Page 39 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
“I think that’s because Illarion knows deep down he won’t win, or at least there’s a chance that he won’t,” Caden said as he went for some of the bread this time.
“Yes, that’s true, because we’ve fought before and he’s lost,” Valerius agreed.
“Well, Raziel and the other Dragons fought the Behemoth before and they won so maybe it's the same thing,” Caden suggested.
“Perhaps, or perhaps it’s gotten smarter about how to face us and knows that striking from the shadows is best,” Valerius said.
While the young man spread creamy brie on the freshly baked french bread, Valerius took a sip of red wine and let the earthy, ripe berry flavors sit on his tongue before swallowing.Valinor had always been a place where he could ignore the world and enjoy the simple pleasures, but the Behemoth’s presence had soured everything. He imagined this going on foryears,maybe evendecades, as the Behemoth moved from territory to territory, stirring up civil unrest, causing death and destruction everywhere, but then disappearing.
How can one fight what one cannot find?
Having popped the piece of cheese-covered bread in his mouth, Caden had dug into one of the salads that had fresh cucumbers, roasted cubano peppers, ricotta, walnuts and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.The young man closed his eyes for a moment as he put a forkful in his mouth and simply chewed.
“God, so good,” Caden muttered before opening his eyes and focusing on Valerius.He frowned almost immediately.“Surely, we’re safe right now.All the Dragons arehere.It wouldn’t dare attack now.”
Caden was likely right.As all of the Dragon Shifters had converged in his territory, the smartest thing that the Behemoth could do would be to strike in the farthest part from. Yet...
“You don’t think we’re safe,” Caden said slowly, his eyes growing large.“Even with all the Dragon Shifters here, together.”
“I do not know,” Valerius admitted even as he took another swallow of wine.“Everything you have said is completely and utterly logical.It should not strike here.It would be foolish of it to do so.”
“But?”Caden made a circular motion with his fork.
“Perhaps it is because I do not like unfinished business,” Valerius explained.“I thought our greatest problems were social upheaval and internecine conflicts between the Dragon Shifters now that you and Iolaire came onto the scene.But that is not what we face.”
Caden’s shoulders hunched.“I see your point.Waiting for something to happen is the worst. What do you want to do?”
Valerius stilled at Caden’s words.They were not: should we do something?Or perhaps we should discuss a plan with the others?Or I’d like to avoid this so can we just go back to eating?No.It was what he wanted to do.Caden would go along with it. That shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did.Maybe “surprise” wasn’t the right word.It was a feeling that he hadn’t realized he was missing.Caden would bewithhim no matter what it was.He was no longer alone.
“There is not actually much we can do,” Valerius admitted reluctantly.“Chione and Esme are working their spy networks.Marban, Wally and Rose are all contacting their underworld contacts.Jahara and Anwar are scouring ancient texts to see what is written about the Behemoth.Kaila is… communicating with her fish, whatever that means.Even Illarion and Mei are working together. Tez is surely annoying everyone.”
“What about them?”Caden actually tilted his head towards the waterfall even though no one was there, but them… and their Dragon Spirits, though they were only visible in their minds.
“Them--”
“Raziel and Iolaire know more about the Behemoth than we do.We should ask them about all of this,” Caden said, putting down his fork and knife, which showed just how serious he was about questioning their Spirits.
Valerius slowly nodded.Though it had appeared that Iolaire was napping, like cats, Dragon Spirits always kept one eye open.In this case, two blue eyes and two red eyes were looking at them.
“So, Raziel, Iolaire, what do you think the Behemoth is doing right now?”Caden asked.
There was a slow blink of love from Iolaire to Caden.Valerius worried that Iolaire would go back to being non-verbal from the way that Raziel sheltered the White Dragon Spirit under one massive wing.
Far away,Raziel muttered.
But at the same time, Iolaire answered,Close.
The two Dragon Spirits looked up at one another in surprise.
“Okay, that’s not exactly helping as Valerius and I just had that argument,” Caden said with a faint smile.“And I’m guessing the reasons that you think the Behemoth is nowhere near here are the same reasons I have, Raziel.”Caden ticked them off on his fingers, “Your territory.”
Red eyes burned.
“All the other Dragon Shifters are here so even if the Behemoth thought it could go up against just you, Raziel, that wouldn’t be the case right now.”Caden ticked off another finger.
Red eyes burned hotter at the suggestion that Raziel couldn’t defend itself and its mate.
Caden held up a hand.“I’m not saying you need backup, but that you have it.”
