Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

Gripping the edge of the table, Cameron forced himself to draw in several deep breaths through his nose and released them out through his mouth. He slowed his heart and tried to calm the fear attempting to cloud his mind. Even if he couldn’t reach Alric’s magic, it didn’t mean Alric wasn’t out there. His dragon was coming for him. Cameron was just trying to even the odds and give the Burkhard clan the advantage.

When he’d centered himself as much as he could, Cameron tentatively reached out along the path he knew was there. The connection was instantaneous. Cameron gasped and slapped his hand over his mouth to hold in the relieved sob that broke from his throat. Alric. His beautiful, perfect Alric. He tried to just sip a little power, but with the first touch, it slammed into him like a massive ocean wave. It was as if Alric had sensed his touch and rushed to him. Even now, it wrapped tightly around him. Cameron clenched his eyes shut, holding onto the mental image of Alric wrapping his strong arms around Cameron. Feelings of relief, fear, and love swamped him. He tried to send back love and reassurances that he was okay. He needed Alric to know he was loved, just in case things went horribly wrong and he never got the chance to say them to his face. Alric had to know how much Cameron loved him.

Reluctantly, Cameron opened his eyes and reassured himself that his guards weren’t rushing in to stop him. He didn’t know if they could sense his magical connection to Alric or if this was all part of their plan for him as bait. He didn’t care. He was busting out of this place, and if he managed to take out some of the building and some of the Jaeggi Clan, then so be it.

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Cameron set to work creating his evil little bombs while maintaining the open line between him and Alric. It was like having his lover’s hand resting on his shoulder, always there with him.

And soon, they would be together again in person.

Because nobody fucked with his dragon.

Unadulterated panic thrummed through Alric like a heartbeat. It writhed in his chest, demanded immediate action. The instinct was so strong that he had to battle it back. Panicking wouldn’t help Cameron. Wouldn’t help Alric find him.

Right now, more than anything, Alric needed to be a king. Not a lover, frantic for his young mage’s safety.

So even though his inner dragon beat and raged at him to move, he didn’t. He stayed calm and tried to think logically of the best way to find his missing heart. “Baldewin, have Lisette start seeking spells immediately. If she can’t focus”—entirely possible, she was worried about Dieter and distracted—“then get someone else.”

Baldewin gave him a sharp nod and turned, heading off at a run through the hallway.

Ha Na passed him, at as fast of a run as she could manage, her face constricted with worry. “Alric. I heard something about Cameron being taken?”

“Ja,” Alric said thickly. God, this was hard to say. “He was taken while out with Dieter and Warin. An ambush. We’re doing seeking spells now to find him.”

Ha Na’s dark eyes blazed with fury. That wasn’t metaphorical, either. Magic sparked all around her as her temper snapped. “Who’s doing the spell?”

“Lisette, I hope. Baldewin is arranging it.”

Without another word, she turned with military precision and hurried back down the hall. Alric was glad she was so quick to move. Cameron’s blood sample should be able to narrow the spell’s seeking radius. After all, they would have direct blood to work with. He could spare no worry for either Dieter or Warin just then. They were shaky and in pain, but would recover quickly. His concern had to be for Cameron now, who had no such guarantee.

Alric breathed out, forcing himself to slow down and think. Dragons. He needed to assemble a rescue party. He yanked his phone out of his pocket, calling Ravi.

“Hoheit,” Ravi answered, for once terse and upset instead of sounding cheerful.

“Ravi, I need a rescue party. Form one up, we’re moving in ten minutes.”

“Already forming, Hoheit. Basically, the entire clan has heard by now what’s going on, and they’re all gathering in the courtyard, just waiting on a direction.”

Alric’s eyes fluttered shut for a second under an intense wave of gratitude. He’d known no one would take a missing clan member lightly. “I’ll thank them in a moment.”

“You know how we roll. If anyone threatens one of us, we all roll initiative.”

“Ravi. Did you—did you just make a DnD joke? Now, of all times?”

“I was trying to make you laugh and ease the tension. It worked.”

“I didn’t laugh.” But Alric had almost smiled, for a moment. Until the tension of the situation came back like a sledgehammer to the back of his head.