Cameron found himself glad Baldewin was here.
Alric could feel the smile forming on his lips as Cameron’s excited voice echoed down the hall. The young mage had been living in the castle for only a week and a half, but Alric swore it had been longer. Every time he saw Cameron around the castle, he was chatting with a different dragon or he was working with Lisette on his spells.
Sadly, Alric had taken to spending more time in his office. It was easier than watching Cameron with other dragons, his heart painfully pounding at the thought of this dragon proving to be Cameron’s mate. His own dragon wanted to snatch Cameron up and tuck him away in Alric’s secret room with his hoard. There the mage would finally be safe away from this threat as well as other dragons.
Not healthy thinking.
Alric needed to do what was best for his people. He needed to think of Cameron’s needs first and not his own.
But even with that in mind, he still found himself cherishing each of Cameron’s visits. Every day, Cameron sought him out. Sometimes it was only for a few minutes before Cameron had a lesson with Lisette, or Alric had a meeting, but other times they were able to steal hours. It didn’t matter the length of time. Alric only wanted to see Cameron’s smile, hear his laughter.
He’d also found himself indulging in Cameron’s morning visits. The young mage insisted on being the one to put oil on Alric every morning. After that first surprising morning, Alric found he could handle himself a little better. Marginally. Alright, it was a lie, but he at least hadn’t lost all control in front of Cameron. And he should probably put a stop to it, but…he didn’t want to.
A beautiful younger man wanted to touch Alric and tease, and dammit, Alric enjoyed the attention. Why not indulge? And really, it became clearer by the day that Cameron wanted Alric. It seemed, oddly, as if only Alric held his regards.
Alric didn’t understand that, not really. His clan had many beautiful, amazing people in it. He’d been sure once Cameron had met them, his attention would shift from Alric and onto someone else. But it strangely hadn’t happened, and that fed Alric’s hope. Was it possible Cameron’s flirtations were sincere? That he really was that interested?
Alric kicked back in his favorite chair with a sigh, letting his legs stretch out in front of him. For a moment, he let himself indulge in the idea of asking Cameron out on a date. A proper date, with all that entailed. It was all too blissful even in his head. Was it wise to do so? Alric feared not only rejection but in making things awkward. If their dating went poorly, then wouldn’t Cameron hesitate in staying here? In accepting a position in the clan?
The concern was valid and yet…and yet.
He sighed again, sinking a little further into the chair. It had been something of a long day, and these worries didn’t help any. Alric mentally set them aside and focused on simple pleasures instead. He was glad to finally sit and put his feet up. Of course, as soon as he settled, he started longing for a drink. Alric eyed the sidebar on the opposite side of the room, debating with himself. How badly did he want that drink? Was it worth the effort of moving?
The door to the lounge opened, and Baldewin stepped through. He’d shed the official suit at some point and was back in his usual form-fitting shirt and jeans. He paused upon spying Alric, brows quirked behind his glasses. “What?”
“You’re up.” Alric smiled mischievously. “Perfect. You can fetch me a drink.”
“I’m up, saving you the trouble from getting up, so I can fetch you a drink? I see several flaws with that logic.”
“You’re going to pour yourself a drink anyway,” Alric pointed out oh-so-reasonably.
“I was actually going to mix myself a drink.” Baldewin eyed him back in challenge.
Alric’s face immediately fell. “No, why? Why would you torment yourself that way? Wait for Ravi, he can mix you a drink.”
Baldewin rolled his eyes expressively. “Alric, I can mix my own drinks—”
“May I remind you of the time you tried to make a White Russian, only instead of coffee liqueur you put in brandy—”
“—that was an honest mistake, I was distracted by the game going on—”
“—and then when you realized it didn’t taste right, you put in wine to fix it?”
“Again,” Baldewin said with a sigh, “distracted by the game.”
“You mixed vodka, brandy, wine, and cream together. It was vile. And chunky. The worst thing you’ve ever handed me.” Alric had tasted it to help him figure out why it hadn’t come out right, sure, but still. “And the whole time, you were trying to blame Ravi for not telling you how to mix it right.”