Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“Cameron? Hell yeah! I found him,” he said with pride.

Gunter let out a soft huff and dropped back against his seat, glaring at the tabletop. The dragon truly hated being the last to get any bit of news, but that happened all too frequently because he didn’t leave his library.

“Yes, we’ve found a mage at last,” Alric started, pulling all their eyes to him. “But we’re not the only ones.”

“Fucking insane!” Ravi growled. “To take a mage from a dragon. Those idiots must have a death wish.”

“Or simply desperate.” But Ravi was right. It was ballsy as hell. No one with a brain in their head stole from a dragon. Not only was his kind territorial, but once they claimed something, there was no getting it away short of bloodshed. Alric clenched his right hand on the table, his dragon snarling a promise of rage and pain once they found the culprits.

“They clearly knew he was a mage. Cameron told Lisette he saw a green flash from a device when someone bumped into him in his hotel lobby and then again when he was grabbed off the street. That same device is in Lisette’s possession. It’s an Amulet of Noh.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Dieter grumbled in a low, deep voice. It was almost like great boulders crashing down a mountain. “If they’re mages and can use magic, why don’t we know about them? Why haven’t they come to us? Do they see us as a threat?”

“And what? You believe they were stealing Cameron away from Alric to protect him?” Gunter shot back incredulously.

Alric shook his head. “If that’s the case, they would have been better served simply talking to him. From what I saw, they had no interest in having a conversation with him. There was no gentleness in their handling of him.”

“What if they were sent by the Ice Clan?” Ravi suggested.

Dieter’s grey eyebrows shot straight to his hairline as he stared at the man. Lisette had made the same suggestion, which only made Alric sad. Yes, relations with the Ice Clan were generally strained. They heard rarely from the other clan, and while there was little love between them, it was hard to fathom the leader of the Ice Clan taking such evil steps.

“It’s no secret they are as desperate for mages as we are,” Ravi continued. “Maybe they’ve sent mages in our territory to spy, to steal away any mages who could join our clan. It’s far easier for a mage to hide in our lands than another dragon.”

Alric was already shaking his head. “No. We have no proof. With his clan desperate for mages as well, I can’t believe he would risk sending what few he has across the world to steal ours. This…this is something else, and we need to get to the bottom of it if we’re going to keep Cameron and any other mages safe. I’m addressing the clan today. It will be every dragon’s responsibility to protect all of our mages.”

“What about his sister?” Baldewin asked.

Alric frowned. “Cameron told her about the attempted kidnapping and warned her to take precautions. For now, I’m hoping these kidnappers don’t know Cameron’s name or about his family. He’s still learning to trust us. I don’t want to push too quickly, but I plan to broach the topic of bringing his sister to Burkhard.”

“If you want me to turn my charm on Cameron,” Ravi offered with a wide grin, “I would be happy to work my magic on the mage.” He relaxed in his chair and buffed his nails on his shirt.

It was on the tip of Alric’s tongue to snarl at Ravi that he didn’t want the young dragon anywhere near Cameron, but that would be wrong. Ravi could be Cameron’s mate, and he deserved a shot at discovering it.

“It’s probably best if you give him some space,” Baldewin chuckled, saving Alric the need to respond. “You’ve already scared him twice.”

“No!” Ravi cried.

“You can be overwhelming,” Gunter observed.

“And your dragon chased him,” Baldewin added.

Ravi sank a little lower in his chair, his face flushing. “I was excited,” he whispered.

“It’s fine, Ravi. He’s not scared of you,” Alric said, his heart going out to him. He could understand Ravi’s joy. Cameron was the first mage he was meeting outside of their clan. “Try speaking with him again tonight over dinner, alright? I think you haven’t crossed paths with him yet because he’s still wrapping his head around everything.”

“Luckily, Lisette has him well in hand on mages and magic,” Dieter interjected with a note of pride in his voice. Alric smiled. Dieter and Lisette had been married most of his life. With his own parents gone, they’d come to represent everything Alric dreamed of having with a mate—compassion, understanding, companionship, laughter, and love.

“And it is our job to make sure Cameron and all mages remain safe. Dieter, please reach out to the advisor for the Ice Clan. Request a meeting in regards to mages. I’ve sent an email to Rodrigo to inform him of the situation here, but we need a proper meeting to discuss matters. The discovery of Cameron and his family isn’t just good for the Fire Clan, but for all dragons and mages who might be hidden around the world. We need to share our knowledge.”