Page 27 of The Arrival of the Dragons

“My?” His throat felt tight again

“Oh, yes, Valerius,yours.” She looked back at Tezcacoatl and Illarion. “But I think you’re going to have to do more than just gain Iolaire’s affections to keep him. You will have to fight everyone and everything.”

Valerius gritted his teeth. He had a sense that she was right.

ROSE UNFILTERED

“You’re in so much trouble, Caden,” Tilly told him the moment he walked in the door of their house.

“Don’t hold back, Till,” he teased her then said, “C’mon, I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”

After all though Valerius claimed to be at a level 15 mad, it was still okay. What can Mom and Dad be at? An eight at the highest?

Tilly crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “No, it’s probablyworse, because my punishment is less than yours, and woo boy, mine is bad.”

“How bad?” Caden frowned.

“Uhm, how about I’m to stay in this house forever and I’m not even to be trusted with my phone or computer for the next century?” She glared at him. Her expression clearly said that this wouldn’t have happened if he and Iolaire hadn’t shown up at the park.

“Yikes! That does sound major.” He leaned down and asked conspiratorially, “So a ride on Iolaire’s back wasn’t worth it?”

She brightened immediately. Her eyes shone. “Oh, that was worth almost anything, but that’snotwhat I was punished for.”

Iolaire tipped its head back and let out a stream of happy snow in his chest.

“Iolaire is in agreement that it was wonderful, and it wants to be your steed again,” Caden assured her.

Tilly clapped her hands together in glee and let out a whispered squeal. “Definitely! Tobey and Maccauley are definitely trying to text me about when we can do it again. I would know for sure when that would be if I had a phone! I’ve got to work at Wally’s more so I can have a secret second phone like you do.”

“The encrypted phone is so I can talk to Valerius and the other people at the castle without anyone tracing it back to me,” he reminded her.

He had left that phone, thankfully, tucked into his clothes at the pond. He wondered if Valerius went through endless amounts of clothes and phones and wallets—did the Black Dragon King even have a wallet?—when he had to shift in a hurry.

“Do you think that Valerius will givemean encrypted phone?” She looked so hopeful and clasped her hands together as if in prayer. “I mean, you never know when he might need me in order to get a hold of you!”

“I’ll ask.”

Caden bit down on his inner cheek to suppress a smile. He could almost imagine the disbelieving look on Valerius’ face about having the speed dial for a thirteen-year-old girl. But as he thought about it more, giving Tilly an encrypted phone might be a good idea just in case he was in a bad spot and couldn’t call himself. So he actually would ask.

“Thank you!” Tilly jumped up and down.

“So if it wasn’t the flying on Iolaire that got you in trouble, I’m guessing it was egging on the Humans First pitchfork wielding mob?” he guessed with a sympathetic smile.

She nodded and sighed. “I was perfectly safe! You and Iolaire were right there!”

“That’s true. But when Mom and Dad are scared, they aren’t exactly reasonable,” he agreed with her.

“I know! They?—”

Tilly didn’t get to say more as suddenly both of their parents appeared out of nowhere. Tilly’s mouth shut with an audible click. Their mother gestured to the stairs, and Tilly scurried upstairs without a squeak.

That’s bad. Way bad.

His mother’s eyes were red as if from crying. His father’s face was pale as milk, which was how he looked whether he was angry or afraid.

“Hey, guys, I take it that you saw the news,” he said weakly.

“Kitchen. Now.” His father did not wait to see if Caden would come as he turned on his heel and stalked there.

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