Page 57 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

Caden had spread out on his and Valerius’ bed five pairs of ripped and faded jeans.Despite the fact that they looked like he had worn them forever, they were all new.Chione had sent out to various shops for clothes thatlookedlike him and suited his personality.He’d already tried them all on and they all fit perfectly.Some accentuated his ass.Others skimmed his long legs.A few flared out around the boots he had decided to wear.Some hung lower than others on his hips.They were all awesome.But which pair to wear?

“Chione said I should pick something that’sme, so it’s definitely jeans, which are down to earth but nice and comfortable,” Caden reminded her.

“But Dad’s going to be in a really expensive lawyer suit! Red tie and all!Mom’s wearing some understated black affair and I…” Tilly spun around to show off the exquisite baby doll dress in silvery white studded with Swarovski crystals and matching ballet flats.“I am looking fabulous in this dress.While you… you will wear jeans and an untucked black, button down shirt.”

He had picked out a chest-skimming black shirt that was fashionable untucked. It would look great with the jeans--any pair of them!--and his boots.With his blond hair fashionably messy, he thought it would look great.And it would be a nice contrast to what Valerius intended on wearing. His lips twitched as he thought of the studded leather and fur affair that Valerius had already changed into.

He said to his sister, “It could be worse.”

She expressively lifted her eyebrows.“How?”

“I could be half naked in leather and fur like Valerius intends to be, He’s going to be showing more bulging muscles than clothing,” Caden said as he picked the second pair of jeans from the right and slid them on over his boxer briefs.

“I bet you think he looks good in leather,” Tilly giggled.

“I do.He does.But I’d look ridiculous in it.”

Valerius had offered Caden some of his armor to wear, which had the Black Dragon King laughing when Caden modeled it for him.Most of it had not fit and what had made him look like he was in a Sword and Sorcery slave boy outfit.That wasnotthe aesthetic that they were going for.

As he buttoned his pants, he said, “Some of us don’t have Esme as our fairy Dragon mother who has staff to sew them a dress in a few hours like you do.So jeans and a button down will have to do for me.”

Caden playfully poked her side. Tilly smiled so widely that her eyes turned to slits.High spots of color appeared on her cheeks.

“Esme is like… like thebest!”Tilly beamed.

His sister and the Blue Dragon Queen had met after he and Valerius had gotten back to High Reach after escaping the press--and it had been an escape. Anwar had not accompanied them back but instead insisted on continuing his procession as he had more gold coins to give out and no terrorists would stop him! Not to mention, he would have a press entourage the entire time, which he seemed to enjoy a lot more than Caden and Valerius did.

After promising Anwar a private audience later, he and Valerius had flown to High Reach. His family, Rose, Wally and Chione had all gathered in the throne room while they had awaited the other Dragon Shifters to return.Staff had brought them both robes.Caden surreptitiously sniffed his because it smelled of Valerius.

Chione had been telling them that a press event with Caden and his family had to happen that day.The press would eat itself like a snake eating its own tail if they weren’t fed something else.

“If we don’t give them a story,” Chione had said, “they will make up their own.They are already digging into your pasts.Anything, no matter how innocuous it seems to you, will become a scandal.You have to accept this and let it wash over you. The press does nothing faster than pulling people off the pedestals they put them on.”

His father frowned.“I think I’m grateful that I’m taking that position with Justice St.John and the Supreme Court. I’ve been proud to represent most of my clients, but there are some… well, I’m sure they’ll be mentioned.I hope they don’t cause Caden trouble.”

“Dad, don’t worry.You did your best to represent the people who hired you and the firm.Everyone deserves a defense,” Caden told his father stoutly.

“Still, it will be good not to have the conflicts of interest any longer that would have occurred if I had remained in private practice,” his father said.

“So long as you’re happy, I am,” Caden said.

His father hugged him.“Our lives have to change, Caden, because your life is… well, it’s very important.”

Caden frowned.“So is yours!All of yours!”

Chione though said, kindly but firmly, “That’s true, Caden, but so is what your father said.There are onlynineDragon Shifters.What you do, say, don’t do, don’t say, associate yourself with or not will be scrutinized for secret meaning.People will dissect your every word and action and those who are close to you will have the same scrutiny on them.”

Caden felt a sick dread filling his stomach.As he held more tightly onto his father, he reminded himself that this had to happen.He couldn’t have stayed hidden.His family hadn’t signed up for this, but they were a part of it.Their lives would be enhanced and restricted by the fact that he was the ninth Dragon Shifter.

“Your membership in the Faith, Ellen, will be especially looked at.How faithful are you?How does having your son be the ninth Dragon Shifter make you think of it?Everything you say, Ellen, will have weight for the whole Faith,” Chione cautioned.

His mother paled and one of her hands went to the collar of her shirt.“But--but that’s… yes, I guess I can see how that would be, even though I’m not important at all.”

“Mom, you’re totally important,” Caden assured her as he pulled back from his father’s arms.

She gave him a smile and cupped his cheek.“My feelings about religion have always been private, Caden.I’ve been content to be a member and help with local aspects of charity and other assistance.This is different!If what Chione says is true, anything I say may be taken as Faith doctrine because they’ll assume it's coming from Iolaire or one of the other Dragon Spirits.”

Caden had looked up at Iolaire in the mirror at that moment.Both Iolaire and Raziel were asleep next to one another.Raziel’s much bigger form was curled around Iolaire.Occasional puffs of fire and ice rose from their mouths.They were alsopurring.

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