Chapter 38 #3
Alric nodded, his face taking on an even sterner expression. It was clear he didn’t need to be told that plenty of mages in the bunker hadn’t survived their time in Jaeggi hands.
“Start rounding up volunteers without riders to take them to Burkhard. I want a protection detail with them. Leave immediately. We’ll follow shortly.”
Ravi sighed. Home. He was so ready to go home.
Alric turned to him, expression intense. “I’ve got dragons looking, but any sign of the ones who took you?”
“It was that guy, Thomas. And, no, I’ve not seen any sign of him.” He turned and spotted Nikki several feet away, lurking near Gunter. Ravi called out, “Where’s Thomas?”
“There’s a back road,” Nikki replied with a resigned shrug. “Odds are he used it, him and the others, to escape. You’re not going to find them. The vans are warded against seeking spells.”
Well, damn. Ravi shared a look with Alric, neither of them happy with that answer. Still, not much they could do at the moment. They had wounded to tend to, and this wasn’t a secure location to start a search.
At that moment, a pair of strong arms wrapped around Ravi’s waist from behind, and he leaned into his mate. He very much needed to spend some quality time locked away with his mate to apologize for all his worry and pain.
“Umm…Hoheit? Ravi?” Gunter’s nervous voice rose above the gathering. “A moment, if I may?”
Ravi looked up to see Gunter motion toward the slender, blond-haired mage who was still partially hiding behind Gunter. Nikki looked very frightened. Though, there was a hint of mischief in their very large eyes.
Twisting, Ravi quickly brushed a kiss across Sora’s jaw and then jogged over to Nikki. He struggled with his stupid too large, borrowed pants. He was ready to shift into his dragon form until he could get his own clothes back.
“Hoheit, everyone, this is Nikki. They helped break me out of the Jaeggi cell and created the first explosion that distracted the Jaeggi.”
“Wow! You did that?” Cameron asked. He straightened as if finding new energy at the mention of a destructive spell.
“That was amazing!” Tori added.
“No! You’re not practicing that at the castle,” Alric said quickly and then turned his attention back to Ravi and Nikki. “Thank you for saving Ravi. We are in your debt.”
Nikki gave a small wave of their hand, a crooked smile sneaking out. “No problem. I think. I kind of slammed together some sunlight, griffon feathers, and diesel fuel.”
“Oh my word,” Gunter gasped, his voice strangled. Ravi was sure he’d gotten even paler, and he didn’t want to know how close he’d come to dying thanks to Nikki’s creative spellcasting.
“I’d like Nikki to come back to Burkhard Castle for a while. Just until they can figure out what they want to do next,” Ravi pressed on.
“Of course. Nikki, you are very welcome at Burkhard.”
Cameron took a step toward Nikki, and the mage actually backed up, putting themself farther behind Gunter. Cameron’s eyes darted to Ravi in panicked question, demanding to know what he’d done to scare Nikki.
Mages scary, Ravi mouthed to Cameron. His friend still looked confused, but he nodded and retreated into Alric’s arms.
“We would be honored to have you at Burkhard for as long as you wish,” Alric added smoothly.
Ravi looked over his shoulder to see that Nikki had relaxed a little.
“Can I ride with you, Ravi?” Nikki asked, and Ravi’s heart twisted.
“I would very much like to carry my mate,” Ravi admitted, and Nikki nodded.
“Oh. Yeah. Of course. Makes sense.”
“But there are plenty of dragons here who would be happy to take you back to Burkhard.”
Nikki’s dark eyes immediately lit up, and they gazed up at Gunter with the widest smile. “You’re so pretty as a dragon. And just as pretty in your human form. I would like to fly with you.”
That same chicken squawk Ravi had heard earlier broke from Gunter’s throat as Nikki wrapped one arm tightly around his waist. Gunter lifted wide, panicked eyes to Alric and then Ravi.
He raised both arms up in the air, holding them out from his body in confusion.
It was like a wet kitten had suddenly clawed its way up his pants leg, and Gunter couldn’t decide whether to pull it off or cuddle it.
Ravi was hoping he chose the latter.
But right now, Gunter’s terror was perfect.
Ravi coughed, trying to fight back his laugh as he stumbled over to Sora. He lost that fight when Alric announced, “Excellent choice!”
“Hoheit?” Gunter croaked.
“Gunter will carry you safely to Burkhard and keep you safe at the castle.”
Holy shit! Was Alric playing matchmaker?
One look at Alric’s smug expression said the answer to that question was yes.
Ravi cackled, falling into Sora. His mate cuddled him close, pressing kisses to his temple.
“Are you ready to return home, my handsome dragon?” Sora whispered in his ear.
Ravi’s dragon rumbled happily in his chest, and he couldn’t agree more. Home with his mate and his family. Nothing sounded better. Well, except for maybe…
“Yes, my honey bear. We have a bonding ceremony to plan.”