Page 51 of The Arrival of the Dragons

I am surprised you did not put something in there about us assuring that by ripping every other Dragon’s wings off.Valerius couldn’t help the grin that crossed his lips.

Raziel, who was standing up, and watching keenly through his eyes stated simply,That goes without saying.

“Our new brother or sister is late,” Mei said from behind him.

Her step was light. He turned around to see her. Like him, she was dressed far more finely than the afternoon where she had played “queen of the people”. Now she looked like an empress in a silk kimono-esque dress of reds, oranges and golds with her hair drawn up in an elaborate bun where two long sharp pins were stuck.

“Iolaire will be here.” He turned back to look at the horizon.

There was a faint rustle of silk and waft of jasmine perfume as she joined him at the railing. This meant she had tried to hide her approach before. Valerius gritted his teeth as his annoyance at her games flowed through him again.

“Why are you here, Mei?” Valerius asked her.

He did not turn to look down at her. He kept his eyes on the darkening sky. But he saw her look at him.

“To meet Iolaire, of course,” she answered.

“Butwhy? To seek out a--amateas Illarion does, or anallyas Esme does, or someone toshowboatto like Tez does?”

“Showboat?” Mei tittered, raising one delicate hand to hide her mouth as she did so. “I suppose Tezdoesdo that. He enjoys the compliments and attention. He is a very vain creature, but he tries to do good as well.”

“You are not vain, Mei. Not about your looks. You use them as a weapon and a shield, but that is as much as you care about them,” Valerius remarked. “No, you want respect. And if someone does not respect you, they learn to regret it, no matter if you appear to be a sweet, innocent girl.”

Her eyelashes fluttered across her expertly made up cheeks. Her skin was as perfect as a doll’s. Chione was beautiful, but in a wild, natural way. She did dress up and act like an adult. But she never cared if she got a spot on her clothes or ice cream on her chin. She was beautiful no matter what. Mei’s beauty was one carefully crafted. He could never imagine her allowing a stray hair to be out of place unless sheintendedit to be.

“That is quite the compliment from you,” she answered him.

He grunted. “I am a blunt instrument, Mei.” He turned towards her. His greater height and breadth were just part of what set them apart. “I say only what I mean.”

Her dark-eyed gaze was upon him, studying him minutely, but then she was shaking her head. “You expect people not to believe you. Even when you are being very blunt.”

“So I ask again, Mei. Why are you here?”

“I need to know what Iolaire intends. We have been eight for so long. Now we are nine,” she answered.

“And you do not believe that Iolaire does not want their slice of the pie? Even though they have been clear that they wish to remain in my territory and simply be left alone?” His right eyebrow lifted. She gave a shrug as if to say,who wouldn’t? These had been his thoughts as well. “If they were you or I or any of our other brethren, I would agree with you, but Iolaire has no such designs.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You are telling the truth of what you believe. But how can you be so sure?”

“By knowing them.”

She shook her head. “This may be what they wantnow, but later?” She let out a sharp laugh and crossed her arms over her chest. “You think things will not change when they realize that you will never give them even an inch to breathe let alone rule anything?”

He scowled. “Have you not heard of my Shifter Council?”

Her eyebrows rose and she let out a laugh. “A ruse! It will have no real power!”

“Marban is not one to be snowed for long,” Valerius pointed out.

“Marban, Marban, Marban.” Her voice thrilled with laughter and disdain. “His grasp exceeds his reach.”

Valerius felt a touch of unease. What experience did Mei have with Marban? It sounded as if she had a secret. He would find out what it was.

“All right, let us say that Iolairechaffsunder my leadership, what can you offer? Part of your territory?” His dismissive tone showed just how likely it would be that she offered that.

“No, but what I propose will definitely lead to all of us retaining our territory intact,” she said, touching her carefully plaited hair.

“What?”

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