Page 9 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

At the entrance to the hotel, Alric stopped, his hands locked behind his back. He didn’t look happy to be leaving Cameron, but if he was worried for some particular reason, he kept it to himself.

“Thank you for an enjoyable day,” Alric said before Cameron could.

Cameron laughed. “You were the tour guide. I was the annoying American tourist.”

Alric’s smile became a little more genuine as he shrugged his broad shoulders. “You were a most pleasant and agreeable tourist. I was happy to show you my hometown.”

“And tomorrow you’re showing me your actual home.”

Alric nodded. “As well as protecting you from Ravi.”

Cameron snorted. “I might not need as much protecting since I know what to expect now.”

“You’d be surprised,” Alric muttered under his breath.

“Well…I guess I should…” Cameron took a hesitant step backward toward the lobby doors.

To his surprise, Alric bowed to him and smiled. “Until tomorrow, Cameron. Schlaf gut.”

“Goodnight, Alric,” he whispered, forcing himself to take another step away from the older man. Because if he didn’t, he was going to lean in and kiss him. It was entirely Alric’s fault, standing there looking like some ancient lord. His smile was all confidence and charm, and in that suit of his he looked like a model in search of a runway, which conversely sent Cameron’s mind straight into the gutter. Oh yeah, Alric needed to be kissed. Screw that, Cameron needed to be kissed by Alric.

But that was bad thinking. Alric was just a nice guy, and this had not been a date.

Nope, not a date.

And tomorrow was not a date.

Definitely wasn’t going to listen to any of Cassie’s suggestions either.

With all the willpower he could muster, Cameron turned and walked straight into the lobby, his mind still filled with visions of Alric. He clutched his blanket to his chest and allowed himself one more silly Disney princess sigh because Alric was so sigh-worthy.

Halfway to the elevators, a man stumbled across the floor and tumbled into him. Cameron grunted and stumbled a few steps under the man’s weight before catching himself on the wall. The smell of beer wafted around them, and a strange green flash of light came from something in the man’s hands. Definitely not a phone or a camera. Probably some light-up novelty purchased at the festival.

Before he could figure it out, the man pushed off him and continued toward the doors, swaying as he walked. Cameron quickly checked to make sure his phone and wallet were still in his pockets. All good. Not a crafty pickpocket. Just a drunken festival reveler.

It didn’t matter. Cameron continued on to the elevators and his own room. He had plans to curl up under his new blanket and dream about Alric’s smile until his appointment tomorrow.

“So wait.” Cassie held up a hand, her image a little dark on his tiny screen, reflective of their different time zones. It was well into the night where she was. “You’re telling me that Hot and Serious is coming to get you for a private tour of his castle?”

“That’s what I’m saying, yes. And he’s not all serious. Sometimes he cracks a joke with a perfectly straight face. You know I have a weakness for deadpan humor.”

“You also remember that it’s the funny guys you have to watch out for? Because they make you laugh and laugh and laugh and then boom! You’re naked.”

“Like magic, huh.” Cameron was amused by this warning of hers. It wasn’t like she would know from personal experience, as Cassie had never been on a date with a man in her life. “Do you think that if I laugh at all of his jokes, I can get him naked sooner?”

“I’d freaking hope so. You need to get laid, bro. And that guy you showed me has Daddy written all over him.”

“I’m not sure if I’m into spanking, but I’d sure let him try. And that’s rich coming from you, by the way. Who hasn’t had a date in a year?”

“To be fair, the last time I was on a date, it was a disaster. She invited me back to her place so she could watch me pee on a towel.”

“I remember that. I remember you faking an emergency and running out, too. But still, you can’t swear off dating entirely because of one bad blind date.”

“And now you’re sounding like Eomma.”

Cameron winced. Their mother had definite opinions about them getting married. She had a schedule for it. Eomma didn’t really mind they were gay, that was just how things were, but not getting married before thirty? Out of the question. “Was I really? Sorry. Bad mouth.”

“Very bad mouth. Smack it. Anyway, we got sidetracked from the point I wanted to make. You sure this is safe? What if you’re going into his evil lair?”