Page 16 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
Anwar spread his arms.“That is the question.”
Secrets
“You think thatprovesanything?”Illarion snorted at the end of the video.“The statue could have simply been moved.”
“It was built into the wall,” Anwar answered with narrowed eyes.
It was the first show of anger he’d exhibited, but Illarion did have that effect on people.And Illarion had another lamb chop, drizzled with olive oil, studded with rosemary and salt and pepper. In the Green Dragon’s hands it was a deadly weapon. The way Anwar was eyeing the glistening meat and looking down at his spotless attire, a grease stain would not do.
“How do you know?”Illarion pointed to the screen with the lamb chop.Oil whipped through the air, which Anwar just side-stepped.“These images were grainy.Blurry.From a cell phone.”
“I hate to agree with Illarion onprinciple,” Esme said tightly, “but I tend to agree that this--this video is some kind of hoax.”
“Spirits do not enter the world this way.You know that, Anwar,” Mei pointed out.
“Anwar, could you please send me that video?I would like my people to study it,” Jahara requested.
“Of course, and I’ll send you the report that my people did,” Anwar answered as he tapped on his phone to send the video along.
Kaila had drawn near to the screen and she was studying the two images.“The Behemoth is ugly. Very ugly.How can it fly? It's so big!”
“On hate alone, my dear,” Tez answered as he joined her.“Something so ugly would have to be fueled by hate.”
“The statue.”Here Illarion made quotes with the fingers of his free hand as he ripped off another piece of meat.He then continued to speak with his mouthful, “Could have been made of plaster of Paris! Easily moved by these cultest. Makes it appear all spooky when it is nothing at all!”
Anwar’s eyes sparkled dangerously at Illarion.“I confirmed with professors that the sculpture--not made of plaster of Parisanda part of the wall--was there.Now the wall is quite smooth. No chisel marks.As if the statue simply walked away from the wall.”
“Or they built a new wall!”Illarion swung the lamb chop over his head like it was a lasso.
Everyone had to dodge flying oil and bits of salt and rosemary.Caden could see the fires in Valerius’ eyes just before the Black Dragon King moved lightning quick.He snatched the lamb chop out of Illarion’s hands and tossed it expertly onto an empty plate on the table.Illarion’s eyes went huge.His mouth opened in an “O” of surprise and dismay.
“I was eating that!”Illarion cried.
“You were drying to drench us in oil.I warned you,” Valerius told him.“No more lamb chops.Eat something else and it best notmoveexcept from your hand to your mouth and not very much.”
Illarion scowled and narrowed his eyes.But he said nothing and, instead, stalked back to the buffet, away from the lamb chops.But that didn’t mean he didn’t cast them a longing glance, but then his eyes alighted upon the spiral-sliced honey ham studded with anise, cherries and pineapple.
Caden dragged his eyes away from Illarion.There was almost a sick fascination watching him devour whole animals.But what Anwar had shown them had Caden’s head clearing.He turned back to Anwar.
“I’m assuming that you checked that the wall wasn’t new,” Caden said with an off glance back at Illarion before focusing on Anwar.
The Silver Dragon Shifter nodded.“Yes, we checked everything.Trickery was the first thing I expected. Especially considering that the phone was found while no one else was.”
“Do you think they’re dead?Or… what happened to them?”Caden asked.
“There were no sounds of death,” Anwar assured him.
He came over and took both of Caden’s hands in his.Valerius stiffened.Caden stroked him mentally.
You’re the only one for me, Valerius.
Anwar is charming, Valerius warned.
Indeed the Silver Dragon Shifter was turning on a 1000-watt smile on him.Anwar brought Caden’s hands up and kissed them.
“Anwar,” Valerius growled a warning.His eyes were a sulfurous red.
“Oh, you are too cruel, Valerius, to not let me at least give this lovely man a kiss on the hands,” Anwar said smoothly.
