“You don’t actually believe that, do you?” Cameron didn’t wait for his answer. He grabbed Alric’s hand and pulled him into the center of the square. “Look around you. Do you really think if humans were glad dragons were gone, we’d be celebrating you like this? I know the war stole from your family and friends, but I think you’ve let that suffering cloud your vision. These people aren’t celebrating your death. They are celebrating that you lived and soared above our heads with your beautiful wings sparkling in the sun.”
Alric snorted. “Our wings do not sparkle.”
Cameron leaned in close, his nose bumping against Alric’s. “Fine. Glint. Gleam. Shimmer. Twinkle.”
“I will allow gleam.”
Cameron groaned, but it was with a smile. “Whatever. My point is that humans wouldn’t dress up as dragons and dance around like idiots if we were glad you were dead.”
“It’s been my experience that humans don’t need much of a reason to dress up and dance like idiots.”
“I should have known the king of the dragons would be a royal pain in the ass.”
Cameron tried to walk away, but Alric caught his hand, pulling him back in with enough force that Cameron’s chest bumped against his own.
“And what does that make you, my mage? Magically stubborn?” Alric teased.
For a moment, he was only aware of how close Cameron was. His lips tilted in that teasing smirk were only inches from his own. A hint of cologne drifted around them mixed with sweat and something Alric was sure was purely Cameron. Combined with the scent of magic, like a storm unleashed, it was simply intoxicating. And then Cameron’s hand in his. Cameron hadn’t tried to pull away. Instead, he’d actually threaded his fingers with Alric’s, tightening their hold on each other.
“There is nothing magical about my stubbornness. I come by it naturally. My family has a long history of stubbornness.”
Alric chuckled. “I’m sure it has a long history of magic as well.”
Cameron stepped back and pointed a warning finger at him. “We’re not talking about that right now.” Cameron started to release his hand and walk away, but Alric tightened his fingers in Cameron’s, drawing the man’s dark eyes up to him.
“Thank you,” Alric said with a small bow of his head. “I always thought they’d be glad we were gone.”
“No. We’re just really glad you lived in the first place.” Cameron flashed him a tender smile and then shook his head as if trying to shed the seriousness of the moment. “But if you want to thank me, then you can thank me with some coffee. I didn’t have nearly enough caffeine to start my morning.”
“Your wish is my command,” Alric joked, directing them toward the nearest coffee and pastry vendor.
Cameron’s hand slid from his this time, and Alric found himself staring down at his own. He swore his skin felt cold without Cameron’s touch, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt cold like that. He liked holding Cameron’s hand. It had fit just perfectly against his own. He liked the slightly sweaty brush of his palm and the rough hints of callouses on the pads of his fingers. It was a good hand. A hand that belonged in his. His dragon rumbled an agreement, content with the contact like a cat would be in a sunny perch.
But he had no proof Cameron belonged to him. He could so easily belong to any other dragon, and he would not stand in the way of any of his people finding their mate.
The dragon side of his nature did not agree.
Alric mentally growled back a warning. He had to be careful. This was no time to let instincts make decisions.
Walking side by side, they headed deeper into the crowd. Naturally, the stall serving coffee and pastries was the busiest. There wasn’t so much a line as a thick gathering of people at least three deep in front of the booth. Alric frowned at the gathering. There was no sense in both of them wading into that mess. He glanced around the area before his eyes lit on the perfect spot.
“If you’d like to sit, there’s an open bench over there,” Alric offered, motioning toward a quiet little niche away from the main gathering of people and booths. “I’m happy to get coffee and pastries for us both.”
“You sure? You know I was just joking about getting me coffee,” Cameron said.
“I find I could use something sweet. I didn’t eat enough breakfast.”
Cameron smiled at him, poking his arm.