Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

He knew before the door even opened it was Cameron. The last time he’d caught his scent, but this time, it was a feeling. There was a tug deep in his soul, and he just knew Cameron was coming to check on him.

His dragon roared again. He didn’t want Cameron to see him like this. He didn’t want Cameron to steal away his fury. The anger and destruction were better, powerful.

The mage entered Alric’s chambers and closed the door behind him, his dark brown eyes worried as they swept around the room. They paused for a second on the vase shards in front of the empty fireplace, then moved on to Alric again.

“Hey.”

“It’s not a good time, Cameron,” Alric ground out in a low voice.

Cameron nodded, but still walked farther into the room. “Yeah, I got that when you stormed off, practically vibrating with anger. I thought you might want to talk about it.”

“Talk? What the hell is there to talk about?” Alric made a scoffing noise in the back of his throat and paced away from Cameron. “The Jaeggi are back, they are well aware of the Burkhard clan, and they are trying to kidnap you.” He still wanted to throw something, but not while Cameron’s eyes were on him. Even as he wanted to scream in frustration, he was trying to pack all his ugly emotions deep inside of him where no one could see them. It would be better if Cameron just left him alone.

“I thought we could talk about how I’m safe here in the castle. Or the fact the presence of the Jaeggi isn’t your fault. Or anything else that might be driving you to smash things.”

Alric shook his head. “I don’t want to talk. I…I just need time and space to think.”

“Uh-huh,” Cameron muttered. His tone made it perfectly clear he didn’t believe a damn word Alric was saying.

Alric swung back around, searching for some way to get Cameron to leave that wouldn’t result in him hurting his feelings. Before he could find any words that would sway the mage, he was knocked speechless by Cameron grabbing the bottom of his T-shirt and pulling it up over his head. He stood shocked at the sudden vision of beautiful smooth skin pulled over taut muscles with only the smallest sprinkling of hair below his belly button. With the chaos happening around them with the Jaeggi, the arrival of Cameron’s family, and other duties, they’d been able to spend only the one night together. Not nearly enough time for Alric to explore all of Cameron’s perfection.

“What?” he choked out.

Cameron smirked, toeing out of his shoes. “If you don’t want to talk, then we’re going to fuck.”

“What?” Alric repeated, because at this point, the blood had clearly stopped flowing to the speech center of his brain. He didn’t have any other words.

“We’re going to fuck the angry out of you,” Cameron said a little more slowly. The smirk turned into a wicked grin as he made quick work of his belt and jeans, shoving them down to the floor.

Alric clenched his teeth, barely resisting the urge to adjust himself in his pants as his dick awoke and started pressing against the front. Oh yes, it wanted to come out and play with Cameron very much, but this was not the time. “This isn’t a game, Cameron. You need to leave.”

“Nope, not leaving.” He pulled off his socks and tossed them onto the floor with the rest of his clothes and strolled across the room wearing only a pair of black cotton boxer briefs that accentuated his olive skin and his hardening cock. “And I know this isn’t a game.” He paused, his eyes widening for a second. “But we can make it one if you want.”

“Cam—” he started in warning, but the mage was already shaking his head, closing the distance between them.

“You need this. You’re angry, hurting, frustrated, and probably even scared. You think I can’t tell when you’re hurting? We haven’t known each other long, but I look at you and it’s like I know what you’re feeling, I know what you need.” Cameron reached out with one hand to place it against Alric’s cheek, but Alric’s right hand shot up in a flash, capturing his wrist in a tight, unyielding grip.

“And I’m still a dragon. Strong and dangerous. Even broken, I’m still strong enough to snap you in half. You need to leave.”

Cameron didn’t try to pull his arm free as he took another step closer. He leaned his head forward so that their noses nearly touched, and his breath brushed over Alric’s tightly pressed lips. When he spoke, his voice trembled, barely more than a whisper. “You are the strongest creature I have ever met. And I know you would never hurt me.”

Just the thought of anyone touching Cameron, bruising his perfect skin, wiping away his wonderful smile, sent a fresh shaft of pain through him to mix with his anger. No one could be allowed to hurt his Cameron. Not even the king of the Fire Clan dragons.