Page 227 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

His people finally had a chance to crawl back from the threat of extinction. If this battle went poorly for them, dragons could be lost from the world permanently.

Or maybe just fire dragons.

A large hand closed over his shoulder, and Gunter twisted around to see Dimitri standing beside him, a look of grim understanding in his eyes while one corner of his lips tilted up in a half smile. “They won’t win. We won’t let them,” Dimitri said in a low voice. “You have a new mate to return home to.”

“But can it be done without losing the rest of my family?”

Dimitri gave a little shrug that struck Gunter as so very Russian. “We will all be fighting to protect your family. We’re not leaving this in the hands of any old gods.”

Gunter wasn’t entirely sure that made him feel better, but he appreciated Dimitri’s effort. He forced a smile onto his lips and Dimitri grinned before slapping him on the back and walking to where Rodrigo stood talking with the other kings around the table.

At the very least, the mood seemed more hopeful than the last time all the dragon kings had been gathered in this room. The buzz of excitement was almost electric in the air, and Gunter could swear he felt the long-dead dragon kings and warriors who’d met in this room before watching over them.

He crossed to the table and chose an empty seat next to Dieter, who had a new legal pad and pair of pens set in front of him. Lisette sat across the table from him in Cameron’s customary seat. The consort was already stretched thin, darting between working with Cassie and North on the message for Lina’s parents, to meeting with the other mages to make preparations for both attack and eventual hospital duties, to working with the other dragons in drumming up yet more room to house the influx of dragons and mages inevitably arriving from Brazil and the Sodalicium.

One good thing was Nikki deciding to stick close to Cameron every step of the way. His mage was dug in and dedicated to protecting their new clan. Gunter couldn’t possibly be prouder.

Looking down the table, his gaze landed on the giant flat screen TV that had been brought into the room. Not only did they have the kings and their chief bodyguards in attendance, but they’d also conferenced in more dragons from the Ice, Earth, and Metal Clans. It also looked like there was a collection of mages gathered in front of a monitor from the Sodalicium.

“After so many years, it’s a little hard to believe there are still so many of us,” Dieter murmured.

“You know, love,” Lisette drawled from across the table, “after we deal with this dustup with the Jaeggi, we should look into going on an extended vacation. It would be an excellent chance to spend some time with the Sodalicium, swap spells, fly with some other dragons over new scenery.”

“Catch up on five centuries of gossip,” Dieter teased.

Lisette sniffed lightly, but her smile never wavered. “That is going to take a few months. You’ll need to warn Alric the clan will be in his hands and to stay out of trouble.”

“Sounds like a second honeymoon,” Gunter added.

“After so many centuries, I think we’re due for a second one,” Dieter agreed with a nod.

Gunter grinned at the dragon and his mate. He wanted this for them as much as he wanted to return to the loving arms of his own mate. He wanted Lisette and Dieter to feel at ease enough they could comfortably leave the castle and explore the world, visit with other clans, and not worry about the Jaeggi attacking or whether they would ever find a new mage.

“I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to assist Alric while you’re gone. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Lisette clucked her tongue at him and gave a little shake of her head. “I believe you’re going to have your hands full with Nikki, but I like how you think.”

Gunter’s reply was stopped in his throat as Alric moved to the head of the table and all the other dragons found their seats. Gunter quickly pulled his laptop from the bag he’d been carrying and opened it to the fresh page he’d created for his notes. Not only would he keep minutes of the meeting, documenting all the discussion and decisions to be shared with everyone later, but it was his job to chronicle the history of the clan. This was a moment he knew they’d all need to look back on later. He just prayed it was a moment of pride, a true turning point leading to a brighter future for dragons and mages.

He looked up at Alric, admiring his king’s poise and bearing. Alric stood straight, no lingering signs of pain or discomfort thanks to Sora and his parents’ continued treatment of his shoulder and spine. Gunter had caught a bit of a hushed conversation between Sora and Alric, the king demanding Sora push up his next treatment to tomorrow. The king fully planned to fly into battle with the rest of the dragons, and Gunter couldn’t have been more thrilled.

“We have waited five hundred years for this moment, my friends. We lost loved ones, friends, and even hope in those centuries.” Alric spoke softly, his deep voice winding its way through the room. He paused and his expression hardened with fierce determination. When he spoke again, his words rang out loud and true, sending a chill down Gunter’s spine. “But we have crawled back from the abyss. We have found mates. We have found lost friends. We have even found hope again. And in a matter of days, we will defeat the Jaeggi Clan once and for all.”

A battle cry thundered through the room, rattling the windows, and the table shook as fists pounded in answer. Every dragon and mage shouted, echoing Alric’s sentiment.

“I am issuing a full call-to-arms for all clans. Kings, you have been generous to the Burkhard Clan, but I must ask more of you in the coming days. Coordinate with your clans and bring as many dragons as you can spare to Burkhard Castle. As we must launch our attack within a week, the dragons will need to be airborne within the next twenty-four hours so they may have time to rest and prepare.”

“Consider it done,” Roca declared with an added thump of his fist on the table.

“Excellent. Give all final numbers and travel plans to Cameron. He’s coordinating sleeping arrangements.”

“What about mages?” Rodrigo asked.

Gunter’s fingers halted on the keys and he looked up to see Alric’s expression soften slightly. That was a complicated request.

“I cannot in good conscience ask any king to command a mage into battle. Some of us have so few and lost so many,” Alric replied with a weary shake of his head. “But any mage with battle experience who wishes to volunteer, they will be welcome in this fight. Any clan who cannot send a mage, we will also welcome any elemental supplies for spells, protective amulets, or wands that can be brought via dragon to the clan. I know this is short notice, but we will greatly appreciate anything sent to us.”

A female mage leaned extremely close to the camera so all they could see was her eyes and the bridge of her nose. “You are going to be swimming in healing balms and potions!” she promised. Gunter pressed his lips together to hold back his laugh. She had to be one of Sora’s relatives from the Abe Clan.