Page 278 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

That was a wise idea. He didn’t want to be picking confetti out of his mate later, and he was always happy to have North in his arms.

Giving Gunter’s shoulder one last squeeze, Warin weaved his way across the crowded floor as people danced and laughed. A giant Christmas tree had been erected in one corner and glowed with thousands of twinkling lights. Ornaments of carved wood and blown glass hung from the heavy boughs. Around them, there was more greenery, red ribbons, and sparkling lights to celebrate the holiday season. It was all so beautiful, but none of it compared to his lovely North. His mate was dressed in a sharply tailored, cranberry red suit that perfectly accentuated his lean form. The vest was black with red dragons in flight embroidered across it. His style was always North and it was exquisite.

He snatched up one of North’s empty hands and pulled his mate against him, earning a slightly muffled squeak.

“Would you forgive me, Cassie, if I were to steal my North away? I have been missing him,” Warin politely inquired.

The young woman graced him with a dreamy smile while her eyes darted away, searching the room. Warin had no doubt the mage was suddenly thinking of her own dragon mate, the fierce warrior Sasha.

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Cassie murmured. She tapped her index finger on her bottom lip and wandered off in search of her missing dragon.

Before North could speak, Warin twirled him out onto the dance floor and pulled him close as they started to slowly sway to the music played by a quartet—three talented dragons and a lovely mage.

“Did you truly miss me, or did you suddenly worry about another confetti explosion?” North asked.

“I will always miss you. Every second you are not in my arms, every breath when you are not in my eyesight, is too long and torturous for me. I need you more than a dragon needs his hoard,” Warin easily replied, but he might have cleared his throat when North lifted one questioning brow at him. “But Gunter might have reminded me of the confetti bomb. You are safer in my arms.”

North’s wonderful laughter rang out over their heads and waltzed around the room. “There is no place I’m safer than in your arms.” North slid his hand behind Warin’s neck and snuggled even closer. He tilted his head up, and Warin didn’t hesitate to capture those offered lips in a sweet kiss.

“I love you, my mate,” Warin murmured against North’s mouth.

“Shouldn’t that be ‘my mate-to-be?’”

“No. Even if we never bonded, you would still be my mate. I’d always be able to find you no matter where you were in the world. You hold a piece of my heart. You are half of my soul. You are the greatest treasure in my hoard.”

“God, I love when you get all poetic,” North growled before kissing him again. His tongue slipped inside Warin’s mouth, tangling with his, and stoking a fire that never seemed to go out. He couldn’t imagine ever not wanting this man. One hand tightened on North’s back while the other slid down to cup one ass cheek through his trousers.

North moaned into his mouth and pulled away. “We need to behave. We’re surrounded by the clan.” His words were nearly a whimper of need.

“But I saw our king and consort sneak away just a couple of minutes ago while sharing a very heated look,” Warin whispered in his ear. “They probably sought out a private place for a few minutes.”

“Oh really? But you don’t think we should leave our own party?”

Warin nearly hesitated on his answer, but as North finished speaking, his groin brushed against Warin’s, revealing he’d grown quite hard in his pants. Nope, that settled it.

“I think we should. I feel most would expect us to sneak away,” Warin said. “It..it’s…”

“It’s our duty as an engaged couple,” North finished for him. Thank goodness because the blood had stopped traveling to brain, and it was shutting down all but the most basic functions.

“Exactly. The door nearest the refreshment table…leads to the south wing hall. Halfway down⁠—”

“There’s a bathroom. I’ll go first. You follow in five minutes,” North quickly said. He smacked Warin’s lips with a loud kiss and started across the ballroom, an overly wide smile on his face. Warin stood blinking for a moment, dazed by what was happening. When exactly had they stopped dancing?

Taking a deep breath, he wandered over to the sidelines, only vaguely aware of the questioning looks and smiles he was receiving. He nodded and smiled back, accepting congratulations while trying not to look at his watch. North had said five minutes. Surely it had been two minutes already. How was he going to wait five entire minutes? North had to have been exaggerating. Five full minutes? Three hundred seconds apart when he needed his mate now? That was rather extreme.

No, North had to be teasing.

Enough time had passed.

Trying to seem casual and not caring how badly he failed, Warin followed in his mate’s footsteps across the great hall and out the door near the refreshment table. As he stepped into the hall, he immediately spotted North jumping away from the bathroom door, his face bright red.

Warin picked up his pace, hurrying to his side. “What’s wrong?”

North grabbed his arm and ushered him away from the bathroom. “I think Alric and Cam have already claimed that spot,” he said in a low voice.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh yeah. I heard someone moan…loudly…before I could try the knob. We need another spot.”