Page 25 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
“If it was, is it still?”
More questions were loosed from every throat.Valerius allowed them to get the questions out.Finally, silence fell.
Into that silence, Valerius said, “Let me explain what we know.”
And he did.All of them listened intently.There were nods of agreement, sharp intakes of breath, and brow furrowing. He finished all too soon with the facts that they had figured out so far.
“As you see, we have more questions than answers,” Valerius stated.“We know that the Behemoth was defeated once, but in the Spirit Realm.We do not know if it has joined with a human or… if Iolaire having done so anchors it here.But now that itishere, part of the physical realm, it would seem to me that destroying it would be possible.Or, at least, we could send it back to the Spirit Realm.”
“Should we attempt to destroy it?”Jahara asked.
“You must be joking!What else would we do?”Illarion scowled at her.
“Indeed, Jahara,” Anwar stated, “we cannot allow this being to remain here.It has already poisoned so many minds, taken so many souls.Who knows what else it can do!”
“Yes, I know,” Jahara stated patiently.“But don’t you see that if Iolaire escaped the Behemoth that means the other Dragon Spirits that are part of it might be able to be freed as well?Iolaire is the mate of Raziel.What if… what ifourmates are the ones that the Behemoth still has in its clutches?Do you want to destroy them, too?”
Sheep
Caden opened his eyes.Morning light was pouring into the tower from the many windows.He stretched out a hand for Valerius, but he found only cool, empty sheets. The Black Dragon King was not there.Frowning, Caden attempted to ask Iolaire where he was, but the White Dragon Spirit was still fast asleep, curled into a ball with its head hidden behind its tail.
Well, you’re no use!Caden said, but softly so as not to wake the Spirit.
Caden popped up in bed and looked around.The place where Valerius should have been--had been last night when they’d exhaustedly fallen into bed together--was neatly made.Well, as neatly as it could be made with Caden still in the bed.This indicated though that Valerius hadn’t just gotten up to go to the bathroom or get a glass of water.
Caden scratched his head and grimaced.His hair was sticking up in multiple directions.He likely looked like a sleepy hedgehog.He tried flattening it, but it refused to lay down.So he just scruffed it with both hands so that it was sticking up all over again.Maybe Valerius would think that he meant to look that way.
Caden slipped out of bed and quickly grabbed a pair of dark blue drawstring pants that were hanging over the back of a chair and drew them on.He left his chest bare. Cool air caused his nipples to peak and the floor was cold beneath the soles of his feet. The balcony doors must be open.Perhaps Valerius was out there, enjoying the morning sun and calming himself for what lay ahead. Not that they exactly had a plan to get to the Behemoth.
He knew that Valerius was deeply disturbed by the Behemoth.The very idea of this Hydra poisoning people’s minds and spreading vile unease throughout the Earth was an anathema to the Black Dragon King.After Jahara had made her pronouncement about maybe the bound Dragon Spirits being their mates, there had been intense discussion if that could be true.
“Bah!That sounds like someone’s wishful thinking.Lonely, Jahara?”Illarion had scoffed. “And who would want such a mate that is bound to our enemy?”
Jahara had lifted sculpted eyebrows at him and said coolly, “Coming from the one who proclaimed Caden his mate, sight unseen, there is a good deal of transference in that thought, Illarion.”
Illarion scowled and crossed his arms over his chest.“Two Dragons in a territory are better than one!Especially if the other is subservient!Like Caden!”
Valerius pinched the top of his nose even as Caden whirled around on Illarion.Iolaire, who was still standing atop the ice wall--and who hadstoppedRaziel and Mephous from fighting--was glaring at Illarion too.Mephous merely glowered.
“Subservient?”Caden’s eyes narrowed.“Why you son of a--”
“Caden, we’re here totalk, remember?”Valerius had put a hand on his right shoulder.
“But Illarion--”
“Says obnoxious things to get a rise out of people,” Esme was the one to speak then.
“Not this time!I’m just speaking the truth,” Illarion said with a shrug.“You’re a little Dragon--”
“So am I.”Anwar stepped in.“And I am subservient to no one. Unlike you, Illarion.For you are at everyone’s mercy as you fear that if you do not puff yourself up that no one will notice you.You need others more than they will ever need you.”
Caden had laughed at that.Because it was so true.
“If we kill the Behemoth will those Dragon Spirits die too?”Kaila asked, looking troubled at the idea.
Iolaire was not destroyed.But freed,Raziel pointed out as it looked lovingly up at its mate.
“Why weren't the others freed then?”Mei asked.“Why did they go back to the Behemoth? Was Iolaire simply stronger than all the rest?”
