He was too afraid to hope that Cameron might be his mate. His forever.
“Alric?” Baldewin’s voice jerked him out of his swirling thoughts. Alric blinked and looked up at his friend to find his expression had turned to one of concern. “You do see it, right? He is your mate. Your fated mate.”
Alric gave a quick little shake of his head. “Cameron hasn’t indicated—”
“I’m not talking about Cameron. I’m talking about you. What you’re feeling. Cameron is human with a head full of human ideas about dating and not moving too quickly. He probably hasn’t even stopped to listen to his heart. I’m asking if you’ve listened to your heart? Or even your dragon? What does your dragon think of Cameron?”
That wasn’t hard to know. His usually reserved and grumpy dragon had been incredibly vocal about Cameron from almost the first second of meeting the mage. And in the past few weeks, he was growing even louder. Mine. Mine. Mine.
A low rumble like distant thunder rolled through Alric’s chest as his dragon made happy noises as he thought of Cameron and his beautiful smile. His shining, excited eyes behind adorable glasses. His enthusiasm and willingness to help anyone and everyone he met. His exuberance for life. His compassion and concern for Alric.
Mine. Mate. Mine.
“He’s mine,” Alric said softly. “He’s my mate. I’d slaughter every threat to his life. I’d die to protect him, to make him happy. He…he’s my everything.” Alric pressed his right hand to his rapidly pounding heart and lifted his eyes to Baldewin. “He’s my mate. My everything.”
Baldewin’s face broke into a wide grin. “Thought so.”
Alric crashed back down almost as quickly as he rose up, his stomach twisting into sickening knots while his heart lurched in his chest.
“Oh Scheiße!” Alric swore on a pained gasp. “He’s my mate. What if he doesn’t want to be bonded to me? What if he doesn’t believe I’m his mate? What if—” Alric rested his elbow on his knee and shoved his fingers through his hair as he struggled to take in a breath. He’d faced blood-thirsty mages in battle, angry dragons, and even his enraged father, and none of it had ever terrified him the same way he felt at the thought of losing Cameron.
The couch groaned as Baldewin shifted and his friend was suddenly kneeling in front of him, a hand on his shoulder. “Breathe, Alric. When has a mage ever not fallen for his fated mate? Never.”
“But—”
“Never. And Cameron is already over the moon for you. As easily as we can see your feelings for Cameron, we can just as easily see his for you. Everyone in Burkhard Castle has been whistling and skipping. It’s like living in one of the romantic comedy movies Gunter swears he doesn’t religiously watch when he’s feeling down. We are ecstatic that our king has finally found his mate. And we are thrilled that his mate is so worthy of him.”
Some of the tightness in Alric’s chest eased, making it easier for him to draw a breath. “You really think he will want me?”
Baldewin snorted. “According to Ravi, he already wants you plenty.”
Alric barked out a harsh laugh and shoved his friend away. “As a mate, you idiot!”
“Yes, Alric. I have no doubt that one day Cameron will demand you officially bond with him. His mind might not know it yet, but I’m sure his heart has already figured out you are his mate.”
Alric leaned back in his chair and just let those words sink into his skin. Mate. Cameron was his mate. After so many years, he finally had found his mate. They would spend the rest of their days together. With any luck, they would have a child—No! children—together. The world needed many dragon-shaped Camerons running around.
And Alric would give himself over to making sure that his mate had everything his heart desired. Cameron would always know that he was loved and cherished. They would have a long life together and—
“Verdammt!” Alric jerked upright and looked down at his watch. 17:59.
“What’s wrong?” Baldewin jumped to his feet, looking as if he was ready to launch himself into battle for his king.
“You’ve made me late! I’m meeting Cameron for dinner.” Alric shoved out of his chair and jogged across his office, ignoring the deep echo of Baldewin’s laugh.
“You can blame me if he’s angry with you.”
“Of course I’m blaming you!” Alric shouted back as he jerked the door open. He hurried down the corridor toward the dining hall, but there was a smile on his lips. He was meeting his mate for dinner. It didn’t matter if it took Cameron another month or twenty years to figure out they were mates. Alric would happily wait for him. Cameron was his and always would be.
Cameron breathed a little easier as they pulled through the castle gates and headed toward the city. The presence of Dieter behind the wheel didn’t exactly relax him, but just getting outside the castle and putting some distance between himself and Alric lifted some of the weight from his chest.