The White Dragon Revealed (Dragon's Reign #5)

3. Chance

CHANCE

“ H ow is the White Dragon Shifter?” President Goodfellow asked.

She was leaning forward with her elbows resting on top of the Resolute Desk. Her gaze was so intense that he felt it through the video screen. On the split screen opposite her, Prime Minister Stanton also seemed to feel that intensity and blinked a few times, shifting behind his own desk. She had seen Caden. She likely knew he was the White Dragon Shifter.

The United States would have been searching every image posted on social media, so even though they did not have the video he had, they would eventually figure out the boy behind the Dragon. Everyone would eventually know. He had tried to convince himself that anonymity was possible for Caden, at least, for a time. But that was because he had not been born into this technological age.

“How are they fitting in?” President Goodfellow pressed.

“Iolaire is fitting in just fine,” Valerius said.

Iolaire and Caden actually were doing well considering everything. He heard more than saw Chione shifting on the couch behind him. She was indicating to him her discomfort at this line of questioning. Since he had taken up to the very last minute with Caden before getting on this call, he hadn’t had a chance to tell her that Caden wished to come out.

He glanced over her. She had on a bronze skirt and white billowy blouse. Her feet were tucked under her butt and she had her tablet out as always. Their gazes met. Hers was questioning. His was soothing. She frowned for a moment but then her expression cleared as she realized that, for some reason, he wasn’t worried about this line of questioning. He then turned back to the world leaders.

“We are, of course, aware that Iolaire wishes to keep their identity a secret,” Prime Minister Staton stated, clearing his throat. “But President Goodfellow and I believe that since they are in your territory--our countries--that as a matter of national security we should know who they are.”

“A matter of national security?” Valerius said this as if tasting it. It annoyed him and he began to pace, arms crossed at wrists behind his back.

Chione drew in a sharp breath. She opened her mouth to speak, to try and smooth things over--he knew what she was going to say--but he held up a hand. She would tell him that they did not mean to suggest that he could not protect them from another dragon. But that was what it sounded like to Raziel. The Black Dragon Spirit’s claws dug into the ground of its lair.

Think us incapable of defending them, do they? Raziel hissed.

Be calm, Raziel. They just wish to know who Iolaire’s human counterpart is , Valerius told his Spirit, even as his back was up too.

They think Iolaire would harm them or us? Bah! Iolaire is our…

And then his Spirit shut down so swiftly that Valerius thought their connection had been cut. Not that such a thing was possible, but Raziel was clamping its mental connection down so tightly that he couldn’t hear a peep from it.

Our what, Raziel? Valerius asked with narrowed eyes.

Raziel lifted its massive chin. Our… friend.

It is indeed, but I do not think that is what you were going to say, Valerius replied mildly.

Raziel was a terrible liar. He thought he knew quite well what word Raziel was going to use: Iolaire is our mate . His heart beat like a drum in his chest. Caden was so young. It was too soon. It would mean that their lives and fates were intertwined. Maybe that was why Raziel would say nothing. His Spirit did not want to pressure him or Caden.

Valerius turned back to the president and prime minister. He held up a finger. “First, I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are not suggesting that Raziel and I are incapable of protecting you from any threat.”

The two world leaders stirred uncomfortably. The president sat up in her chair rather like a terrier. The prime minister then froze, one hand at the collar of his shirt.

“We did not mean to suggest–” Prime Minister Stanton began.

“No, you did not, because that would be insulting and unwise .” Valerius’ eyes narrowed at them both. “Raziel and I are quite capable of defeating any and all other Dragon Shifters.”

“Even if they all attack?” President Goodfellow whispered.

“Even if they all attack. But they will not.” Valerius’ lips pressed together as smoke poured from Raziel’s nostrils. “You need not concern yourself with those fears.”

“And what of Iolaire? Do they intend to stay here? And how will that affect things?” President Goodfellow pressed on.

Valerius glanced at Chione. One of her delicate eyebrows was lifted. She had mentioned something to him about these very questions being things that the two world leaders would ask. Both of them were used to being in control. Or at least the illusion of it. Now, he had basically asked them to trust him. Humans never did fully trust Shifters.

Considering what Illarion is doing to his people and Mei’s mechanical soldiers they have a right to be uneasy, Valerius thought.

“Iolaire will be staying. They want no part in ruling…” Even though Valerius adored Caden and Iolaire, the thought of sharing the rulership of territory was still not sitting well with him. It likely never would. “But they will, of course, in time want to have an impact. ”

“They already have.” Prime Minister Stanton laughed lightly into his right palm.

Valerius gave him a thin smile. “Yes, they have.”

“They are a great asset,” President Goodfellow said, warming to the subject. “They are an ambassador of goodwill. Interest in Humans First has declined since they’ve come. And the politicians with sympathies in that line have had their legs cut out from under them.”

Valerius had been mildly aware--Chione had been terribly aware--of how Iolaire’s obvious people-pleasing manner, especially among children, had turned the conversation about “dangerous and aloof Shifters” on its head.

President Goodfellow leaned forward again. Her hands were clenched in front of her. “And that is the real reason we are concerned about Iolaire. Not concerned. We want to help them help everyone.”

Valerius grunted even as he caught Chione’s eyebrow raise. This was nothing less than what Caden’s father and his firm wanted to do. Everyone wanted to control the White Dragon Shifter, use it for their purposes, make it their puppet. He would never allow that to happen, no matter if Caden’s identity was out or not.

“And what makes you think they need your help?” Chione asked in her patient way that somehow was more cutting than his snarls.

President Goodfellow focused on the Sphinx Shifter. Her eyes flickered to Valerius and away. “From how they have been described, they seem young and inexperienced.”

“As are all Shifters when they first bond, but their own kind educate them in the ways of things,” Chione answered almost sweetly, and then her tone changed, “Humans do not .”

The president’s hands tightened in front of her. Her knuckles went white. “But Iolaire is not some regular Shifter! They represent so much more and if they are going to be in our territory--”

“ My territory,” Valerius corrected her.

“Isn’t it ours , too?” Prime Minister Stanton looked gray and uneasy as he said it, but clearly this was something that the two of them had cooked up. He really shouldn’t have left them alone to speculate.

“Shifters take care of Shifter business. Iolaire is a Shifter,” Chione reminded them, repeating the line that was said over and over as if it had mystical power.

“But Iolaire is another Dragon,” Valerius found himself saying quietly. “They are different as President Goodfellow said.”

Chione’s eyebrows rose, but not in annoyance, but rather surprise. He really should have delayed this call and talked with her first. He was never going to regret spending more time with Caden.

“I understand your concerns. This is your home. You represent the people within it. You get to speak to me when others cannot. You must raise your concerns,” Valerius said, causing everyone on that call to look a little amazed and a little worried. He did not speak this way. He scoffed at such things. Explaining himself was often abhorrent to him, and at best, a bore. But not in this. “Iolaire is not someone to be feared. But they are also not someone you control. My territory is run by me. Solely. What role Iolaire will take on will be decided in time. Right now, they have more than enough on their plate.”

That seemed to quiet everyone. None of them could deny that becoming the ninth Dragon Shifter after stopping a bombing was anything to sniff at.

“They have had their life turned upside down,” Valerius continued, staring at each world leader in turn. “You had a chance to choose to go down the path of leadership. You could have remained an anonymous citizen of my territory. But you choose to serve. Iolaire did not. They choose to save people at the expense of themselves.”

President Goodfellow’s head lowered. The hectic color in her cheeks fading somewhat. Prime Minister Stanton played with a pen. Most politicians were unfeeling snakes, but not these two. Somehow this time around the people had actually been lucky to get two real people who cared.

“We want to help. It is not that we do not think you capable, King Valerius,” Prime Minister Stanton said. “But it is, as you said, something they were not expecting or prepared for.”

“We know that they want to go slowly, but the way the world is…” President Goodfellow squeezed the top of her nose. “The world may not allow that pace. And we want to assist in helping them take on th at role of leadership, and, yes, we want them to keep that seeming love for humanity they have. A connection between Shifters and humans. Iolaire can be that.”

Valerius understood this. He and the other Dragon Shifters were too old to be as connected to humanity as they once had been. And Caden had been born after the War. He had lived in this split world between humans and Shifters.

“I have heard your concerns and will think about them,” Valerius offered.

It was but a small concession. Caden was not ready for this. It was too much to ask of him.

Iolaire is wise, Raziel muttered. Its head was resting on its claws. These humans are too quick. They take but do not give.

That is their nature, Raziel. Their lives are short and their sense of urgency is ever growing, he said.

Raziel closed its eyelids. Iolaire is all that matters. Not these mortal beings.

But Valerius could not altogether agree. And he doubted that Iolaire or Caden would think so either.

“Will we get to meet Iolaire anytime soon?” President Goodfellow looked rather anxious about that.

Valerius smiled. She was a fan. “Yes, of course. I will arrange some time after the Dragon Shifters have gone back to their territories.”

“Any idea when that will be?” Prime Minister Stanton did not look like he expected a very hopeful answer.

Valerius’ expression went tight. “As quickly as possible. Are we done? For I must--”

“One last thing, King Valerius.” President Goodfellow raised her hand and he was not surprised. There was always one more thing. Her constituents should be thrilled with her. They were getting their vote’s worth.

“What?” His voice was crisp.

“King Illarion… are you going to speak to him about conditions in his territory?” she asked.

He gritted his teeth. He had known she was going to ask this question. He’d had this absurd hope that he’d get away from this conversation without that being brought up.

“I have already explained that King Illarion will not listen to my words, but only my claws, and to go down that route would cause far more damage to humanity,” he reminded her tightly.

“Maybe if it wasn’t just you, but if you spoke with the other Dragon Shifters present they would agree with you and put pressure on him--”

“Peer pressure?” His left eyebrow lifted.

“Surely, even he could not ignore all of you!” President Goodfellow looked so earnest. But she always did.

“I am amazed by your continued belief in the ability for some people to feel shame,” he responded dryly.

She reminded him of a Girl Scout, he realized. She was smart and desperately wanted to do the right thing. She was motivated by this desire to help. But her imagination about people was limited.

Before anyone could speak, Valerius grabbed the remote to end the call. “I have heard your words, I will consider all you have said. I will be in touch.”

He ended the call. The two world leaders winked out of existence. His head fell back and he stared up at the ceiling. He let out a long breath.

“That could have gone worse, you know?” Chione told him with a lilt of laughter in her voice.

He rolled his head to the side to look at her. She looked rather impish. He scowled at her.

“How?” he growled.

“She could have shown up in person this morning.” Chione set the tablet to the side. “That was her intent.”

“WHAT?!”

“I talked her out of it. Obviously.” She patted the air between them.

“All the Dragon Shifters are here! What did she intend to do? Go canvas them about her desire for a better Shifter-Human world?” he scoffed .

But Chione nodded. “I think she would love that opportunity.”

“I bet she would.”

He groaned and scrubbed the back of his neck. He tossed the remote down and sprawled on the couch opposite her. He thought of how he and Caden had cuddled here just last night. He wished Caden were there right at that moment. But he was talking to Esme. He wondered how that was going.

“She believes that the rightness of her arguments must be acknowledged. In some ways, it’s such a pure position and it does work on people.” Chione tapped her stylius against her lower lip.

“Just not Illarion.” He sighed.

“Oh, he couldn’t deny the truth of what she was saying. He just doesn’t believe in the same things. He’s not a normal person. Not even before he bonded with his Spirit, I’m guessing,” Chione said.

“None of us were.” Valerius shrugged. “There were so many more like him before. They come in different flavors now in this much safer world. But back in the day, we both ran into Illarions. Small men with big insecurities that took them out by hurting others.”

“Yes.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms. “He just got very lucky.”

Valerius nodded. At the moment, Illarion seemed the least of his problems. His concern was fully for Caden. He had captured the world’s imagination. He should have seen that.

“They’re going to find out who Caden is,” Chione said suddenly. He focused on her. She looked grim. “I know we promised Caden that we would keep his secret and give him a chance for a normal life. Or, at least, a chance to grow into this new one.”

“Caden knows this. Mei saw him in the mirror,” he told her.

“Oh, dear. That is unfortunate.” She studied him closely. “You do not sound too upset though.”

“It was inevitable. I have no doubt that Mei knew in advance who he was,” Valerius answered her. “Caden realized afterwards that keeping his secret wasn’t possible, and might not even be for the best for those he loves. He was ready to call a press conference. ”

“Without talking to his parents or Wally? They have to be brought here or somewhere safe! They’ll be set upon by reporters like a horde of locusts!”

Chione sat up straighter as if ready to bolt out of the door to stop this from happening.She wasn’t necessarily wrong to believe Caden was quite capable of going into Drago Strike Square and shifting in front of all and sundry.

“Do not worry. Caden knows that too. He is aware that he needs a plan,” he told her.

She didn’t completely relax. “And what is that plan?”

“He does not know yet. But he is willing to take advice from you, me, Wally, even his parents, if they are speaking to him,” he sighed at the end.

This was not the time when Caden should be at odds with his parents. He needed support. But, then again, this break had to happen.

“That is something.” She still didn’t look sold on it. Caden and Iolaire were capable of almost anything. “Should he announce who he is with the other Dragon Shifters here? Or after they leave?”

That was the question.

They will come back to meet him as if they have not already, Raziel muttered without opening its eyes.

He tended to agree with that.

“They will be offended if he doesn’t agree to meet them in his human form,” Chione mused.

“He is meeting with Esme now. Hers is the only opinion I care for.” He waved a hand through the air.

He felt tired already. Maybe he could convince Caden to come back and nap in the sun. That would be lovely. But Queen Kaila was to be there by noon and Queen Jahara by that evening, followed by the final Dragon Shifter, King Anwar. There was no time for naps. Unless they just ignored them all.

Chione brightened. “That is good! I do think that Esme needs some show of support after Serai.” Her expression went dark again. “Serai… I can’t believe it. She remained an adherent of the Faith, you kn ow. Even after she bonded with her Spirit, she still believed in their goodness. So why would she do this?”

His jaw clenched. The thought of Serai made him want to send everyone packing again and bunker down with Caden.

“I suppose I should feel grateful that this violence is not solely coming from my own territory, but that just makes dealing with the situation that much more difficult,” he told her.

She slid her legs off of the couch and rested her elbows on her knees, chewing on the end of the stylus. “If this violence were about Shifter rule then Serai is the most unlikely of adherents. Humans First then may not be behind this after all.”

“Landry’s brothers have been implicated though. And on the contrary, the fact that she was still in the Faith means that she still has a great affinity with humanity,” he disagreed. “I wouldn’t put it past Jasper Hawes to have sleeper cells in the Faith to snag people just like Serai who feel some injustice keenly.”

“An injustice that would be served by a bomb? By the deaths of innocents?” She threw her hands up. “Acts like these are normally used to create terror. Do what we want or another bomb. But that’s not happening here. No one has claimed it.”

“Because it went wrong,” Valerius theorized. “Instead of people dying, the ninth Dragon Shifter entered the world.”

“Unless that was intended.” Chione was frowning.

“No one could have known that would happen.” Valerius shook his head. “Not even I knew there were other Dragon Spirits out there. And even if someone knew that there was the possibility of another such spirit, they could not have known that the Spirit would bond with anyone. Caden was there by chance.”

“But the Spirit wasn’t,” Chione stated. “We have always theorized that Spirits watch us before they bond. They pick someone. You’ve told me so yourself about Raziel. So if somehow they knew where the Spirit was--”

“That’s too--”

But their argument was cut short by a sharp knock on the door.

“Come in!” Valerius called as he saw it was Simi at the door on the tablet.

Simi came in, red-faced and sweating, as if he had been running. “Forgive this interruption, King Valerius, Chione, but that robot Queen Mei brought you? It’s gone insane!”