Page 77 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“There’s no reason for those evil bastards to go after your parents,” Halmeoni agreed. “Not in that sense.”

Cameron agreed but didn’t. “But they might be evil enough to use our parents as hostages. I’ll ask Alric to send them guards, just in case.” He pulled out his phone and texted the request. To his surprise, he received an answer immediately.

We’re sending two out in the next hour as a precaution. Please notify your parents of this.

“Alric’s already planning on sending someone.” Smart king. Then again, he was likely more aware of how devious the enemy could be. “We’ll need to alert the parents they’re coming.

Halmeoni shrugged. “We’ll need to speak with your parents soon anyway. They want you to Skype them so they can check on you. For some reason, they’ve still got it stuck in their heads that you’re going to go back in a month and start one of those new jobs you’ve been offered.”

Snatching up one of the throw pillows, Cameron pressed it to his face and groaned. This was his own fault. He had not made it clear that he had no intention of leaving Germany. Hell, there was no way he was leaving Burkhard castle without Alric. But in his own defense, he’d been afraid to believe any of this was permanent until he’d been made a part of the clan.

He knew it down in his soul that this was where he was meant to be. His life was supposed to be about magic, protecting this clan, and if he was very lucky, protecting Alric.

“I’ll call them,” Cameron said, his voice muffled by the pillow.

He needed to bite that bullet soon. There was little doubt in his mind that his parents weren’t going to understand this. At least, not right away.

They’d been so careful to set his life on this path to success. He’d just finished getting his master’s degree. Once he started his new job, the next steps were a house of his own and a husband, followed quickly with one child and then two years later, a second child. For his parents, that was the road to happiness. They would not understand any deviation on Cameron’s part.

Cameron had always known his happiness didn’t lead down this road, but he’d never known how to tell them because he hadn’t been sure how to find his happiness. At least, not until he’d met Alric and the dragons of Burkhard Castle.

“They’ll understand…eventually,” Halmeoni said softly.

Cameron grunted and moved the pillow behind his head. They would. His parents loved him and only wanted his happiness. It just wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.

“But on to more important things,” Cassie announced. Cameron twisted on the sofa to see her sitting up in the middle of his bed. “When do we start learning magic?”

Halmeoni sat up straighter as well and clapped her hands. “Yes! When do we learn magic? I plan to become the most powerful mage this castle has ever seen.”

Cameron chuckled. Yep, he was back to being chopped liver, but he couldn’t blame them. He’d been the same way. “Tomorrow. Lisette has been training me to use magic, and I’m sure she’s going to be training you both as well. She’s a wonderful teacher.”

“Are you sure we can’t start right now?” Halmeoni prodded. “I’m not feeling the least bit tired.”

“Me neither,” Cassie piped up.

“Tomorrow,” Cameron said firmly. “We need to call the parents tonight and that’s not a short conversation. And with magic, there’s a lot to learn, and you need to rest while you can. Enjoy the fact that you’re in a castle surrounded by real, live dragons.”

“Okay, but I want my dragon,” Cassie pouted.

Me too, whispered Cameron’s heart.

Alric called out an absent, “Enter!” at the knock at the door before scent told him who it was. Cameron. His dragon instantly stirred, head raising and clawing at him to rise and cross to the man. To touch him. Hold him. Good grief, it was as if he needed to put a leash on his dragon.

He put the report in his hands down immediately, turning in his chair toward the door. This was the first time Cameron had come to his private chambers on his own. It probably accounted for some of his dragon’s restlessness. The mage was finally in his domain of his own accord.

With a light tread, Cameron waltzed in, shutting the door behind him. There was a smug set to his mouth. “Why hello there, handsome. Are you busy?”

“Hello yourself. I’m free for you. Are you done settling everyone in?” Alric set the report on the side table, extending his right hand in invitation.

Cameron took it, swinging himself into Alric’s lap as if he had a standing invitation. (He did.) Alric’s good arm came around his waist to hold him in place as Cameron leaned in for a hello kiss. His left hand rested on Cameron’s thigh, stroking a bit because he couldn’t seem to still that impulse. He loved this new development between them. It had been only a day since Cameron declared they should try dating, and Alric was enjoying these stolen private moments. They possessed an unexpected touch of familiarity, where the moment was as much about re-connecting with the man as anything else. A sweet, happy hello.

With a sigh, Cameron pulled back a few inches. “They are as settled as I can make them. Halmeoni is beside herself, she’s so excited to work magic. There will be absolutely no living with her for the next decade. Cassie’s admittedly not much better.”

“I can’t say that I’m surprised. Not after meeting them. And there’s a joy to finding what you were meant to do, what truly calls to you.”

“Yeah, I know. First time I did magic, that hit home with me. It’s why I didn’t argue when they wanted a magic lesson with Lisette. I think she went along with it for the same reason.”

Alric carefully lifted his left hand and brushed a lock of Cameron’s hair from his eyes, smiling. “She’s just as excited, in her own way. To have so many students at once is something we’ve all dreamed about.”