Page 237 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Common sense said that it would still be another day or so before that could even happen, but some part of him needed to hear it. He needed to hear that he was going home with his mate, and they were going to live a wonderful life together away from the chaos of the Taavi and the Jaeggi.

As Tori recovered and felt comfortable standing on his own again, Gunter ran to the SUV to fetch the satchel of supplies. Stabilizing the wounded mage was much easier this time, thanks to all the elements they had on hand, as well as two more mages to balance the duties.

Markku’s color improved and warmth started to return to his skin. The moment it was safe, his unconscious form was handed over to one of the Valerii bodyguards in his dragon form. It would be faster to fly him back to his clan where his treatment could continue. Ravi volunteered to accompany him to help watch over the mage and carry back the news of what had happened.

The remaining dragons helped load the mages into the SUV, while Alric slid behind the wheel.

“You know I can drive,” Cameron offered.

“I think I’ve experienced enough of your driving for one day. You can rest, my mage,” Alric said, brushing a kiss across his jaw, but Cameron didn’t look fooled.

“I’m beginning to think you find my driving scarier than facing down the Jaeggi.”

“And you would be correct.”

Cameron dramatically threw his hands up into the air as he marched over to the passenger side of the SUV. But Tori didn’t miss the smile lurking on Cameron’s lips. The mage was clearly laughing on the inside.

Baldewin pulled Tori back into his arms while they watched Tanja and Panu climb into the third row of seats in the SUV. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather fly with me?”

“I wish I could.” Tori tilted his head back against Baldewin’s chest so he could look up at him. “Your dragon is magnificent.”

Baldewin groaned. “That’s it. Now he’s preening.”

“He deserves to preen. He is gorgeous. The loveliest dragon I’ve ever seen.”

There was a low rumble from Baldewin’s chest, almost like purring. Baldewin’s dragon was very happy indeed.

“I’m never going to hear the end of this.”

“I can’t fly with you—at least not while awake—but we can go up into the mountains when we get home. We can lounge in the sun together.”

Baldewin bent and captured his lips in a slow kiss, seeming reluctant to end it. “That is a date.”

Tori stepped away from Baldewin, and his stomach did a happy little flip as Baldewin shifted into a massive dragon with deep, rosewood red scales and enormous wings. The dragon winked at him and then launched himself into the air. While he might not be comfortable flying with his mate, he would never stop being in awe of the dragon.

He jumped into the SUV, and they took off at a more responsible pace with Alric behind the wheel. Tori sighed deeply as he sank low in his seat. Evora was also slumped, looking as exhausted as he felt. Tori might have used a great deal of power from Baldewin, but he was still drained from the extensive spell casting. He’d never slung so many spells back to back. The only thing he wanted was a nap—not that he was going to get that any time soon, as they headed straight for the Taavi village.

“Tori? Tori?” Tanja said in a low whisper.

Tori blinked his eyes open, not even realizing he’d closed them. He shifted in his seat to see Tanja and Panu looking utterly confused and maybe even a little scared.

“The dragons…where did the dragons come from?”

The angry, hurt part of Tori wanted to turn his back on them. While Tanja and Panu had never personally done anything to him, they were still part of a clan that had hated and tormented him his entire life.

But this entire trip had been about setting the record straight and finding a way to bridge the gap between the dragons and the Taavi. There were still too many mages and dragons in the world without mates.

Sighing deeply, Tori sat up and twisted around in his seat so he could face them. “The red dragons are fire dragons from the Burkhard Clan, who live in Germany. The white dragons are ice dragons from the Valerii Clan, who live in Brazil.”

“And that man…the one you’re with?”

“Baldewin Burkhard, my mate.”

“Your mate?” Panu said, then winced, quickly lowering his voice again, as if everyone in the SUV couldn’t already hear him. “I thought dragons only wanted female mages.”

“Dragons are generally pansexual. They don’t care about a mage’s gender. They only care that a soul matches with their own.” Tori tilted his head toward the front seat. “That’s King Alric Burkhard and his mage mate, Cameron.”

“But…” Tanja started, but Tori was already shaking his head.