, and there was many a song they both knew.

You can say a lot with music. Tori had learned this as a teen, the first time he’d picked up a guitar. He learned it all over again every time he sat and played with Baldewin. His mate played the same music, and yet it conveyed a different message to Tori’s ear.