in.
The summer sun was only now warming the city as the shadows were chased away. It would be a pretty day, it seemed.
Alric had a speech in his head, an apology to give, but it faltered almost immediately as he pulled up to the front of the hotel. Cameron wasn’t sedately standing outside, oh no. He had a leg out like a woman showing off, pulling his pants up a bare inch to show a slice of ankle. It was such an absurd pose that Alric stared for a full second, befuddled, before bursting out laughing.
Cameron waggled his eyebrows in an outrageous manner as Alric pulled up and stopped. He opened the door, leaning around the side to give Alric an outrageous eyebrow waggle again. “You couldn’t help but stop for that sexy ankle, am I right?”
Alric’s helpless laughter continued. “Absolutely. The sexiness of your ankle did me in. A siren’s call too hard to resist.”
“I’ve got exceptional ankles, I know. I don’t unleash them on men often. Causes too many car accidents.” He hopped into the car, a smile on his face as if he knew he’d broken the ice and was smug about it.
Alric was so relieved at Cameron’s teasing he could have wept. Far too many hopes rested on Cameron, and their connection was far too tenuous to put much weight upon. Seeing him here, smiling, after he’d stormed out yesterday allayed his fears. Still, he felt the urge to clear the air, too. Not just leave things unspoken and swept under the rug. “About yesterday, I’m sorry things did not proceed how you’d likely hoped. I was too focused on discerning what you do know and what you didn’t, and failed to consider your own reaction to it all. I genuinely enjoyed spending the day with you, and would like very much to repeat it. If you wish, we can return to the castle for that tour. No talk of dragons or mages. Just you and me walking around the castle. Or Baldewin if you’d rather talk with him. Ravi can also be quite fun once you get used to him.”
Cameron stared at him for a second and then looked around them as if making sure no one was close enough to overhear him before he leaned close to say, “You’re not very bossy for a king. I thought kings were bossy.”
Alric sat startled for a second. All his grumbly thoughts about not wanting to share him with Baldewin or Ravi were completely forgotten. His dragon peeked its head up, intrigued by Cameron’s words. He wasn’t criticizing. No, that was clear with the playful smile on his lips. Cameron was teasing him.
Leaning in close so that his lips were just an inch from Cameron’s ear, Alric whispered, “I can be as bossy as you want me to be.”
Pulling back on a gasp, Cameron looked at him, his cheeks flushing beautifully before he started to laugh. Just maybe Alric had been forgiven.
As his laughter died away, Cameron shook his head. “No, I want to stay at the festival today.” Cameron ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back off his forehead. “Yesterday…I’m sorry I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have. You’re just looking out for your people.”
“Thank you for giving me another chance. It might not seem like it, but I’m looking out for you too. I truly believe you are a mage. I think you’d enjoy learning magic, and as my advisor has pointed out to me on more than one occasion, finding your mate greatly improves your happiness.”
Cameron waved his hands at Alric and a nervous little laugh left his parted lips. “Let’s skip the mate talk for the moment. We can keep it to dragons and mages for now.”
“I think we can manage that.” He pulled the car around to the parking lot near the hotel, as that was the safest place to leave it with the festival going on. They got out there, locking the car with a click of the fob. “What would you like to see today?”
Cameron shrugged. “Let’s just wander the festival for now, peek in the artists’ stalls. I should get something for my sister since she’s upset that she’s not here meeting the dragons.”
“Your sister would be very welcome to visit Burkhard castle anytime she wishes,” Alric said smoothly. Alric started them down the block toward the heart of the festival thoroughfare. The foot traffic on the sidewalks was still relatively light, and most of it appeared