Page 138 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“True.” Warin shoved a hand through his long hair and blew out a heavy breath. “I had hoped for better news, but it is a positive step if he was at least willing to talk to you.”

Baldewin grunted. “I would not call it willing. I had to bribe him to spend an hour with me.”

“What?”

“I had to give him five hundred euros. I also bought him a meal at the café.”

“Five hundred euros! What were you thinking?” Warin exploded.

“What—”

“He could be anywhere now. He could have gone straight to a bus station or a train station. That’s more than enough to buy a ticket to the ferry running to Tallinn, or Stockholm, or even St. Petersburg.”

“Oh Scheiße,” Baldewin whispered. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that the man might use it to run.

From the moment he’d spotted Tori seated in the park several days ago, Baldewin’s thoughts had felt scattered to the wind. His only drive had become about making sure the man was fed, warm, and safe. He needed to talk to him, convince him that he could be trusted. When Tori had agreed to converse, Baldewin’s only thought was relief that he was getting to talk and ensuring he had money to eat. He definitely wasn’t thinking clearly where Tori was concerned, and it was becoming more than a little disturbing.

Warin swung back in the direction they’d come from as if he could see through the trees to the café. There was no doubt Tori was long gone now. Maybe not from Helsinki, but he wouldn’t have lingered at the café with a pocket full of money and a belly full of food.

“We can call Cassie,” Warin said suddenly. He whipped toward Baldewin, his eyes wide and voice excited. “She can do the seeking spell just as easily as Lisette now. She can keep an eye on him for us. Make sure he doesn’t leave the city.”

Baldewin frowned. “But the seeking spell just barely reached Helsinki. If he moves north or east, we’re going to lose him.”

“Do you think he’d return to his clan in the north?”

Baldewin immediately shook his head. “There is little to no chance of that. It is clear he hates his clan almost as much as he hates dragons.”

“Then we only have to worry about him going east.”

With a small nod, Baldewin grabbed his phone and dialed Cassie’s number. He didn’t think she’d have a problem doing this favor for them, but she wasn’t going to make it easy, either.

The call rang only twice before Cassie’s joyful voice rose through the phone. “Hey Big B! How goes the mage hunt? Do you have him? Convinced him to come hang with the coolest dragons in all the world?”

He winced. “Not quite. The conversation went about as well as it did when we first told Cameron.”

“Ouch.” He could easily imagine her wincing.

Baldewin went on to tell her what he’d learned of Tori at the café meeting, including how the mage insisted on being called Tori. Maybe she could provide some insight to Tori, seeing as she was a mage and relatively new to all of this. She gasped and sputtered and made noises of indignation, but then, sweet Cassie was a staunch defender of dragons.

“If someone has screwed with his head that badly, I’m kind of shocked you managed to speak to him in the first place. Was it your sexy smile that finally won him over?”

Baldewin scrubbed a hand over his head. “Not quite.” Actually, not even close. “I had to give him five hundred euros to speak to me. Now we are worried he will use that money to run again.”

“Which is why you’re calling me,” Cassie finished with an evil chuckle.

Oh lord, this was going to be painful.

“Need me to cast that seeking spell, huh? Not wanting my sweet, amazing, trusting brother-in-law, the king, to find out.”

“I would rather not worry our king if it can be avoided. I am sure he has enough to occupy his mind.”

Cassie snorted. “He’s married to my brother. That’s enough to keep any man busy.”

“Will you help us?”

“Of course I’ll help you. What a silly question!” Baldewin had barely gotten out his sigh of relief when she continued, “But my silence is going to come with a price.”

Baldewin choked on air. “What?”