“And we follow the Accords.” Rodrigo gave the man a smile that could melt butter. “Don’t you think it would be better if all mages could use the talent they’re born with?”
Baldewin expected that to hit a mark, but it didn’t. Instead, Verner seemed to grow angry. Had Tori’s barb about working as a mage been to a point? Did Verner not have the talent necessary to work as a mage? The way the man flushed and glared hinted that might be the case.
In any case, this wasn’t going well.
Alric tried to get them back on track. “We came out here to meet you. There is much that we need to discuss. Can’t we find a place to sit and at least relay information to each other for the safety of all mages?”
As he spoke with Mathilda—who frankly didn’t look as if she was really listening—Tori returned to Baldewin. He placed a hand on his chest, drawing him down. Baldewin slid an arm around his waist, holding him close as he obligingly gave Tori access to him.
“The only place for them to talk is the little hotel on this street,” Tori murmured in his ear. “But I don’t know if we can get them there. Mathilda’s just trying to get rid of us.”
“She doesn’t look like she’s listening.” Baldewin could read past the mask on her face well enough. She wanted them gone and was trying to give them a cold shoulder so they would leave on their own terms instead of it coming down to a show of force.
Verner’s voice cut through their conversation, closer than it had been before, as he’d stepped near the group. “What’s this? You fucking him?”
Baldewin lifted his head slowly, eyes locked on the man’s face. What had he said?
“Oh, right, dragons like mages as mates,” Verner sneered at Tori, lip curling. “Must be desperate if he’s willing to take you.”
He saw red. Tori was still close enough that he could feel the mage flinch at Verner’s words as if the man had physically struck him. Someone was attacking his mate, hurting him.
Baldewin’s control snapped like a dry twig. Pushing Tori behind him, Baldewin stepped toward Verner, and he welcomed the familiar burn in his muscles as the shift came over him. His human brain sank to the background while his dragon took control of this new, much larger body.
His point of view rose high into the air, and wings sprang from his body. Tilting his head toward the sky, he roared loud enough to shake the earth and shot forth a thick geyser of fire. People scrambled backward, shouting in terror and surprise.
Though he swore he heard Alric mutter a weary “Scheiße,” Baldewin ignored it.
The man…the Verner…who’d attacked and wounded his mate, had not moved. He stood trembling exactly where he’d been when he said those ugly words to Tori. When he hurt Tori.
Mage or not, he’d attacked a mage. Such actions were not to be tolerated. Kaiser Jaeggi had attacked dragons and mages. If Baldewin had had the chance to kill him, the war might never have been started.
So it only followed that Baldewin should devour on this ugly little creature now to save his mate.
And maybe while he was at it, he would crunch on a few of these other evil people. Crunch on Mathilda. Crunch on the ones who sneered and mocked Tori. His precious mage. His sweet, treasured mate.
Baldewin tucked his massive wings against his body and lowered his head to the humans’ level. He grinned, showing off enormous fangs. He had no desire to eat people, but he wanted to stop the pain they caused. Needed to make them feel the hurt they brought down on Tori.
To his shock, Tori darted in front of Verner, his face pale. He pointed one finger at Baldewin. “Stop! I’m serious, Baldewin. You need to stop right now.”
Baldewin and his dragon narrowed their eyes on the mage, confusion rattling through the dragon body. Why would Tori wish him to stop? He was protecting the mage. He couldn’t think Baldewin was in danger, not from this tiny morsel.
“You can’t hurt him, Baldewin!”
Lifting his head to the sky, Baldewin roared in fury. No! He would not be denied his vengeance. He couldn’t be there through all the years Tori had suffered, but he could act against this new attack. He could protect him now.
“I am so touched that you care for me so much. You mean everything to me. I know his words hurt you as much as they hurt me, but this isn’t right. You can’t fight my battles for me as a man or as a dragon. You have to trust me to fight them.”
Baldewin drew his head back as if Tori had smacked him on the nose. Was that what he was doing? Was he trying to fight Tori’s demons for him? He only wanted to protect his mate.