Chapter 16 No Dancing #2
“It feels so strange,” Anwar admitted. “Even before I lost Fadel, I thought I was happy. But now, I truly am and realize that this past feeling was but a pale reflection of happiness.”
“The dogs are pleased that I am less stressed,” Illarion mused.
“We must not forget the dogs,” Valerius muttered into his drink.
“Do you think Tilly will take good care of them? I left her with many plushies, bones--
“So what is the plan?” Valerius cut Illarion off. “Before we meet up with Caden?”
“Meat,” Illarion said with a grin.
“Meat?” Valerius asked
MEAT?! Raziel’s head jolted up.
“They should be ready for us,” Anwar said after checking his silver and diamond watch.
“Where is the meat?” Valerius’ stomach was rumbling.
“This way!” Chione giggled and lured him with a gesture to the door. “But you’ll have to leave your beloved bedroom.”
Valerius was already on his feet and heading to the door. He’d drained the cognac and tossed the cigar in the fire. When he looked back, everyone other than Chione and himself was still sitting.
“What are you waiting for?” Valerius asked. “Let’s get this party started!”
MEAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT! Raziel roared and filled the lair with fire.
They all went out into the courtyard where an SUV was waiting for them with Ngoye driving and Simi in the front passenger seat.
“We just got done taking Caden and the others to their first spot. I think it is a hit,” Simi enthused.
Did he and Iolaire get meat too? Raziel was practically pushing on the inside of his chest. Iolaire, evidently, wasn’t telling.
I’m sure they got something wonderful, Valerius assured his hungry and aggressive Spirit.
“Where are we going?” Valerius asked.
“Oh, just wait!” Chione beamed at him.
They were driven to a woody area just outside of the fashionable homes of High Reach.
Valerius and Raziel both loved the natural aspect of it.
He saw no night clubs or fancy restaurants so he was intrigued when he saw that there were incredibly high end cars lining the road and people dressed to impress walking on the sidewalk.
They pulled up what was a stone arch that led into a park.
But this park was no dew-laden, night shrouded land of grass and trees.
No, there were individual bonfires surrounded by incredibly cozy-looking couches laden with pillows and furs.
It was very similar to his own firepit. He blinked.
Servers dressed in gaucho pants and white shirts came to the bonfires with meat and vegetables on skewers to roast on the fires.
Iced bottles of champagne, rich reds and crisp white wines were being served everywhere.
The diners ate with their hands and licked their fingers clean of the delicious juices that ran from the just-cooked meats.
When the door of the SUV was opened, Valerius was the first out as the rich, meaty smell hit his nostrils. He had to press on the center of his chest to keep Raziel from shifting them. Illarion bumped his shoulder.
“I figured if we got you drunk on meat, you wouldn’t mind the dancing,” Illarion said.
“I will watch you dance, Illarion, all you wish. I intend for my belly to be too full to move,” Valerius grinned and jostled the Green Dragon King back.
“This way, gentlemen, our table is ready,” Chione said, appearing ahead of them with a smiling server who placed glasses of champagne in their hands as they passed him by.
While there were many covert looks and a few glasses raised in their direction, Valerius was pleased to note that no one rushed over to them for autographs or selfies or to complain about their rule. The people were respectful, but kept their distance.
“How did you make this magic happen, Chione?” Valerius asked.
She just winked at him. “Definitely by magic. My magic.”
“Tez! Mei! Kaila!” Anwar greeted three of their Dragon Shifter brethren who were already seated on a couch that curled around the firepit.
“Did you know they cook fish here, too, Anwar? Really good fish! I saw at another table and I need just a little one.” Kaila had a huge fish in her hands and her lips were dripping with its juices.
“I see that now.” Anwar laughed.
“Want some?” She offered her fish to the Silver Dragon King.
“The next one.” He smiled as he backed away.
The minute that they sat down, the staff was already coming and setting up skewers of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and more to cook around the fire.
Skewers of tomatoes and onions cooked beside whole blackening peppers and unshucked ears of corn.
There were baskets of cheese-filled breads that were small enough to pop in his mouth and release a gush of cream-cheese and herbs.
Sweet roasted bananas and salty polenta were available in abundance to be eaten with the meat and vegetables.
Valerius found himself inhaling food, hardly speaking, even as everyone around him joked and laughed.
He was pleased to be there with them. He was also glad that he didn’t have to be the center of conversation.
He was definitely included but there was no pressure on him.
Again, he was sure this was Chione’s doing, but the little sparkle Marban gave him, made him wonder if the Swarm Shifter hadn’t already picked up what kept him comfortable.
He certainly used to know what would make me uncomfortable.
As the edge to his and Raziel’s hunger was slightly taken off, Mei stood up and clinked her glass with a knife.
Their party quieted down as Valerius stared at the Red Dragon Queen.
She smiled at him. A genuine smile. Mei was like him and didn’t long for company, but she was clearly making an effort.
He hoped that his smile back at her showed he appreciated it.
“We’ve all known each other for many, many centuries, millennia,” Mei amended with an eyebrow lift, “but I would swear that I finally know you today.”
There were “awwwwsss” from Tez and Kaila. Illarion smiled and nodded.
“In the past, I had only a construct of all of you. It was easier that way. I put things in boxes. I categorize. It’s neat. It’s tidy. It’s not… accurate. But it felt manageable,” Mei admitted.
“We understand, Mei,” Kaila said.
“I think we all kept each at arm’s length. We pretended that we were not a clan, were not a family. Every other Shifter on Earth had each other, but we were… unique, singular, alone,” Mei said after a watery smile at Kaila.
Valerius knew exactly what she meant.
Mei’s gaze focused on him. “When news of Caden and Iolaire’s joining reached me, and I realized I had an excuse to come to see you, Valerius, I told myself that I did not feel relief or joy or a desire to connect.”
Valerius’ eyes were somehow wetter than they had been.
“I was just coming to exploit and plan and strategize my way with this new Shifter.” She smiled, but there were tears coming down her face.
“But, though I would not--could not--admit it, I knew that coming to see you, Valerius. And that being in your presence would make this wrongness that I had been feeling for so long go away.”
He wiped a tear that fell and threatened to roll down his cheek and fall off his chin.
“I know I am not alone in this. And now, as we celebrate your upcoming marriage to Caden and Iolaire, I find that I am not alone at all. That none of us is anymore. Your happiness is mine and mine is yours,” Mei told him as she lifted a glass.
“Valerius, you are my king, my clan, my family and my friend. I wish you all good things in the world.”
The others at the table raised their glasses and added their voices to Mei’s words.
“Oh, why do I always have to go after someone says something fabulous?” Tez whined. “Really, Mei, you should have been last!”
The Red Dragon Queen merely shrugged and drained her champagne glass that was filled with more. Tez got to his feet and smiled at Valerius in his warm way that always made Valerius smile.
“Raziel and you are not beautiful, Valerius. In fact, some would find you monstrous,” Tez said, which had Illarion snorting his drink out his nose. “What? What? I’m just stating facts here!”
“Brilliant beginning, Tez,” Chione laughed.
“Keep going. I cannot wait to hear the rest,” Valerius said, chucking into his own drink, a rich, red syrah that had replaced his champagne.
Tez looked affronted at the others, but then smiled sweetly at Valerius.
“But while outer beauty can help a leader lead, there must be something more inside. You must inspire loyalty and love. You must make those look to you in times of need, even if they forget you in times of plenty. For you are the backbone, the spine, that everything and everyone in this world gets their strength from. You and Raziel are the king of kings, Valerius, which Eldoron and I are so very glad of. Because we cannot think of anyone more worthy.”
Valerius actually felt his throat tighten at those words and he could only nod his thanks.
“So I am extremely grateful that Caden and Iolaire can look past your outside and see the beauty within!” Tez ended.
They all snorted their drinks that time even as Tez blinked at them in confusion.
“Beautiful speech, Tez,” Illarion said.
Kaila then jumped to her feet as Tez still looked suspiciously at all of them. She pushed him down onto the couch.
“Well, I’ve already invited you to fish, Valerius, so you know I like you,” Kaila said with a shrug.
“But I guess if I had to say something more to encompass how I feel it’s that…
well, if things had gone bad with the Behemoth and we’d gone down,” she smiled at him with warmth, “I’d have been glad to go out by your side. ”
They all lifted their glasses, “Hear, hear!”