Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

While he didn’t seem to be struggling with the dragon part of things, it appeared the idea of mages and Cameron’s own place in this world wasn’t clicking yet. When those final puzzle pieces fell into place in Cameron’s mind, Alric wasn’t sure if he should expect excitement or horror. He prayed for the former but wouldn’t count on it.

Picking up a spoon, he once again stirred his untouched tea. He glanced over at Cameron’s teacup to find it still full, and his brownie sat untouched on the plate. If Ravi had just waited, he might have been able to fill Cameron with chocolate, making him more malleable.

Right now, Cameron was listening to Baldewin talk about how few of the Fire Clan still existed. Not words he trusted himself to say without a heavy dose of bitterness. The shrinking of his people was thanks to his own failings. If his father was still alive, he would have found a way to locate the missing mages much more quickly. He would have kept the pervasive feeling of hopelessness at bay.

But after five hundred years, Alric struggled with feeling as if he were still racing to catch up with where he should be. Always a step behind, and his people were the ones who paid the price for all his inadequacies.

Today, that was all going to change.

Cameron was here now, and he even had a sister. They’d located two mages. If he could speak to Cameron’s grandmother, then she might be able to remember other people who could be linked to the Noh Clan. At long last, they had a thread to follow, and it could save them all.

It all started with Cameron. He had to understand his importance to them all.

“I just…I can’t believe this,” Cameron whispered in shock. “Has the Fire Clan always been in this area?” Thrusting his fingers through his hair, he tightly gripped his lovely silken locks and pulled. “I don’t remember reading that in my dragon studies class in high school. Damn that final’s phenomena. I swear I’ve forgotten ninety percent of what I learned in class.”

Baldewin chuckled, and a part of Alric wanted to send his old childhood friend away. Having Cameron all to himself yesterday had been an exciting dream Alric wasn’t ready to give up. That was unrealistic, though. He couldn’t monopolize him and shouldn’t try. Alric knew in his bones that Cameron was a mate to one of the Fire Clan. Quite possibly Ravi, considering their similar playfulness and his clan’s history of matching with the Wind Dragon Clan.

Or maybe Gunter. The royal researcher had a logical mind just like Cameron. A good leader would be sending for Gunter right this second so they could meet and learn more about each other.

“Hoheit?”

Alric’s head snapped up, and he straightened to find both Baldewin and Cameron watching him with questioning looks.

“Is everything well?” Baldewin asked, his eyes dipping to Alric’s hand.

Alric glanced down to find he’d bent the spoon he’d been holding nearly in half. Embarrassing. Forcing what was likely an unconvincing smile on his lips, Alric surreptitiously straightened the spoon again. “Forgive me. I was lost in thought for a moment. You were saying?”

“Baldewin was saying that Ravi is the only member of the Wind Clan living among the Fire Clan. That he was adopted at the end of the war. Is that normal?”

Alric shook his head. “Before the war, no. But the Dragon War and all its devastating consequences changed many things for us.” The fire in Alric’s chest was banked under the weight of loss that came with speaking about the war. “The various dragon clans didn’t always get along.”

Baldewin snorted. “The Fire and Ice Clans have never been too keen on each other.”

A small smile tilted up one corner of Alric’s mouth. “Still aren’t.” He looked over at Cameron and shrugged his right shoulder. “We don’t actively war…not anymore, but our clans have never been great friends. We’ve been accused of being impulsive hotheads.”

Cameron snickered as Alric had hoped. “I really can’t imagine anyone calling you impulsive. You seem to be very organized and have everything planned out.” Cameron narrowed his eyes, his smile growing. “I bet you even plan out what you’re going to wear for the entire week.”

Alric’s mouth fell open, and the room exploded with Baldewin’s laughter. His dear old friend rocked back in the chair, tears glistening in his eyes as he laughed. Even Cameron chuckled as he settled against the cushions of his chair, seeming to relax for the first time since arriving at the castle.

“I’m not quite that bad,” Alric said stiffly.

Baldewin wiped at the corner of his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “But I think you would be if we left you to your own devices for too long.”

Cameron made a low, tsking noise. “That sounds very un-Fire dragony.”