Page 105 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Dieter’s laugh was louder this time, and his smile lingered. It made him look younger in a way, his eyes brighter and the lines in his face shifting from worry to joy. “I suspected the first day when Alric returned to the castle after meeting you. He didn’t talk about a mage who would help our people. He talked about the man with hair that kept falling into his large brown eyes, who had the sparkling sense of humor and brilliant mind. When Alric talks about you, I see a glimpse of the young, happy man I knew prior to the war.”

Cameron was pretty comfortable with the idea that he was a mage and he could perform magic. He was finding himself, his true self, for the first time ever. Which involved moving to another country, learning another language and culture, and the whole shebang. All of that was huge enough on its own, but did Cameron stop there? No, he had to date someone on top of it all. And not just any man. No, his boyfriend-possibly-mate was KING of the FREAKING DRAGONS.

“But to answer your earlier question, they both sent me. Since it’s my job to help Alric think clearly and use reason when things feel overwhelming, they thought I might be able to do the same for you.”

“It’s too much,” Cameron complained on a sigh. He turned his gaze out his window, watching the rolling green countryside unfold just past the car as they drove down out of the mountains and into the valley that held Sonthofen. The air warmed a bit as they left the mountain and went into the valley. Enough that Dieter adjusted the car’s temperature.

“You can’t honestly tell me you’re surprised.”

Cameron groaned softly. “No, not exactly. I mean, I campaigned hard for him to date me. It’s not like I went into this blind, as it was mostly me to begin with. It just seems fast.”

“Some know right away. Your sister⁠—”

Cameron huffed a laugh. “Cassie is different. She’s always been different. She’s fearless. She has no problem jumping straight into something with a woman. Doesn’t seem to care if her heart’s gonna get stomped on. She just leaps.”

“Do you think Alric is going to stomp on your heart?”

Sighing, Cameron dropped his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. Would Alric intentionally hurt him? Never. There was zero doubt in his mind Alric would do anything and everything to keep him safe and happy. “No. No, it’s more the culmination of everything on top of what I feel for Alric. Which is a lot. Because choosing Alric means I’m immigrating to another country, learning a new culture, a new language—all of which is stressful and huge by itself—and to top that off, I’ll be gaining two new jobs. TWO. Because being a mage is only one job that I come with. Being Alric’s mate also means learning how to be a co-ruler of a clan, and that’s…whoa. Just a lot to take in all at once, you know?”

“I do not discount what you are saying, as you’re perfectly correct. It is a great deal to consider. But you’re wrong to think Alric would demand all of that from you at once.” Cameron opened his eyes to see Dieter give a little shake of his head. “You will have every ounce of support that he can give you, young mage. For that matter, the entire clan is behind you. I don’t want you to hesitate to choose Alric because you feel overwhelmed.”

“I can’t help feeling overwhelmed, Dieter. Like, that emotion isn’t easily shuffled off to the side.”

“I do understand. What I’m trying to convey is that you need to speak more candidly to Alric about this. Your hesitation with him has not gone unnoticed, and he fears you might have doubts. Or that you’re second-guessing your choice in him.”

Cameron jerked around in alarm. “What? What have I said that gave him that impression?”

“It’s not what you’ve said, but what you’ve failed to say. I believe Alric has known you are his mate since that first day, but he’s been terrified of making a mistake too similar to the one that cost him his family. Not to mention he doesn’t believe he deserves someone as perfect as you.”

A loud scoffing noise erupted from Cameron’s throat, and he shook his head. “I am not perfect.”

“True, but you are in Alric’s eyes.” Dieter paused, and his smile softened to something a little dreamy. “The same way I am sure no one is as perfect as Lisette.”

Insecurities. Cameron sometimes forgot those rode along in Alric’s brain, whispering evil things. He’d been so wrapped up in the huge consequences of his actions that he’d failed to really think about how Alric perceived all of this. Oh damn. He really didn’t mean to give the impression that he had doubts. Well, he did have a few, but they were perfectly natural and could be dealt with.

One doubt in particular reared its head. Cameron hoped and prayed that he and Alric were meant to be, but really, he had no baseline to guide him. How did the dragons and mages know? With such confidence? “When did you know Lisette was your mate?”

Dieter slowed the car for a particularly tight turn and lowered the visor against the glare of the sun. “It took a little while. I was young and brash. Best friend to the king of the Burkhard clan and his most trusted advisor, I was sure I knew everything. She was a young, know-it-all mage we’d met on a trip to England. We butted heads from the first moment. I was sure there was no one more insufferable and she thought the same of me. Every time we spoke, it was like thunder rumbled through the air. And yet, when it was time to leave, I couldn’t. My human brain was in denial, but my dragon knew she was mine. I had to take her home with me.”

“What about Lisette? Did she know?”

“Luckily, she did prove to be smarter than me.” Dieter looked over at Cameron and grinned broadly. “She’d figured it out. When I arrived at her home to ask her to return to Germany with me, she was already packed and waiting.”

Cameron snorted. Yeah, that sounded like Lisette. But his happiness was short lived. It drained away when he thought about being Alric’s mate, because it wasn’t just about being mate to a dragon. He would be the mate of the king. That was big. Huge. His talk with Lisette had helped him get perspective on that, but it was still hard to wrap his head around. Hell, his parents didn’t even trust him to manage his own life, making all the big decisions for him. And yet this clan was eager to have him as a leader? It really made no fucking sense.

“This is insane,” Cameron whispered.

“In what way?”

“In every way!” Cameron sucked in a harsh breath and threw his arms up in the air. “Don’t get me wrong. I love a good challenge. Love figuring things out, but I’m still learning how to be a mage. I feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Am I trying to take on too much at once? I mean, I’ve hurt Alric because I’m so wrapped up in my own head with the logistical issues of me moving here that I failed to realize he’s also struggling. I have to learn how to be a good mate, and not just any mate. I’m the mate for the freaking king. I don’t know how to be anyone’s mate, and it’s so much bigger when it comes to Alric. I don’t know what he needs. All of the clan and its future depends on him. I’m not as mature as he is and I’m really afraid I’m going to screw something up.”

When Cameron had finally run out of words, he had to wonder if Dieter had actually heard him. The dragon’s smile had never wavered. This was important shit! How could he not take him seriously?

“Cameron, being a mate doesn’t change because Alric’s the king. You’re first and foremost a mate to Alric the man. And from what I’ve seen, you’ve already been a wonderful mate to him.” Cameron snorted, but Dieter continued. “I’ve seen Alric smile and laugh more in the past three weeks than I have in the past five centuries. He’s lighter and happier because of you, even when you’re not around. He makes jokes. Teases his friends. And the fact he didn’t order the guards to raze the Jaeggi town is thanks to your positive influence. The dark shadow that has enveloped him since the death of his parents has finally retreated. The first duties of a mate are to bring joy and comfort. You’ve done that.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Cameron sank into his seat. He turned that over in his head for a moment. “Is it really that easy? You guys keep telling me how different he is, but…I mean, he’s ridiculously easy to please. I feel like I’m not really putting much effort into this. Even the simple things I do make him happy. It actually worries me, how little he asks of me.”

“What about Alric? Is he being a good mate to you? It’s not just about his needs. Has he failed as your mate?”