Page 14 of The White Dragon Revealed

His green eyes narrowed at her. “Do you think I can’t win?”

She shrugged. “In all honesty, no. Not that you won’t give it a brilliant go, but in the end, Valerius and Raziel will rip your wings off and use them as floss. But that was not the cause of my laughter.”

Caden could see Illarion’s jaw working as he clearly was furious that Esme did not think him the winner in this putative battle.

“So what is causing you to laugh at me?” Illarion hissed.

“That you think Iolaire would want you even if you did, in the most unlikely of events, win.” Esme held up her teacup to Caden.

He quickly got a warming pot of tea and came over to fill her cup before retreating back to the buffett. He managed to snag a piece of bacon as he set the teapot on the trivet.

“Iolaire must go with the strongest!” Illarion scoffed as he chewed once again with his mouth open.

Esme’s eyelids fluttered shut for a moment as if the sight were just too terrible. “I do not believe it works that way.”

“Mephous has told me the rules.” Illarion leaned back and spread his naked legs. To Caden’s horror, his cock stirred as he spoke of Iolaire. “Whoever wishes to mate with Iolaire must challenge and defeat any comers. The last Dragon standing wins.”

Caden’s mouth fell open with an audible click. He almost spat the bacon onto the floor. He quickly closed his mouth and swallowed it down. He would not waste good bacon on Illarion!

“Scylla tells me otherwise,” Esme said after she sipped her tea. “Scylla tells me that while we may challenge each other to prove we are the most worthy of Iolaire, the truth is that Iolaire can choose anyone it wants to mate with.”

That’s exactly right! Iolaire and I get to choose!

Iolaire twittered softly. But Caden’s stomach lurched. He thought of the fact that he wasn’t worthy of Iolaire. He had been at the right place at the right time, but Iolaire had been looking for an excuse to join with someone--anyone--in order to be with Raziel. Iolaire and Raziel were destined to be together. Valerius and him… well, if Valerius had any idea of how unworthy Caden was… well, he would be furious and resentful. He wouldn’t want to be saddled with Caden.

No, no, I am going to be better. I am going to be worthy of him somehow.

“Bah! Absurd! Even if that is true, Iolaire will choose the strongest! It is only logical,” Illarion scoffed as he shoveled in more eggs. “The laws of nature apply to even Spirits.”

“And what laws are those?” Esme gazed at Illarion over the top of her cup.

“The strongest make the rules!” Illarion laughed uproariously, clearly in love with his “joke”.

Caden rolled his eyes. Esme smothered a look of disgust by sipping her tea at that moment.

“But I am not here to discuss that as I know you are not in the running for Iolaire’s hand.” Illarion chewed noisily.

Esme winked at Caden. “I don’t know, Illarion, I have quite a bit to offer Iolaire.”

Illarion’s hand with the fork in it froze halfway to his mouth. He stared at her. “Such as what?”

Illarion couldn’t quite hide his disbelief. He clearly didn’t understand how a mature woman such as Esme could have anything to offer. Caden’s eyes narrowed. If he wasn’t completely in love with Valerius, she would actually be his second choice. Not for a love match, but for a mentor. Someone he would be willing to support and learn from.

She smiled thinly. “Delights of which you cannot even imagine.”

Illarion snorted, but didn’t say anything rude, which was the first point in his favor since he had shown up. “I am here to discuss this bombing business.”

Esme stiffened. “I can’t imagine why.”

“It is true that my territory is not convulsed by lawlessness and terror attacks,” Illarion said with a shrug. “I rule my people. I do not let them have the illusion that they rule themselves.”

“No, I would think that your people have no illusions about such freedom.” Esme’s smile flattened, but Illarion did not even notice.

“Yes, well, it is best that the people know where they stand. You indulge them and you get chaos.” Illarion shrugged again.

“So if your territory is so immune to such chaos since you are so clear with your people, why are you concerned about the bombing?” Esme pressed.

Now that was a good question. Caden grew alert. Was Illarionlying about not having such problems in his territory?Was this a worldwide conspiracy like Esme had said?

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