Page 110 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

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.

“Hoheit, he’s alright. You know that.”

“I do. I can feel him still.” And likely pissed off, if he knew Cameron. His lover was not the fainting damsel in distress.

Ravi huffed out a breath of relief. “Oh good. Alright, I think basically everyone is formed up here. Uh, how worried are we about people seeing us?”

“Fuck that noise,” Alric bit off succinctly.

Ravi cackled. Outright cackled. “I’m so going to tell people you said that later. Hey guys, he said fuck it, just go!”

An instantaneous roar rang outside, loud enough it shook the castle. Alric’s own dragon shook in response. Yes, the time for laying low had passed. Dragons had always fought for what they wanted and burned their enemies without remorse. Right now, a little burning sounded good for the soul.

Alric stalked through the nearest courtyard door. The dragons were indeed ready to go, most of them already having shifted forms. He took in the sight of them as he moved. They were perched along the roofs, stretched out over the gables, their wings half unfurled, ready to take into the air at the first notice. It was like the roof was carpeted in a sea of red. Others milled about the courtyard, unable to stand still as they waited for orders. All eyes were on him as he stepped outside, and Alric raised his voice to reach every corner of the courtyard.

“They’re doing a seeking spell now. As soon as we have a direction, we’ll fly!”

Sasha stepped in closer to him and ducked her head. “Hoheit, I’ll be honored to fly you in.”

Before he could get his mouth open, Ravi’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Thanks, Sasha. I’ve got him. Be my wingwoman?”

“Sure.” Sasha checked with her eyes that this was alright with Alric, and he gave her a nod. That was fine by him.

Alric very rarely had anyone fly him anywhere. It was too painful and a little humiliating. But right now, his feelings didn’t matter. Getting to Cameron as swiftly as possible, that was the priority. And there was nothing faster than Ravi. A car could never keep up with his speed.

His phone rang, and Alric answered it before it could finish the first ring. Baldewin. “Where?”

“He’s in Sonthofen, in the Ordensburg. They’re not precisely sure what building.”

The choice made sense. The Ordensburg had been built back in the Third Reich, a military barracks meant for training. It was a highly defensible compound, as it had five buildings formed up around a very large courtyard—a kill box, in other words. It was a good defensive position for the Jaeggi to take, and smart of them to use something readily at hand. They had to have known they couldn’t get far before Alric would be on top of them.

But Alric had already fought through a war, and he was not stupid about tactics. A kill box only worked if one went into it.

And Alric had no intention of doing so. He turned his head and called out, “The Ordensburg! But do not land in the center courtyard, it is sure to be filled with traps.”

A roar of acknowledgement, and then the dragons were off, their wings beating hard against the air, sending currents swirling in all directions. Ravi shifted quickly, almost roughly, he pushed his dragon so hard. He was barely settled when Alric went directly to his chest, situating there against Ravi’s hand. His jokester bodyguard for once had no wisecrack on his lips. He held Alric carefully, and close, as he launched hard into the sky. Alric found himself praying as Ravi’s wings lifted them.