Origin (Scales N' Spells #1) - A.J. Sherwood Page 0,20

the air and paced away from Alric. As he did so, the scent of his magic grew stronger, sharper. Alric couldn’t see it, but he could certainly smell Cameron’s power flare.

The very power he denied having. Frustration and fear swirled in Alric’s chest. How to convince him? In that moment, Alric’s dragon lifted its head, drawn to the presence of a new mage. It scented curiously, interested. Alric paid it no heed, as his dragon could pay attention if it liked, but his focus was on the upset mage in front of him. “Please, Cameron. Just breathe deeply and calm yourself. Think this through. It’s not as scary as it might seem.”

“Not as scary?” Cameron scoffed, swinging back around suddenly to face him. “No, of course not. You’re only trying to tell me that everything I’ve known about myself and my family is wrong. Oh, and wait! I’m supposed to be the key to saving mages and dragons. Both people who have been extinct from the earth for FIVE HUNDRED YEARS!”

This was going very badly.

Alric mentally scrambled to think of something he could say that would calm Cameron down. He was too emotionally worked up. The young man simply needed to think this through.

But Cameron suddenly went completely still. He stared straight at Alric and Baldewin, his eyes narrowing, but Alric was sure he wasn’t actually looking at them. He was lost to his own thoughts.

“This is why you played tour guide yesterday,” Cameron said in a low, harsh voice that was almost a hiss. “It wasn’t about local pride or helping out a poor tourist. You don’t care about me at all. It’s all because of what you think I am.”

“No, Cameron….” Alric started, but the words died off in his throat as quickly as they’d started. How was he supposed to explain feelings he didn’t understand himself? How was he supposed to tell Cameron he would have happily shown him around the city just because he was a joy to be around, but it was unlikely they would have ever met in the first place without him being a mage?

“Unbelievable,” Cameron muttered. He ripped off his glasses and rubbed his eyes one at a time with the heel of his palm. “I just can’t believe this.”

“But it’s true. We haven’t lied to you,” Baldewin said.

“Why don’t you sit down and we can discuss this calmly some more,” Alric offered.

“No,” Cameron snapped, shoving his glasses back on his face. “I’ve heard plenty. I want to go back to my hotel.”

“Cameron—” Baldewin started, but Cameron was stubbornly shaking his head, his arms tightly folded across his chest.

Maybe he was right. A lot of information had been dumped on his head and was threatening to alter his entire world—how he saw his own future, possibly even how he saw himself. It was too much at once. Cameron was in no immediate danger, and they knew how to find him. A little space and time to think about this would do them all good.

“You’re right,” Alric declared, seeming to stun both Cameron and Baldewin. “You need some time to process all of this. I’ll take you to your hotel, and we can—”

“No—” Cameron said sharply before reining himself in. He studiously avoided looking at Alric. “Baldewin, please take me back.”

Sharp, searing pain shot through Alric’s chest, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to show how much Cameron’s rejection hurt him. It was understandable. Cameron felt used and betrayed. He didn’t want to be anywhere near Alric. It was probably for the best.

His dragon growled, irritated that this new, interesting person was suddenly going away. Alric firmly told it to hush. He didn’t need his dragon weighing in on things just then. It was complicated enough.

“Fine. Baldewin can take you,” Alric said, each word clipped and brisk.

Cameron’s shoulders immediately slumped in what Alric felt sure was relief.

“Hoheit?” Baldewin asked.

“Please see him safely to his hotel,” Alric ordered. He picked up his cold tea and forced himself to sip it. The issue was handled, and he had other important matters he needed to see to. After Cameron had time to think about what they’d discussed, they would speak more. Possibly he should introduce Cameron to Gunter. Two such intelligent, orderly minds would likely hit it right off. Gunter would be able to finish convincing Cameron of his heritage and possibly prove to be Cameron’s mate. Two birds, one stone. That was the efficient way a true leader managed his clan. None of this emotional