Page 47 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

“That must explain it!”Caden beamed, looking utterly relieved.

“Caden, if there was a time for a double agent to report in, it would benow,” Rose pointed out from the back seat.“Landry didn’t agree to help and we saw how eager she was to align herself publically with Humans First.So, I think you better give up that idea that she’s really working for us.”

“I just can’t believe… I don’t want to… I need to talk to her,” Caden admitted.

The car gave a sickening lurch as Wally must have taken them around one of the curving roads in Reach.

“So, I assume that you are going to the parade route?”Grant asked.

“Yeah,” Caden nodded.“We’ve got to try and find that bomb without alerting Humans First.”

“Caden, you can’t bring Tilly towards a bomb!”Ellen cried.

One of her hands was squeezing the top of her shirt so tightly that Valerius feared she might cut off her own air supply.

Caden blinked and nodded.“You’re right.I’m an idiot.Wally, pull over.”

“Kid, we don’t have time to--”

“Wally, pull over,” Caden commanded and the Rat Shifter did just that.

There was the sound of the squealing of brakes and the phone swam very close to Caden’s face before zooming away as his hand flew forward with the car’s momentum coming to a stop.Caden was then opening his door.

“Caden, where are you going?”Valerius asked as Caden got out of the car.

“I’m shifting and I’m going to fly over that parade route,” Caden stated.He leaned back into the car.“Wally, take Tilly and Rose back to High Reach.I’ve got this.”

“But you need our help!”Rose cried.

“Yeah!I want to help!”Tilly cried.

“Kid, are you sure?”Wally asked.

“Positive.Guys, you’re all helping by getting out of harm’s way.Iolaire and I can do this,” Caden stated.“Iolaire is certain that it can sense where the bomb is.”

“How?”Chione asked with a shake of her head.“The scent of all those people will block out--”

“No, not by scent,” Caden answered grimly.“By how many Spirits are clustered there.Waiting.”

Valerius closed his eyes tightly for a moment.Waiting for destruction and death.

“Raziel will help,” the Black Dragon Spirit suddenly spoke and Valerius’ eyelids opened.

It was the first time that anyone, other than himself and Caden, had heard the Spirit.It was not in their heads, but out loud.The Black Dragon filled the mirror.Smoke and fire flickered between its teeth.

Caden smiled broadly.“Thanks, Raziel. But, Valerius, both you and Razielshouldn’tcome out.”

“What?Why?”Valerius asked.

Caden got this determined look on his face that showed just the type of man he was.“Because seeing Raziel will spook the Hell out of Humans First.But they think Iolaire is just their friendly, neighborhood Dragon even after the park incident.”

“But you’re going to show them otherwise?”A smile curled on Valerius’ lips.

Caden mirrored it.“Exactly that.”

SPIRITS

Caden’s tough words to Valerius were slightly belied when after Caden turned off his phone, tossed it to Wally and then… couldn’t shift.He wondered if it was because he hadn’t taken off his clothes.No time for that.Besides, getting naked in the middle of the street would just add to his embarrassment.

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