Page 167 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

Gunter grunted in agreement, typing a message into his phone.

“But that does bring up a question. When we do find the Jaeggi, what’s the plan?”

Nikki looked him straight in the eye and said seriously, “Explosions.”

“Are you going to be part of those explosions?”

“Absolutely.”

Dimitri high-fived them.

“I love this whole clan’s attitude,” Dimitri said with a happy sigh. “Can’t believe my king didn’t think to call me earlier, when shit was going down. I’m going to have words with him about that. For now, though, I’m going back up. There’s good food to be had, and pretty people to flirt with.”

Nikki canted their head in interest. “Are you unmated, Dimitri?”

“Most of us are, little mage. But for the first time in five hundred years, we have hope that’ll change. So many mages are being discovered again, like you. Surely my mate is among them. And even if that person isn’t upstairs in this castle, I can at least meet people, get names and stuff, and tell my clan in Brazil about them.”

That was so sweet of him, to be thinking of his clan as a whole. “I hope they are up there, Dimitri.”

“I hope so too.” Dimitri gave them a wink before standing. “Let me know when you want to go.”

“We will.” Gunter waited until he had left before lifting his head and giving Nikki an odd look. “So, is that your type? Big and feisty?”

Silly dragon. Why was he even asking Nikki this question? Like Nikki hadn’t made their preferences perfectly obvious. “Not really. Well, sort of. But there’s more than one dragon near me who’s big and cuddly.”

“Hmm.” Gunter didn’t seem to know how to take that answer. He also apparently didn’t realize Nikki was talking about him.

Nikki gave up. Short of telling Gunter outright, they didn’t know what else to do. But that would be awkward. And Nikki wasn’t willing to live in the land of awkward just yet. For now, they let it drop. “It’s almost time for lunch. Why don’t we go up and eat something too?”

“It is?” Gunter looked at his phone again. “Oh. I guess it is. Alright, well, I suppose I’m hungry enough to eat.”

Said the person who always ate like a starving wolf once food got in front of him. Really, how had Gunter survived before Nikki came along? Did he just binge eat when people remembered to drag him free of the dungeon?

Nikki was rather afraid that was actually the answer.

Gunter didn’t know what to do. He felt too many things, all of them snarled in an angry mess in his chest, and it didn’t give him any clarity. Just frustration. He left the library, unable to process his emotions, but he didn’t have a destination.

Or he thought he didn’t until he ended up at Alric’s door.

He faced the closed door and slowly realized his unconscious mind had made a good decision, bringing him here. His king was wiser in terms of romance. And he had a very happy marriage with Cameron, a clear indication he would know how to advise Gunter.

Good feet. Smart feet for bringing him here.

Gunter lifted his hand and knocked.

“Enter!”

Gunter stepped inside the study, looking about until he spied his quarry. Alric sat at the desk, looking a little tired, but there was a smile on his face as he looked up.

“Well, hello. Wait, tell me I’m not missing a meeting with you.”

One of those days, eh? “No, I’m just here to…talk.”

Alric’s brow lifted in question. “I see. Come in, then. Want a scotch?”

God, yes. Gunter’s need for alcohol was strong. This conversation would go down much better wet. He beelined for the discreet bar lurking in one corner of Alric’s office, pouring a glass for himself before thinking to offer, “Do you want one?”

“Whiskey, straight.”