Page 169 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

A spike of fear stabbed Gunter right in the heart. He winced, realizing Alric’s point. “Damn. No. I absolutely do not want Nikki in their hands ever again.”

“Precisely.”

Gunter drank more of his scotch, feeling the pleasant buzz filter through him, relaxing some of the tension riding him throughout the day. The room was starting to do this lazy spin, too, which was interesting. He’d be alarmed about it, but he was far too relaxed right now to worry about it overly much. “Nikki’s too precious, Alric. They’re just too precious. I don’t want anything to happen to them. How can I protect them?”

“Ah, Gunter, you really do feel strongly for Nikki, don’t you?” Alric smiled, face a little flushed. “That’s wonderful. I was afraid no one would go into your dungeon.”

“It’s not a dungeon, it’s a library. And you didn’t answer my question. How do I make sure this never happens again? I don’t want Nikki hurt.” The truth of that ricocheted through him, and he repeated it more forcefully. “I don’t want Nikki hurt. Nikki’s already been hurt enough. That’s why they keep coming to me, right? Because as a dragon, I’ll protect them. Even at night, when they’re afraid, they come to me, and I should stop that. I know I should, but I can’t say anything to them. It’s just a mess.”

Alric quoted with perfect intonation, “‘No strength I find in my own feebleness, to change or life or love or use or fate.’”

Gunter squinted at him. “Who’s that? Poe?”

“Simoni,” Alric corrected. “I found some good poems by Michelangelo Simoni recently.”

“You’ll have to lend me the book.” Gunter loved a good collection of poetry. Especially poetry that made him think and feel his own emotions more keenly. That was the best type.

“I will. But answer the question. What do you think of Nikki? How do your feelings for them compare to any other person you’ve tried dating?”

Gunter pondered. Pondered and drank, and the perfect refrain from a poem came to mind. “‘Oh! I had long in freedom roved, / Though many seemed my soul to snare; / ’Twas passion when I thought I loved, / ’Twas fancy when I thought them fair.’”

“Thomas Moore,” Alric said approvingly. “So, no one compares to Nikki?”

“Even suggesting that anyone compares to Nikki is an insult to Nikki.”

“Then court them! Gunter, truly, you’re moping in my office to no good result.”

“But I don’t know how,” Gunter complained. “What if we’re both wrong? What if Nikki sees me not as a love interest but as a safe harbor? What if we’re mistaking the strength and calmness we see in the day as a sign of growth, when really, it’s only a front?”

Alric poured him another scotch, tsking as he did so. “You have to at least try.”

“But I’ve never courted anyone before. I’ll screw this up.”

“You can’t screw it up. Nikki already likes you.”

That was a good point. “Oh. They do?”

“They absolutely do.”

“Really? Oh, that’s…that’s good. Then the next time they kiss me, I should kiss them back. Right? That’s the right thing to do.”

Alric nodded supportively. And maybe slid sideways in the chair a little, as if balance was a tricky thing. “You should. Alright, are you drunk enough yet to admit Nikki’s your mate?”

“Nikki is completely my mate.” Gunter’s chest puffed up with pride. “And they’re the best mate. Or will be. When I can convince them to be my mate.”

Alric clacked his glass against Gunter’s. “Finally got you to admit to it. Now, hold on to this when you’re sober, okay? You have to court them, Gunter.”

“I will.” Gunter felt confident saying that until doubts came spiraling back in. “But Alric, it might not be easy. Right now, I have their full attention because they spend all day with me. But when they do start branching out, and working magic, they’ll be gone most of the day. What happens then?”

Alric paused, looking stricken. “Oh no. Cameron does that now—spends most of the day away from me. I miss him terribly, but I can’t be a bother, either. He’d hate that. Do you think it’s bad?”

Gunter started to worry about Alric. His head was swimming a little with chaotic thoughts that didn’t quite connect, but the worry he could latch on to. Because Alric was his brother. “I don’t know, is it bad? I’ve never been in a relationship before.”

“It must be bad. You’re worried about it, and you have more free time than me.” Alric slumped, drinking more of his whiskey. “I have so many people who take up my time, I can’t spend it with Cameron like I want to. He’s going to be frustrated with me, isn’t he?”

Gunter poured him more whiskey. It seemed the thing to do. “Maybe spend more time with him. We’ll have time to spare when the Jaeggi are dead.”

Alric slammed a fist down on the armchair. “Yes! Let’s kill the Jaeggi. Right now. Then I can spend all the time I want with Cameron.”