Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

Cassie was crazy but right about the safety factor. Modern society never really talked about how men could get kidnapped, too. Cameron strangely felt like he could trust Alric, though. He had this sort of vibe. An aura, if you will, that spoke of confidence and calm authority.

Which meant he trusted the man enough to get into the car with him and go tour a privately owned castle. He was just leery enough to give someone else a heads-up in case something went wrong.

Alric held the door open for him. He was in one of those tailored outfits again, although no suitcoat today, just a fitted vest that hugged his body like a lover. Someone had to stop Alric from dressing like a damn model all the time. It played havoc on Cameron’s libido. Feeling a little like he was on a date, Cameron gave Alric a quick smile and slid in. He didn’t really think Alric was interested in him, though, which was why he had no expectations of nookie later. The man was charming, polite, but his flirtations were so low-grade Cameron wasn’t actually sure if he’d been flirting. Or if this was culture gap. It was a little sad, truth to tell. Something about the way Alric told him of local history, with the dragons and mages, was a little too…earnest? Insistent? It felt as if Alric wanted something else—to convince him that dragons were real. Why that was important, Cameron had no clue. But to Alric, it was.

His guide regained the driver’s seat, speaking as he put the seat belt on. “You were talking to your sister?”

“Yeah. I think she’s a little jealous I’m over here. She’s never been to Europe. I mentioned dragons and castles, and now I’m getting all the calls from her.” Cameron had never been in a MINI Cooper before, but it was a fun little car. The leather seats were comfortable, and it zipped around the corners without effort. When he got a job, Cameron might have to get himself one.

Alric shot him a look before taking the next road, heading toward the highway. “Your sister believes more readily than you in dragons?”

“Yeah. I guess I’m more practical than she is. While we were growing up, my halmeoni—ah, that is my grandmother—she told us a lot of stories.” Cameron almost left it at that, as he normally did, but this was a man who firmly believed in dragons and mages of long past. Cameron felt he could tell him things he normally wouldn’t. Or maybe it was the magic of speaking to a relative stranger he wouldn’t see again. Alric’s opinion of him and his family history wouldn’t matter much since he wouldn’t see the man again two days from now. “Halmeoni said our family used to be a mage family.”

Alric, for some reason, didn’t seem surprised by this. “She told you stories about it?”

“Yeah, a lot. She claims she watched her own mother work magic—little spells, nothing major. But still, magic. She’s very firm on this. I’m not sure if my parents have ever believed her, but my sister does.”

“May I ask, what is her family name?”

“Noh.”

“Ah, the Noh Clan. Your grandmother is correct. The Nohs have always produced mages.”

Cameron did a double-take, jerking around to stare at Alric’s profile in disbelief. “And how would you know that? Oh wait, is this because you know history?”

“In part.” Alric’s expression became downright enigmatic. He shifted gears seamlessly even as he took the ramp for the freeway. “The Noh Clan traditionally married into the Wind Dragon Clan, although not always. They lived and worked alongside them for centuries. We were never sure if the Noh Clan escaped the terrible aftermath of the Dragon War. I have records of the clan at the castle, if you want to see them?”

Cameron stared at him, flabbergasted. He’d never really thought much whether he believed Halmeoni. Well, as a child he had—he’d believed every word. As an adult, he’d shuffled them off as stories of another time, something that he hadn’t seen. They could be true, they could be exaggerations from a child who hadn’t understood what she saw. Either way, it didn’t impact his life, so why think about it? But if Alric was correct, well, it still wouldn’t change much, but wouldn’t it be cool? To know that his family once were that close to dragons.

A smile lit his face, and he half-laughed. “Wow. You know what? I think I do. If nothing else, I need to tell Halmeoni about this. She’ll flip.”

“It will be my pleasure to show you.” Alric hesitated a moment, eyeing him sideways before asking carefully, “Knowing that your family is magical, have you never wondered if you or your sister have magic yourselves?”

Snorting, Cameron shook his head no. “Wouldn’t I have had a moment where my magic went crazy, like it always does in the stories? Nothing like that ever happened to me.”