Page 184 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Tori nodded, drawing in a deep, shaky breath. He’d been expecting this. “You’re right. Let’s go into the next room so we don’t disturb Cassie while she rests.” Tori pushed to his feet and managed a small smile for Sasha. “Just shout if either of you need me.”

Baldewin followed Tori back into the main sitting room where Warin was plugging his phone into a charging cable. Both he and Baldewin had been on the phone since they’d run off the Jaeggi. They left the door open to Cassie’s room so they’d be able to easily hear if there was a problem.

Dropping onto the sofa, Tori immediately scooted to the edge, his elbows resting on his knees while Baldewin sank down beside him.

“I know the original plan was to take a train to Sonthofen, but I think it’s too dangerous,” Baldewin started carefully. “If we catch the afternoon train, it’ll take close to seventeen hours, and we’d have to change trains several times. If we stay here another night, we can catch an early one that will take about thirteen hours, and it would give Cassie more time to heal. But another option is to rent a large van and drive. It would only take eight, maybe ten hours. It would be rougher on Cassie, but it would get us there faster.”

And it would mean getting Cassie into the hands of mages with proper training. He wasn’t doing all that bad with the limited knowledge and supplies that he had, but Cassie was much better off with Lisette.

“The other option,” Tori offered, trying to ignore the growing tightness in his chest, “is that we fly.”

“Tori—” Baldewin started, but Tori was already shaking his head.

“If we can drive it in eight, then we could probably fly it in two or three hours tops.”

“But you’re terrified of flying,” Warin needlessly pointed out. “You’ve been dead set against flying since we started this trip. We can’t ask that of you now.”

“You’re not. Cassie needs to get home now.”

“I thought you said Cassie had stabilized.” Fear and worry thickened Baldewin’s voice, and Tori’s head snapped up to look at the dragon.

“She has. I swear, she is better. It’s just that I can only do so much, and she’s in much better, more experienced hands at the castle.” Tori straightened and shoved a shaking hand through his hair. He hated this relentless tremor of fear, the coating of cold sweat already covering his skin. “But it’s clear we’re all in danger. Cassie is out for the count right now. That leaves only three dragons and one inexperienced mage against the Jaeggi. We need to get to the castle where everyone will be safe.”

Baldewin reached across and gently captured one of Tori’s hands. His touch was deliciously warm, helping to chase away some of the chill. “Yes, we need to get you and Cassie back to the castle as quickly as possible, but I won’t sacrifice your peace of mind to do it. I will protect you both.”

“So will I,” Warin added. “And I dare a Jaeggi to show his face around Sasha right now.”

Tori managed a weak smile for Warin before looking back at Baldewin. “Yes, and what if you get hurt? Or Warin?” Fingers tightened on Baldewin’s hand as he shook his head. “Nope. I won’t risk it if we don’t have to. Flying is smarter. Safer.”

“Are you sure?”

A high-pitched, slightly hysterical laugh tripped from Tori’s mouth before he could clamp it shut again. He drew in another deep breath and slowly released it. “No, I hate it, but I know it’s the best choice.” He paused and looked at Baldewin. “But…I-I can’t be conscious for it. I know I won’t be able to handle it. Flying terrifies me. Heights have always terrified me. I have enough supplies to knock me out.”

“What if something goes wrong with Cassie? Dragons aren’t generally healers. At least not Baldewin, Sasha, and me,” Warin countered.

“I thought of that. I can make up some more salve if she’s in pain. And…and if you need me, I can make another potion to wake me up in an emergency.”

“I’m sure if we prep her properly before the flight, we won’t need any of your precautions. You’ll both sleep safely through the short flight, and when you wake up, you’ll be in Sonthofen.” There was a peaceful calm to Baldewin’s voice that helped settle some of Tori’s nerves. He knew they’d be back, but for now, he wanted to believe that everything would be just fine.

“Could you and Alric arrange the plane? I’m sure Cameron would be happy to have his sister back sooner.”

Baldewin nodded. “I’ll ask Alric to send his private jet. It’s big and safe. Plenty of room for you to be comfortable, and it will give us at least a few hours to help Cassie recover.”

Tori could only nod. No matter how safe Baldewin told him this flight was going to be, his nerves would not go away. The only thing he could do was focus on getting Cassie healed while he left the logistics of travel to the dragons. With any luck, he’d be unconscious with Cassie soon enough and wouldn’t have to worry about being thousands of meters in the air.

Baldewin’s stomach was in knots as he watched Tori’s sleeping form. Even before they could get him near Alric’s jet, panic had been setting in. He’d barely been able to get the mage to drink the sleeping potion he’d made. Thank god it had kicked in almost immediately, leaving him to carry Tori’s limp body onto the plane.

He hated this. Every damn bit of it.

Yes, the flight was only two hours, and then they’d be safely in Sonthofen, surrounded by a dragon guard to escort them up to the castle.

But in the meantime, two mages were stretched out in the back of the plane on a plush double bed. Sasha was lying beside Cassie, as much of her body wrapped around her mate as possible. Baldewin was seated in a chair beside the bed, unable to tear his eyes from the trio.

Sasha was not doing well. Even though Cassie was steadily improving, he had no doubt the dragon was beating herself up over Cassie’s state. He knew it because ugly thoughts were still streaking through his head over Tori.

He never should have let Tori and Cassie out of his sight. Even though they’d had a perfect afternoon hunting dwarves in the city the day before, that did not mean they were safe from the Jaeggi. While he was sure Tori had cast the masking spell perfectly, there was no proof it had stopped the Jaeggi from finding them.

And he seriously doubted that Tori forgetting his amulet for ten minutes was responsible for them being found. Before they boarded the plane, Tori had told him he’d accidently left his amulet on the sink that morning. But ten minutes couldn’t have been enough time for the Jaeggi to locate them, formulate a plan of attack, and reach them. He refused to believe it.