Page 158 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

Just the idea of Nikki flirting with someone else made Gunter’s dragon rear its head and let out a very ugly growl.

Gunter winced. Alright, alright, simmer down. It was a mental image, nothing more.

Gunter’s dragon let out another warning growl. He translated that one as Make sure it doesn’t happen.

The very fact that his dragon was making it loud and clear Nikki was the one they wanted said volumes. Gunter’s dragon had spoken up precisely never about other people. And it wasn’t like Gunter had been celibate for five hundred years. Despite people’s claims, he did leave his library from time to time.

Granted, not often.

Anyway, the point was, Gunter’s dragon was vocal about wanting Nikki. And Gunter knew why. Of course he did, he wasn’t that oblivious. There was a very good possibility Nikki was his mate.

It was an overwhelming thought, no doubt about it. Gunter now had more sympathy for Alric, when he’d first realized Cameron might be his mate. His friend and king had been very torn about what to do. Gunter had thought him ridiculous at the time and had been tempted more than once to kick Alric in the right direction.

Now, finding himself in a very similar position, Gunter had far more sympathy.

Something stopped him from acting. Some fear. It made him hesitate, when few other things in his life had done so. It had taken a while for Gunter to realize what the root of the problem was.

What if Nikki didn’t feel the same way?

Yes, Nikki had kissed him in the library. But Gunter didn’t think of it as more than it actually was—Nikki teasing him. Doing something to deliberately shock him enough to step back. Just the freedom to tease had probably been heady for Nikki, which was why Gunter didn’t put much stock in it.

Right now, Nikki liked being near Gunter because they weren’t properly settled into the castle yet. They were still getting comfortable with everyone. Gunter was a safe harbor. But when that changed, and Nikki acclimatized, would they still choose Gunter’s company over everyone else’s?

Gunter was grouchy. Irritable on some days. He wasn’t the best definition of good company; even to himself he could admit that. Nikki was the type to fit into any social circle and do it with style. Once they got their footing again, anyway. Right now they were still a little shy.

Maybe Lisette had a point about the therapist. After everything Nikki had lived through, of course they’d be traumatized and need some professional help. Gunter hadn’t wanted to push that topic, too uncomfortable and unsure of how to bring it up. But he had a feeling the Nikki he saw now was only a glimmer of what the mage was really like. Nikki was far too guarded.

That was a different problem for a different day, though. It wasn’t what Gunter wanted to figure out now. Right now, the question was something else entirely.

Did he dare take the risk? He wanted Nikki dearly, no question there. A little thrill went through Gunter every time Nikki touched him. And Gunter’s dragon always purred, happy to have Nikki nearby. Those two reactions combined were like neon fireworks, impossible to ignore.

What Gunter feared…might not come to pass. Some part of him was convinced that if Nikki chose him now, they’d only regret it later. Nikki had latched onto him so quickly without giving anyone else a chance, how could they not come to regret it? Gunter wasn’t sociable and bright like Nikki. But Nikki had the choice of other company, too, and it was Gunter they chose to be with. And those times together were always pleasant, something Gunter sought after. It might be all in his head that he would be a bad partner for Nikki. Or that Nikki might not want him in the same way. For all that Nikki was vivacious, they were also at times hard to read.

Gunter lifted his head again and looked out over the mountains. The truth was, he could stand here for the rest of the night, thinking this over, and never come to an actual conclusion. He didn’t know how Nikki felt. He could only speak for his own emotions. So what did Gunter want?

Nikki.

How did he acquire Nikki? How did one even start to really win them over?

No clue.

This emotion business was tougher than it looked.

Gunter gave up thinking about it for tonight. He lifted both hands toward the open sky, a single fuck escaping his fingers, soaring gracefully into the air. “Fly,” he whispered. “Be free.”

Gunter’s last fuck had gone.

He had no more left to give.

As if to immediately prove him wrong, he could clearly hear Nikki’s voice in the hallway outside his front door, coming closer. And swearing as they came.

“Damn things are torture inventions. Why women like to wear these damn things so much is—oww. You know what, fuck it, I’m not wearing you anymore. I don’t care how pretty you are. You are banished. I will find a volcano to throw you into, so help me god.”

What was this about? Gunter quickly crossed from balcony to door, poking his head out.

Nikki was coming up the stairs—or had been. They were in a pencil skirt and a rather lovely red, silky tank top that flattered Nikki’s figure. Balanced on one foot, they yanked off a red high heel shoe, scowling darkly at it as if the thing had tried to put a curse on their soul. Even from here, Gunter could smell the faint tang of blood.

“Have you hurt yourself?” he asked in concern, moving in a fast walk toward Nikki.