“You might be afraid of the Behemoth, but I am not,” Illarion huffed his dismissal.
“He wiped the floor with you last time,” Tez barked out a laugh.“We all saw it.Every single one of us!”
Illarion’s eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. “While we arehere, protecting Valerius’ territory, that thing could be in ours!”
“We would have heard if a Hydra appeared and started hurting the populace,” Kaila pointed out.
“That is not the point!”Illarion roared.
“Then what is the point, Illarion?”Jahara asked.“Are you afraid if you are gone too long that your populace will rebel?”
His eyes were like slits now.
“The harder you hold onto your people, the more they will slip between your fingers,” Jahara stated.
“Ah, let him go!”Tez waved a hand through the air.“He is no use with plans or research.And we managed to kill the Behemoth without him anyway.”
Illarion lunged towards Tez.Caden didn’t remember moving but he was, suddenly, between them.One of his hands was on Illarion’s chest, holding him back, while the other was pushing Tez away.Everyone stared at him open-mouthed.Only Valerius seemed unsurprised, but he did have an eyebrow raised.But none were more surprised than Illarion.
“Get out of my way, Caden!”Illarion spat.“The golden idiot over there needs to get his head smashed against a wall a few times.”
“As if you could!”Tez cried.“Eldoron--”
“STOP!Both of you!”Caden hardly recognized his own voice.Frost filled the air, streaming from his nose and mouth.“This isnotthe way. We can’t be at each other’s throats like this!”
“This fight has beencenturiesin the making,” Illarion growled.
“Then it can wait a few more!”Caden growled right back.
Illarion’s eyes widened a fraction.Tez let out a laugh that turned into a cough.
“Tez iswrong, Illarion,” Caden told the Green Dragon King.“We need you and Mephous.”
Illarion pursed his lips.“My territory--”
“Will be all right for a few more days at least,” Caden told him.“Give us a chance to figure this all out.Help us make a plan.After this is all done, you can wait another 30 years before you see us again.”
“Thirty years is not enough,” Illarion said, but Caden knew he was going to stay.
For now, at least.
“Well, now that this is settled, I am heading for the helicopter.Wine is needed,” Esme said as she took Tez’s arm.“Come, Tez, we shall drink wine together.”
The others followed after her, leaving Valerius, Illarion and Caden of the Dragon Shifters there.Illarion stared at Caden speculatively.Caden dropped his hand from Illarion’s chest.
“You should not put yourself in my path again, little dragon,” Illarion said to him.
Caden heard Valerius’ fingers crack as he clenched them. But he indicated for Valerius to remain quiet. He looked up into Illarion’s cold eyes.
“I respect you and Mephous, Illarion, and I’m polite in general,” Caden told him and then his voice dropped as he added, “But don’t mistake either of those things asweakness.”
Illarion’s expression went blank for a moment before he suddenly laughed.Not cruelly.But with genuine amusement.
“Little dragon is fierce,” Illarion said.He pointed a finger at Caden’s chest.“I like that about you.”Then he strode out of the cavern, calling after the others, “Who wants vodka?”
Caden’s shoulders sagged and looked over at Valerius.The Black Dragon King’s lips were suspiciously twitching.
“Don’t mistake that for weakness, eh?I rather like that line!”Valerius grinned.Then he grew serious.“But don’t think I won’t rip Mephous’ wings off if Illarion ever touches you.”