Page 38 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

The three of them piled into the car with Caden up front.The last car door had barely closed before they were barrelling out of the castle and down the road towards the prison.

“I hope we aren’t late,” Caden said with a frown as he saw the little car straining to keep above forty miles per hour.

“We’ll make it, kid,” Wally assured him.

“I just don’t want Landry standing there with no one to greet her,” Caden explained as he nervously twisted his hands together.“Her brothers haven’t left Humans First over this.In fact, they’re seen as martyrs.You know, wrongfully imprisoned and all that.Since Landry chose us over them I’m just not sure that any family will be there for her.”

“We’re her family now,” Tilly said stoutly.

“Damn straight,” Rose added.

They arrived at the prison just in time to see Landry coming out of the massive gates.But though Caden had been afraid she would have been alone, he hadn’t considered that the press would be there.

Of course they would be!

There was a gaggle of reporters waiting just outside of the prison.They rushed towards Landry and Caden let out a hiss of breath.Landry froze.Though her hair covered her eyes like it always did, he could see her alarm.There were dozens of microphones thrust towards her.

“Oh, man, we’ve got to get to her.She’s all alone!”Caden cried.

Except, in a moment, Landry wasnotalone.Humans First thugs suddenly flanked her like two oversized bookends. And then there was another figure who put a gentle arm around Landry’s shoulders.

It was Jasper Hawes.

COMPLICATIONS

“Idon’t understand this,” Caden breathed out as Wally pulled the car over into a parking space in the jail’s parking lot.“What is Landry doing withhim?”

His eyes were locked on Jasper Hawes.The leader of Humans First was smiling in that fake, plasticky manner of his that rubbed Caden in all the wrong ways.

But the media is just lapping this up!

They were shouting questions at Jasper at a machine-gun-like pace.That didn’t phase the Humans First leader at all.In fact, he just smiled wider and appeared completely in his element.

Jasper had his right arm around Landry’s shoulders.She was smiling too, but wanly and it didn’t reach her eyes.But she stood there, not shrugging off that arm, but instead standing beside him.

“I’m going to put a stop to this!She doesn't want to be with him!”Caden cried.

But Wally put a hand on his right forearm to stop him.“No, kid, don’t do that.”

“What?Why?I’ve got to rescue Landry!”Caden explained as he tried to open the door again.But Wally reached across and pulled it closed.

“She may not want to be rescued,” Wally said.

“You can’t believe that!She doesn’t hate shifters!She’s not with them!”Caden gestured to Jasper and his acolytes that stood behind him as if he were some kind messiah. This had to be put a stop to.

“She certainly looks like she’s with them.The press clearly believes it. I thought this might happen,” Rose said and her lips skinned back from her teeth.

“Thoughtwhatmight happen? I don’t understand why Landry is with thatcreep!”Tilly crossed her arms over her chest and gave an exaggerated shudder.

“There must be some explanation! Landry might have been taught a whole lot of guff about shifters, but she knows that’s not true now!”Caden’s brow furrowed. “He must have caught her off guard.Maybe she doesn’t feel like she has any choice but to pretend she’s okay with this.”

“Caden, a belief system like Landry had, doesn't just disappear overnight.She thinks humans are better than shifters.It’s easier to fall back on her prejudices so her racist brothers and family don’t kick her out than stand on her own,” Rose reminded him.

Hope was a fragile thing.Belief in others was even frailer and that echoed in her voice.Wally’s eyes meet Rose’s in the rear view mirror.There was some kind of silent exchange between them.Rose lowered her eyes to her lap.

“No, no, that’s not true!Not with Landry.She was willing to go to prison rather than give me up to Valerius,” Caden said with a violent shake of his head.“I can’t believe that now when she’s cleared of all charges that she would run to Humans First.It doesn’t make any sense!”

Wally was studying the scene with an almost bland expression.“Prison is tough, kid.She was supposed to get in with Humans First to find out their secrets in exchange for getting her sentence reduced. But the truth is that they likely protected her while in prison for real.That creates some loyalty.”

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