Page 60 of The Arrival of the Dragons

Serai’s head lifted. “Good is in the eye of the beholder.”

And then, before anyone could do anything, she bit down on her own teeth. There was a click and a hiss and then white foam was flowing out of her mouth, over her lips and down her chin. Her young body jerked and spasmed before going still.

NO MORE HIDING

Valerius looked down at the dead girl. His jaw set. He felt a mental quivering over his bond with Caden. The young man had never seen a dead person before. Not like this. He turned and grasped Iolaire’s head.

Fly up to my quarters and Shift. I will be with you momentarily,Valerius said.

But Serai…

You can do nothing for her, Caden. I will handle this,Valerius assured him.

Why did she do it?Caden’s question was a rhetorical one. Both of them could speculate, but neither of them was a fanatic.

Go upstairs, Caden. It will be all right,Valerius coaxed.

Will it?

One of Iolaire’s huge blue eyes met his and he knew both human and Spirit were suffering. Neither was meant for death. How strange in some ways that a Dragon Shifter was the opposite of death. Valerius reluctantly moved away from Iolaire, and with a warning wave of his hand, the others did as well. After a few tentative flaps, Iolaire rose up into the sky. They took one rather sad bank around the city and then disappeared behind his tower. They did not make a reappearance. Caden had shifted successfully. Valerius noted that Caden had not feared someone seeing him in his human form. The opening to his balcony was on the opposite side of the plaza so none would, but still Caden seemed to not be so focused on that.

“Iolaire is up in your chambers! Shifted!” Illarion stated the obvious, pointing to the tower. “Will we finally get to see them in their human form? Or will we continue this farce of meeting them?”

“You got your time alone with them out here, Illarion. Your five minutes are up,” Esme said sharply from where she was kneeling down by Serai. The water tentacle was gone, a splash of liquid on the plaza ground was the only sign of it.

“That did not count!” Illarion’s cheeks reddened.

“Always claiming the world is unfair, Illarion?” Mei arched an eyebrow at the Green Dragon Shifter.

“Better than thinking the whole world is out to get me, eh, Mei?” Illarion snapped back. “Iolaire will enjoy their time with me far more than you.”

Tez, who was unapologetically crying, cried, “How can you think about that now? A girl is dead! Her body is not even cold!”

Illarion’s eyes narrowed. “Because she is aterrorist. She planted a bomb that would have killed innocent people. Why would I waste a single thought on her other than how I will kill those who assisted her? Valerius, am I not right in this? Or have you gone as soft as this idiot here?”

“She was young and foolish! Idealistic!” Tez cried.

Esme met Valerius’ gaze even as her right hand was in the girl’s hair and the other cradled her head. Her blue eyes crackled with grief and anger. “I am inclined to agree with Illarion on this. Serai was no child though she looked like one. And there was nothing in her life that should have made these choices of hers understandable.”

At that moment, Chione came into the throne room. She was smiling and her voice reflected it as she said, “What have I missed?”

She came to an abrupt halt as she saw Serai’s still form.

“You’ve missed some fireworks. A true James Bond villain death!” Illarion snorted. “A poisoned tooth!”

“By the gods,” Chione whispered and rushed to Esme’s side. She curled one arm around the Blue Dragon Shifter’s back. “Serai! How did this happen? Esme, I am so sorry!”

“No, it is me who is sorry. She was the bomber, Chione. And she deserves no more tears.” Esme quickly rose even as she gave into Chione’s embrace.

“What do you wish to do with her, my king?” Chione asked.

“An autopsy. See if there’s anything about that poisoned tooth that will lead us to the people she’s working with,” Valerius said finally.

“Of course. It will be done,” Chione said and immediately contacted the Claw.

“You have been very quiet, Valerius. What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to announce that you caught the bomber?” Mei asked.

She drifted over and looked at the dead girl by her feet with all the emotion she would have at looking at a dead leaf. His own emotions were mixed. He was holding them at bay, because nothing good could come from letting them rule him at this moment.

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