Chapter 19
G uilt sat heavily on Alric. Knowing Cameron was being hunted, he really should have taken more precautions safeguarding the rest of his family. He’d assumed that with them in an entirely different country, they were safe enough for the time being.
Well. You know what they say about assumptions.
Cameron had to be worried about them, even with Baldewin and Sasha there.
Their flight wasn’t due to leave for another hour, and having them on US soil away from the rest of the clan frankly unnerved even Alric.
Cameron probably felt the same, considering all that had happened.
Alric strongly felt the need to reassure him that they would be alright.
Nothing could get past those two. It’s why he had sent them.
But Cameron didn’t know them that well, didn’t know how strong they were.
He was still learning much about the clan.
After a late lunch, he stole enough time to go and see Cameron.
Lisette had postponed their magic lesson, and he’d been reliably informed Cameron was still in his room.
They’d stashed him near Alric, for security reasons, but that was very likely to change when Cameron’s family arrived.
There weren’t many open rooms left on this floor, for one.
Putting all of his family on the same floor would be a kindness.
And Cameron was far, far too temptingly close, for another.
Alric wasn’t sure how much longer he could survive knowing that Cameron was a two-minute walk from his own bedroom.
Not monopolizing Cameron’s every moment was proving difficult as it was.
Their date (interrupted date, no less) notwithstanding, they didn’t have an understanding between them yet, after all.
Shoving that thought firmly out of his mind, he gave the door a solid rap. “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 of a smirk. “You haven’t said a single thing to scare me yet.”
“Are you sure?” Alric demanded before he could stop the words from leaving his mouth. Cameron’s bark of laughter nearly covered Alric’s groan.
“Don’t get me wrong, this is all new and unexpected.
It’s not at all what I thought I’d be doing with my life, but I love it, Alric.
I truly do. When I’m working magic with Lisette, I feel like I’m finally doing what I was meant to do.
So, leaving my old life behind? Joining the clan?
Being a mage? Those things don’t scare me. ”
“Good,” Alric said on a sigh. “You have a standing invitation at all times to join us.”
“I figured that was the case. I just wanted to clear the air before everyone got here.” He did seem lighter, his shoulders relaxing a touch. “Thank you. I want to accept.”
“Please do,” Alric replied huskily. He couldn’t imagine anything that he wanted more than this, to have Cameron with him.
That possessive snarl rose up in the back of his mind, and he slapped it hastily down before the growl could come out of his throat.
Cameron didn’t ask to be his , he only asked to belong to the clan. That was an entirely different matter.
Even if his heart rebelled at the difference.
“I assume something has to happen to make that all official, and we’ll do that tomorrow. Right now, I want my second question answered.”
Alric startled a little as Cameron stepped close enough that his chest brushed lightly against Alric’s.
Their eyes met, and Cameron’s were nearly swallowed up with a deep black that Alric was sure he’d never stop tumbling through.
The mage’s breath hitched, and Alric’s heart tripped as Cameron leaned the last little bit to claim Alric’s mouth in a slow, sensual kiss.
Eyes fluttering shut, Alric happily kissed him back, wishing more than anything this moment could last for a thousand heartbeats.
This kiss was different than their playful little pecks to borrow power for a spell.
This kiss spoke to him of want, and there was nothing casual about it.
The pressure was exquisite, and Alric nearly moaned at the alluring touch of Cameron’s tongue sliding along his bottom lip, asking for entry.
Groaning, Alric parted his lips, welcoming him in.
His right hand clamped down on Cameron’s hip, holding him in place.
Not that Cameron gave any indication he wanted to escape.
He’d wrapped his arms around Alric, pulling their bodies flush together so that Alric could now feel his lean muscles.
Cameron’s growing erection rubbed against Alric’s hip, and the dragon wanted nothing more than to grind their bodies together.
If Cameron had meant for this to be an innocent first kiss between them, the heat was quickly flaring out of control.
Pulling back, Cameron looked directly into his eyes. He appeared slightly dazed and a beautiful flush painted his cheeks. Hunger and heat darkened his brown eyes, enough to spark Alric’s own heat, and god, that was a heady feeling. Alric hadn’t felt it in years.
“Where is this going?” Cameron asked him, his usual smooth tenor a little rough around the edges. “This sexual tension between us. And before you answer me, I don’t want the king’s answer. I want Alric’s.”