Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Rodrigo chuckled lightly, proving that he wasn’t at all bothered by the other king’s tone. “True. We hadn’t thought of that one. It was rather unique.”
“And no one would have expected a dragon to start quoting Star Wars,” Cameron muttered in a voice that was definitely warmer than Alric’s.
His king groaned, sounding like he very much wanted to strangle Ravi like a chicken, just as he’d grumbled about doing so many times in the past.
“Besides, he was caught on video attempting to save a human he thought was in trouble,” Rodrigo pressed. “It would be different if he was…I don’t know…eating little children.”
“Or tearing down a hospital,” Cameron offered.
“Thiago and several of my other dragons have been monitoring social media,” Rodrigo continued. Thiago was his advisor back in Brazil. “He says that the response has been largely positive and enthusiastic. The humans think the blue dragon is adorable and helpful. People wish to know who he is and where he has disappeared off to.”
“This isn’t a Frankenstein’s monster situation. The villagers aren’t grabbing their pitchforks and torches,” the mage admonished. Cameron moved off the desk and across the room, toward his mate. His voice had gentled when he continued. “It’s like I told you last year at the Dragon Festival—people love dragons. We miss you. Ravi’s appearance is the first clear sign that there is still something wonderous and magical in our world.”
“The only truly wondrous and magical things in this world are mages. The problem is that there are significantly fewer dragons now, and I fear there aren’t enough of us to keep mages—like my beautiful mate—safe.” Alric sounded sweet and worried now, which was a sign that he was softening.
Thank all the gods that might be that Alric had found his mate. He was definitely less grumpy now with Cameron at his side.
The mage hummed softly, and Ravi was pretty sure they kissed, but he wasn’t willing to lift his gaze from the carpet yet. Not until he’d won Alric’s forgiveness. His stupidity had not only endangered his clan, but potentially dragons everywhere. He was still smarting from the consequences of his own decision. It might be a while before he could live this one down.
“I’m less worried about dragons protecting mages, and more excited that this could provide us the opportunity to come out to the world, which could make it easier to find missing mages.”
“You’ve got a very wise mate there, Alric,” Rodrigo murmured.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then why don’t you forgive the little guy? He’s at least solved the problem of how we announce our existence to the world. He was trying to be helpful. He thought he was saving a life.”
Alric sighed, and his footsteps approached Ravi. Ravi lifted his head just enough that he could peek at Alric around his hands.
“I am so very sorry, Hoheit. I never meant to expose our clan or to put any dragon in danger,” Ravi said, abjectly remorseful.
A little part of his heart was breaking to think that he’d hurt his clan, or worse, disappointed Alric. He was more than just his king; Alric had been an older brother to him for as long as he could remember. Ravi’s parents had died shortly after his birth during the Dragon War and all he’d ever known was the Burkhard Clan. This was his home and his family. He never wanted to do anything to hurt his family.
“I know, Ravi,” Alric whispered.
Ravi lifted his head completely, relieved that the dungeon punishment didn’t seem to be forthcoming.
“You were trying to save a life, and for that I am proud of you. You’re always the first to jump in when it comes to helping or protecting another,” Alric said and then frowned. “I cannot blame your instincts to leap into the fray to protect others. I do wish you weren’t so quick to jump to conclusions, however.”
“I will try harder, Hoheit, I promise. I will make you proud and learn to think things through,” Ravi vowed, and he meant every word of it.
He would be less impulsive. He made progress on that character trait every decade, after all.
“I know you will,” Alric agreed. A small smile passed across his lips, but the king looked worried and more than a little weary. The Jaeggi were taking their toll on Alric.
It had been five months since they’d brought a new mage into their clan, not that that was strange. Prior to Cameron’s arrival last June, it had been roughly five hundred years since they’d seen a new mage. Now they had Cameron, his twin sister Cassie, their grandmother Ha Na, Tori from the Taavi mage clan, and now North from the Aldridge mage clan.
Rodrigo had also acquired a couple new mages from Taavi Clan, and the dragons were still talking to the reclusive mage clan a bit, though it was a tense thing.