Page 52 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

“They were not worried about how they looked, Tez,” Jahara retorted dryly. Three of her Wise Women were with her and they nodded sagely.“They merely cared to stop the evil doers, which they have done.”

“Well, they should still lookgooddoing it. Their actions will be played and replayed for the populace.These things are what people remember,” Tez stated.He put a hand to the center of his chest.“I will take it upon myself to teach them to always show grace and power no matter how dire things are.”

“Look how pink Caden’s cheeks are becoming!”Esme chuckled.“I think someone is not used to being filmed nude. I do hope someone in the Claw had the forethought to grab some pants.Or Anwar should give him his wrap, if nothing else!”

“Caden cuts quite the figure!He should show off skin all the time, even though he is not as handsome as me nor is Iolaire as beautiful as Eldoron,” Tez disagreed. “But he does have that young, fresh look.The blond hair and blue eyes plus the athletic physique will have him adorning the walls of many a young woman and man.”

“And not just the young ones,” Esme agreed.She elbowed Valerius.“And what do you think, Valerius?Pants or no pants for Caden?”

“Look in the mirror, Esme, and you can see that Raziel has the answer for you.Is that fire wreathing its jaws?”Jahara tilted her head back towards the magic mirror.

Esme turned and smiled at Raziel whose eyes were glowing a hot red and were narrowed.Raziel was no fan of pants, and did want people to admire their mate, but it did not like Caden being ogled when he did not wish to be!

“Oh, you big black meanie!You know I adore Caden, but many hearts are still going to break when they find out about you and Iolaire and Caden and Valerius being mated,” Esme said unrepentantly. “It can’t be helped.”

Raziel let out a snort of fire. Esme just laughed delightedly.

“Raziel, behave,” Valerius replied softly, though the Black Dragon had nothing but good feelings for Esme and Scylla.

The Black Dragon breathed out black smoke which obscured its sulfurous image.

“Caden and Iolaire are doing quite well.They’re showing mastery of various gifts in both forms.I do not recall being so far advanced that early,” Esme said as she turned back to Valerius.“You should be proud.”

“I am,” Valerius answered.“And you are right. Righteous anger does seem to focus them both.”

The urge to go down there and join Caden was strong.Especially with Anwar acting as if he’d had an equal part in stopping the bombing.Anwar was swaggering right and left, putting an arm around Caden’s shoulders, and saying something loudly to the press.But Valerius kept himself in check.He wanted to give Caden this well-deserved moment in the sun.

He had not been lying or exaggerating when he had told Caden’s parents that their son was anequalto him and the other Dragon Shifters.Not a mascot or second string player.

“This bomb was good, you know?”Illarion scratched his chin.

“The potential deaths of hundreds of people isgood?”Chione’s tone was chilly.

It was the first time she had looked up from her tablet.She gave the Green Dragon Shifter one of her best death stares.

“Ithink--or rather, I hope--Illarion means that this incident will allow us to discredit Humans First,” Esme stated, casting a cold eye on the Green Dragon Shifter herself.“I’m sure that’s what he means.”

“Yes, yes!That is what I meant!”Illarion snorted.“Now you can show them as the cowardly thugs they are! You can grind them into dust, Valerius.Roast them on fires throughout the city.That’s what I would do!”

“I’m sure you would,” Chione said with a shake of her head.“But we have rules and laws here.”

“What good are they? No, set an example with them!”Illarion grinned.“Fear is the greatest motivator!”

Grant, who had been watching his son’s heroics on the screen, turned stiffly and said, “Treating the members of Humans First just like any other criminals will stop them from becoming martyrs. Also, it will weaken the rule of law to do otherwise.Everyone should be given a just trial.Even terrorists.”

“That’s very true,” Esme admitted with a nod.“Though, I admit, this incident does make me wish a little for the old days where we put heads on pikes.You could line the roads with them”

Valerius thought of Jasper Hawes’ smug face rotting as his head was stuck on a pike. The thought warmed him.But he shook himself.That was not the way any longer.And it would give Jasper a “win” even in death. Because it would make him more important than he really was.

“Despite what Humans First has attempted today they are not our main enemy or the most dangerous foe we have,” Valerius reminded them.

“No, it is our friends in the Faith that we must worry about,” Esme sighed with a shake of her head. “With friends like them one doesn’t need enemies!Oh, look, Caden is going to speak to the press!”

The Claw had been moving the press back from the two story building where the bomb was and where the bombers were all imprisoned in ice, but the media was in a frenzy and wouldn’t be denied.Valerius saw this knowledge in Caden’s eyes as the White Dragon Shifter drew in a deep breath and stepped forward towards the line of reporters.Caden’s gaze slid to High Reach.

He needs us,Valerius said to Raziel.

Yes!Let us go down there! Iolaire is upset!Raziel agreed and the smoke in the mirror cleared.

---