Page 225 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Mathilda gasped and sputtered for a moment, her eyes darting around at the gathering of her clan, who were looking more confused by the second. The entire meeting was deteriorating, but before Alric or Rodrigo could calm things, Mathilda shook her head, her expression stubborn and mutinous.

“Get out of here. You’re not welcome in our village.” She turned and pointed at Tori. “You’re not welcome here either. Get out.”

Tori snorted as he rubbed his cheek against Baldewin’s chest. “I haven’t been welcome here since the day I was born.”

“Enough!” Alric snapped. “Ravi, give your keys to Baldewin.”

The wind dragon’s eyes widened in surprise, but he tossed the SUV keys to Baldewin without a word.

“Take your mage and go cool off for a while. The rest of us are leaving now.”

Baldewin gave a brief nod before bundling Tori off toward the SUV Ravi had driven. This was probably for the best. They all needed time to cool off, and Baldewin needed to apologize to Tori for losing his temper.

Baldewin revved the engine up before tearing out of the parking lot, going far faster than the speed limit dictated. Of all the things to say—no, he should have probably expected some homophobic remark. Tori had warned him often enough. But to even suggest that Baldewin would choose someone out of desperation was insulting. And to suggest that Tori was subpar was even more insulting.

Kilometers sped by. He wasn’t even sure where he was going, just following the single road as far as it would take him, or at least until he figured out what to say to Tori. He shot a look at Tori’s profile, but his mage was silent and still. Far too silent and still. It worried him. “That man is an asshole.”

“Verner? Oh yeah, always has been.” Tori’s tone turned mischievous. “I’m pretty sure he was conceived via anal sex. Only way to explain why he’s such an asshole.”

A surprised bark of laughter escaped Baldewin, and he relaxed a notch. Alright, Tori wasn’t as upset as he feared.

“I can’t believe you turned into a dragon. You looked like you were going to eat him.”

Baldewin blushed. “That was the plan.”

Tori cackled and shook his head. “I shouldn’t be laughing. You can’t go around eating mages and humans who insult me.”

“He deserves it.”

Tori sighed heavily before saying, “Why don’t you take the next left?”

He threw on the turn signal even as he questioned, “Why left?”

“Because it might be easier and safer for us to talk if we aren’t moving.”

Baldewin’s stomach sank like a stone. He’d thought with Tori’s laugh that he was forgiven, but that had been wishful thinking. Had he succeeded in pushing his mate away with his high-handed behavior?

The road wasn’t a road; it was a dirt turn off, worn from time and use. It curved a little around a softly rolling hill, and the bank of the river was right there. Putting the SUV into park, he turned off the engine and slumped in his seat, feeling as if his heart was breaking.

“Hey,” Tori said gently before touching his chin. “This isn’t an ‘I don’t want to see you again’ talk.”

Baldewin’s head jumped up, and he looked over at the mage, his heart surging into his throat. “Really?”

“Of course not. How could I ever live without you? But this is a boundaries talk.”

“Okay.” Baldewin nodded, grateful Tori wasn’t kicking him to the curb for his stupid loss of temper.

“I get that you want to protect me. You have no idea how much that means to me when there has been no one in my life to watch my back. The fact that you stand up for me, defend me—it’s amazing. It takes my breath away.”

Baldewin leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to Tori’s lips. “You are my everything. I will protect and defend you until my final breath.”

Tori made a happy little sigh and then shook his head. “I know, but you have to remember I can also defend myself. Assholes like Verner, it’s time I stood up to them. You and our clan have given me the confidence to stand up for myself. I want the chance to do that before you rain fire down on their heads and eat them for dinner.”

Baldewin lowered his gaze and nodded. He was proud of Tori for wanting to take a stand but felt horrible for nearly stomping all over his new sense of self-confidence and pride. “I understand. I am sorry. You are the strongest person I’ve ever met. I know you don’t need me to defend you. I lost my temper.”

Tori leaned in and pressed a kiss to the tip of Baldewin’s nose. “I am honored that you wanted to defend me, and I will always need you in a hundred different ways. Plus, I really love the idea that if I ever get in over my head, you will always have my back.”

He dared to meet Tori’s gaze again, a smile starting to tug at his lips. “I will always have your back.”