Origin (Scales N' Spells #1) - A.J. Sherwood Page 0,15

His head was small and slim, meaning it was probably the length and width of Cameron’s torso. Keen brown eyes observed him carefully. He kept very still, as if to not spook Cameron further. Cameron couldn’t help but reach out, and Ravi put his nose squarely into Cameron’s hand. It startled him further, the texture of the leathery scales, the heat of him.

A warm hand settled at the base of Cameron’s spine, and it settled there in support. “Cameron?”

“My god,” Cameron breathed, mind whirling as he slotted what he knew against what he was seeing with his own eyes. “The illustrations we have in the history books really don’t do dragons justice.” Another fact careened through his brain, ping-ponging about and demanding attention. Had Ravi addressed Alric as ‘Hoheit?’ It sounded like a title. For that matter, hadn’t Alric said from the very beginning that this castle had always been the home of the Fire Dragon Clan? And that Ravi was part of his family?

The realization hit him like lightning. Was he actually surrounded by dragons right now?

Turning his head, he looked at Alric as he never had before. Alric watched him with perhaps a hint of nerves in his eyes, but with that calm he always seemed to possess, body oriented toward Cameron like a stalwart bastion. Who was this man, really? “I’m sorry…Hoheit? What does that mean?”

Alric smiled a little. “I believe the nearest English equivalent is ‘sire.’” His expression became solemn as he bowed his head to Cameron. “I am Alric Burkhard, King of the Fire Dragons. You, sir, are in the heart of Fire Dragon territory.”

“Well,” Cameron’s mouth irreverently spat out, “I can see why you’re so sure dragons are still alive.”

Alric barked a laugh, his eyes crinkling up in an adorable way. “Indeed. Why don’t you come in? I still owe you a tour, and I think you want to sit down again.”

“Yeah,” Cameron agreed faintly. “Sitting down. Great idea. Let’s do that.”

“This way, please. Ravi, if you’d put the car away?”

“Sure.”

Cameron went where Alric led, turning toward a side door that he could see on the opposite side of the rather massive courtyard. Well, that made sense, didn’t it? The courtyard would have to be huge in order to accommodate a dragon’s wingspan, or several dragons coming in and out all at once. Cameron felt like he’d stepped back in time, seeing the little nicks and claw marks in the grey paving stones from where claws had dug in. Striding along with the dragon king at his side, who was dressed in modern clothes, didn’t seem to dispel the image much.

Oh damn. Alric. King. That was just now really sinking in, and really? The man who had charmed him into taking a tour and eating dinner with him was a king? Cameron couldn’t really wrap his head around it. Alric didn’t act kingly—not like you saw in the media, at least. Alric was entirely too...was human the right word?

There was a suspicious sound behind them that may or may not have been a car being physically lifted off the ground.

“You scratch my paint, you buy the car!” Alric called over his shoulder.

Ravi didn’t even sound concerned. “Pfft, like I’ve ever scratched your paint.”

Cameron couldn’t help but peek over his shoulder. Ravi had literally lifted the car up, hauling it like an oversized toy toward…the garage, he assumed. So, dragons were insanely strong. Check. Don’t piss off a dragon.

“Baldewin,” Alric greeted in a warm voice. “Come and properly meet Cameron.”

Oh, this was the other guy—dragon?—who had been with Alric the day before. He stood just inside the door leading into the castle interior, content to watch them come to him. If a wall could be given human form, then this was the man. He wasn’t particularly tall, a little over six foot, but he had a solid build that made him imposing. Cameron irreverently wondered if all dragons were good-looking, as Baldewin was no slouch in that department. He had a very different look than either Alric or Ravi, with amber skin and gorgeous grey-green eyes. The closely trimmed stubble beard and square dark glasses made him look like a hot college professor in search of a blackboard.

Not that any of Cameron’s professors had been that attractive.

Baldewin held out a hand, which Cameron took. He spoke in a deep voice, smooth on the surface but with a gravelly undercurrent that tantalized the ears. “Cameron. I’m very happy to see you. We all wanted to come