Page 132 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

Nikki flinched at just the mention of the man’s name. The slender mage moved out from behind Gunter a little more and shrugged. “There’s a back road. Odds are he used it, him and the others, to escape. You’re not going to find them. The vans are warded against seeking spells.”

Gunter bit back a curse. So close. After all this time, they’d gotten so close to finally destroying the Jaeggi. But the anger started to fade the second his eyes dropped down to Nikki, who was closely watching everyone. It wasn’t a total loss. They’d recovered Ravi. They’d saved Nikki and a few other mages just like him.

But that still left the problem of what to do with the new mage. It wasn’t like he could go through the rest of his life with a mage-growth on his body.

“Umm…Hoheit? Ravi?” Gunter’s nervous voice rose above the gathering. “A moment, if I may?” When Alric looked to him, he motioned to the mage who had moved to partially hide behind him again.

Ravi pressed a kiss to Sora’s jaw and then jogged over, fighting the pants trying to fall down. “Hoheit, everyone, this is Nikki. They helped break me out of the Jaeggi cell and created the first explosion that distracted the Jaeggi.”

Interesting. Twice now, Ravi had used they or them when referencing Nikki. Gunter glanced back down at the mage still holding onto him. Perhaps non-binary? Genderqueer? He’d use neutral pronouns for now and clarify later.

“Wow! You did that?” Cameron asked. He straightened, as if finding new energy at the mention of a destructive spell.

“That was amazing!” Tori added as he came to stand next to Baldewin.

“No! You’re not practicing that at the castle,” Alric said quickly and then turned his attention to Nikki. “Thank you for saving Ravi. We are in your debt.”

Nikki gave a small wave, a crooked smile sneaking out. “No problem. I think. I kind of slammed together some sunlight, griffon feathers, and diesel fuel.”

Gunter’s heart leapt into his throat. “Oh my word!” If Nikki had added too much griffon feathers to that combination, they could have blown the entire compound off the map. There would have been no rescue effort. Everyone would have been destroyed.

“I’d like Nikki to come back to Burkhard Castle for a while. Just until they can figure out what they want to do next,” Ravi continued.

“Of course. Nikki, you are very welcome at Burkhard.” Cameron took a step toward Nikki, and the mage actually backed up, putting themself further behind Gunter. Cameron’s eyes darted to Ravi in panicked question, demanding to know what he’d done to scare Nikki.

Mages scary, Ravi mouthed. Cameron still looked confused, but he nodded and retreated into Alric’s arms.

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“We would be honored to have you at Burkhard for as long as you wish,” Alric added smoothly.

Nikki relaxed a little, their fingers digging a tiny bit less into Gunter’s arm. “Can I ride with you, Ravi?”

“I would very much like to carry my mate,” Ravi admitted, tilting his head toward Sora.

Nikki nodded, cheeks flushing. “Oh. Yeah. Of course. Makes sense.”

“But there are plenty of dragons here who would be happy to take you back to Burkhard.”

Nikki’s purple eyes immediately lit up, and they gazed up at Gunter with the widest smile. “You’re so pretty as a dragon. And just as pretty in your human form. I would like to fly with you.”

Drat!

That same horrible sound which had escaped him when he was first handed Nikki erupted from Gunter’s lips again as the mage wrapped one arm tightly around his waist. Gunter lifted wide, panicked eyes to Alric and then Ravi. He raised both arms up in the air, holding them out from his body. This was unacceptable! He was not a mage babysitter. He had important work to do. Nikki should be in the hands of mages who could help them. Or at least some other dragon who wasn’t constantly called upon by the king. What was he supposed to do with Nikki?

Alric cleared his throat and smiled broadly at Gunter, hints of mischief glinting in his dark blue eyes. “Excellent choice!”

“Hoheit?” Gunter croaked.

“Gunter will carry you safely to Burkhard and keep you safe at the castle.” Alric then turned away, his attention already on their evacuation plan for getting wounded dragons and mages back to Burkhard safely. As it was, the ice dragons were already putting out fires, and dragons were starting back for Germany.

Maybe once he managed to get Nikki settled in the castle, they would feel more comfortable meeting other dragons and mages. By this time tomorrow, Nikki would want nothing to do with a grumpy old dragon like him.

Yes, that sounded like a good idea.

Gunter moved them away from the other dragons and mages so he could safely shift back into his dragon form. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a harness, so he was forced to hold the mage in his arms. Not that Nikki seemed to mind. They cuddled close to him, seeming to soak up his body heat.