Chapter 9
Despite what people might think, Gunter was not a heavy sleeper. It wasn’t that he was a light sleeper, either, the type to awaken at every noise. But he wasn’t oblivious in his sleep and could come awake if there was enough of a disturbance.
Like a certain mage sneaking into his bed.
Nightly.
Nikki didn’t weigh much, heaven knew, but even they created a shift in the mattress when they snuck onto the bed. The depression was enough to awaken Gunter. And it awoke him again when Nikki snuck back out.
Every morning. At dawn.
The first night, Gunter had chosen not to say much about it.
Or anything, really. Of course Nikki would be unnerved in a new place, surrounded by mages they weren’t sure they could trust. If sleeping at the foot of Gunter’s bed gave them some measure of comfort, then it was a small price to pay.
Gunter had complete faith that once Nikki settled in a little better, got to know and trust the others in the clan, this habit would cure itself.
Only it hadn’t.
Nikki’s entrance into his bed varied. Sometimes it was midnight, sometimes sooner. And sometimes, the mage came in smelling like they’d wallowed in the greenhouse. Gunter had always wondered what they’d been up to, until last night, when he’d found them post-experiment. And explosion.
Wind and skies, that had scared him right down to his marrow, seeing Nikki so close to losing life and limb. And the damn mage had been thrilled at the explosion, not at all put off by it.
Gunter would spank them, but he had the sneaking feeling they’d enjoy it.
He stood now on his balcony, basking a little in the cool night air, trying to clear his head. Last night had cast several things into sharp focus, and Gunter needed a second alone to sort the thoughts in his head.
Never in his life had he welcomed someone’s company as regularly as he did Nikki’s.
It wasn’t that Gunter didn’t like people.
They were just exhausting, and he could only take so much of them before he had to retreat.
Nikki, somehow, was the exception to this rule.
It was probably because even though Nikki was in the same room with him, they didn’t make any demands.
Gunter didn’t feel like he had to entertain them.
But it wasn’t just that. Gunter wasn’t going to lie to himself…more than he already had, anyway. He’d been living in the land of denial and justification for some time already. And that had to change.
Gunter wasn’t just alright with Nikki’s company. He actively sought it. He did ridiculous things completely outside of his normal behavior patterns.
He’d booped Nikki’s nose. That said volumes right there. Gunter hadn’t booped a person’s nose in ever. He hadn’t known he could do that, actually. The action had come out of fucking nowhere.
And he’d enjoyed doing it. That flirty little movement had felt good, and Nikki’s response had been delightful.
They’d clearly liked it too, if their seeking more contact was anything to go by.
They were also always in Gunter’s personal space if they could manage it.
And Gunter encouraged them. He’d liked putting hands on Nikki, feeling that slender body warm and close. He liked it a little too much.
Blowing out a breath, he let his head sink for a moment, balancing his weight on the stone balustrade.
He should not be acting like this with Nikki.
Not without some kind of understanding, or…
something. Nikki was a precious mage who deserved a proper mate.
They’d stated they wanted a dragon spouse.
If Gunter didn’t intend to be that, then he shouldn’t be keeping Nikki close and robbing them of the chance to meet other dragons and properly get to know them.
Just the idea of Nikki flirting with someone else made Gunter’s dragon rear its head and let out a very ugly growl.
Gunter winced. Alright, alright, simmer down. It was a mental image, nothing more.
Gunter’s dragon let out another warning growl. He translated that one as Make sure it doesn’t happen.
The very fact that his dragon was making it loud and clear Nikki was the one they wanted said volumes.
Gunter’s dragon had spoken up precisely never about other people.
And it wasn’t like Gunter had been celibate for five hundred years.
Despite people’s claims, he did leave his library from time to time.
Granted, not often.
Anyway, the point was, Gunter’s dragon was vocal about wanting Nikki. And Gunter knew why. Of course he did, he wasn’t that oblivious. There was a very good possibility Nikki was his mate.
It was an overwhelming thought, no doubt about it.
Gunter now had more sympathy for Alric, when he’d first realized Cameron might be his mate.
His friend and king had been very torn about what to do.
Gunter had thought him ridiculous at the time and had been tempted more than once to kick Alric in the right direction.
Now, finding himself in a very similar position, Gunter had far more sympathy.
Something stopped him from acting. Some fear. It made him hesitate, when few other things in his life had done so. It had taken a while for Gunter to realize what the root of the problem was.
What if Nikki didn’t feel the same way?
Yes, Nikki had kissed him in the library. But Gunter didn’t think of it as more than it actually was—Nikki teasing him. Doing something to deliberately shock him enough to step back. Just the freedom to tease had probably been heady for Nikki, which was why Gunter didn’t put much stock in it.
Right now, Nikki liked being near Gunter because they weren’t properly settled into the castle yet. They were still getting comfortable with everyone. Gunter was a safe harbor. But when that changed, and Nikki acclimatized, would they still choose Gunter’s company over everyone else’s?
Gunter was grouchy. Irritable on some days. He wasn’t the best definition of good company; even to himself he could admit that. Nikki was the type to fit into any social circle and do it with style. Once they got their footing again, anyway. Right now they were still a little shy.
Maybe Lisette had a point about the therapist. After everything Nikki had lived through, of course they’d be traumatized and need some professional help.
Gunter hadn’t wanted to push that topic, too uncomfortable and unsure of how to bring it up.
But he had a feeling the Nikki he saw now was only a glimmer of what the mage was really like. Nikki was far too guarded.
That was a different problem for a different day, though. It wasn’t what Gunter wanted to figure out now. Right now, the question was something else entirely.
Did he dare take the risk? He wanted Nikki dearly, no question there. A little thrill went through Gunter every time Nikki touched him. And Gunter’s dragon always purred, happy to have Nikki nearby. Those two reactions combined were like neon fireworks, impossible to ignore.
What Gunter feared…might not come to pass.
Some part of him was convinced that if Nikki chose him now, they’d only regret it later.
Nikki had latched onto him so quickly without giving anyone else a chance, how could they not come to regret it?
Gunter wasn’t sociable and bright like Nikki.
But Nikki had the choice of other company, too, and it was Gunter they chose to be with.
And those times together were always pleasant, something Gunter sought after.
It might be all in his head that he would be a bad partner for Nikki.
Or that Nikki might not want him in the same way.
For all that Nikki was vivacious, they were also at times hard to read.
Gunter lifted his head again and looked out over the mountains. The truth was, he could stand here for the rest of the night, thinking this over, and never come to an actual conclusion. He didn’t know how Nikki felt. He could only speak for his own emotions. So what did Gunter want?
Nikki.
How did he acquire Nikki? How did one even start to really win them over?
No clue.
This emotion business was tougher than it looked.
Gunter gave up thinking about it for tonight. He lifted both hands toward the open sky, a single fuck escaping his fingers, soaring gracefully into the air. “Fly,” he whispered. “Be free.”
Gunter’s last fuck had gone.
He had no more left to give.
As if to immediately prove him wrong, he could clearly hear Nikki’s voice in the hallway outside his front door, coming closer. And swearing as they came.
“Damn things are torture inventions. Why women like to wear these damn things so much is—oww. You know what, fuck it, I’m not wearing you anymore. I don’t care how pretty you are. You are banished. I will find a volcano to throw you into, so help me god.”
What was this about? Gunter quickly crossed from balcony to door, poking his head out.
Nikki was coming up the stairs—or had been.
They were in a pencil skirt and a rather lovely red, silky tank top that flattered Nikki’s figure.
Balanced on one foot, they yanked off a red high heel shoe, scowling darkly at it as if the thing had tried to put a curse on their soul.
Even from here, Gunter could smell the faint tang of blood.
“Have you hurt yourself?” he asked in concern, moving in a fast walk toward Nikki.
Nikki looked up, still braced with a hand against the wall, a shoe in the other. “It’s these shitty shoes. I bought them cause they’re so pretty but they’re mangling my feet. I thought maybe I just needed to break them in? But they’re going to break my feet before they give any.”
Gunter saw the problem once he was close enough to get the right angle.
The shoes had rubbed the back of Nikki’s heels raw, to the point that one of them was lightly bleeding.
He came in closer, putting an arm around Nikki’s back to help steady the mage before they toppled backwards on the stairs.
“Here, come into my room. I’ve got a healing balm that will put your feet back to rights. ”
“Okay.”
Testing the waters a little, Gunter slipped another arm under Nikki’s thighs and lifted them into a bridal carry. Was this okay?
Apparently, as Nikki immediately put both arms around Gunter’s neck and batted eyes at him in an outrageous way. “You’re so good at coming to the rescue. My hero.”
Gunter snorted. “I’d say it’s my pleasure, but let’s get you shoes that aren’t going to kill your feet. This castle requires far too much walking. There’s no need to torture yourself with bad shoes.”
“Amen.”
Gunter carried them into the room, gently setting Nikki down in his favorite chair near the fireplace, only to retreat to the bathroom for a warm, wet washcloth and a jar of Sora’s special balm that could cure anything short of a dismembered limb.
Gunter had no idea what was in the jar, to be honest. Just that it seemed to be a cure-all for a lot of things.
He swiftly carried it back to Nikki, who had already cast off the other shoe as if it was set to poison them. They were banished to the inside of Gunter’s fireplace.
“Is that a hint?” Gunter asked as he set everything down on the small round table next to Nikki.
“I know it’s not really the weather for it, but those things deserve to burn.”
Gunter cocked his head but had to agree; no point in keeping ill-fitting shoes. He turned his head, shifting just enough that he could spit fire at the grate, burning the shoes to cinders in a few seconds.
Nikki clapped, beaming at him. “You’re seriously my hero. Good job.”
“Your wish is my command,” Gunter deadpanned. Kneeling at Nikki’s feet, he carefully washed both heels, getting any grit or germs out, then applied the balm with gentle fingers.
“Oh! That feels good. What’s in it?”
“No idea. Sora makes this up by the batch and practically everyone has a jar of it. It’s good for cuts, scrapes, rashes, bug bites, you name it. It feels cool. Let it air and harden, and don’t peel it until morning. Your heels will be perfectly healed by that point.”
“Good to know.” Nikki caught his face with both hands and leaned in, kissing Gunter with a light caress of lips. Pulling back only an inch or so, they murmured, “Isn’t that the usual reward for the dashing knight? A kiss.”
“So it is,” Gunter responded huskily. His lips tingled under the impression of that kiss, and it bolstered his confidence a little. Because while teasing, Nikki had still chosen to kiss him a second time. And Gunter could only take heart in that.
Looking into those sparkling eyes, Gunter felt both hesitation and need warring within him. He found himself praying: Please want me for me.
Please.