Page 62 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

And one had to be therightkind of Shifter as well. The resistance he had faced when allowing Simi into the Claw and approving his well-earned promotions had been considerable and people strove not to say no to him. What if he had not backed Simi? There would be no Snake Shifters in the Claw and that would be a terrible shame for Simi was the best of his guards.

“I think that you are right, Caden,” Valerius finally said.“The very fact that Rose and Wally come from difficult circumstances but have made good with their lives will inspire people.”

“And we need to be listening to more types of people,” Caden said. He then frowned.“Not that I think Chione isn’t amazing!She is and really seems to get people, but--”

“But it’s been a long time since she was enslaved,” Valerius murmured.“Not that it has ever left her.And she carries it with her to this day.”

“Enslaved?”Caden’s eyes were huge.

Valerius grimaced.“It’s her story to tell.I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, I… I mean thank you for telling me.It’s just… so hard to hear.To know that Chione experienced slavery… it’s awful,” Caden admitted.

Valerius nodded.“Yes.But she would say that it honed her.Every difficulty she’s had to face, she uses it as fuel.”

Caden looked thoughtful.He finally shook his head.“The things that all of you have gone through!All you’ve seen and experienced! Nothing has happened to me--”

“Except sacrificing your life to save the people of Reach from a bomb?Or spying on a Humans First meeting as it is blown up?Or--”

“That’s nothing though!”Yet Caden was blushing with pleasure.

“You’ve been asked for tea and coffee cake.I have never been given such an invitation,” Valerius said with a barely concealed grin.

“You saw that interview?”Caden blushed harder.

“Oh, yes, and I am very jealous that you will get to hear all about Billy.”

Caden snorted and lightly bumped his shoulder against Valerius.“Don’t you worry.You’re coming with me!”

“Oh, I haven’t been invited!”

“You’re just trying to get out of it.Besides, it's your territory.You can go anywhere.”

They had reached the doors to the meeting room.Tilly had already been nodded in by the half dozen Claw who were aligned on either side of the closed doors.They crossed their arms over their chests as Caden and Valerius stood outside.

“When the doors open, all eyes will turn upon us, Caden,” Valerius told him.“Don’t freeze.”

Caden let out a slightly hysterical laugh.“You’re sayingdon’t freezeto an ice Dragon!”

Valerius grinned.“You must imagine that there is a wall of bulletproof glass between you and the press.They cannot see it, but you know it is there.They cannot reach through it.They cannot hurt you. You are safe behind the glass.”

Caden drew in a deep breath and shook himself.“Okay, okay, bulletproof glass.I can do this.I can definitely do this.Let’s go.”

The Claw opened the doors.The room before them was not some nondescript meeting room with beige walls and no windows.No, it was the bottom of the south tower and there was a whole curving wall of windows beyond a spectacular room with dark mahogany floors, a central fireplace, stone walls hung with rich oil paintings and tapestries.

Caden’s family were all sitting down on one of the sofas on one side of the fireplace while the press was set up in a semi-circle on the other side.Caden’s parents were sitting very stiffly with Tilly squeezed between them.She was holding one of each of their hands in hers and looked a little wide-eyed.There was a second couch for him and Caden.

Chione, Wally and Rose were standing in the back corner of the room.Rose had on a yellow, silk sheath dress with black fringed wrap.Wally was in a suit and tie, but his hair would not be tamed.Valerius half expected him to pull out a black Dragon balloon hat and stick it on his head any moment now.Chione was in a dusky brown dress that seemed to be made of some shimmering material.She was talking to Rose and Wally quietly.He saw that the two now had identical tablets to hers.

“Mini-mes,” Caden whispered to him as he took in the tableau.

Luckily, that had delayed Caden from realizing that all of the reporters’ eyes were on him.On them. Valerius held Caden’s hand tighter.He knew that this would be breathlessly talked about, but he would rather they gossip about him than dig into Caden’s family and friends.

Caden must have realized that the room had quieted as his head jerked towards the phalanx of cameras.Caden swallowed and the phrase “deer in headlights” would not have been inappropriate at that moment to describe the young man.

Valerius already knew that while some in the press would find Caden’s freshness and earnestnessendearing, others would describe it in less flattering terms.After all, the Dragon Shifters were the ultimate leaders of the world.Who was thisboyto be respected? Though Caden’s actions that day should have those naysayers in the minority by a long shot.

Smile, Caden,Valerius said as he allowed an easy, small smile to grace his own lips.

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