A shadow crossed over Nikki’s face again, there and gone. “Mages are valued, then? They’re not…”
Ravi didn’t like this pause. Pauses were always worrisome. “They’re not, what?”
“Used?”
Ah, damn. The urge to kill something was back.
Ravi fought to keep his tone level. “You know, every encounter we’ve had with the Jaeggi, they immediately tried to kidnap one of our mages in order to drain them of magic. Is that what they’re doing to you?”
Nikki’s face tightened into a grimace, and they couldn’t meet Ravi’s eyes, staring steadfastly at the floor.
“They’ve discovered if they do it in small batches, I magically recover in a week or so. They do that to all of the ones they’ve ‘adopted’ in. And they won’t let us use magic at all, if they can help it.
“It hurts like a bitch, like someone’s taken a scrub brush to your nerves. It destroys your core, eventually, and then you’re of no more use. I’ve seen several adopted mages go in and out over the past ten years. The oldest living one is barely thirty, but she can’t really do anything anymore. She disappeared last week. They said she was just moved somewhere else, but…I think we all know that’s a lie.”
“Shit,” Ravi breathed in horror. Nikki’s words churned in his gut, and he was glad he’d only had water. If his stomach were full of food, he would’ve hurled.
Nikki’s eyes came back up to study his face. “I don’t have much time left with these people. They’ll drain me and then kill me when I’m no longer useful.”
“Then why do you stay?”
Nikki spread their hands helplessly. “I have no identity. No ID, no passport, nothing. I’ve been with them since I was ten. I have no money. I don’t have anywhere to go. As far as I knew, at least before you came, the world didn’t even believe in magic anymore. If I tried to get help, who would’ve believed that I’d been held by people who were draining me of magic?”
It would have sounded like a tall tale. Ravi had to agree on that point. Poor Nikki probably didn’t have any good options. It sickened him that Nikki, and the others the Jaeggi had abducted, had stayed because they had no viable means of escape. Running for it didn’t always play out in the victim’s favor.
Well, Nikki hadn’t had any good options until now. Ravi grinned at them and wagged his eyebrows. “Want to come home with me?”
Nikki didn’t look surprised by this offer. “Can I? Can you promise me I’ll be safer with you?”
“You kidding? Our mages are our treasures. You’ll be loved and adored. And even if we don’t have your mate, we know two other clans, you can always try your luck with them. Look, you won’t be a prisoner, and you won’t be used.”
Ravi shuddered at just the idea.
“God, that’s unnerving, what you just told me. I hate that anyone’s been stuck with them. But my clan’s probably on the way here to rescue me already. Once they see you, and figure out all the pieces of the puzzle, they’ll give you sanctuary automatically.”
Nikki’s expression warred between wariness and hope. They chose not to immediately comment, but instead offered Ravi the sandwich.
Ravi bit in with enthusiasm, as he was starving. He had no idea how long he’d been down here, but it felt like years. His stomach was a yawning pit of despair, but that could also be because of the fear.
And the sandwich was tasty.
“Are you mated?”
Even though they hadn’t exchanged the binding words yet, Ravi felt he was. For all intents and purposes, he and Sora were committed to each other. He could feel Sora just behind his heart—his emotion, his power connected to Ravi’s. His mage was angry and coming for him. Ravi nodded without hesitation, still chewing.
Nikki’s eyes fell to the sandwich in their hand. “In the old tales, nothing was more sacred than the bond between a dragon and a mage. Even enemies respected it and didn’t try to damage or remove it. But they just tried to force a bond on you. I heard them talking about it.”
Swallowing, Ravi commented with an acerbic bite, “It’s just further proof that you’re definitely in the wrong place.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I already knew that. But it’s sickening to me. I’ve dreamed of it, sometimes. Of finding my mate in a dragon. Of being loved that intensely. When I was little, my mother told me fairy tales about mages and dragons.” Nikki looked at him under pale lashes and asked quietly, “What’s your mate’s name?”
“Sora.”
“Listen to you.” Nikki’s smile turned wistful. “You say his name as if it meant I love you.”
“To me, it pretty much does.” Ravi coaxed in his most charming manner, “Come with me, Nikki. Come to my clan. We’ll get you an ID, and a passport, so you won’t be trapped. We’ll teach you how to use magic. Did you know half the mages we’ve found in the past two years didn’t know much magic? Some didn’t even know they were mages.”
Nikki startled at that. “Really?”
“Yeah, it was crazy. It’s a fun story, I’ll tell you later. But we didn’t have any issue taking them in and teaching them. It’s not like you have to pass a skills test in order to join the clan. Okay?”
Nodding, Nikki accepted this. “Maybe.”
“Come with me,” he pushed, like he was free and could walk right out the door. “If you wake up one day and decide you want to leave, no one will stop you. I’ll take you straight to the train station myself and buy your ticket. Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
They snorted at the joke, then chewed their bottom lip for a moment before finally saying, “I can’t stay much longer. Finish your sandwich. They give us freedom to go wherever within the compound as long as we don’t fight them when they want magic. But I’m not supposed to be in here. So, eat quick. I’ll sneak back in soon.”
Ravi was okay with this, as he didn’t want his unexpected ally to get in trouble. But he had to ask, “If I give you a phone number, can you call someone?”
Nikki shook their head. “They won’t let us near phones. Or a computer, even. I get to watch TV, though, because I can’t communicate through it.”
“Damn, they are thorough.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately. But I can try to get hold of someone’s phone. You think you can call and tell your mate where you are?”
“That’s the plan. Well, actually, Alric’s—ah, my king. His is the only phone number I have memorized. Mostly because I have to fill it in on paperwork over and over.”
“Oh. But you can just call up your king?”
“Yeah. We’re not really a formal bunch. And I’m the king’s retainer. One of them, anyway.”
Nikki’s expression cleared up. “So, you’re important to your clan. I can see why you’re so sure they’ll come after you.”
“Heh. Not the reason, trust me. They’d come for any member of the clan.” Ravi knew that truth down to his bones.
Nikki looked wistful again, as if Ravi were telling them some sort of fantastic fairy tale. They helped Ravi finish off the sandwich and the water bottle before packing it all—including the soft blankie—up again into the basket.