Page 56 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

Caden nodded even as he was practically trying to merge his body into Valerius’.“I’m ah… I’m Caden Bryce.Nice to meet you.”

More questions were sent their way with a rapidity that was almost dizzying. But Valerius kept his head up and a firm arm around Caden.He smiled but held up a hand again.

“We will answer one more question before we must ask you to disperse,” Valerius told them.Then with an almost teasing warning look added, “So make it count.”

The reporters all went silent and then one asked, “Are you and Caden mates?”

Valerius looked down at Caden.Caden looked up at Valerius.Smiles tugged both of their lips.

Confirm it?Caden asked.

I wish to,Valerius told him.

He could see Raziel and Iolaire’s necks curled around each other.

Jointly, he and Caden answered the reporter’s question at the same time with the single word of, “Yes.”

READY FOR PRIME TIME?

“The White Dragon Shifter is such a sweet young man.He picked up my newspaper and promised to come to see me againafterhe had saved everyone, of course!”the old woman twittered to the reporter.Her eyes were shining as she talked of Caden.She spoke directly to the camera then, “Caden, you come over whenever you can. I know how busy you must be.But I’m here.I’ll have some tea and coffee cake for you and we can talk about Billy.”

Caden grinned.She had been the first member of the public he’d told who he was and, somehow, that had given him the confidence to do what he and Iolaire had done later with the bomb.He most definitely would be going over there for coffee cake and he hoped to hear much about Billy the reporter.

Tilly, who had been standing directly in front of the television screen, turned around and put her hands on her hips.“You’re a star, Caden.They’ve put the random old person interview up!It doesn’t get any better than that.And you are going to take me with you for that coffee cake!”

He and Tilly were in Valerius’ tower suite.Well, he supposed it washisand Valerius’ suite.She’d accompanied him up to the platform with the bed to assist in picking out his clothes for the media interviews scheduled later that night.

Caden smirked. “I will, Tilly, don’t you worry.Besides, you’re about to get famous too. Our big interview is not that far off.Soon, there will be plenty of potentially doting adoptive grandparents who will want you as their granddaughter to feed coffee cake to.”

Tilly rolled her eyes.“Old people!”

“Hey, old people are great! You love most of the Dragon Shifters and they’re older than old!”Caden cried.

“I know!I didn’t mean it like that.It’s just that old people are nice to you for being… well, you know,you,” she said with a shrug.

“So they don’t base their friendship or affection on fame and that’sbad?”Caden’s eyebrows rose.

“They’re not jealous! They don’t want to be you! But young people… well, my friends have been calling and texting non-stop since they found out that you’re the White Dragon Shifter!”Tilly was luminous as she held her still buzzing, beeping and blinking cell phone between her hands as if in prayer.She scrolled through the countless messages before biting her lower lip and letting the phone drop from view without responding to a single one.“Mom and Dad said I have to wait to say anything to them for a while, because they are all being interviewed about me!And you, I guess.”

“They just don’t want your texts to pop up onTMZor something,” Caden told her.

“Yeah, I suppose, but would that be so bad?”Tilly gave him pleading eyes.

“Uhm…”

“I meanTMZis a little gossipy, but what aboutEWor something classier like theNew York Times?” Tilly swung back and forth which had the sparking bottom of her snow white dress glitter in the firelight. “Besides, I’m only saying nice things!I love you and Iolaire.Both of you are awesome.We’re fighting against Humans First together--”

“Fighting them… together?What?”Caden’s eyebrows were really rising now.

“Yes, we are!”She pointed a finger at him.“First, we took them down in the park in front of the media!Second, we followed them to their lair to discover their secret bomb plot! Third?Third, who knows what we’ll do!But it will begreat!”

“I think this is what Mom and Dad are worried about,” Caden chuckled dryly. “Though you are a most excellent sidekick.”

He went to ruffle her artistically styled hair.She moved as fast as any Shifter to protect her hairdo.“Hey!You’ll mess it up!”

“We can’t have that.”He grinned at her.

“One of us has to look respectable.”That had her looking at his proposed outfits.“Are youreallygoing to wear jeans during our interview?”

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