Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

Alric placed the pen he’d been making notes with on the desk blotter and straightened a little in his chair, hoping Cameron was heading to him for his daily visit and not simply passing by. Maybe he should step outside of his office, just casually run into him.

A low sigh slipped from his lips. He was pathetic. Ravi was right, he needed to be more proactive than this.

While he was still debating with himself, there was a soft knock on his door a second before it opened, and Cameron stuck his head inside, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Hi!” he said.

Alric jumped to his feet while his pulse soared. Cameron had been coming to see him. “Hello. How are you?” Inwardly, he winced. He sounded like a stiff idiot. Why couldn’t he be more relaxed and casual like Ravi? No, not like Ravi. Baldewin. Yes, Baldewin was far more personable.

“Good. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. Please come in.” Alric walked around his massive desk, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting.

Cameron’s smile grew as he stepped inside the room with his phone held in front of him. “Thanks. I was talking with Cassie, and I wanted to introduce you.”

“Oh,” Alric murmured, blinking in surprise. “Have you been introducing her to everyone in the castle?”

A beautiful blush stole across Cameron’s cheeks, and he pushed at his glasses with his free hand, adjusting them on his face. “No, I haven’t. Not yet anyway. I wanted her to meet you first.”

Alric’s dragon preened at the news. Not only was Cameron introducing him to his sister, but he was the first person Cameron had wanted to meet her.

“Hello! Turn the camera! I want to see him!” insisted a sharp voice.

Cameron jumped and quickly moved over to stand beside Alric so that their shoulders bumped into each other. Alric loved the crooked smile on Cameron’s lips, but it was the low “ooooo” that drew Alric’s eyes to the phone Cameron held out in front of them both.

Cassie Park was adorable with large brown eyes and short, bright blue hair. Her face was similarly shaped as Cameron’s but a little narrower. They were clearly siblings with the same nose and same mouth. And definitely the same animation when they were excited.

“Oh my, you are scrumptious. And I’m not just saying that. Men do not turn my crank in the least, but my god, if they did, I would be all over you like a monkey on a jungle gym. No wonder Cameron was happy to move into your castle.”

There was no stopping the blush that seared Alric’s cheeks, but he was more amused by the horrified noises coming out of Cameron. The mage jerked the phone so Cassie could only see him on the screen.

“What the hell!” Cameron screeched. “You said you were going to behave.”

Cassie snorted. “As if. We both know I was just saying that so you’d let me see him. Now turn that camera back. I see your face all the time. I want to see the pretty dragon.”

Cameron growled at his sister, while Alric sidled back up to Cameron. He carefully wrapped his left arm behind Cameron’s back and rested his hand lightly on his hip. With his right, he lightly gripped Cameron’s wrist, turning the phone so that they were both visible to Cassie. The mage was now practically wrapped in his arms. The sweet, floral smell of his shampoo mixed with hints of his soap and the wonderful heat of his body left Alric wanting to nuzzle his face into Cameron’s neck. But he locked his focus on Cameron’s sister.

“Yes, Cameron. Let your sister see the pretty dragon,” Alric teased in a low voice, his lips just inches from Cameron’s ear.

A muffled sound sort of like a whimper left Cameron while Cassie made more ooo-ing noises.

“You two are so cute together. And Cam, your face looks like you’re about to—”

“Cassie!” Cameron’s face became bright red, and his eyes were wide as he stared at his sister.

“I’m just saying—”

“No! No, you’re not saying anything.”

Alric chuckled. He definitely liked Cameron’s sister. “Cassie, it is an honor to meet you. Your brother has told me a great deal about you.”

“Anything that wasn’t positive, don’t believe. He’s a liar.”

Alric smiled at her. “All positive, I assure you.”

Cassie clucked her tongue. “Sexy and charming and a king and a dragon. You’ve just got it all.” She suddenly leaned close to the camera lens so her face filled the screen. “Are you sure you don’t have a sister?”

“No, no sister. I’m sorry. But you are welcome at Burkhard Castle at any time. I would be happy to introduce you to my clan.”

Cassie let out a high-pitched squee and bounced a little before looking at her brother. “Cam?” she prodded before biting her bottom lip.

Cameron sighed loudly and dropped his head to the side so it rested on Alric’s shoulder, his hair brushing against Alric’s. This. He never wanted Cameron to move from this spot. Couldn’t they just spend the rest of their lives exactly like this?