tightened on Cameron’s shoulder, and Cameron rubbed his cheek against Alric’s shoulder, a part of him wishing he could just climb into the man’s lap. He felt so damn helpless.
“They came after my sister,” Cameron whispered.
“I know. I’m so very sorry, Cameron. I will keep her safe. I will protect both of you no matter what.”
Alric’s fierce words helped to ease some of the knot, making it a little easier to breathe. Cameron had seen how Alric watched over and cared for his people. If he included Cameron’s family in that group, then he believed they would be safe.
Cameron was fit to be tied by the time he made it back to the castle. Alric called Baldewin on the way back up the mountain, and he issued orders to both Baldewin and Sasha to go immediately to protect Cassie.
Baldewin met them at the door, a satchel with a very long handle sitting at his feet. The female dragon next to him had a similar bag. Cameron gave her a good look over as he climbed out of the car. He remembered seeing Sasha before, being introduced to her, but he didn’t know her all that well. She looked something of a cross between a bodybuilder and a model. She was another blonde, blue-eyed beauty who was more striking than pretty with her strong bone structure. Cameron wasn’t sure why Alric had chosen Sasha, other than she gave the impression of being tougher than boulders.
“I need an address,” is how Baldewin greeted him.
Cameron smacked his forehead for not considering the logistics of sending help. “I’ll text it to you now. How soon can you guys catch a flight?”
Baldewin snorted as if he’d just asked a silly question. “We’re flying, young mage. No planes for us, although we’ll take one on the way back to accommodate your sister. Lisette, I have the Noh Amulet on me.”
“Wait,” Lisette cautioned, hurrying around the front of the car. “I’ll put some power in it so it works. I assume Cassie is a mage but test her parents and grandmother too while you’re over there. Make sure.”
Baldewin just nodded.
Cameron got sidetracked from his question and asked the more immediate one. “If they all test positive, will you bring them all back?”
“We’ll have to,” Sasha answered, then look to Alric. “Correct, Hoheit? If they found Cassie, they can find everyone else too.”
“Correct.” Alric turned to Cameron, his hands splayed apologetically. “I do not wish to force anyone’s hands, but their safety is our priority. We need them here to safeguard.”
Cameron actually would prefer it. “I’ll call my parents, then, and Halmeoni. Tell them what’s going to happen. Baldewin, that’s Cassie’s address. Make sure to say hello before barging in, otherwise you’re getting a baseball bat to the face.”
Baldewin grinned at him. “I like your sister already. Sasha, let’s go.”
They grabbed up bags, throwing the handles over their necks before shifting into dragon form. The bags they must have had custom made, as the handles were just long enough to go around their necks and fit to the base of their throat. In seconds, they shook out their deep, maroon colored wings and were flapping and lifting off. Cameron ducked in closer to Alric to avoid their beating wings and the backlash of wind. Once they cleared the rooftop, and he could hear again, he asked Alric urgently, “I still don’t understand why they’re not flying via jet over there? Wouldn’t that be faster?”
Alric clearly had other things he needed to get to—he was antsy and shifting on his feet, but he took a moment to answer. “In fact, we can fly as fast as a commercial jet. Or near enough to make no difference. By flying directly there themselves, they avoid the delay of airports. They’ll reach Cassie in roughly seven hours.”
A dragon’s speed was that of a jet’s? Seriously?! Cameron stared at him for a long second, trying to compute that and mostly failing. “Wow. Yeah, okay.”
Alric’s head turned, and he started shifting that direction before catching himself. “Cameron, I’ll come to you later and we’ll speak, but I have to attend to several things right now.”
“Yeah, it’s okay, go,” Cameron urged him. Alric’s responsibilities were more important than answering all of his questions right now. Cameron could ask them later.
Alric gave him a thankful nod, his hand squeezing Cameron’s once in reassurance before he turned on his heels and hurried off. He called out to people as he made his way quickly into the castle.
Giving