“No, I’m good, just ribs saying no climbing you.” Ravi made a frustrated face, his nose crinkling up. “But I want to climb you.”
“Absolutely no climbing me—”
Ravi made a high-pitched whine of protest, already shaking his head.
“—until the bandages come off,” Sora finished, amused again. “You’ve really got to let me finish my sentences, dear heart.”
“But you start off saying really awful things,” Ravi protested. “Just checking, but I can totally climb you later, right?”
“Yes, I would love for you to. When it doesn’t cause you pain to do so.” Sora said that last part sternly. Like he didn’t trust Ravi’s willpower or something.
Which, fair. Ravi didn’t trust his own willpower most days.
And, really, could you blame him? Sora was the epitome of everything Ravi had ever wanted. Who wouldn’t want to tap that?
“I take it, from your enthusiasm, that you agree we should court?”
Ravi wound his arms back around Sora, tugging him in. “A thousand times yes, absolutely. I’m really glad the flirting was for real. I wasn’t sure. You’re hard to read sometimes with that poker face of yours, did you know that?”
“I’ve been told that a few times.” Sora ducked down a few inches and nuzzled in against his chin, breathing the words against his skin in a warm rush that made Ravi shiver. “But you can ask me anything, dear heart, and I will answer you. And never doubt that I’m strongly attracted to you. It surprised me, how powerful this feeling is.”
Sora was being so honest with him; Ravi felt like he should say something in return. “My dragon really likes you. I mean, me, too, but it’s the first time my dragon’s ever gotten excited about someone.”
Sora’s head lifted, and he blinked in surprise. “Truly?”
“Yeah. Just now, he got all hot and bothered when you kissed me. Which he’s never done, ever. So…the attraction is definitely mutual.”
“I’m delighted to hear it.” Sora looked it, too, nearly glowing with happiness. “I might be difficult to read, but so are you. You’re so friendly and outgoing with everyone, I wasn’t sure how to read some of our interactions. If I could pin any hopes on them.”
“Speaking for myself, with authority given to me by myself, you’re the only one I’m interested in.”
“Good,” Sora murmured, as content as a cat in a sunny spot. “I’ve no notion what formalities are in the clan. How do I alert King Alric that I intend to court you?”
Ravi blinked at him. Say what? “You have formalities for that in your clan?”
It was Sora’s turn to look at him in confusion. “Of course? This clan doesn’t?”
“Well…uh, no? I mean, generally we tell people we’re dating, and get teased, and Cassie starts handing out lube to the courting couple with some pretty filthy suggestions—some of which are good, mind you—and we take it from there. You have to remember that there weren’t any new mages in the clan to court for five hundred years.”
Ravi thought about it but couldn’t really remember anyone doing something official until people were actually ready to swap oath bindings and mate.
“If we ever had a tradition for that, we all forgot about it long ago. Do you wish to say something to Hoheit?”
Sora nodded seriously. “I would feel better doing so.”
He was adorable when he was serious. Ravi wanted to do absolutely naughty things to him because of it. Damn body being hurt at inconvenient times. There was a hot mage to lick, right here, ready and waiting.
Sighing mentally, he resigned himself to no nookie for a bit longer. But there was nothing wrong with his mouth, and it was a little too excited not to tease.
“Okay, so, you can say something like, King Alric, I have realized that I need to jump Ravi’s bones—”
Sora rolled his eyes. “Ravi.”
“Oooh, or, May I have permission to lick this dragon?”
“Ravi—”
“You totally have permission, by the way.”
“Ravi, for one moment, be serious.”
“Why do people always ask me to do that? It’s totally boring! Who wants to be serious?”
Sora ducked his head and kissed him soundly. Ravi purred into the kiss, enjoying it immensely.
Pulling back, he breathed over Ravi’s mouth, “I take it that I really don’t need to say anything.”
“Naw, I can tell him. But honestly, I really want you to ask permission to lick me. Just so I can see his face.”
Sora chuckled, the sound deep and low in his chest. “You’re so incorrigible.”
“If you kiss me, I’ll stay out of trouble,” Ravi suggested brightly.
“Chance would be a fine thing.”
But Sora kissed him anyway.
Hot make-out session for the win.
Ravi was in Alric’s office with his king, Gunter, and Baldewin when Dieter showed in two uncomfortable and stiff-looking people. One was Kristopher Maier, the chief of the Sonthofen police. Ravi had seen him when they’d first started to investigate the bombing by the Jaeggi.
But the woman represented a new complication that Alric had said he was not looking forward to. Ada Lowe was from the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany, also known as the BKA. She was likely to be the first of an alphabet of agencies that were going to try to stick their noses into dragon affairs. Ravi knew that if Alric had his way, all the various government agencies would be kept outside their walls.
The problem was that the bombing had occurred in clear view of a horde of reporters. There was no hiding it. Which meant they had to play along with the German police for now.
He hated to admit it, but Ravi’s skin crawled a little at the appearance of the BKA agent. Being hidden for five hundred years meant they had been forgotten by humans and their laws. Being out in the open might make it easier for mages to find them, but it also meant that it was easier for everyone else to find them.
Ravi did not envy Alric for having to navigate this mess, but he was proud to see that, while congenial, Alric was leaning heavily on his royal status. When the pair of humans entered, Alric stood up from where he’d been sitting in a leather high-back chair next to the sofa and moved to his desk. His king was rather intimidating when he sat behind the massive dark mahogany beast, as if all the Burkhard kings from generations past were with him.
“Thank you for checking in with us again, Chief Maier. The Burkhard Clan appreciates your diligence in this matter,” Alric said.
Ravi took up position a step behind Alric on his left. Dieter was crossing the room to move to Alric’s right.
Ravi caught Gunter watching the humans with narrow-eyed interest, like the dragon was wondering if they were plotting ways to get their hands on his books. Baldewin had moved out of his immediate line of sight, but he had a feeling that the head of security was taking up a defensive position.
The woman noticed. She turned and stared at the mountain-sized dragon as he stood near the door, one eyebrow raised at him.
“I appreciate you taking the time to see us…” Ada started after Dieter had completed the introductions.
“König Alric,” Kristopher quickly supplied when she seemed to hesitate.