A need rushed through Warin that he hadn’t felt in too long. But it was more than sexual desire. He couldn’t get over how perfect North felt cuddled against him. It was as if his smaller form was made to fit just right against Warin’s body.
And then there was how excited his dragon was becoming over the feel of North in his arms. If the beast could dance, he would be doing a jig on each of his brain cells.
“I’m sorry my seeking spell was so annoying.” North’s words were a whisper against the bare skin of Warin’s throat. “Did it hurt?”
“No,” Warin answered softly. The dim lighting in the room encouraged them to speak in hushed tones. “I knew what it was. I’ve felt it before. It was just alarming, as I didn’t know if it was friend or foe trying to find me.”
“Sorry.” North sighed again, and his hand at Warin’s waist tightened for a moment, as if in a hug. “I was just trying to prove a point.”
“That dragons are still alive?”
“I hoped you were alive. I gave it fifty-fifty odds. I just kept thinking, I’m a mage, and they say mages don’t really exist anymore either. If everyone was wrong about me, then why were they right about dragons? But if dragons are alive, then it would mean I really I am a mage and magic is real. It means I can find a way to live my life as a mage and help bring magic back to this world.”
“You were right to doubt. Your grandfather, you said, he believes too? You mentioned that he’s a mage.”
“Yeah. He’s the only other one who believes dragons are alive, and that our magic is needed for this world.” North paused for a moment, and Warin had a feeling he was frowning. “If the Jaeggi are after mages, does that mean he’s in danger too? Will you need to protect him as well?”
“He should be safe for now, but we’ll need to bring him under protection soon, yes.” A grandfather, eh? Well, they already had a grandmother, so why not a grandfather, too?
“Can I ask you some questions?”
“Of course.” Warin made his tone encouraging, as he didn’t want North to walk into the castle completely blind.
“You said your king’s consort joined this summer? And they were married then?”
“Yes. We were incredibly happy to find Cameron. Before him, we feared the mages had died out completely. Although we’ve been slowly discovering more since his arrival. And on a personal note, I’m glad to know him. Cameron’s a brilliant man, and fun, and an incredibly good mate to my king. He’s a blessing to us in more ways than one.” Warin wasn’t surprised this was North’s first question, as of course he’d be curious about the mages.
“That’s really cool. So, um, same-sex marriages are okay with you dragons?”
Oh, that’s what that question led to. “Indeed it is. All dragons are pansexual, you see.”
North startled in his arms. “Get out, you are not.”
“We truly are,” Warin said in amusement. “We don’t care what gender our mates are. Male, female, non-binary, gender fluid, all of it is fine. The soul of the person is what matters.”
“That’s beautiful.” North sounded a little husky. “I wish everyone could see it that way.”
Uh-oh. That boded ill. “Have you not experienced such acceptance yourself?”
“Hell no. It’s part of the reason why I went on this quest. I needed out and I wanted to prove them wrong, on something, at least. No, I’m…gay, and my family’s not okay with it. They tolerate me, I think is the best way to put it. And people in my hometown, they kind of put up with me for my family’s sake. I’m from one of those places where everyone knows everybody else, and there’s no secrets, y’know? And it gets really stifling there. And they’re so boring, God. All they can talk about is sports and hunting and it’s enough to make me scream.”
This sounded good, on one hand, because it meant North had no inclination to return home. On the other, it saddened Warin. Was it any wonder North had reacted as he had to them, having finally found dragons? Proof that ordinary life was extraordinary after all? “I can take you to a place that talks about magic and dragons and wonder.”
“Sold. Done. Take me, I’m yours.”
Warin chuckled a little, trying not to interpret those words in a way not intended. It was a little hard at the moment with North pressed so tightly against him.
“So, um, are you married? Or mated, I guess is the proper way to say it.”
“No, I’m not. Very few of us in the clan are. We lost most of our mages in the war, and then we’ve been searching for more over the past five centuries without much luck until now. It’s why we’re so excited to see mages again. It gives us all a chance at that happiness.” Warin thought about stopping there, but really, when he considered who was in his clan…better a warning. “When they see you, you might be swept away.”