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

Living Myth

“ B ehemoth is the equivalent of the human’s bogeyman, Anwar,” Valerius responded crisply as he felt Caden’s fear spike at the name and anger stirred within him. “It does not exist and I should not have to tell you that.”

“Indeed, Anwar, why would you suggest a monster from a fairytale exists and is our enemy? We have enough enemies without adding mythical ones!” Esme frowned at the Silver Dragon Shifter. She clearly thought as Valerius did that this was in poor taste.

“Are you annoyed that you were last to the party, little Anwar? Wings too small and weak to make the flight without many rest stops? Now you must make yourself the center of attention with tall tales, eh?” Illarion mocked as he swung another lamb chop around like it was a sword.

He nearly spattered everyone with grease.

“ Eat your food, Illarion. Do not wave it about,” Valerius snarled.

Illarion stuck the whole lamb chop in his mouth and ripped the meat off down to the bone.

Valerius could see the Green Dragon in Illarion’s eyes.

Raziel looked through his as well. The Green and Black Dragons rumbled angrily at one another.

Illarion grinned. There was lamb meat between his teeth and Valerius ran his tongue over his own in annoyance.

Mei added her own barb to Esme’s, “We really don’t need you trying to make yourself more important than you are, Anwar. Trying to play hero for Caden is pointless. He’s in love with Valerius and that’s that.”

I am in love with you, but that’s not why Anwar is doing this, I don’t think , Caden said over their bond.

He is a show off. I told you he would be annoyed that important things had happened before he got here. This must be part of that, Valerius answered.

Maybe you’re right. But Caden didn’t sound convinced.

“Behemoth? What’s a Behemoth?” Kaila asked as she offered Caden more fish.

Caden though shook his head, clearly off his food due to simply hearing the name Behemoth . Valerius frowned. This was not good. Caden needed to eat. He had not before the interview due to nerves. Now he must be starving.

You must eat something, Caden. Here take this.

Valerius urged a bacon-wrapped piece of filet mignon at him.

Caden hesitated, but then the bacon undid his unease and he ate it directly from Valerius’ fingers.

It would have been a delicious and intimate act if not done in front of everyone.

At the moment, it was simply loving, instead of arousing.

Valerius picked up another piece of meat and offered it.

Caden ate that too. But he also drew nearer to Valerius as if to shelter beneath his wings, which were far larger than Anwar’s. Illarion had a point there.

“Behemoth is the name of a mythical Dragon Spirit, Kaila,” Tez explained as he snacked on a chicken leg. “It is said to rival even Raziel in size, but more than that, it has many heads.”

“Like the Lernaean Hydra?” Caden asked, his brow furrowing.

“Fancy you knowing about the Hydra, dear,” Esme said to Caden. “And one hears that education is lacking.”

“I’ve always loved myths about Dragons,” Caden admitted with a blush. “Who knew it would come in handy?”

“Caden, you are correct. The Behemoth’s heads are able to each command a different power.

Lightning, fire, acid, poison, etcetera.

All of our powers in one Dragon,” Tez explained as he licked his fingers with relish.

He, clearly, was not put off his food. “And, as I said, it's huge and also mean . Fully evil. Worse than Illarion even.”

“Behemoth is a myth ! So people give it every power! Claim it is bigger than any of us! Stronger! Faster! More ruthless! Bah! Fairy stories!” Illarion huffed and crossed his arms over his puffed up chest. “And simply because I take a firm hand in my territory, you all act better than me! You are not!”

“We’re not better than you because of how we handle our territories. We’re just simply better, period,” Tez said as he picked up another chicken wing from his plate.

There was a moment when Valerius thought that Illarion might strike the plate out of Tez’s hands and yet another meal would be ruined before it had ended.

“The Behemoth would eat you all for breakfast with your civilized ways!” Illarion shook his head.

“Don’t you remember your legends? The Behemoth wishes only destruction.

It would lay waste to your territories while you all bemoaned whether you should attack or not.

What would the humans think? Oh, no! Some pathetic humans died in a fight!

Bah! You should be grateful the Behemoth is nonsense! ”

He swept an arm across his body before he went back to the table where the food was and began to noisily eat the spiral sliced, honey ham.

“Should Valerius bring out a trough for you, Illarion?” Esme murmured.

Illarion heard her but just gave her a toothy grin. Now pork had joined lamb between his white teeth.

Jahara spoke thoughtfully, “Even if the Behemoth existed, it hates this world and humanity so there is no chance it would come here. The things our Spirits thrive on are the antithesis of what it supposedly wants.”

“Where did the idea of the Behemoth come from if it's just a myth?” Caden asked.

“A many-headed Dragon that wants to destroy humanity?” Mei lifted an eyebrow at Caden. “Where do you think it came from? All the fears people have about Shifters are encompassed in the Behemoth.”

“Which is another reason that it would seem unlikely that the Faith would have anything to do with it,” Jahara said.

“Mom,” Caden called over to his mother.

Ellen, Grant and Tilly were just coming over with plates of food and drinks. Valerius noted that they had given themselves plenty of wine. Even Tilly had been given a small glass though she was double-fisted drinking with a Coke in the other. After the interview they’d all had, he understood why.

“Yes, Caden?” she asked after taking a large sip of red wine.

“Have you heard of the Behemoth?” Caden asked.

“That’s a children’s story,” she said with an uncertain smile. “Something that Humans First and people who hate Shifters made up. A monster. You know. The ultimate evil Shifter who is here to destroy everyone.”

“That’s so not the Faith!” Tilly chirruped. “You guys love that Spirits come here and join with people. You don’t want anyone destroyed, Mom.”

“Thank you, Tilly, but I’m not altogether sure if I represent the normal Faith member any longer,” Ellen said to her.

“I think your daughter is right, Ellen.” Jahara pointed at Ellen.

“No one in the Faith would wish to team up with such a creature. And these people who seek to bring more Spirits into the world are believers above all else!” There was a momentary silence before Jahara amended, “Not that all believers--”

“No, no, you’re right!” Ellen said and raised her wine glass as if in a toast. “The people behind the bombings are zealots. They worship the Spirits beyond reason. They are not well, I think. It’s like their beliefs have poisoned the rest of them.”

Grant put a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “There are people like this in every religion, Ellen. There’s nothing inherent about the Faith that draws bad people.”

“I would have agreed with you, Grant, but I don’t know. The people behind the attempted bombing during the Below ceremony… I thought I knew them! I thought I understood what they were capable of, and I didn’t. I don’t!” Ellen drank more wine.

“Perhaps the Faith wouldn’t be interested in the Behemoth, but Humans First would ,” Esme said as she tapped her chin with the edge of her empty wine glass. “As you said, Ellen, the Behemoth is something that those who distrust and dislike Shifters use as a reason for others to join their cause.”

“Those fools would likely think that they could control something like the Behemoth,” Mei huffed with a wave of her hands. “Good thing for them it isn’t real.”

But everyone but Anwar’s certainty that the Behemoth was a myth didn’t seem to satisfy Caden.

He still looked troubled. Jahara regarded Anwar with narrowed eyes, but then those eyes went to Caden.

A flicker of worry crossed her face. She seemed to think Caden’s alarm potentially meant that Anwar’s suggestion had some merit.

Valerius frowned. Caden was simply reacting to the menace of Behemoth’s description and nothing more. Wasn’t he?

He looked inward. Iolaire was awake and alert now and it wasn’t for the food.

Raziel was looking down at its mate with narrowed eyes.

Iolaire made a soft hoot and tucked its head under Raziel’s right wing.

Raziel leaned down and gently nuzzled the back of Iolaire’s neck, undoubtedly, trying to assure the White Dragon that there was nothing to fear from such talk.

“Anwar, you appear quite unmoved by everyone’s comments,” Esme remarked dryly.

“Oh? I have no reason to be defensive or resort to insults,” Anwar said with a smile. “I know I am right.”

He poured himself a glass of cold white wine that immediately frosted the outside of the wine glass.

He took a sip, tilted his head to the side as he swished it around in his mouth, nodded and swallowed before taking another sip with satisfaction.

He was like a cat with a bowl of cream. He was holding something back.

“Anwar, why do you think there’s a many-headed Dragon coming to destroy the world?” Kaila asked as her brow remained furrowed.

She had seemingly forgotten that Anwar had a tendency to exaggerate as she was very literal herself. Kaila did not lie. Though what Anwar thought lying about Behemoth existing would do for him was beyond Valerius’ understanding at that moment. He had merely managed to annoy everyone.

Anwar took another sip of wine, allowing the tension to build, before he surveyed them all with a triumphant grin. “Because I have seen it.”

“What?!”

“No!”

“You’re joking!”

“Were you drunk?”

“Only in your dreams!”