Without waiting for a reply, Caden shifted into the White Dragon and lifted up into the air. He and Iolaire were on the hunt.
Confessions
Valerius groaned. His head was splitting. Had he drunk Ambrosia again? It felt like that plus someone was jackhammering into his skull. He groaned again. Someone lightly slapped his cheeks. He groaned a third time.
“Get up, Sleeping Beauty!” Illarion hissed.
Valerius scowled. He would never drink Ambrosia with Illarion. Or, if he did, he would pass out away from the Green Dragon King. Yet the cheek slapping continued. With more force than was strictly necessary.
“Sleeping Beauty!” Illarion continued, seemingly enjoying calling him that and slapping him at the same time with impunity.
“I’m awake!” Valerius growled as he batted away the slapping hands and covered his face with his arms.
“Then open your pretty eyes, Sleeping--”
“Stop calling me that or I will--will do something terrible to you! And I will open them… in a moment,” Valerius snarled as he curled over his side.
His head was killing him. Raziel, too, was drowsy and irritable. Its stomach hurt. Its head throbbed. It didn’t want to open its eyes either. It wanted to sleep. But Valerius knew that neither of them should be sleeping. Both of them were forgetting something. Something important. There was also something else. Iolaire was not there. And Caden wasn’t either. Valerius’ eyelids flew open and he had Illarion by the throat.
“Where is Caden?” Valerius snarled.
Illarion’s eyes flared green for a moment as Valerius squeezed. Their teeth were bared.
“Let me go, you big, black oaf!” Illarion growled back.
Valerius tried to push his senses outwards, to find the other Dragon Shifter, but he was simply unable to. Raziel was up on its legs, but unsteadily, unable to unfurl its wings.
“Not until you tell me where Caden is! You were to protect him!”
“I did! I mean… he protected us!” Illarion got out between gritted teeth. “You fell unconscious and I… I was incapacitated. So he took charge. And now he’s out there interrogating Landry. Or the Behemoth.”
Illarion tipped his head towards a smashed window. The wind was whipping the blackout shade back and forth.
“Why didn’t you go with him?” Valerius cried and tried to get up only to fall back down again.
“Same reason you couldn’t open those pretty eyes. The Behemoth did something to both of us,” Illarion said with a shake of his head. “I cannot shift. And Caden… Caden does not need help. After what happened in the hallway, he is perhaps safer without either of us there.”
It was then that Valerius felt Caden’s mind. The White Dragon Shifter was relieved he was all right. Valerius, however, was not relieved to find Caden alone with Landry. He could see through Caden’s eyes. Landry was on the ground before him. She was encased in an icy prison, except for her head. She was snarling and promising vengeance upon Caden if he did not release her this minute!
I am coming to you, Valerius said as he struggled to sit up.
No, Caden commanded and Valerius felt the command actually keep him lying on his back. Recover. I’ve got this. If I need help, you will know. Rest.
Caden, I will not let you face the Behemoth alone! Valerius insisted.
I cannot be worried about you and focused on this, Caden told him.
Valerius’ mouth opened. I am not weak! I am--
You are the strongest person I know, Caden told him with warmth. But the Behemoth did something to you and I won’t have a repeat of it.
The sickness that both he and Raziel were experiencing was debilitating. More than debilitating. He couldn’t remember feeling this bad in a very long time.
Whatever happened to me could happen to you! Valerius insisted.
Caden was quiet for a moment. No, no, I don’t think so. I can’t explain it. But I think Iolaire is resistant to the Behemoth. It may somehow stem from its abilities to turn people from the Spirit to human forms.
I don’t want to trust hunches, Caden! I want you here and safe! Valerius sounded like a child as he said this.
