Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“How’s Dieter? And Warin?”

“Both in pain and a little shaken, but fine. They were recovered enough to join the fight.”

“Thank fuck. They were down for the count when I was taken.” Cameron heaved out a relieved breath.

Alric’s eyes roved over him again, drinking in the sight of him hale and unharmed. Right now, he had a handsome man he wanted to reconnect with in every way possible. He knew how to tease Cameron a little and trailed a hand up the man’s thigh. “If you don’t mind, I want to examine you for myself.”

Cameron gave him a hopeful look. “Sexy examine?”

“Is there any other kind?”

“With you? I fucking hope not. We’ll figure this out. I promise. Let’s go back, okay? We’ve got wounded to tend to.”

“You speak wise counsel to me, Liebling.” Alric sighed. He was in pain from landing hard on his left arm, tired from the magical draw Cameron had demanded of him—not that he blamed him for that one iota—and in need of just a few minutes reassuring himself that every hair on Cameron’s head was still there.

And maybe a stiff Scotch.

The battle, for today at least, was over. It was time to do cleanup so they could go home. It wouldn’t happen quickly, what with the building and general area on fire, people injured and in need of care. Alric would need to shelve his own pain long enough to attend to everyone else.

Even as he opened his mouth to do so, Cameron handed him over to Baldewin. “Take him, get some salve on him. Alric, take five, I’ve got this. Carla! Can you be fire control, we gotta get this put out before it spreads!”

Alric watched his lover go ahead of him, calling out questions to people, starting triage, forming people into work teams to handle the damage. He did it effortlessly, as if he’d led and commanded others for years. Alric knew he’d been nervous about leading the clan, that he’d had doubts about his ability to do so well. But in the thick of the action, there was no doubt in Cameron’s mind. No hesitation in his orders or movements.

“Look at him,” Alric sighed to Baldewin in true pleasure. “He’s a natural at this. I knew he would be.”

“He’s a people person, of course he’s good at leading,” Baldewin snorted. “We all knew he’d be fine once he got a feel for the clan. And look, he’s not even ordering so much as asking people what they’re doing, and they’re the ones choosing tasks, playing to their strengths. You did well picking that one, Alric.”

“That I did,” Alric agreed, still beyond pleased. He could watch his Cameron in action all day.

“I, for one, intend to follow his orders.” Baldewin hauled him off to sit on a nearby section of rubble. “Let’s get you tended to before Cameron realizes I haven’t done my job and comes back to bite my head off.”

“Baldewin, are you more scared of my mate then you are of me?”

Baldewin pulled out the salve from his pocket, already unstopping the lid. He gave Alric a flat look. “He just stopped a magical attack by multiple mages. By himself. Frankly, Hoheit, he’s terrifying.”

Alric beamed in response. “Isn’t he? I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Wounded or not, Cameron was damn sure Lisette was going to smack Alric if he complained one more time about her “needless fluttering.” After the smoke and dust settled, they piled the mages into cars while the dragons took to the air. They counted bodies and took note of how many Jaeggi Clan members were left behind. It still left the question of how many managed to escape. Their only lead for tracking them down was the town the Jaeggi had claimed as their own. The Jaeggi needed to be eliminated now before they went after another mage.

“Lisette—” Alric said sharply, but he didn’t get any further.

The mage sat up and narrowed her eyes at him. “Go ahead. I dare you, Eure Majestät. Say ‘you’re fine’ one more time. I swear you won’t be by the time you finish getting the words out.”

Alric’s mouth fell open and laughter erupted from Cameron, but even that was quickly silenced when Lisette turned her glare on Cameron. She was not screwing around.

Cameron cleared his throat and gently placed his hand under Alric’s chin, closing his mouth. He turned Alric’s face toward him while Lisette continued to work on healing Alric’s numerous wounds and aching muscles. None of them were particularly serious, but they were taking no chances with their beloved king.

“Honey, let her take care of her king,” Cameron said softly. He let his fingers drift up Alric’s cheek and comb through his hair. “It makes her feel better to be able to care for you. Reassures all of your clan that you are safe and protected.”