Page 4 of The Dragon Shifters’ Enemy (Dragon’s Reign #7)

Caden continued, “But the truth is that people wanted the Raven Shifter as their lawyer, because that person had been practicing law for over 200 years. We know that experience does count for things. Not to mention, a vast majority of judges now are Raven Shifters. Maybe that client believed that a Raven Shifter judge might just believe a Raven Shifter lawyer’s argument a little more.

Now, I’m not saying that’s true. But I think we all can agree that’s not out of the realm of possibility for it to be so, or for people to believe it is enough so that it affects their decisions. ”

Lisa turned to Grant. “Do you think that there is prejudice in the legal system against human lawyers and maybe even human defendants?”

Grant gave her a tight smile. “I think that human or Shifter, that we all have prejudices, Ms. Yang.”

Lisa, of course, decided to press her luck as she asked, “You are set to work for the Supreme Court, Mr. Bryce. What part does your son play in your getting this position and what influence might he have over future decisions of the court?”

Grant met her gaze evenly. “I imagine that my son being the Ninth Dragon Shifter raised my profile. Most jobs--especially the prestigious ones--aren’t always obtained by sheer raw talent. What I intend to do is to make sure that I am always checking my prejudices so I am aware of them.”

Claire, whose head had been up from her phone, was glancing around at each of them. “This is really cool. Like no one talks about this stuff. I mean they do, but with their friends or Jasper Hawes just screeches it.”

Valerius let out a huff of a laugh. “Yes, he does that. But he does not serve the people he alleges that he wishes to help by his violent actions.

“It’s not just humans though that feel and actually have been prejudiced against,” Caden said as his eyes slid to Rose who was holding his mom’s hand. “The day I became the White Dragon Shifter and hid in the Below I met Rose.”

She gave him a quirked smile.

“I had never talked to a Swarm Shifter before, and though I am a Dragon Shifter, I’m ashamed to admit that I was scared of her,” Caden said with a self-conscious shrug.

“Bee stingers cannot pierce a Dragon's hide.” Valerius gently reminded him and, more importantly, their audience.

Caden laughed. “I know! But I had heard all these terrible things about Swarm Shifters.” He looked up at Rose who grimaced. “I thought they were bad people. I’m sure that all of us can think of a type of Shifter that means the person is bad.”

“But--but Swarm Shifters are murderers and stuff. No offense to your friend! But a lot of them are. That’s their nature, isn’t it?” Claire asked.

Valerius repressed a smile as Caden answered dryly, “Not only is she my friend, but also one of my Councillors. Just like Chione is to Valerius, Rose is to me.”

Claire’s mouth dropped open. “Oh! Well, that’s… uhm, wow, you’re really brave! I mean--”

“Like I said, I was scared of her too. I thought probably the same things you do about Swarm Shifters. I was wrong. You are wrong, Claire,” Caden stated simply and Rose looked down.

Valerius thought he might have caught a tear in her eye.

There was silence in the room. No one said these things. Not really. Not Dragon Shifters anyways. There was a hierarchy that had stood the test of time. But he was on the top of that hierarchy so it suited him.

Lisa then leaned forward like a cat that had spotted a bowl of cream. “That is a very unorthodox choice for a Councillor not just because she’s a Swarm Shifter. But isn’t she also one of Marban’s granddaughters ?”

Rose did not stiffen. She looked at Lisa out of narrowed eyes. But there was a tensity about her. She clearly feared what price Caden would pay on her account. But his brave King Caden was not going to back down.

“I doubt you’ll find a person in the Below that doesn’t owe Marban something,” Caden answered her coolly.

“But not only is Rose not a murderer--and I can’t believe I’m having to say that--she’s also a good person.

Smart and kind and tough. I want you to think about how Jasper Hawes claims that humans are at the bottom of the pack now and consider that Claire here thinks that Swarm Shifters are murderers! ”

“Meaning that it’s not just whether you’re Shifter or human, but what kind of Shifter, too, that can make your life easier or harder?” Grant asked.

His legal mind was clearly organizing his own thoughts about his position and the difficulties he’d faced, and likely comparing it to what Rose had.

“Exactly, Dad. Mom talked about how Shifters have to leave their families.” Caden shook his head as if the very idea appalled him.

“Why do they have to? Should we be encouraging that? And imagine, if you join with your Spirit and you’re one of the Shifters that people are afraid of.

Then you go home to your family and they reject you, too.

Think about what that would do to a person. ”

“It would be awful,” Claire breathed.

“Yeah, it would be. Your job fires you when they find out what you are. Your friends desert you with fear or disgust in their eyes. Your family rejects you as if you’re suddenly a different person.

You have no one and nothing from your old life,” Caden paused and grimaced.

“You do what you have to do to survive. And when someone like Marban offers you a hand--maybe the only hand you’ve seen since you’ve joined with your Spirit--can you really turn it down?

Maybe you think you’d be stronger or too moral for that.

But, if we’re honest with ourselves, not many of us--maybe none of us--could just walk away from that offer of help. ”

“What you’re saying is admirable,” Carlos remarked. “But it’s also deeply entrenched prejudice and societal structure.”

Valerius’ eyebrows lifted. Carlos might look like a genial idiot but he really wasn’t.

“Things have got to change for that very reason.” Caden said with an almost helpless laugh. “I know it sounds pollyanna-ish. Change! Like it’s so easy. But we’ve got to try.”

“So is that something you’re going to tackle?” Carlos asked.

“I am. And I’m reaching out to everyone on this.

I’m going to talk about it, because we don’t and we need to,” Caden answered him.

Caden then spoke to the cameras again, “We’re not going to let those that would spread hate be the only voices out there any longer.

We see you. The good and the bad. We hear you and we want to hear more. ”

Lisa turned towards Ellen as she asked, “While the Faith worships all Spirits, don't they also view certain Spirits as indicators of whether a person is… well, good or bad?”

Ellen straightened up again. “The same prejudices in the general populace are in the Faith. But none of those indicators is actually written down. It’s something people bring with them. Not gospel. And I don’t agree with it.” She squeezed Rose’s hand tighter.

Valerius’ focus had never been on the prejudice that anyone faced.

He had not wanted to be bothered with anyone, let alone the ridiculous ways that people viewed one another.

But he saw now that ignoring the inequalities and the misunderstandings people had between humans and Shifter had allowed not only Humans First to rise, but also for a portion of the Faith to twist into something unrecognizable.

He patted Caden’s back comfortingly. He was right that Caden was trouble, but the best kind.

Rose was giving Caden one of those smiles that said she was proud and still somehow surprised at the same time.

“Is that true of you, as well, King Valerius? Or is this crusade of equal justice something that you are behind as well?” Lisa asked.

“When I said that Caden made me see things differently, this was one of them. I intend to listen and add my voice. All of the Dragon Shifters will do so,” Valerius stated.

“This listening will include a Council of Shifters that Marban is heading up. And I think a Council of humans would be appropriate as well. Not just world leaders, but everyday people. Too long have we not heard their voices.”

Caden gave him a brilliant smile and kissed him lightly. Valerius could almost feel the cameras zooming in on their faces. But he loved every minute of it. Because kissing Caden was always perfect.

“How does your son becoming a Shifter change your view of the Faith, Mrs. Bryce? What role do you expect to play in the Faith going forward?” Lisa pressed.

“I think we always hope our children turn out well. Truthfully, Caden has always been as earnest and brave as you see him now.” A fond smile crossed her face.

“When he was five, he saw some other kids hurting a wounded fox. He charged right at them. Ended up with a black eye and a split lip, but you should have seen the others!”

“The fox was saved,” Grant added. “My wife is right. Our son came from us and we tried to guide him as best we could, but we can’t claim to be responsible for who he is.” Grant stroked Tilly’s hair. “Both of our children are amazing and I am stunned every day by them.”

Tilly suddenly became the center of attention. She sat up straighter in the beautiful dress that Esme had made for her.

“Tilly, you’re clearly your brother’s protector,” Lisa stated with a small smile.

“Uhm, yeah, for sure, especially if someone actually thinks he would be okay with people dying.” Tilly gave her a pointed look.

Lisa glanced down at her notes and cleared her throat. “Well, yes, quite. Now what is it like having the Ninth Dragon Shifter as your big brother?”

“I’ve always been this awesome, Till,” Caden laughed.

Tilly stuck her tongue out at him then primly smoothed her hands down her dress. “Other than getting Dragon rides, living in a castle, meeting so many cool people, and being interviewed… it's the same as it's always been.”

Valerius chuckled. He wasn’t alone. That had won over even Ms. Yang.

“What I mean is that Caden hasn’t changed. He’s always been this way. Pretty great most of the time,” Tilly explained as the laughter died down. “Just the things around us have gone a little crazy.”

“Aw, Till.” Caden once again crossed to his family and he hugged Tilly. “I’m the one who's lucky to have you.”

“Do you think people are going to look at you differently, Tilly?” Claire asked.

Tilly nodded slowly. “Probably. I mean I think I would if it were happening to a friend of mine.”

“Think they’ll be jealous?” Claire twinkled at her.

“I just hope they’ll want to be a part of it, you know? Like still be my friend?” Tilly showed a spark of fragility there.

That truly won Claire over. “I get you. When I started doing YouTube and no one was watching it didn’t matter to anyone, but then when I got a little more attention there were some people who… well, I think they changed.”

“What did you do?” Tilly asked, searching Claire’s face for answers.

“Some of them weren’t my friends anymore,” Claire admitted with a sad smile. “But there were others who were there for me. Through thick and thin. You’ll have those too. They are the ones that matter. Listen to them, not the ones that try to tear you down.”

“Good advice,” Caden said. “I think I’ll be taking that to heart, too.”

Valerius wondered if Caden was thinking of Landry then. His heart ached a little for the young man who tried so desperately to see the best in people.

Chione suddenly stepped forward and said, “I’m afraid that’s all the time we have today for questions. There will be other interviews at future times, but today’s are done. Thank you so much!”

Valerius wondered if when they saw the dissections of every single word everyone said, not to mention the histories of everyone in the room, if they would really be thanking the press. He stood up and Caden came into his arms.

How did I do? Caden asked.

Valerius pressed a kiss to his forehead. You were yourself.

Is that good? Caden let out an uncertain laugh.

Yes, Valerius assured him. Always.