Page 131 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

“I swear to you, these mages can be trusted. They are of my clan. I really need to shift back into my human form. I must speak with King Alric and find out what needs to be done now that you and Ravi have been liberated.”

Nikki did not like this idea one iota. He peered up through his thick lashes, expression doubtful.

Gunter felt that look impact him straight in the heartstrings. It was sad Nikki couldn’t trust other mages. The damn Jaeggi’s fault, no doubt. Who knew what Nikki had suffered at their hands to make the mage react so against his own kind. Gunter felt...not sympathy, but a willingness to help Nikki feel comfortable and safe until he realized there was no reason to fear the Burkhards.

“If it helps, stick with me,” he offered with a smile. “I’ll act as a barrier between you and them.”

As if fate thought this all a wonderful joke, a small hand lightly grabbed the edge of Gunter’s wing and started to pull as if parting a curtain, but he jerked it back.

“Really, Gunter. A battlefield isn’t a good place to play hide-and-seek,” Mage Yuki admonished.

Gunter nearly snarled. Now was not the time. Just the sound of her voice sent Nikki spinning, guard up, vibrating with the need to either fight or flee. “Everything is fine, Yuki. I’ll be along in a moment.”

“Gunter?”

With a huff, he extended his long neck, poking his head out between his wings so he could speak to her while keeping Nikki hidden from sight. He felt freaking ridiculous. “I will explain later, but everything is under control. Ravi has been found. Maybe you should check that he doesn’t need medical attention.”

Yuki laughed and waved a hand at him. “Oh, I saw Sora tackle him already. He’s in good hands. I believe they’re talking to Alric now.” She gave him a little pat on the snout like he was being a particularly good dog and walked back over to where the other mages were working.

Gunter rolled his eyes. All mages were precious, but he was beginning to understand all mages were also a handful. Particularly the one still hiding with him.

Pulling his head back into his wings, Gunter bumped his snout into Nikki’s side in an awkward nuzzle, and the mage giggled. The happy sound was surprising and sent up the strangest little bubble of something in Gunter’s heart. “Did I tickle you?”

“I’m super ticklish,” Nikki admitted. But the best part was that Nikki had relaxed his hold. Gunter didn’t hesitate. He shifted back into his human form in a flash.

Nikki yelped in surprise, his face flushing a little. The hold on Gunter’s arm hadn’t lessened any through his transformation, either.

Gunter resettled his glasses on his nose and smoothed some hair out of his face. He wasn’t feeling entirely pulled together, but that was nothing a hot shower, a cup of tea, and maybe a little mage-removal surgery couldn’t cure.

And the surest way to become one clingy mage lighter was to find Alric.

“Come along, Nikki. We need to speak to those dragons over there.” Gunter pointed to where three dark-red dragons stood guard. They held a defensive ring just outside of the main gates at a temporary command-center. It was an easy guess that Alric had shifted back into his human form and those dragons were forming a shield to protect their king.

“Will there be mages?”

“A couple probably, but there will be far more dragons.”

“Are you—” Nikki started to ask something else, but the words broke off as he lifted his eyes to Gunter’s face. His astonishingly purple eyes went wide and his mouth hung open, but no sound came out. Surprise. Or rather shock at seeing Gunter in his human form.

Gunter looked Nikki over more carefully now that he had better lighting. Yes, those really were purple eyes. A deep, galaxy sort of purple. Genetically speaking, those eyes were one in a million. (Gunter may have spent too much of his time recently on genetics.) And they were set in a narrow, androgynous face, silky blond hair falling around Nikki’s shoulders in a touchable way. Nikki was short, with a delicate sort of air, one that made Gunter feel protective. A beautiful person, no doubt about that.

And one who was still unnerved and clearly uneasy being here.

“Yes,” Gunter started, clearing his throat. “Not quite what most people expect when they think dragon,” he finished awkwardly, clearing his throat again. Nikki’s stare made Gunter feel like he was being analyzed from every single angle. Not a comfortable sensation. “Let’s go.”

He managed to get Nikki to hold his hand instead of his arm as they crossed the grassy field to the dragons. It certainly made navigating the madness easier. They slipped between the guards to find Alric holding an exhausted Cameron while he spoke to Baldewin, Ravi, and Sora.

“Hoheit, we searched the bunker and found only three mages alive,” Baldewin was reporting. “We’ve got about a dozen corpses, so drained of magic they died of it. But the survivors we might be able to save yet. They’re in poor shape but strong enough to make it back to Burkhard if we hurry.”

Alric nodded, his expression growing dark. Gunter’s heart skipped at the thought of so many mages losing their lives while in Jaeggi hands.

“Start rounding up volunteers without riders to take them to Burkhard. I want a protection detail with them. Leave immediately. We’ll follow shortly,” Alric commanded.

Ravi sighed heavily, leaning against Sora. He looked exhausted to his very core. He was also wearing a pair of pants about five sizes too big for him. Where the devil were the dragon’s clothes? Gunter decided he didn’t really want to know. This was Ravi.

Alric turned his attention to Ravi. “I’ve got dragons looking, but any sign of the ones who took you?”

“It was that guy, Thomas. And, no, I’ve not seen any sign of him.” Ravi shifted his weight, eyes falling on Nikki, who still clung to Gunter, half hiding behind his body. “Where’s Thomas?”