Page 60 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

“That’s awfully kind of you, Queen Esme, thank you so much,” their mother said.

“Not at all!It will be a joy for me.Now come, child, I want to discuss things,” Esme said and the two of them had bustled off.

Now Tilly swished about in the very dress that Esme had contemplated.It was a beautiful dress. Caden finished buttoning his shirt and stuck his feet in his boots.He spread his arms wide.

“Well?How do I look?”he asked her.

She gave him a skeptical look over, but then smiled.“Actually, I think you look pretty handsome and approachable!”

He grinned.

“Caden! Tilly!It’s time!”Valerius called as he strode through the doors down below.

Both of them looked over the side of the platform down at the Black Dragon King.Tilly let out a breath as she took in Valerius at that moment.He wore leather pants.Black, of course.Black leather boots.One of his strappy armor things with spikes and a long white fur coat.His black hair fanned over the white fur.He looked…

“Wow.He looks like something out of a fantasy movie,” Tilly whispered.

“He does at that,” Caden agreed with a slow smile on his lips.

“Are you two ready for prime time?”Valerius asked as he struck a pose.

He, of course, would say that he was not striking a pose, but naturally stood that way.Which was to say that he looked like some magnificent ancient warrior king that should have his visage carved in stone.

Caden looked over at his sister who gave a thumb’s up before answering, “Ready as we’ll ever be.”

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?

“What did the other Dragon Shifters find at the locations Landry sent us?”Caden asked him.

Valerius curled his arm around Caden’s waist a little tighter.He had already been briefed by all of the returning Dragon Shifters, even Illarion, on what they had found.Chione had taken it all down.

There was much to tell Caden, but the last thing the young man needed was to be distracted by that at this time.Yes, it was important.Yes, he wanted Caden’s input.But Humans First and the Faith were not the only things to worry about in this world.Introducing people to the White Dragon Shifter was an even bigger thing.This would be the public’s first chance to hear from Caden.

“Perplexing things,” Valerius told him.“Nothing clear cut.”

Valerius, Caden and Tilly were walking downstairs--well, Tilly was skipping ahead of them, twirling her dress--to one of the meeting rooms where a select number of press would be in attendance to ask questions while all others could record.The throne room, Chione had told him, would be too formal.

“And where would Caden sit?In your lap?”Her lips had twitched as she clearly imagined the press’ response tothat. He had rather liked the idea himself, but had relented for proprieties’ sake.

Caden’s lighter expression darkened slightly.“I suppose it's too much to ask for there to be notes such as all our bombs are here?These are our plans?Here are the names and addresses of our leaders? And here is a way to stop us in 10 quick, easy steps?”

Valerius snorted.“If only.No, what we found is quite strange. Chione is putting together a packet for you, Wally and Rose to review.”

“A packet?!”Caden’s eyes widened.“That sounds so…”

“Official?”Valerius smiled.“Yes, Caden, though you have seen little of thesweetof your elite status, you will now taste some of thesour.”

“But I want to know what they found… though I’m not sure how much I can add even when I do,” Caden amended.

Valerius squeezed him.“We each bring something different to the table so we see things in other lights. The sour I was referring to wasn’t knowing what the reports contained or your thoughts upon them--which I most desperately want--but the reports themselves.”

Caden’s forehead furrowed.“R-reports?That sounds--”

“Sour?Relentless?Day-stealing?Night-stealing?Fun-quashing?Oh, you do not know the power of Chione’s reports.They are greater than even Dragon fire.”

Caden let out a snort of laughter.When Valerius gave him a cool look, he laughed harder and curled over.They had to stop a minute in the hall for Caden torecoverfrom his bout of hysterical laughter.

“Laugh it up, Caden, but you will see the truth of it in time.Soon, Wally and Rose will be handing you their reports as well and you’ll be snowed under with them,” Valerius intoned.

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