Page 33 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
Caden drew back from their embrace.He held onto Valerius’ biceps though and studied his face.“You didn’t want me--or anyone--to know about this place, not because you’re a secret nerd.”
Valerius lifted one dark eyebrow.“I am the farthest thing from.”
“Nerds are cool, but I suppose since you’re someone who literallyisa fantasy character come to life, finding fantasy cool would be weird,” Caden chuckled.“I mean look at your clothes!”
“There is nothingwrongwith my clothes--”
Caden kissed him.“No, there isn’t.They’re amazing and they suit you.And that’s part of what makes you different from the other Dragon Shifters, including me.”
“How so?” Valerius held himself still.He was curious what Caden would say. Caden did say very curious things.But he felt like Caden mightseehim as others hadn’t.
“Your clothes aren’t from any time.They’re out of time!They’re fantasies that become reality.All the other Dragon Shifters dress forthistime or maybe have shades of the age they joined with their Spirits,” Caden explained, using multitudinous hand gestures that Valerius had an urge to stop by capturing those hands and kissing them.So he did.Caden laughed, but continued on, “You want people to feel that Shifters aren’t everyday.They are and aren’t like everyone else.You want to show humanity that there is magic.That there’s something more when the Spirits are in this realm.”
Valerius did not agree or disagree.Instead he asked, “And Valinor?”
“You changed the United States and Canada a bit when you took over.New mountain ranges.More wild areas.Modern homes, but ones that fit into the environment, instead of making everything an asphalt jungle,” Caden pointed out.He gave a little shudder.“I’ve been to other cities and I can’t stand the lack of nature.”
“Nor can I.”Valerius grimaced.“But do not think the past was better, Caden.There was a lot more excrement about.”
Caden laughed again.“I know!But I think you wanted--orwant, maybe--to make the world even more different.More like Reach.More like a fantasy book.”
Valerius nodded.“I want humanity to treasure the Shifters instead of hate and fear them. I thought that perhaps if things looked like they do in our media of a more fantastical time that humans would feel that it was.”
Caden smiled.“I can totally get that.People would feel that Shifters were completely normal.Part of the world.Because we’re all in a fantasy movie.”
“Yes.”
“But you clearly changed your mind,” Caden said.
“It’s only been 30 years since we revealed ourselves,” Valerius said.
“But that’s--”
“No time at all,” Valerius cut him off gently.He drew in a breath.“I have very little faith in people, Caden, human or Shifter, as you know.But the environment can help.”
“So are you going to change things to look more like this?”Caden pointed to the graceful stone archways, the delicate bridges, the peaked roofs, all surrounded by water features and gardens.The magical splashing of the waterfall in the background had Valerius’ shoulders relaxing.
“Chione says I need to get buy-in,” Valerius finally told him.“Reach is a start.It resembles--”
“Oh, my God! Reach is Minas Tirith!”Caden’s eyes were huge as he named the Gondorian kingdom.
Valerius rocked back and forth, saying nothing, even as a secret smile played over his lips.“Yes, well… it may have a passing resemblance to that city.”
“You’re doing it!You’re really turning your territory into Middle Earth!”Caden beamed.
“I’m not the only one slowly changing things,” Valerius said with a slight touch of self-consciousness.“Jahara’s territory is something straight out of Afro-futurism.Mei is deep into a mixture ofGhost in the Shelland cyberpunk.Esme is leaning hard into her territory’s Arthurian roots.Anwar has taken the mystery and mystique of theArabian Nightsand made it quite real.When you enter Tez’s territory the old ways of the indigenous people rule.And Kaila has turned her territory into a sanctuary for all wildlife.We haven’t abandoned modernity or what was before just… just shaped it slightly.Over time, it will spread and change and become something quite beautiful.”
Caden had been silent during his rather lengthy speech.It was not like Valerius to blush and he nearly had half a dozen times during this conversation.But he felt very exposed.
“This place ishopefor you,” Caden said softly.“No wonder you don’t show it to anyone.You don’t want it crushed.”
“Even without showing it to anyone, my hope did drain away,” Valerius admitted.“Until you, Caden.”
“Me?I’m--”
“Hope personified.Distilled into a single being.”Valerius framed Caden’s waist with his hands.“You make me want to build again. You make me want totry.”
Caden’s hands wrapped around his neck and the young man got up on his tiptoes for a kiss.“I’m all for it, Valerius.We’re going to defeat the Behemoth and we’re going to change the world.Together.”
