“Cameron?”
There came a muted thump and then the door swung open. Cameron’s smile instantly lightened Alric’s mood. The mage couldn’t be that worried if he was smiling like that.
“Hey,” Cameron greeted. “Come in, come in. Wait, tell me this isn’t another emergency.”
“Not an emergency,” Alric assured him as he walked in. This room suited Cameron, now that he was paying proper attention. It was originally meant for the clan’s head family and was decorated accordingly. A very masculine room with its wood tones and the hunter green rug, thick and plush, on the floor. While there was a sitting area off to one side, near a fireplace, it didn’t have a separating wall between it and bedroom. Alric carefully put his back to the four-poster bed dominating that area of the room, pretending he was in a proper sitting room and nowhere else.
“Hallelujah. I’m not sure if I can take any more emergencies. So what’s up?”
Alric gave him a faint smile, taking him in. “I wanted to reassure you that they’re in capable hands. Baldewin and Sasha are the strongest fighters I have. Nothing will get past them.”
Cameron gave him that blinding smile that robbed Alric of all breath. “Aww, that’s sweet of you. This is going to sound wrong, but I’m not all that worried now. I mean, I was, but I just got off the phone with my sister and the whole family is over the moon right now. Well, my parents are torn between concern for us and fascination, but Cassie and Halmeoni are over the moon. And my sister is so not worried about being attacked. All she could talk about was magic and somehow jumping Sasha on the ride over here.”
Surprised, Alric blinked at him several times. “She—she is?”
“According to her, Sasha is the hottest woman in the universe, and how dare I not tell her about this beforehand. I’m only slightly paraphrasing. Pretty sure Sasha’s going to get a lapful of Cassie. Hopefully she’ll be okay with that.”
“Knowing Sasha as I do, she’ll be thrilled.”
“Good, good.” Cameron let out a breath of relief. “Otherwise that was going to get really awkward. And I hate awkward. Speaking of…I’ve got two questions for you that I really want answered. Before this gets more awkward.”
Alric had no idea what he meant to ask but nodded encouragement. “Of course. Ask so that I may answer.”
“You’ve introduced me to the entire clan, and hinted, and other people have hinted, and all of that. But I’d feel better making this clear.” Cameron sucked in a breath, let it out. “Alric. Formally, I’m asking, do you want me to be a member of this clan?”
“Yes.” Alric had no hesitation on his part, no question. Conversely, he felt uneasy that he hadn’t made this clear to Cameron—but then he’d been trying to be cautious and considerate of the man. “Yes, of course I do. I wanted to give you time here, let you become comfortable, before formally asking you. I…” Alric stopped, trying to find the right words to convey his thoughts without scaring Cameron or putting more pressure on him.
The mage placed his hand on Alric’s arm, his gaze worried. “What is it?”
“I’m worried about scaring you,” Alric surprised himself by admitting.
Cameron’s grin returned. “I don’t think you can, but I appreciate your concern.”
“It’s just…I don’t know how much has been explained to you about being part of a clan—particularly a dragon clan. Expectations. Duties. How your life inevitably changes.”
“I’ve got some guesses, but what are you thinking about?”
“Joining the Burkhard Clan is a major change for your life. Being a part of the clan means living here. Of course, you can visit with your family—preferably after we’ve taken care of the current threat. I don’t want you to think you’re a prisoner,” Alric hastily added while mentally cursing himself. He wasn’t doing this right. He should have called for Dieter. “Being in a clan means devoting yourself to that clan. As a mage, that means studying magic and using that magic to support your fellow clanmates.”
“So…all the clan lives in the castle?” Cameron said. The tiniest hint of a smile toyed with the corners of his mouth.
“Yes.”
“And being in the clan means I get a job in the castle?”
“Yes, though your first job is student. You’ll mostly work with Lisette, but the other mages will be helping you as well. As a student, you’ll also assist them in gathering spell ingredients, spell preparation, and research.”
Cameron’s would-be smile turned into more