Page 29 of The Arrival of the Dragons

His father was whiter than before but for different reasons. Regret immediately slammed into Caden, but anger was still like this hot poker prodding him.

“But he’s said it often enough! How many times has he come home from the office and complained about how thebestwork, and thebiggerbonuses always go to the Raven Shifters? How many times has he said he’s atokenand that they don’t see his value? I can’t count the times, because there are so many of them!” Caden retorted.

Every word he spoke, even if in some way true, was incredibly cruel. He knew his father was expressing simple—and likely well-earned—frustration. But now Caden was throwing back at him what he likely had considered private.

“I’m trying to make sure that you are protected,” his father’s voice was hoarse. “You trust people so easily. I can already see that you are half in love with Valerius.”

Tears sprang into Caden’s eyes. His face felt hot and tight. He would not cry. He would not howl. Though he wanted to do both all of a sudden.

“You don’t know Valerius at all! You just assume he wouldn’t do what’s in my best interests even though he’s onlykingbecause he put himselflast, and everyone else first!” Tears were blurring his vision.

“You make him sound very noble, Caden, but remember what he did when he thought another Dragon was in his territory?—”

“That was a mistake! He would never hurt me now! Never! And he listens to me about what I want. You don’t!” Caden snapped.

“That’s not true.” His father was patting the air between them as if that would calm things. “You might not want a territory now, or even be able to rule it yet, but in the future you very well may.”

“Then I’ll get one then!”

“The longer you allow things to stay at the status quo, the harder it will be to change things later,” his father explained.

“You don’t know that! Valerius would have my back if I wanted my own territory. You see what you want and what you think is best. You’ve never asked me what I want!” The tears spilled over and they felt like they should sizzle from the heat on his cheeks. “But when I act on what I want, you say it’s selfish! It’s bad! Well, bringing joy to people isn’t bad! It isn’t selfish!”

“No, of course, not, honey. It’s just…nowisn’t the best time for you to be out in the open like that,” his mother soothed.

“Nowisthe best time! What I did to those Humans First guys did more to set back that group than all of the damned proclamations that have been issued against them!” Caden felt his throat tightening, making it harder to speak, but he pushed on. “Because it showed what they are: racist assholes! And Tilly and her friends by speaking out showed people that they don’t have to be afraid of them either! They took away more power from Humans First than anyone! But, go ahead, ground her! Tell her that speaking out against those who are cruel and awful is something to be punished for. Go ahead! Make her hide the things she wants from you!”

Iolaire hooted sadly and softly. It was that sound alone that had Caden seeing his parents through the rain of angry tears. They both were pale and shell shocked. He’d never spoken to them like this before. It was awful, but it also feltrighton some level. Maybe the things he had to say were right. But doing it this way likely hadn’t been. He was certain it wasn’t. He had hurt them. He wasn’t even sure they had heard what he said other than the ugly anger in his voice. He shook himself.

“I have to… I just have to go…”

Caden turned and fled from the house. He heard them calling his name, but he didn’t stop. He slammed out of the front door and was halfway down the street before he realized that he had no idea where he was going. Except he did know. He wanted to go to High Reach. But hecouldn’t. Maybe it was good that the other Dragon Shifters were there, because he had a feeling that sobbing to Valerius about how mean and unfair his parents were probably wouldn’t have elicited much sympathy. In fact, Valerius might have seen it as proof of just how young he was. Too young to have a relationship with.

“Caden? Caden, is that you?” Rose’s voice came from in front of him.

He lifted his head and focused in on the Swarm Shifter who was standing just a dozen feet ahead of him under a street light. She was wearing one of her yellow and black bee dresses.

“Rose! Hey, I’m so glad to see you.” He tried to surreptitiously swipe the tears away, but his voice was a watery mess and his nose was full of snot so she knew he’d been crying.

She was suddenly right there, touching his left elbow, her face a mask of concern. “What’s wrong, Caden? What happened?”

He realized then that he should have contacted her and Wally the moment he’d gotten to the pond to tell them he was safe. They would have been worried about him. Maybe that’s why she was walking to his house. Or maybe she had plans with his mom for that night.

“Do you have plans with Mom?” he asked her.

She shook her head, a little sheepishly. She was carrying a wrapped pie dish, he realized at the last moment. “No, I just thought I’d stop by after all the craziness you experienced tonight. And I brought cherry pie. Don’t worry! I didn’t make it. My neighbor did to thank me for taking care of her garden.”

Caden sniffed, smelling sweet, tart cherries and the buttery baked aroma of the crust. His stomach growled audibly.

“C’mon, let’s go back to your house and eat it there,” she suggested with a smile.

“Can’t. You can go, but I… I can’t…” He couldn’t get any more words out.

She grasped his forearms as he had brought his hands to scrub the tears away. “Did they… no, they wouldn’t kick you out. So something’s happened. You need to talk and eat pie. C’mon, I’ll take you to one of my favorite spots.”

He was simply able to nod miserably as words were beyond him completely now. She led him expertly back through the night-shrouded streets of the Mid. They entered one of the semi-secret passages nearby where he’d parked the car he and Valerius had taken to the pond. He found himself looking for it. Longing for what seemed like an age ago now. For a time when he hadn’t said such ugly things to people he loved.

They threaded their way through the back pathways of Reach, until they exited a wooden door that led out onto a little balcony overlooking the drop. There was a bench flanked by two flowering boxes of flowers. Their sweet scent perfumed the air. She sat down and placed the pie beside her, gesturing to Caden to sit on the pie’s other side. She then pulled off the tinfoil cover and revealed the sugar-laced lattice top.

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