Page 10 of The Dragon Shifters’ Enemy (Dragon’s Reign #7)

“I think that as well,” Wally agreed. “Though we shouldn’t be thinking that people act evil because of some outside force. But maybe some of that is happening here.”

“Thank you, Wally,” his mother said with a watery smile.

“I have a listing of all of Fadel’s associates,” Marban offered. “My connections may be able to find things that yours could not, King Anwar. Perhaps we could find out how Fadel was accessed and changed.”

Anwar’s eyes cut to Valerius. “You never seemed to care much what was happening in your own territory, let alone mine, Valerius. Yet here your Councillor seems to have reached far outside your own dealings.”

Caden glared at Anwar. “King Valerius has taken a light touch, because he thought it best that elected officials conduct the business of the people. When he is needed, he is there. It may not be your way of ruling, but I can tell you that as a citizen of his territory--before I became a Dragon Shifter--I appreciated it. And I know many people do.”

His father actually smiled and gave a brief nod to Caden.

The rule of law and democracy were things that his father valued greatly.

Caden was starting to understand why. He didn’t know if his hard words would offend Anwar, and he didn’t care.

One person could not know everything. One person’s views could simply be wrong even if they were trying to do what was best. He glanced up at Valerius, who had one hand covering the broad smile on his lips.

Very well done, Caden. I am quite defended, Valerius said.

Yeah, well, he shouldn’t have said that! Caden’s tone was still hot.

Just don’t challenge him about my fashion sense or High Reach’s decor , Valerius murmured.

Anwar bowed. “Forgive me, King Caden, you are right. We each are different in our ways of ruling. Hearing Fadel’s name is still… painful. And it caused me to lash out. For all my words, the truth is…”

Caden saw Valerius’ surprise at these words. He had a feeling that Anwar didn’t often speak so openly.

Anwar grimaced, “The truth is that I wish Valerius could fix this so there are no more Fadels. No more Tamiras. No more…”

Valerius was not smiling any longer. He lowered his hand from his mouth. Caden felt the surprise in him and the disappointment too. Valerius’ gaze went to Chione and then Esme. They were the ones that had convinced him to rule 30 years ago. He had done it, but then…

I have let things slide, Valerius stated. Raziel and I had no interest as Anwar said. But if I had--

Everyone was hiding things from one another, Caden told him and when he thought of “secrets” he saw clearly Iolaire and Raziel in his mind’s eye.

Something about them was wrong . He did not hear or feel Iolaire’s thoughts as if his Spirit was hiding from him.

He shook himself and went on, Each and every one of you thought it was something that was unique to their territory.

To ask for help--even from you--would have been to show weakness.

Yes, it would have. But we are not just responsible for ourselves, Valerius stated. And I am the ruler of all.

They need you, Caden stated. No matter what they say, they need you.

Yes.

Valerius rubbed his face. When he brought his hands down, he looked different. More determined. More focused.

“We have, each of us, acted as if we were on our own,” Valerius stated. “I, most of all, have distanced myself from all of you and from the people of this planet. I did not want to rule. I did not want… But I accepted it and I should have... I have been absent in some ways. But no more .”

All the Dragon Shifters’ eyes were upon Valerius as he stood there tall, proud, noble and strong. He looked like what he was: the Black Dragon King, equal, yet more . Chione was looking at him proudly. There were tears in her eyes.

“While this video is interesting, it is not definitive of such a creature as Behemoth existing and being here,” Valerius stated and when Anwar opened his mouth to object, he held up a hand and added, “But I trust you, Anwar. I trust that you feel this is true and, therefore, I accept that. Something is very wrong.”

Anwar actually bowed again. “Thank you, King Valerius. I am honored.”

“It would be a lot easier if there were a Behemoth responsible for all our problems,” Esme stated dryly and shook her head. “Because the other things are much harder to deal with.”

“Oh, there’s still a lot of normal unrest outside of this Behemoth guy,” Rose told her. “Don’t you worry.”

She chuckled and patted Rose’s arm. “Yes, dear, you’re quite right.”

As Caden watched them all continue to discuss this matter, he looked at Iolaire and Raziel. Iolaire had been completely silent about Behemoth. Wouldn’t the Spirits know if such a creature really did exist? Though they had not known about one another so maybe…

Iolaire, what do you know of the Behemoth? Is it real or not?

Iolaire just let out a soft hoot that conveyed nothing, but… sadness?

Iolaire, what is going on? What do you know? Why are you sad? Caden asked.

But his Spirit was resolutely remaining silent.

This isn’t right. Something is wrong.

Caden plucked at Valerius’ arm. The Black Dragon King immediately turned to him from Anwar.

There was a frown on that handsome face.

Concern too. But also disbelief. Yet the growing unease and alarm in Caden’s breast could not be denied.

He could see that Iolaire and Raziel were holding something back.

Maybe a lot of somethings. And they had to figure out what those things were.

Valerius, come with me to the throne room, Caden begged.

Valerius’ forehead furrowed, but he nodded. He would come. Caden felt a wave of love for the Black Dragon King. He trusted Caden implicitly and would do whatever Caden wanted. He would always have to be careful about this. So much power should not be tapped easily.

Conversation continued amongst all the Dragon Shifters, his family and friends while he and Valerius managed to slip out. A few saw them go. Marban, Chione, Rose and Tilly to be sure. He laced his fingers through Valerius’ and led him quickly to the throne room.

“Caden, what is it?” Valerius asked as he was pulled behind Caden like a kite.

“Iolaire is acting strange,” Caden strove to explain this feeling. “It’s hiding things. I can feel it. It’s been silent since talk of the Behemoth.”

“Despite what I said to Anwar, I do not believe that there is a Behemoth,” Valerius huffed. “That is simply a story told to scare humans and Shifters alike.”

“Where did the sculpture go?” Caden pointed out. “It was there and then it wasn’t. Anwar is sure and I think, like you acknowledged, that means something.”

“I--I don’t know. I admit what Anwar showed us was unnerving. But I do not believe that some--some uber-Dragon has made its way here to destroy the world!” Valerius’ voice rose as he spoke and that told Caden that while Valerius did not want it to be true some part of him feared it was .

“You feel that the Behemoth isn’t real because the Spirits have never said anything to you about it, right?”

Caden glanced back at his beautiful lover. Valerius was frowning. Even scowling he was gorgeous and Caden felt his heart throb.

“Yes.”

“Did Raziel tell you about Dragons having mates before Iolaire arrived here?” Caden asked.

That frown deepened and Valerius’ lips flattened before he answered, “No. But that is…”

“Different? How? If nothing else, that’s more important to tell you than an uber-Dragon,” Caden pointed out.

They’d made it to the throne room’s doors. He shouldered them open. The lights were low. The mirror was in the shadows. The throne was dark. There was no Claw. No audience. Just the two of them.

Actually, the four of us.

And that was why Caden had wanted to go to the throne room.

Their Dragons needed to be made to talk.

It was time for whatever they were holding back to come out.

Caden wanted Valerius and him to be the first ones to hear it so that they could decide what to do next before going to the others.

A plan was better than simply opening the floor to suggestions.

Every Dragon would be too busy butting heads, at first, to really absorb what was happening.

Caden feared they didn’t have much time.

Caden drew Valerius to the center of the throne room so that they could see their Dragon Spirit counterparts clearly in the mirror.

Raziel was curled around the much smaller Iolaire.

The White Dragon’s whole body glowed softly like moonlight on water amidst the darkness of Raziel’s black scales.

Raziel’s eyes--flaring embers--could be seen and fires illuminated its head.

Iolaire’s head was hidden inside Raziel’s right wing.

Its blue eyes glowed like stars. Caden extended his and Valerius’ linked hands towards the Dragon Spirits.

“We’re in this together,” Caden stated.

Valerius glanced from him to the Dragon Spirits and back again.

He was frowning. He saw that there was something not right with the Dragon Spirits too.

Sulfurous fires slithered between Raziel’s sharp teeth as if in warning.

Whatever it was that the Spirits were hiding, Raziel did not want to speak of it.

Raziel tucked Iolaire tighter against its massive form.

“You know that I love Iolaire,” Caden stated simply. “It’s my other half. My better half. Just like you are Valerius’. We have to talk about whatever this is. About the Behemoth.”

Flames fanned out in front of Raziel’s mouth. They were not aimed at him or Valerius, but appeared to be in reaction to the Behemoth’s name.

“Raziel,” Valerius spoke. His tone was troubled. “Is the Behemoth real?”

Simply by asking the question meant that Valerius guessed the answer. Yes, the Behemoth was real. More flames filled the air.

“Stop with the fire! Answer, damnit!” Valerius roared, showing some flames himself.

Yes, Raziel answered simply. The Behemoth is real.

Valerius shook his head almost violently. “Why did you not tell me? Why did you let me believe that such an enemy was some--some children’s tale?”

Because we destroyed it! Raziel roared back.

Both Caden and Valerius stood there dumbfounded. Caden had known it had to be something like this. The fear that Iolaire showed. The way it had trembled against Raziel. The way it had almost tried to deny what it was hearing. The Behemoth was real. The Behemoth was here.

“You and the other Dragon Spirits thought you destroyed the Behemoth, Raziel?” Caden clarified.

More fire spouted from Raziel’s jaws as it tilted its head back and let out a gout of flames in rage that it couldn’t keep inside.

“Evidently, not, if it is back. If it is here,” Valerius muttered.

Iolaire still had its head stuck beneath Raziel’s wing, hiding.

“Iolaire, please talk to us. What is it you are afraid of?” Caden asked.

Nothing! Do not ask anything more! Raziel bellowed, turning baleful eyes at Caden.

Valerius stepped between Caden and the maddened Spirit. “Would you strike against Caden?”

No! NO! But ask no more! ASK NO MORE!

Iolaire was already pulling its head out of the protective wing and letting out a shrill hoot at Raziel. The Black Dragon Spirit let out a roar of fear and rage. Caden was not afraid. It was not aimed at him. It was Raziel’s only way to deal with whatever this was.

Finally, Raziel answered, The Behemoth trapped our brethren to make itself into the beast that it was. But we destroyed it. We thought it and our brethren were gone. Destroyed too. But…

“But?” Caden asked.

We did not destroy our brethren , Raziel keened. Thankfully, we did not.

“Thankfully?” Valerius’ brows knitted together.

Iolaire… Iolaire was one of our brethren that was overtaken by the Behemoth, Raziel answered as it curled tighter around Iolaire. It was part of the Behemoth. It survived and came here. Iolaire believes--

And then Iolaire’s voice, so rare to be heard, rose up, I should not have come here, Caden. It is my fault that the Behemoth has come through.