Chapter 1
Nikki really had no idea what to do with themself.
It was a combination of being in a new place—a territory they didn’t know yet—and not having anything assigned to them.
With the Jaeggi, Nikki had mostly been a magical battery, but even still, they’d had a routine of chores they were responsible for.
Not that Nikki missed the routine whatsoever, but having something to do would be nice.
The main problem was Nikki had only dreamed of being free.
And those dreams had mostly been wrapped up in totally unrealistic ideas of a dragon swooping in and saving them from the evil Jaeggi, falling instantly in love with Nikki, then flying them both off into the sunset.
The dreams may have gotten a boost a month ago when the interview with King Alric and Consort Cameron came out.
Nikki maaaay have watched it a few hundred times.
Anyway, Nikki had no idea what to do with all this newfound freedom.
Typically, all Nikki had been allowed to do was watch television and read books.
Anything internet-related had been strictly off-limits, and even their board games, television channels, and books had been carefully screened.
None of that was in play at Burkhard. Nikki hadn’t been given a single restriction yet.
And frankly, was quite wary of it. They’d been completely left to their own devices all day today.
And yesterday. And the day before that. It was afternoon now, and not once had someone come looking for them.
On the one hand: ooooh. All the possibilities.
On the other, it didn’t make any sense.
No one housed and fed a complete stranger without wanting something from them.
That lesson had been engraved into Nikki’s soul.
The dragons would rescue a mage, of course, no question.
But then what? What did they intend to do with Nikki?
What about the Burkhard mages? Nikki didn’t really think they could be trusted, but…
the dragons trusted them. Which said something, there. None of this made sense.
So, what could Nikki do from here?
Nikki was the boss of themself. And that was absolutely the problem.
Well, at the very least, they could get the lay of the land.
The castle was huge; there didn’t seem to be any handy map of the place, and not knowing the ins and outs of it made Nikki’s skin crawl.
Absolutely, number one priority was to figure this place out.
Maybe check in with the other mages who had been rescued.
They started at their room, given to them by the lovely Gunter, and took a right. Nikki paid strict attention to where their feet went, mapping the route mentally as they walked. But part of their brain was on Gunter.
If Nikki had ever created a dedicated star in the dragon-rescue-daydream, he would have looked a lot like Gunter. Nikki had a severe weakness for men with ice-blond hair, broody looks, and muscles.
Geralt of Rivia.
Legolas.
Sephiroth.
Ahem. Anyway. Nikki’s weakness was well known and established at this point. Gunter fit that mold to a tee. When Ravi had handed Nikki over to Gunter for safe-keeping, Nikki may have capitalized on the moment and clung a bit more than was called for.
But Gunter hadn’t been annoyed in response.
Surprised, definitely—that had been clear in those ice-blue eyes.
Worried about Nikki. And sweet, so sweet.
He’d clearly been out of his depth, not sure how to handle the situation, but willing to do whatever necessary to help Nikki feel safe.
And not once had he tried to take advantage, even though Nikki had handed him several opportunities.
Under that gruff exterior was a heart of gold. Nikki may have developed an instantaneous crush. Just a little bit.
Not that they knew what to do with it. Gunter didn’t seem to be mated, but he also didn’t seem to be interested. And Nikki had never been in this position before, of finding someone they wanted to pursue.
And should they? Nikki might need to escape from here, too, since it was still unclear what the Burkhards wanted to do with them.
Although they really hoped not. Because Gunter was truly lovely.
Nikki found their way down one level to another, wrapping around the perimeter of the castle through connecting hallways.
They tracked their progress through the view of the windows—truly beautiful mountains up here.
Nikki itched to go exploring outside, too.
Not that they had any experience exploring nature.
There was much they hadn’t been allowed to do in their life.
And with no one watching them, the freedom to do whatever crossed their mind was there.
Right. Map out castle first, then outside.
They were on the third level of the castle when Nikki spied a familiar face, a woman sitting on an outside balcony with her face tilted up toward the sun.
She looked in far better condition than Nikki had last seen her, her magical core in the recovery stage instead of looking like a ghost of itself.
Someone had attended to her—and done it very well.
“Dominique?”
Her head tilted and she greeted them with the slight French accent she was known for. “Ah, Nikki! How are you? Isn’t this place just a fantasy?”
“It’s amazing,” Nikki agreed, coming to sit with her.
The two of them had always gotten along, and it was nice to see Dominique relaxed instead of wary and afraid.
Also surprising, considering she was in new territory like they were.
“I’ve been mapping the place out most of the day and still haven’t seen it all. ”
“Oui, un problème. I’ve gotten lost three times now.” She laughed, not bothered by this. “But handsome dragons always stop to help, so no hardship.”
“There are many, many attractive dragons in this place.” Nikki had seen that, too. Not that their eyes had lingered anywhere in particular. Gunter had rather cemented their attention.
“I enjoy eye candy very much.” She tilted her head, looking them over. “You helped Ravi escape, I heard. I’m so glad. It got us all out.”
“I’m glad we did. I don’t think any of us would have lasted much longer.”
“Non, you are right.” Her dark brown eyes turned sad. “They are too desperate to defeat the dragons. They drained us too much. But we are in better place now, and already the dragons here are gearing up for battle.”
“Oh, they are?” Nikki hadn’t heard anything about this.
“Oui, the kings here come and speak with me. King Alric is kind, you’ll see for yourself, I think.
They ask many, many questions, for information.
And assure me that if I want a proper place in this clan, I have one.
” Dominique tilted her hand to indicate the world beyond the castle walls.
“Or if I want to return home, I may. I have no real home to return to. I told them so, and asked for time to think about staying.”
Nikki would not have been so nonchalant about that offer. “You really think it’s safe to stay?”
“Oh, oui.” She nodded firmly, her brown, bobbed hair swinging gently around her chin.
“Pas de question. These people are kind. And they do not need us like the Jaeggi did. I’ve seen great magics performed without any draining happening.
The spell work done on me alone to restore my magical core was enlightening.
Dragons would not work with mages like the Jaeggi, anyway. ”
That…was a good point. Nikki hadn’t really thought of it in those terms.
“Ah, two of you!”
Nikki turned to see who had spoken and felt a wave of uneasiness crash over them when the petite mage beelined straight for them.
She was a powerhouse, this one, practically glowing with magical energy.
Nikki wasn’t at all comfortable with her being this close, but she seemed oblivious as she came straight to the table and plopped a heavy bag down.
“Hi, hi,” she greeted, a bright smile on her face. “I’m Cassie Burkhard, and I’m kind of the person in charge of tech around here. How are you guys doing?”
Dominique answered, although an edge of caution tightened her expression. “Fine, I think.”
“Really? You guys aren’t overwhelmed by the size of the place?
’Cause I sure was when I first got here.
” Cassie shook her head, the blue of her hair catching the light in interesting ways.
“I must have called Sasha thirty times a day, asking where I was going and where something was. This place is a freaking labyrinth, and the dragons are so used to it, they don’t even think of it like that.
My wife is still incredibly amused every time she has to come to my rescue.
Although I have finally gotten a handle on the place.
Anyway, I didn’t want to just let you guys wander around without some means of calling for help. So.”
Nikki had no idea what she would pull from that black bag until her hand popped back out with a cellphone.
Why…a cellphone? Really? They’d never been allowed to have one with the Jaeggi. Nikki had barely gotten access to a TV, really.
“I hope you’re both android people, as that’s all I’ve got.
” Cassie handed Dominique one, then Nikki, chattering as she did so.
“The phone number for it is written in Sharpie on the back. It’s got a few phone numbers already loaded.
Mine, Alric’s, Cameron’s, Ravi’s—although don’t call him if you can help it, he’s in wedding prep mode—and Sora’s.
Sora is our healer, and if anything is hurting, please call him ASAP.
Ok? Oh, and I’ve got tablets for you, too. ”
Nikki looked at the tech in their hands and felt like the world had been tilted.
A phone was a means of contacting the outside world.
The tablet was much the same. This woman was just handing them the means to call out, get help, or navigate their way out of the castle.
And she did it with a smile on her face and instructions.