Page 59 of The Arrival of the Dragons

Just try it. Try shifting and we’ll stop you in your tracks,Caden thought.

Iolaire twittered something about it being wrong and odd that the other Dragon Shifters had nevertouchedone another.

They aren’t a pack, Iolaire. They don’t see themselves as the same. But just as predators they have to be wary of,Caden explained.

He was understanding Valerius’ reasoning all the more now that he was seeing all of these people up close. Other than Esme and, potentially Tez, he didn’t like the Dragon Shifters at all. Maybe the others would be nicer. But he somehow doubted it.

“I apologize, Iolaire.” Illarion tipped his head. He couldn’t bow because Caden really had him pressed up to the wall and their jaws.

Are you? I wonder. Would a man who puts people in concentration camps care about our personal space, Iolaire? I doubt it.

Iolaire was regarding the Green Dragon Shifter with a bit of the cat “don’t touch me” expression. It was not angry like Caden was, but more perplexed by such rudeness. Touching another Dragon was right and natural in Iolaire’s view, but not without asking permission first!

Not to mention that Valerius and Raziel don’t like this guy,Caden reminded Iolaire.

Raziel wise!Iolaire hooted.

Yeah, Valerius is as well.

“I wish we could talk,” Illarion said, drawing their attention back to him. A small smile played across his lips. He was handsome in a severe way and the smile softened him a little, but it could not erase what they knew about him. “I have often thought that listening to others is boring, at best, but you… I would like to hear from you.”

Why? I swear, Iolaire, that I think he believes we are some kind of pretty princess in here. Imagine his surprise if he were to find out the truth!

Iolaire snorted frost.

“You do not believe me. But I do not blame you for having dark thoughts about me.” Illarion shrugged his fur covered shoulders. “Valerius and I are rivals in everything. I am certain that he has not painted me in good terms.”

And you’ve proven yourself to be even more of an asshole by your actions. But hey! You must think I am blind, deaf and dumb.

“Valerius is a bully. Surely, you have noticed this, yes? He tried to bully you, but despite your small size, you were fierce!” Illarion chuckled. He sobered though as he said, “One must push back against him. You are young. Not just in Shifter terms, but human ones. I sense this.”

Caden blinked. Did Illarionknowwho he was? Or was the Green Dragon Shifter just guessing? Maybe everyone already knew who he was, mirror or no mirror, and all this hiding was for nothing!

“And you have lived here in his territory all your life so you are bound to be a little…” Illarion waggled his fingers in the air. “In awe of Valerius, yes? And prejudiced against the other Dragon Shifters, I am sure! Of course, this is natural.” Illarion leaned in a little. “But you must fight against these things when you make your decision about who you will join with. Because, I assure you, that Valerius is theworstchoice for you to make. He is set in his ways. He thinks he is first among equals. And he will never let anequalrule with him here.”

And Illarion would be a much better choice? Even if everything he said was true, Iolaire, it doesn’t sell him!Caden thought with disgust.

There was a cracking sound, which had both Illarion and them looking towards the throne room. The others were marching out with Valerius and Esme in the lead. Serai was between them. Their ice breath that had pinned Serai to the wall had evidently been transformed into water by Esme. That change from ice to water was the cause of the sound. But the water bound Serai just as firmly as the ice had. An almost living “tentacle” of water wrapped around her middle, pinning her slender arms to her sides. She was just a slip of a girl, but as she neared them, whatever doubts Caden had that she wasn’t the one he’d seen went away. It was her. Like Tez had said, her face was burned into his memory.

Why did she do it?Caden wondered.

He hadn’t realized that he’d shared that with Valerius until the Black Dragon King responded,She will not say. She still claims to be innocent. She is lying, of course. But Esme wanted to make sure.

I am sure. It is her,Caden said and felt like he was signing this girl’s death warrant.

“Iolaire confirms--”

“Yes, Valerius, I can tell what Iolaire’s answer is,” Esme said.

She stood there in her dark blue wrap. Her beautiful, lined face was shadowed now as the sun was setting. It seemed engraved with the burden of this betrayal in the dimming light. Caden lowered his head until he was almost eye to eye with the girl.

Why? Why would you do that evil thing?He asked, even though he knew she wouldn’t hear him.

She struggled to get away from him, misinterpreting his gaze as one of aggression. But Esme’s water “tentacle” held her in place. The frost from his breath caused the “tentacle’s” surface to ice over. She suddenly stopped struggling and hung there almost limp for a moment.

In a voice that was soft, but not girlish or frightened, Serai said, “What would you sacrifice to change the world?”

“Is that why you did it?” Esme frowned. “To change the world? By killing a bunch of tourists eating ice cream and buying souvenirs? Do you really thinkthatwould change the world in any good way?”

---