Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“It just takes time. We’ll get there or we won’t,” Cameron said on a sigh. “In the meantime, I have been made an official member of the Burkhard clan. Alric said you’ll both be meeting the clan tomorrow, and there will be a celebration of sorts. Tonight, he wanted to give you a chance to relax and rest.”

“Such a sweet, thoughtful dragon,” Halmeoni murmured. The woman was not helping. It was better to change the subject completely.

Cameron sat up enough to look over at his sister. “What about mom and dad? Why didn’t they come?”

Cassie snorted. “You know how dad is when he’s in the middle of a major project. And it’s not like he ever believed in magic in the first place. Definitely not when it came to our family. It’s not like mom’s going to leave his side either.”

“But if it’s not safe—”

“They’ll be fine,” Halmeoni said calmly. She dropped her feet to the floor and leaned toward Cameron. “Baldewin had this wonderful amulet that he waved at both of them, but it didn’t glow like it did for Cassie and me.”

Cameron grunted. He couldn’t say that he was particularly surprised that his parents weren’t mages, but it would have been nice if they’d come so he could be sure they were safe. “They were tested and neither are mages. At this point, they’re not really in danger. The kidnappers are only interested in mages.”

“There’s no reason for those evil bastards to go after your parents,” Halmeoni agreed. “Not in that sense.”

Cameron agreed but didn’t. “But they might be evil enough to use our parents as hostages. I’ll ask Alric to send them guards, just in case.” He pulled out his phone and texted the request. To his surprise, he received an answer immediately.

We’re sending two out in the next hour as a precaution. Please notify your parents of this.

“Alric’s already planning on sending someone.” Smart king. Then again, he was likely more aware of how devious the enemy could be. “We’ll need to alert the parents they’re coming.

Halmeoni shrugged. “We’ll need to speak with your parents soon anyway. They want you to Skype them so they can check on you. For some reason, they’ve still got it stuck in their heads that you’re going to go back in a month and start one of those new jobs you’ve been offered.”

Snatching up one of the throw pillows, Cameron pressed it to his face and groaned. This was his own fault. He had not made it clear that he had no intention of leaving Germany. Hell, there was no way he was leaving Burkhard castle without Alric. But in his own defense, he’d been afraid to believe any of this was permanent until he’d been made a part of the clan.

He knew it down in his soul that this was where he was meant to be. His life was supposed to be about magic, protecting this clan, and if he was very lucky, protecting Alric.

“I’ll call them,” Cameron said, his voice muffled by the pillow.

He needed to bite that bullet soon. There was little doubt in his mind that his parents weren’t going to understand this. At least, not right away.

They’d been so careful to set his life on this path to success. He’d just finished getting his master’s degree. Once he started his new job, the next steps were a house of his own and a husband, followed quickly with one child and then two years later, a second child. For his parents, that was the road to happiness. They would not understand any deviation on Cameron’s part.

Cameron had always known his happiness didn’t lead down this road, but he’d never known how to tell them because he hadn’t been sure how to find his happiness. At least, not until he’d met Alric and the dragons of Burkhard Castle.

“They’ll understand…eventually,” Halmeoni said softly.

Cameron grunted and moved the pillow behind his head. They would. His parents loved him and only wanted his happiness. It just wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.

“But on to more important things,” Cassie announced. Cameron twisted on the sofa to see her sitting up in the middle of his bed. “When do we start learning magic?”

Halmeoni sat up straighter as well and clapped her hands. “Yes! When do we learn magic? I plan to become the most powerful mage this castle has ever seen.”

Cameron chuckled. Yep, he was back to being chopped liver, but he couldn’t blame them. He’d been the same way. “Tomorrow. Lisette has been training me to use magic, and I’m sure she’s going to be training you both as well. She’s a wonderful teacher.”

“Are you sure we can’t start right now?” Halmeoni prodded. “I’m not feeling the least bit tired.”

“Me neither,” Cassie piped up.

“Tomorrow,” Cameron said firmly. “We need to call the parents tonight and that’s not a short conversation. And with magic, there’s a lot to learn, and you need to rest while you can. Enjoy the fact that you’re in a castle surrounded by real, live dragons.”