Page 55 of The Arrival of the Dragons

Caden lunged past Valerius. Or rather he sort of barreled the Black Dragon King over. Valerius let out a startled cry as he was dashed to the ground. Caden stuck his head and part of his long neck into the throne room. He saw the fox-faced girl at the far corner of the room. Her mouth was opened, forming an “O” of surprise and alarm. Then she was moving again. Her feet amusingly flew out on either side of her as she scrambled to run deeper into the castle and away from him, where he could not go.

Freeze her!Iolaire suggested.

Now you want to be part of the action!Caden laughed.

Ice!Iolaire hooted in happiness.

You better take over then because I don’t want to hurt her!Caden said.

As the fox-faced girl headed towards the far doorway. Iolaire sent a wave of ice breath towards her. She yelped. The world went white. Caden’s heart was in his throat until it cleared. The fox-faced girl was stuck to the wall with a curved “bar” of ice that held her a foot off of the ground. She struggled wildly in her icy prison, but she was unharmed. Caden grinned.

Perfect!He told Iolaire.

Iolaire hooted again.

“Well, aren’t you a pretty young man,” Mei said as she slid underneath their chin and entered the room.

What? How does she know--Caden’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he saw the mirrored wall that was opposite them.

In it, there should have been Iolaire’s massive dragon’s head and Mei’s slender form sheathed in fiery red. But there wasn’t. He sawhimselfin the mirror. His human body. Naked and blinking back at himself stupidly.

“You’d best pull back, young man,” Mei whispered conspiratorially. “Before the others see. I’ll keep your secret. This will let us meet alone in person, will it not? Then we can truly talk.”

She winked knowingly even as Caden reared back as if struck by lightning. His heart was thumping so hard that he thought it would beat out of his chest. Adrenaline coursed through his system.

Mei knows! She saw me!Caden cried as he cast about wildly as if to physically hide himself in some way.

The mirror! I should have warned you,Valerius thought grimly.

I didn’t give you a chance!Caden answered.

He hadn’t. He had just acted so the fox-faced girl didn’t get away. Valerius had just gotten upright now, having recovered from Caden’s lunge. The panic melted away at the realization that he had bowled Valerius over. Caden quickly nosed him.

Are you all right? Did I hurt you?Caden asked.

I am more than fine.Valerius gave him a smile and patted his cheeks.But who is our friend in there? The one you risked so much for?

She was the fox-faced girl I saw in the square who set the bomb,Caden quickly explained.But what about Mei? I…

Valerius grimaced.One thing at a time. What is done is done. We will deal with it. But this girl is more important.

Y-yeah, you’re right, of course.But Caden still felt exposed and fragile despite being in their dragon-form.

“What is the cause of all of this excitement?” Esme asked as she glanced through the open doors. She let out a gasp. “What--why… Serai! Why has Iolaire attacked her?”

“You know this girl, Esme?” Valerius turned towards the Blue Dragon Queen.

Caden’s heart was hammering again. Could Esme be behind the bombing? No, she couldn’t be! She was Valerius’ friend! Besides, she had a look of genuine shock on her face.

“This young woman.” Valerius pointed at the still struggling Serai. “Is the one who set the bomb in Dragon Strike Square.”

Esme blinked. “W-what?” She put a hand on her chest. “That’s impossible!”

Again, she seemed genuinely shocked. Caden got no sense of acting from her at all. But he didn’t know her well. And she was supposed to be one of the most cunning of the Dragon Shifters.

Valerius, could Esme…Caden’s thoughts dropped.

No, at least…Valerius looked grimmer.I do not believe that Esme would be so foolish as to bring the same girl to High Reach after she had her set a bomb knowing that you would be here. It would be too risky and Esme is not a risk-taker.

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