Chapter 23
Ravi tucked his phone into his back pocket before knocking on Alric’s office door. The dragon king beckoned him in, and Ravi smirked. He sounded more than a little distracted, but that was why Ravi was poking his head into the office in the first place.
As he’d expected, Alric was glaring at his computer, lines of both worry and pain digging into his face.
Having the Sodalicium contingent in the castle over the past few days had led to a lot of meetings and planning for Alric.
Everyone had been running around the castle, preparing for the arrival of yet more mages and dragons, trying to figure out which information and spells were most desperately needed.
Simply put, things had become hectic. Ravi wasn’t seeing nearly enough of Sora for his liking, but he knew everyone was making sacrifices.
Despite the insanity, it was a joyful and hopeful kind of crazy. Everyone was tired, but still smiling with the knowledge that big things were happening.
Well, nearly everyone was smiling.
In Ravi’s experience, Alric and Gunter experienced their own kind of weird happiness. Other than when Alric was wrapped around his mate, the king was happiest when he was making big plans and solving problems, which tended to also stress him out and make him grumbly.
It also tended to make him forget about properly caring for his injured shoulder.
“Have you let Lisette or Cameron apply that healing salve today?” Ravi asked as he closed the door.
“Huh?” Alric’s head snapped up, and his expression was completely distracted.
Ravi sighed. “The salve. Your shoulder. You’re in pain.”
Alric frowned and rolled his shoulder a little before wincing and looking back at his computer screen. “Oh. It’s fine.”
“Hoheit,” Ravi said in the best warning tone he could muster.
Alric had suffered the injury during the Dragon War and hadn’t allowed it to heal properly.
He’d been more focused on the death of his father and trying to save what remained of his clan.
As a result, he’d lost the ability to fly as a dragon and most of his use of the limb as a human.
The most troubling thing for Ravi was that he was still pained by it five hundred years later.
Sighing dramatically, Alric pinned Ravi with an irritated glare that only made him grin broadly at the man, who was more an older brother to him than king most days. “I will ask Cameron to place more salve on my shoulder this evening before we go down to dinner.”
Ravi flopped down in one of the chairs in front of Alric’s desk. “I’ve also talked Sora into having a look at your shoulder. The Abe Clan are renowned healers. I bet he’ll think of something we haven’t.”
Alric quickly shook his head. “Please, don’t trouble him.”
“Don’t trouble—” he started to repeat in disbelief. He leaned forward, shifting to the edge of his seat. “You’re lucky I don’t tell Sora’s parents. I bet they’d have your shirt off and a bunch of weird creams smeared on you before you can say zippity-do-da.”
Alric’s head jumped up again, his mouth falling open in shock for only a second before it snapped shut again. He tried to glare, but Ravi could see the first teasing of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Did you want something other than to threaten me with Sora and his parents?”
There was no stopping his smug smile. He really did love being his king’s keeper. It was more than just protecting him from harm. Ravi also kept him from harming himself by pushing too hard.
“I came to remind you of the time and that you need to start closing down your computer.”
“I’m aware of the time.” He paused, eyes darting to the computer screen to his left. “I’ve still got an hour before I need to dress for dinner and meet Cameron in the hall.”
“Uh-huh. Which means you haven’t checked your phone in at least an hour.”
“What?”
“Cameron texted you to request a private dinner, which is supposed to be in thirty minutes.”
Alric jerked and grabbed at his phone, which was set far to the side, under a stack of papers, completely forgotten. As Alric scrolled through the missed messages, Ravi smiled at him.
“He’s currently in a meeting with Lisette, Ryu, and Gunter, so he texted me to check on you since you weren’t responding to his texts.”
Alric swore softly to himself as he quickly tapped out a response to his mate.
“Thank you, Ravi. Your timing is perfect as always.” Putting the phone on the desk again, Alric leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh. He gave Ravi one of his rare crooked smiles. “Crisis averted. I am meeting my mate for dinner in our chambers this evening.”
“Good. You’ve both been too busy recently and could use some time alone.
I’ve already wrangled Warin, North, Cassie, and Sasha into entertaining all of our guests without you for one night.
I was thinking after dinner we could move all the tables and do charades in the middle of the hall.
Losers have to do shots of Burkhard Fire Wine. ”
Ravi waggled his eyebrows at Alric, earning the amused groan he’d expected.
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to reschedule any of my early morning meetings tomorrow.”
“If we get everyone drunk enough, we can pull out the Twister mats and—”
“I thought I ordered the Twister mats destroyed!”
Ravi shrugged. “They were, but Cassie has been working on these dragon-sized mats.”
Alric shook his head. “You’re making it so I’m afraid of leaving you without supervision tonight. Please, no drunk dragon Twister in the castle.”
Ravi huffed out a sigh, jutting out his bottom lip in a good facsimile of a pout. He pushed to his feet again so he was looking down on Alric. “Fine, but we are doing dragon Twister while all dragon kings are in town.”
“Let’s take care of the Jaeggi before we break the older dragons, please.”
Ravi bowed extravagantly to Alric as he took a backward step toward the door. “I promise to take excellent care of our guests. No one will be broken during tonight’s entertainment.”
“Speaking of guests…” Alric drawled. Ravi froze as his king’s smile grew a little devious. “How are things progressing with you and Sora?”
Ravi’s heart fluttered at his name, and he could feel the goofy smile spreading across his lips before he could stop it. He bit his tongue, for just a breath thinking he might be able to play it cool. But really, that was never his style, and why try now?
With a laugh, he lunged forward and grabbed the back of the chair. His mouth opened, and the torrent of words poured out.
“He’s amazing. You think he’s amazing, right?
Just amazing. He’s absolutely brilliant and talented.
Definitely the most talented mage I’ve ever met.
And then that hair and those eyes. And god, is he good at sex.
We’ve been fucking like bunnies, and I can’t get enough of it.
” Ravi dropped his head back and groaned.
“So beautiful. Everything about him is absolutely perfect. And my chaotic nature doesn’t bother him at all.
He thinks I’m fun! My dragon wants to place him in the middle of my hoard and curl around him, keeping him safe forever and ever. ”
Ravi only managed to suck in a breath when Alric’s deep laughter rolled through the room.
“And have you told him all these things?”
“Told him?” Ravi gulped. The warmth that had swept through his body as he thought about Sora had instantly chilled.
“Yes, told him. Have you told him how you feel? Have you told him he’s brilliant and amazing and beautiful? Told him that your dragon wants to keep and protect him?” Alric scratched his chin. “You know, mages like to hear those things.”
“Yes, of course. Well, I mean, I know they like to hear those things, but no, I haven’t told him in so many words. I think I’ve told him he’s beautiful and a genius and talented on different occasions, but I haven’t told him about how my dragon feels. Because…you know…”
Alric’s brow furrowed and he sat forward, placing his right arm on top of the desk. “I know what?”
“Well, I mean…he’s him.” Ravi waved his arms up and down as if shaping Sora’s form. “All brilliant and sexy and amazing.”
He then hit his own chest with both hands.
“And I’m just me. I’m afraid of saying too much and reminding him how much me I am. It’s like I’m living in this magical bubble, and I don’t want to do anything to make this bubble pop.”
His king gave another low chuckle, his smile turning gentle and sweet. “Ravi, I suspect that Sora feels the same way about you because you are you.”
“Really?”
Alric pushed to his feet and walked around his desk so he could lean against the front.
“I thought mages were the ones who were most likely to get lost in this process,” he muttered, as if he were talking to himself. “The whole castle can see how you feel about each other. It’s clearly written in Sora’s eyes every time he looks at you. Have you talked about being mates?”
Ravi gave a little shake of his head. His heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was going to break out of his chest. “No, but he’s mine. I know he’s mine. My dragon wants to hold him tight and never let go. He belongs to us more than the wind.”
“Good. I’m so very happy for you.”
“Thank you, Hoheit. I admit I’m a little shy about telling Sora all of this. What if he’s not on the same page?”
“Why don’t you at least ask before you assume he isn’t?” Alric suggested patiently.
“No, but think about it, all of the mages we know took longer to get used to the idea than their dragons, right?”
“I’d like to remind you that Cameron was actually the one who dragged me into a proper relationship.”
Oh. That’s right, he had.
“Then…maybe I should say something. I’m a little worried. We’re from two different clans. I don’t know what to do about that.”
Alric smiled and wrapped his right arm around Ravi’s shoulders.
“It is something you’ll need to talk through.
But in the olden days, we were all from different clans, and we managed to find a good compromise.
I think your view on this is skewed because you’ve only seen us adopt mages in.
But look at Ha Na and Rodrigo. She’s technically a Burkhard, but she went with him readily enough, right? ”
“Oh. Yeah. Also a really good point. You’re pretty wise today.”
“I do have my moments,” Alric drawled, dry as a martini. “I want you to know that if you need me to release you from your vow as my retainer so you can be with your mate, I can and happily will.”
Ravi flinched, and he knew Alric felt it. The idea of not being Alric’s retainer, not being there every day to watch over Alric and Cameron, was like a knife in his heart. He cherished his oath and his duty to the royal family of Burkhard.
But he also cherished Sora. His beautiful mage was quickly becoming the beat of his heart and the wind that carried him up over the mountains.
It would be only natural that Sora would want to return to his own home and people.
If they were officially mated, Ravi would go with Sora. But how could he leave Burkhard?
“Ravi, naturally, we wish for you and Sora to stay with us,” Alric continued gently. “We want only your happiness. Do you know what Sora wishes to do? Does he plan to return home to the Sodalicium?”
“I don’t know,” Ravi whispered. He cleared his throat and tried again.
“I’m terrified to ask. What if he wants to go home?
He’s my mate. I know he’s my mate. Of course, I’d go with him.
His happiness is all I want in the world.
If going home makes him happy, then that’s what we’ll do.
But…this is my home. My family. I—I don’t want to leave. ”
“And we will always be your home and family. Even if you are living with the Abe and the Sodalicium, you and Sora will always be welcome in Burkhard. Nothing will change that.”
“Thank you, Alric. I don’t know what to do. I love being here, surrounded by my family. It means everything to me. But Sora…I know he’s my mate. I’ll do anything to make him happy. Even leave my home.”
Alric threw his head back and laughed, squeezing Ravi tight against his side. “Ravi, you do everything so quickly. Why are you so slow with this?”
“What am I to do?”
The older dragon’s hand gripped his shoulder and gave him a little shake. “Talk to him!”
“But—”
“There is no but. You’re so worried, but you have no idea what he’s thinking or feeling. Maybe he wishes to stay with us. Maybe he wishes to split his time between both clans. You don’t know and won’t know until you talk to him.”
Well, yes, that solution was pretty obvious, but it didn’t help with the swirling nerves in his stomach.
“If he’s truly your mate, he values your happiness as much as you value his,” Alric nudged.
“Cameron and I have had plenty of difficult and nerve-wracking conversations over the past year, but I trust him, and I believe in us. I know that no matter how scary the conversation might feel, we will always find a way to be happy.”
“And if he’s not my true mate?” Ravi looked up to see an exasperated expression on Alric’s face.
“Do you honestly believe that?”
A grin split across Ravi’s lips before he could stop it. “No.”
He’d barely been able to ask the question. Sora had to be his mate. He felt it down in his bones. He felt it written on his soul. Sora was his, and he belonged to Sora.
“Then go, Ravi.” Alric laughed and shoved him toward the door. “Spend some time with your Sora and your family. Have a wonderful night. I have a neglected mate who needs my attention.”
Ravi laughed and took a couple steps toward the door before stopping suddenly. He turned on the balls of his feet and lunged toward Alric, knocking him back against the desk. He wrapped his king—his brother—in a tight hug.
“Thank you for always making me feel like I belong here,” he said around the lump in his throat as he buried his face against Alric’s chest.
Alric drew in a ragged breath as he wrapped his arms around Ravi again. His cheek rested against the top of his head.
“Ravi, you have always belonged here and always will. You have been my brother, friend, and protector since the first moment you came into my life. You will be missed by everyone here if you leave, but know this will always be your home.”
Warmth and love wrapped around his heart, squeezing him. He could do this. He could talk to Sora, and they’d figure out their fate together.
And if it meant leaving Burkhard, then he could do it. The people he loved would never stop loving him, and he would always love them regardless of whether he saw them every day or only once in a great while. Life was an adventure, and he was ready to take the next step with his mate.
Reluctantly, he released Alric and roughly wiped at his burning eyes. Stupid allergies—that had to be it. At least he wasn’t the only one; Alric’s blue eyes were sparkling, too.
“Have a fun, naughty night with Cam.”
“Go, Ravi!” Alric chuckled.
With a final laugh, Ravi walked briskly toward the door. He needed to find his mate.
And maybe a Twister mat or two.