Breath (Scales 'n' Spells 2)

Tori would dearly love to have that verified one way or another. Right now, he had only Baldewin’s word for it. Getting a second verification on that would be great. Tori would like to know for sure if he needed to really watch his back or not.

Leon gave his companion a bland look. “You hear about it?”

“Nein,” the companion said with a shake of the head. He seemed to find his companion’s question a little funny. “Maybe dragons try to scare him?”

Tori looked between them, finding their reactions a little strange. Like there was some inside joke he was missing. “Well, maybe they were.”

“Good thing you didn’t go with them, ja?” Leon said with a toothy smile. “You came to us instead.”

Tori sat in an empty seat near the two Jaeggi mages, trying to ignore the growing sense of unease in the pit of his stomach. They were acting off, but he wasn’t sure if there was something he genuinely needed to worry about or if Baldewin’s words had just gotten into his head and were making him paranoid.

Both men were watching him closely enough that he could practically feel their eyes crawling over his skin; they acted as if they expected him to bolt from his seat and run.

Why would he run? He needed their help. They were all mages. Why wouldn’t they help each other?

But something rang hollow in his chest when he thought of their furtive looks and weird comments. They didn’t feel particularly helpful, and there was something strange about their magical auras. They looked…off, though he wasn’t quite sure how to describe it. He certainly wasn’t going to ask and risk insulting them.

If he could just get the supplies he needed, then he would get the hell out of there and find some other mages to use as a resource. He hated to think it, but he didn’t trust these two, which was a shame. While his own clan was a bust, he wanted to believe he could find some mages he could actually trust.

Frowning, he gazed down the train car, his eyes lightly skimming over the scattering of people who filled the neat, plastic benches. He jolted slightly at the sight of Baldewin in the little window that looked into the next car. The dragon appeared as if he was trying to open the door so he could cross into Tori’s.

Tori froze, his eyes locked with Baldewin’s worried ones. Had he noticed Tori had found a pair of mages? Would he try to bring them back to the castle as well?

Strange emotions roiled through him, and his hands clenched on his knees. Was he jealous? Afraid that Baldewin would want them more than him because they were likely much more skilled at magic?

Nonsense. It was all nonsense and bullshit. He didn’t want Baldewin to want him, to choose him over other mages. Didn’t want to go with Baldewin. Didn’t want to be near any dragons. Right?

He was better off on his own. After getting the ingredients he needed, he’d leave. He didn’t need anyone.

“Hey,” Leon Jaeggi called. Tori’s head jerked around to see the man lift his chin toward the car doors. “Our stop.”

Tori nodded and glanced toward the door where he’d spotted Baldewin, but the dragon wasn’t there anymore. He leaned a little to the side, trying to see around the people who were already moving toward the exit, but he couldn’t see Baldewin’s massive form. More ninja dragon shit.

Tori rose and crossed toward the doors with the other mages behind him. It was on the tip of his tongue to mention the dragon, but the words wouldn’t leave his mouth. Why? Dragons might not be the evil liars he’d been raised to believe, but that didn’t mean he could trust Baldewin and what he said. Why not tell Leon and his friend?

Because as much as he didn’t trust Baldewin, the dragon never made him feel like he was in danger. Baldewin hadn’t threatened him. Hadn’t given him a single reason to fear for his life.

The two mages standing behind him…he couldn’t say the same.

That didn’t make any sense. Why was he getting this feeling? Why couldn’t he trust them?

And why the hell was he now relying on a dragon to watch his back?

Tori shoved a hand through his hair and scratched his scalp in irritation. Escaping his clan was supposed to be the hard part. Hiding in Helsinki, finding a job, starting a new life—that was all supposed to be an exciting adventure and a step toward getting what he wanted. Freedom. Respect. Happiness.

What he had instead was one giant dragon-shaped headache.

“You okay?” the nameless mage demanded.

“Yeah, headache,” Tori muttered. He silenced his own worries and the nagging voice in the back of his mind. He’d just focus on the task at hand. He didn’t need anyone—dragon or mage—watching his back.