Page 252 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“Dragon,” North repeated, because what else was there to say? Well, a lot really, but his brain was a skipping record unable to move forward.

“Excellent, Warin. You’ve broken him,” the dragon’s companion complained.

“He’s not broken,” Warin snapped defensively, and something in North warmed unexpectedly at his words. Not that the dragon had meant them like North would have preferred. His family had always thought he was more than a little broken because he liked make-up, bright colors, and men. “I want my scale back. You’ve been driving me nuts.”

“What? How?” North finally managed to squeak out. He definitely didn’t want to upset the dragon. Not that the dragon was likely to eat him. Well, probably not.

“Your seeking spell,” the other one said. Was he a dragon too? North couldn’t be sure because he couldn’t drag his gaze away from the one holding him so close. “It’s been tugging on Warin’s tail. I’m guessing that’s where the scale came from, and it very much wants to return to his body.”

“Oh,” North whispered. He licked his lips, preparing to apologize, but the dragon’s crisp blue eyes darted down to his lips at that little motion, and his pupils dilated, nearly wiping out the blue to create this strange rainbow of black, blue, and sparkling gold. His eyes were mesmerizing.

And his lips still looked so kissable. He was just close enough that if North tipped his head up a couple of inches and maybe leaned up on his toes, he could brush his mouth across Warin’s. Would it be wrong to just steal a little taste of him? If he was going to be eaten for tugging on a dragon’s tail, didn’t he deserve a last meal? He could definitely make a meal out of this man’s mouth and still come back for seconds. Maybe even thirds.

Without thinking, North moved just a tiny bit closer, and the dragon’s breath hitched in his throat. His nostrils flared. But he didn’t move away.

“I think you can release him, Warin. Keep in mind, please, that he is a mage,” the other person muttered, breaking into their moment. Warin did not have to release him for any reason, but the dragon was already loosening his fingers from the front of North’s coat and taking a step backward.

“North?” a new, feminine voice broke in. “North? Are you okay?”

Rapidly blinking away all his errant thoughts about becoming permanently attached to the sexy dragon in front of him, North turned to find the dark-haired police officer he’d met earlier in the day marching toward him. She wasn’t in her uniform and orange coat any longer, but dressed in comfortable street clothes with an adorable pink-and-white knit hat on her head, complete with pink poof ball. But for all of her adorableness, the stern expression on her face showed she meant business.

“Oh! Hey, Didiane! Yep, everything is good here. I swear.”

Didiane slowed her pace a little, her expression becoming skeptical as her gaze darted from North to Warin to Warin’s companion. A few feet behind Didiane was a man in a dark coat carrying a little girl who couldn’t have been more than two or three years old. She wore a pink-and-white hat just like her mother.

“Are you sure?” she asked in a lower voice as she reached North’s side. Her hand came to rest on his arm as if she was preparing to pull him away from the dragon and shield him with her own slender frame.

“Oh, yeah. I swear. Everything is good. They were just helping me.”

“Warin Burkhard,” the dragon said with a stiff bow.

“Bon soir, madam. Gunter Burkhard, at your service,” the blond said. He also pressed his hand to his chest and gave the woman a courtly, shallow bow.

Didiane’s eyes widened at their behavior, and North had to admit even he was impressed. How old were these dragons?

“We’ve been looking for young North here for quite a bit,” Gunter continued. “We’ll be escorting him safely home.”

North had a whole lot of questions about that statement, but he’d save them for later. He smiled at Didiane and nodded. “Yep. Everything is just fine.” On impulse, he gave the police officer a quick hug. It really was sweet she’d come over to check on him while she was off duty and out with her own family. “Thank you so much for today. I really have had a wonderful time in Brussels. I can’t wait to return.”

Her expression softened a little, but there were still questions in her eyes. “Okay. It was wonderful meeting you, North. Bon voyage and remember to call me if you need anything.”

As Didiane walked back over to her family, Warin stepped into North’s personal space again. “She is a police officer?”

“Yes, she and her partner helped me earlier in the day when I was chased by those men you scared off.”

Warin and Gunter exchanged a look that was more than a little troubling. Something was going on besides dragons and aggressive pickpockets.

“What?” North demanded when the silence had stretched for too long.

Though, silence wasn’t exactly accurate. More and more people passed by on the street to fill the enormous square, lights brightened the night sky all around them, and a full choir could be heard a short distance off, singing what sounded like Christmas carols. The world continued on, completely oblivious that two dragons stood in their midst. How had everything changed and yet stayed the same?

“We need to get to a secure location and talk,” Warin said in a low voice.

“My hotel. I left my stuff there. I was planning to catch a train to Munich tonight.” North winced a little at the heat he could feel stealing into his cheeks. “I could only track you as far as a particular part of the Alps. I was heading to Munich and hoping my next spell would give me a more exact location.”

“No need to be embarrassed, little mage,” Warin murmured, lightly touching North’s chin so that he looked up at the dragon. “You’ve done well on your own. We’re glad you’ve sought us out.”

“Surprisingly well,” Gunter added in a low, speculative voice. “Are you alone? Are there other mages in Brussels with you?”