Page 45 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

Chione put her hands by her lips, hiding a smile.

“Caden is…” There were so many things he could say.That Caden was so very young.That Caden was just getting used to being a Dragon Shifter.That Caden’s feelings could change.That just because their Dragons were in love… “Wonderful.And the only thing holding me back is that we have not had a chance to truly speak of it.”

“But withthatup there and the press going crazy…” Grant frowned.“Once they know who the White Dragon Shifter is, they are going to want to know who he is mated with.”

“And people will expect things.Certain things.Like marriage and all of that.Not that you should act on what people think,” Ellen quickly amended.“But your Spirits… well, they have spoken, have they not?”

Valerius could not imagine his life without Caden in it.He had just not planned for this.He had not planned on any of it.

Who could plan for Caden?He thought with a huff of amusement.

But the truth was that he was ready for whatever came next.He was ready for Caden now no matter how short a time it was.

“One of the many things that humans have over Shifters is the simple fact that humans realize the nature oftimewhile Shifters lose it,” Valerius answered her.“But some things justare.And that is how I have felt with Caden under all the weight of questions and precautions.Caden justis.”

“So youaregoing to ask our son to marry you?”Grant tensed again.

“Until I speak to Caden, I cannot speak to you about it,” Valerius answered simply.“Because whatever anyone else thinks: the press, the public,you.It does not matter.I need to speak with Caden first and foremost.We are just trying to get through this week at the moment.”

“You believe if this thing between you is real then waiting a little bit won’t hurt?”Ellen asked wryly.

Valerius nodded.“Because things alreadyare.”He glanced through the open doors to the balcony where the helix still spun almost lazily in the sky.“No one will rush us.Nothing will stop us.”

“When does Caden plan on revealing himself to the world?He hasn’t quite told us yet,” Grant asked.

Valerius was surprised yet again by the Bryces.They were willing to let thisgo?Looking at Grant’s face, no, he wasn’t exactly letting this go.But maybe, he, too, was waiting to speak with Caden. Or maybe a giant sign in the sky that they were together was convincing Grant that this was meant to be.

“He hasn’t… ” Valerius looked over at Raziel then as his Spirit had let out an alert sound.Raziel was up on its feet, red eyes narrowed, gazing out of the doors to the courtyard. “Raziel, what is it?”

At the same time his phone buzzed like an angry hornet in his pocket.He slid it out. The call came through FaceTime.He answered it.

“Caden?”Valerius asked.

The image before him bounced around as Caden was having trouble keeping the phone still.He had an almost sickening sense of car sickness as the screen yawed wide then came back and jumped up to Caden’s forehead then to his chin and back to his forehead before showing a jittery shot of Caden’s eyes.

“V-Valerius!”Caden’s voice was shaking too, but not with fear, but because of his body moving.“Wally!Jesus! Slow down!”

“I can’t, kid! We weren’t seen but we had to get away from there just in case!”Wally answered.

“Why is Wally naked?”Valerius asked, even though he knew of one very good reason that a Shifter would be naked.

“Wally’s naked?”Ellen's eyes widened.

“Long story.We followed Landry and her new Humans First friends.”Caden’s mouth twisted as if he were sucking on a lemon as he said that.

Valerius frowned and saw out of the corner of his eye that Chione had pulled out her phone and was tapping on it rather frantically.He was going to ask her what was going on.Something was clearly going on.

When Caden spoke again, “Wally and Rose shifted and went spying--”

“They what?!”Valerius and Grant both said this in almost unison.

“Is my dad there?”Caden blanched.

“Yes, your dad is here, Caden!”Grant stepped up to Valerius’ side and Valerius held the phone so that both of their faces were visible.

“Oh, hey, Dad.”Caden smiled weakly, but then sobered.

“Caden, what did Wally and Rose find out?”Valerius demanded.

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