Page 9 of The White Dragon Revealed

Raziel was a terrible liar. He thought he knew quite well whatword Raziel was going to use: Iolaire is ourmate. His heart beat like a drum in his chest. Caden was so young. It was too soon. It would mean that their lives and fates were intertwined. Maybe that was why Raziel would say nothing. His Spirit did not want to pressure him or Caden.

Valerius turned back to the president and prime minister. He held up a finger. “First, I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are not suggesting that Raziel and I are incapable of protecting you fromanythreat.”

The two world leaders stirred uncomfortably. The president sat up in her chair rather like a terrier. The prime minister then froze, one hand at the collar of his shirt.

“We did not mean to suggest–” Prime Minister Stanton began.

“No, you did not, because that would be insulting andunwise.” Valerius’ eyes narrowed at them both. “Raziel and I are quite capable of defeating any and all other Dragon Shifters.”

“Even if they all attack?” President Goodfellow whispered.

“Even if theyallattack. But they will not.” Valerius’ lips pressed together as smoke poured from Raziel’s nostrils. “You need not concern yourself with those fears.”

“And what of Iolaire? Do they intend to stay here? And how will that affect things?” President Goodfellow pressed on.

Valerius glanced at Chione. One of her delicate eyebrows was lifted. She had mentioned something to him about these very questions being things that the two world leaders would ask. Both of them were used to being in control. Or at least the illusion of it. Now, he had basically asked them to trust him. Humans never did fully trust Shifters.

Considering what Illarion is doing to his people and Mei’s mechanical soldiers they have a right to be uneasy,Valerius thought.

“Iolaire will be staying. They want no part in ruling…” Even though Valerius adored Caden and Iolaire, the thought of sharing the rulership of territory was still not sitting well with him. It likely never would. “But they will, of course, in time want to have an impact.”

“They already have.” Prime Minister Stanton laughed lightly into his right palm.

Valerius gave him a thin smile. “Yes, they have.”

“They are a great asset,” President Goodfellow said, warming to the subject. “They are an ambassador of goodwill. Interest in Humans First has declined since they’ve come. And the politicians with sympathies in that line have had their legs cut out from under them.”

Valerius had been mildly aware--Chione had been terribly aware--of how Iolaire’s obvious people-pleasing manner, especially among children, had turned the conversation about “dangerous and aloof Shifters” on its head.

President Goodfellow leaned forward again. Her hands were clenched in front of her. “And that is the real reason we are concerned about Iolaire. Not concerned. We want to help them help everyone.”

Valerius grunted even as he caught Chione’s eyebrow raise. This was nothing less than what Caden’s father and his firm wanted to do. Everyone wanted to control the White Dragon Shifter, use it for their purposes, make it their puppet. He would never allow that to happen, no matter if Caden’s identity was out or not.

“And what makes you think they need your help?” Chione asked in her patient way that somehow was more cutting than his snarls.

President Goodfellow focused on the Sphinx Shifter. Her eyes flickered to Valerius and away. “From how they have been described, they seemyoungand inexperienced.”

“As are all Shifters when they first bond, but their own kind educate them in the ways of things,” Chione answered almost sweetly, and then her tone changed, “Humans donot.”

The president’s hands tightened in front of her. Her knuckles went white. “But Iolaire is not some regular Shifter! They represent so much more and if they are going to be in our territory--”

“Myterritory,” Valerius corrected her.

“Isn’t itours, too?” Prime Minister Stanton looked gray and uneasy as he said it, but clearly this was something that the two of them had cooked up. He really shouldn’t have left them alone to speculate.

“Shifters take care of Shifter business. Iolaire is a Shifter,” Chionereminded them, repeating the line that was said over and over as if it had mystical power.

“But Iolaire is another Dragon,” Valerius found himself saying quietly. “They are different as President Goodfellow said.”

Chione’s eyebrows rose, but not in annoyance, but rather surprise. He really should have delayed this call and talked with her first. He was never going to regret spending more time with Caden.

“I understand your concerns. This is your home. You represent the people within it. You get to speak to me when others cannot. You must raise your concerns,” Valerius said, causing everyone on that call to look a little amazed and a little worried. He did not speak this way. He scoffed at such things. Explaining himself was often abhorrent to him, and at best, a bore. But not in this. “Iolaire is not someone to be feared. But they are also not someone you control. My territory is run by me. Solely. What role Iolaire will take on will be decided in time. Right now, they have more than enough on their plate.”

That seemed to quiet everyone. None of them could deny that becoming the ninth Dragon Shifter after stopping a bombing was anything to sniff at.

“They have had their life turned upside down,” Valerius continued, staring at each world leader in turn. “You had a chance tochooseto go down the path of leadership. You could have remained an anonymous citizen of my territory. But you choose to serve. Iolaire did not. They choose to save people at the expense of themselves.”

President Goodfellow’s head lowered. The hectic color in her cheeks fading somewhat. Prime Minister Stanton played with a pen. Most politicians were unfeeling snakes, but not these two. Somehow this time around the people had actually been lucky to get two real people who cared.

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