Page 210 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“That you’re my gefreogen? No.” Baldewin paused in his nuzzling to meet Tori’s eyes to make sure he wasn’t upset. “News tends to travel fast in the castle. Alric does what he can to stamp out gossip, but there is no malice meant behind it.”

Tori rubbed Baldewin’s chin with his finger. “Small towns talk, and this castle is like its own town. Don’t forget, I come from a very small town, and they did mean their gossip maliciously. This feels different. Like they’re all happy for us.”

“They are happy for us.”

Tori sighed again, but this time it sounded content. He laid his head against Baldewin’s shoulder as if he was in no rush to leave the dragon’s arms. That was perfectly fine with Baldewin. “What is on your agenda for today?”

“It is a normal day for me, now that I’m not running after wayward mages,” Baldewin teased.

“Har, har.” Tori shifted in Baldewin’s lap so he could look him in the eyes. “What does a normal day look like for you?”

“Mostly, it’s meetings. I spend a lot of time with Alric discussing security for the clan, particularly now that we are dealing with the Jaeggi problem. I meet with Lisette about how the castle’s security can help the mages in their search for more mages. Then I work on new training techniques and schedules for my guards so there’s a fair rotation protecting the castle and anyone who needs to leave. Of course, we have the added bonus of King Rodrigo coming to Burkhard, so we’re working on a number of last-minute arrangements, so we are prepared for his arrival.”

“Wow. Really busy. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Baldewin’s heart flipped at his offer. So very sweet. “Yes. You can have a good day. If I know you’re having a good day, then I will have a good day.”

“I don’t think it works like that, but I’m willing to give it a try. When will I see you again?”

Baldewin kissed him because he simply had to. He had to taste him, feel him. The feelings for Tori were building up so fast and strong that he had to touch him, hold him, kiss him, or he was going to explode.

Tori eagerly kissed back, snuggling even closer as if he meant to crawl inside of Baldewin. That was fine with him and his dragon. The mage had already made himself at home in Baldewin’s heart.

“We need to stop,” Tori panted against Baldewin’s damp lips, “or I’m going to be too rumpled to meet with Lisette.”

Baldewin chuckled. “I’m not sure that is a good enough reason, but I will go along with it. To answer your question, I usually take my lunch break at 13:00. Would you care to have lunch with me?”

“You know I would.”

“Good. Then I will see you at lunch. But if you need me for any reason, you have my mobile number. And you can ask anyone in the castle to bring you to me. I’ll likely be in my office or in Alric’s.”

Tori snorted. “I’m not going to disturb you if you’re meeting with the king.”

“You will seek me out anytime you need me. I am serious about this, Tori.”

The mage pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I think I will always need you, Baldewin, but I will be fine at least until lunch.”

“Yes, you will. You’re going to be just fine.” Baldewin knew it to be true. Tori was going to thrive in Burkhard Castle. He was going to be happy and have a wonderful life surrounded by people who supported him and cared about him. Now Baldewin just had to convince Tori that he’d be even happier as his mate.

Tori was admittedly very nervous coming in to meet with Lisette, but at the same time, not. It was a strange mix, as if he was nervous on an intellectual level, but his heart was sure there was nothing to be nervous about. He didn’t know which to believe.

Lisette greeted him at her personal workroom door with a smile and ushered him in. “Not too rumpled, I see. Now, as I said, this is just a review of what you know. I’ve seen enough the past few days to be sure you’re well above apprentice level. And I’m glad of it, truthfully, as trying to teach Cassie, Ha Na, and Cameron all at once is a bit of a stretch.”

“They’d certainly keep you on your toes.” The reply was somewhat absent as he took in her room. Tori hadn’t been in here before, and it was leagues different than every mage’s workroom he’d been in. And yet similar. The shelves lined with jars, full of magical elements—that was standard. Everyone had that. And the herbs hanging upside down and drying, that was typical. But the stainless-steel tables on the left side, the modern cooking stove, and the built-in fridge, that wasn’t something he was used to. Most people still had hearths and cauldrons, things passed down to them for generations.

It smelled of herbs and earth and plants in here. Overlaid with it all was the slight acidic ozone of magic in use, indicating she’d done a spell shortly before he’d walked in. Tori saw no sign of it. There was, however, a tray laid out on the table with metals and stones, along with an open canvas pouch holding multiple tools.

“Cassie told me you know how to make a translator amulet? If you don’t mind, I’d like to watch you put one together. It will give me a better idea of how you were taught.”

That seemed reasonable enough, and she’d chosen something he was comfortable making to start out with, which was nice of her.

Tori gave her a slight smile. “Alright. Do you have a use for the one I’ll make?”

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll need plenty when we go to visit your clan. Not everyone speaks Finnish.” She took a seat opposite him at the table.

Tori sat on a cushy barstool and got to work, laying things out and seeing all that she had pulled. The same elements that he’d requested of her when Cassie played courier, in fact. “Is that why Baldewin and Warin were sent out to me? Because they speak Finnish?”

“Hmm, in part. Baldewin volunteered to go, as well. As did Warin. I’m surprised you know how to make the amulets, since your clan kept to themselves. It’s not something you’d necessarily need, correct?”