Page 14 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Or maybe Gunter. The royal researcher had a logical mind just like Cameron. A good leader would be sending for Gunter right this second so they could meet and learn more about each other.

“Hoheit?”

Alric’s head snapped up, and he straightened to find both Baldewin and Cameron watching him with questioning looks.

“Is everything well?” Baldewin asked, his eyes dipping to Alric’s hand.

Alric glanced down to find he’d bent the spoon he’d been holding nearly in half. Embarrassing. Forcing what was likely an unconvincing smile on his lips, Alric surreptitiously straightened the spoon again. “Forgive me. I was lost in thought for a moment. You were saying?”

“Baldewin was saying that Ravi is the only member of the Wind Clan living among the Fire Clan. That he was adopted at the end of the war. Is that normal?”

Alric shook his head. “Before the war, no. But the Dragon War and all its devastating consequences changed many things for us.” The fire in Alric’s chest was banked under the weight of loss that came with speaking about the war. “The various dragon clans didn’t always get along.”

Baldewin snorted. “The Fire and Ice Clans have never been too keen on each other.”

A small smile tilted up one corner of Alric’s mouth. “Still aren’t.” He looked over at Cameron and shrugged his right shoulder. “We don’t actively war…not anymore, but our clans have never been great friends. We’ve been accused of being impulsive hotheads.”

Cameron snickered as Alric had hoped. “I really can’t imagine anyone calling you impulsive. You seem to be very organized and have everything planned out.” Cameron narrowed his eyes, his smile growing. “I bet you even plan out what you’re going to wear for the entire week.”

Alric’s mouth fell open, and the room exploded with Baldewin’s laughter. His dear old friend rocked back in the chair, tears glistening in his eyes as he laughed. Even Cameron chuckled as he settled against the cushions of his chair, seeming to relax for the first time since arriving at the castle.

“I’m not quite that bad,” Alric said stiffly.

Baldewin wiped at the corner of his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “But I think you would be if we left you to your own devices for too long.”

Cameron made a low, tsking noise. “That sounds very un-Fire dragony.”

Alric wished they were alone so he could show Cameron how very impulsive he could be, but they were getting away from their topic and Alric had to be careful. There was no proof Cameron was his mate. He couldn’t stake a claim and muddle things when Cameron could so easily belong to one of his people. No one would cross him because he was the king, but nothing could make Alric deny one of his people the happiness of finding their mate, even if it meant giving up Cameron’s smiles.

“We were talking about mixing of the clans, I believe,” Alric said a little stiffly, putting them back on track. “Yes, it was rare, but more common now. With our numbers so greatly reduced, we had to band together for our own protection. There are two main clans now—the Fire Clan here in Europe and the Ice Clan in Brazil. We have Ravi of the Wind Clan, and it’s my understanding that the Ice Clan has also taken in a few dragons not of their clan.”

“That’s it?” Cameron demanded in horror.

“There’s the Lost Clan,” Baldewin added, and Alric couldn’t stop the scoffing noise that jumped from his throat.

“That’s more legend now than fact,” Alric muttered.

Baldewin frowned. “Some would say the same about the lost mage clans.” He made a small motion of his hand, waving it toward the seated mage right in front of him. Alric sighed and had to reluctantly agree his friend had a point.

“What? What’s the Lost Clan?”

“After the war, a group of dragons from a number of different clans banded together and flew far from here. They said they wanted to get as far from the memory of this tragedy as they possibly could. But that also meant moving away from their home territory as well as known locations for mages. It’s been centuries since we’ve heard from any of them, and there’s no proof that they even exist any longer.”

Alric stared at his now cold tea, images of that blood-drenched day flashing through his head. They had all been tired, bloody, and heartbroken at the end of the fight. They’d all suffered great losses and knew more losses were on the horizon with the absolute decimation of the mage clans. A part of Alric had wanted to fly off with them that day. To his great shame, he had to admit to himself that it wasn’t solely his duty that kept him in Europe with his clan. The inability to fly had kept him just as grounded.

“The Lost Clan contains members of all the dragon clans. Or at least, it did when it was formed,” Alric forced himself to continue.

“You…you remember it, don’t you? You were there.” Cameron’s tone was a sweet mix of compassion, horror, and awe. He reached across the table and placed his hand over Alric’s left in a gesture of empathy, but Alric could not stop his flinch at Cameron touching his scarred hand. Cameron immediately withdrew his hand and Alric cursed himself. Cameron hadn’t caused any pain, but those scars were an embarrassment. A constant reminder of his weakness and shortcomings as a leader and a dragon.

“Yes, I fought in the war. So did Baldewin. We were young dragons.”

Baldewin flashed him a small smile. “We’re still considered young dragons by some.”

“But we weren’t the only ones to survive,” Alric said gently, looking directly at Cameron.

The young man fidgeted in his chair, his eyes darting from Baldewin to Alric. “What?”

“Your clan obviously survived as well. You said yourself that your grandmother linked you to the Noh Clan. You’re a mage, Cameron.”