Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“That’s sweet of you, Dieter. Sure. Um, while you’re doing that, can you buy one for Halmeoni?” Cassie rolled her eyes a little. “She’s already packed and on her way over here. She said if I’m going to see you guys, she is too.”

“Of course. I’ve brought my laptop up with me.” Dieter held the slim silver casing up in illustration. “And I can buy your tickets at the same time.”

Cameron would rather not have his grandmother there while they interrogated a bad guy, but there was no stopping the woman. He’d already had this argument with her and lost. Halmeoni was far, far too excited about all of this.

A knock sounded on Cassie’s door and she abruptly stood up and demanded, “Password!”

Baldewin, bless him, played along like a champ. “All dragons are sexy.”

The picture on the phone jerked as Cassie jogged for the door. She opened it wide, and Cameron caught snatches of Baldewin and Sasha entering. “Thanks for coming so quickly. That stalker bastard is in the living room. He woke up about an hour ago.”

“Has he said anything?” Sasha asked in her low alto voice.

“Hasn’t had a chance,” Cassie replied. “And hello, I didn’t get your name?”

“I’m Sasha.”

Cameron rolled his eyes. He could hear it in Cassie’s voice. His sister had just decided Sasha was yummy beyond words.

“Cassie, if you don’t mind, we’d like to test you first.”

“Yeah, of course. I want to know if I’m a mage too.”

Cameron heard his door click open, Alric and Lisette joining them in his sitting room. Alric strode directly to him, leaning over his other shoulder, his hand warm as it cupped the top of Cameron’s arm. It felt good to have him in contact like this. Cameron appreciated it and leaned into the man. Alric was comforting and grounding in a way that he needed. Frankly, Cameron had been through enough of a roller coaster over the last several hours. Some stability would be nice.

And Alric was definitely that.

Lisette hissed out a breath. “Another mage, as we suspected.”

Cassie’s voice rose in excitement. “So the glow means I pass? Awesomesauce. Oh man, that almost makes up for this idiot. But does that mean he came after me because I’m also a mage?”

“Let’s ask him and find out.” Sasha stalked into view and then out of it again, heading supposedly for the man still duct taped on the floor.

“Cass, prop the phone up so we can see the room,” Cameron requested. “We’re having trouble following what’s going on over here.”

“Yeah, sure, hang on.” The phone was set down on a table, then adjusted a little to be propped up, the view changing as she moved it. “There. Good?”

“That’ll work, thanks.”

They collectively held their breath as Sasha removed the duct tape over the man’s mouth. Cassie had been very thorough in securing the man. He looked like a duct tape sushi roll. And panicked—the whites of his eyes clearly visible as he looked up at the two dragons leaning over him.

Baldewin propped him up so he could speak a little easier before asking, “Why are you here? How did you find her?”

No answer.

Frowning, he repeated himself in German. Still no answer. He switched languages three more times, and the man stared at him but didn’t respond. Didn’t even try to speak.

“I think he understands you fine.” Alric leaned in a little more, his voice flat with anger. “He just doesn’t want to answer.”

Baldewin cracked his neck to either side. “Oh, I can make him answer. He might not like my methods, though.”

The man paled, wriggling futilely against the duct tape. He hadn’t the leverage to get it off, and it ended with him falling sideways again with a thump.

“I’ll get Cheryl.” Cassie went for the baseball bat lying nearby. “If we’re getting violent, I get first crack at this asshole. I’ll show you what it’s like to be at the mercy of others, you fucking bastard.”

Lisette abruptly leaned over, grabbing the phone and snapping out, “BACK AWAY FROM HIM, NOW!”

Wait, what? Cameron had no chance to ask for an explanation.

Neither Baldewin or Sasha hesitated. They immediately dove for cover, Sasha snatching up Cassie as she moved and taking her swiftly away. Cassie gibbered out a half-spoken protest and then they were all out of sight. In less than a second, Cameron understood Lisette’s order and alarm. The duct-taped guy lit up, magic in clear use, but it was wrong. All of it was wrong, not like the magic Cameron had seen. That he himself had performed. It was obviously unbalanced, the light twisting and writhing instead of flowing outwards, and it didn’t move smoothly. Instead, it seemed to furl back in on the caster, and it imploded with a dull thud.

The man jerked once, doubling in on himself, then flopped with all the life of a dead fish.