Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“My dragon is fine,” Alric said in a hard voice, hoping to end Dieter’s line of questions. He didn’t shift often. According to Dieter, it was far too infrequently. But shifting was only a painful reminder of what he’d lost. Dragons were meant to fly, to soar high above the world and feel the wind rushing past his face.

But Alric couldn’t fly. It had been five hundred years since he’d last flown, and he could feel each one of those days etched in his dragon’s soul.

For the most part, his dragon had been content to curl up deep inside of him and let the world pass him by. The only exception to that was Cameron. It grew harder by the day to ignore his dragon’s demands where Cameron was concerned. Alric might well have to let his dragon out soon just so it would stop fussing so much.

Right now, those demands were to gather all of the dragons in Burkhard Castle and lay waste to the entire town. Only its total destruction would mean Cameron and his family were safe from these mages.

“Cameron is safe,” Dieter murmured, his voice low and soothing. “He and his family are safe in the castle. They had a lovely breakfast with the clan this morning. A fun one, apparently, as there was a great deal of teasing and laughter. Though…I understand they had a little trouble locating Cameron this morning.”

Alric turned enough to glare at his advisor. “Don’t,” he warned.

Dieter smiled at him in return. “We only want your happiness.”

“I will not discuss Cameron, and you can inform everyone else who is concerned about my happiness that we are not to be a topic of castle gossip.”

Dieter bowed his head, his smile still not disappearing. “Of course, Eure Majestät.”

Not that Alric believed for a second the gossip would end right there. The appearance of three mages after so many years was of great interest to everyone. The only thing of more interest was who would prove to be their mates. Alric wasn’t letting himself think about that issue any longer. He only wanted to enjoy the time he had with Cameron while he could.

Those moments were growing more and more precious to him with each passing day. It wasn’t just the incredible sex or the fact Cameron didn’t give a damn about his scars. Alric had seen and felt quite clearly that Cameron was attracted to him.

No, it was waking up this morning wrapped in his arms, their naked skin pressed together. It was being lucky enough to see Cameron’s very first smile of the day and knowing he’d caused it. He was allowed to see Cameron naked, skin flushed with desire and joy. His hair had been perfectly disheveled, and those wide brown eyes stared only at him. For just a few minutes, he’d been Cameron’s entire world, and it had been heaven.

Was it greedy to want to start every morning the same way?

Probably.

But it wasn’t greedy to want Cameron safe and secure at all times.

Unrealistic maybe, but not greedy.

Alric’s phone started ringing, and he nearly jumped out of his skin, he’d been so deep in thought about Cameron. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered the call, immediately switching it over to speaker when the caller ID came up as Gunter.

“Where are you?” Alric immediately demanded.

“Getting the hell out of that town,” Gunter replied. He sounded out of breath, which was strange since he was supposed to be in a car and not running around the town in question on foot.

“What’s going on? Were you attacked?”

“No. Worse.”

Alric looked over at Dieter, who only shook his head, a matching look of confusion on his face. Calm, collected Gunter wasn’t making any sense at all.

“Gunter, what’s going on? What happened?”

“We found out who’s after Cameron and all the mages. It’s the Jaeggi.”

Alric’s mouth fell open as his brain locked up at that single word. He’d never thought he’d hear it again. Alric locked his eyes on Dieter’s wide grey ones, willing him to say something that would prove Alric had misheard Gunter. But his old friend was no help. The dragon was pale and shaking his head as if in denial.

“Gunter, can you repeat that? I think we misheard you. Did you say Jaeggi?”

“Yes. Jaeggi. The clan that destroyed our lives. That killed thousands of dragons. The bastards who wiped out nearly all the mages. The Jaeggi are living in that town. Their bloody name is scrawled on dozens of business signs.”

“Dieties preserve us,” Dieter whispered in horror-filled tones.

“Where you spotted?” Alric demanded.

“I…I don’t think so. We weren’t exactly cautious about entering the town, but we quickly turned around as soon as we spotted the signs.”

Alric nodded. “Get back here as quickly as possible. I’m sending out dragons as an escort. Don’t stop for anything. Do you hear me? Don’t stop.” Alric stared at Dieter, and his advisor was already nodding and starting for the door. “Baldewin and his people will be in the air in a matter of minutes.”