He felt warmth and love from Caden. I know. Me, too. But I am all right. You need to trust me. I need you and Illarion to stay where you are.
Valerius grimaced. But he was so weak that he couldn’t even continue the expression for long. Please tell me that you will be careful?
Of course. Rest, Valerius, Caden directed. We’ll be together soon.
Valerius hit the back of his head against the floor and groaned. Raziel let out a pitiful stream of fire and sank back down onto its belly, too. They were no good to Caden until they recovered from whatever this was! And Caden sounded confident, sure in a way that Valerius could not gainsay. This was Caden’s strength. This was his gift.
“Caden has things well in hand,” Valerius explained when Illarion cocked his head to the side as had remained silent for too long. “He doesn’t need assistance.”
“Yes, as I said. I am not surprised! He is a firecracker, our little White Dragon! You still want to strangle me? Just for fun?” Illarion asked, gesturing to his throat where Valerius’ hands hung limply.
Valerius released his grip on Illarion’s throat. The virulent light completely left Illarion’s eyes. Both of them looked away from one another.
Valerius grimaced. He had attacked Illarion out of habit. Fear. Old feelings that weren’t really there any longer. It was wrong. Caden would be displeased.
“That was… uncalled for. I… I… apologize, Illarion,” Valerius forced himself to say.
One of those irritating grins flashed across Illarion’s face. “Ooooh, that clearly hurts to say! The great Valerius apologizing!”
Valerius snarled, “Why can you not be gracious for once and--”
“I am sorry, too, though I did nothing wrong,” Illarion said with a wry smile.
“This time,” Valerius frowned.
“This time. Well, I did forget that we are not enemies anymore and you are insanely protective and aggressive about Caden. Understandably,” Illarion added the last with seeming admiration.
“We… aren’t enemies,” Valerius said.
“You didn’t make that sound too much like a question,” Illarion snorted. “That’s something.”
“You said it first, which is… I don’t know what that is,” Valerius admitted.
“Caden would say it is progress.” Illarion shrugged.
“Yes, he would,” Valerius agreed.
Silence fell until it was broken by a faint groan. Illarion got up and went to check the bed. From Valerius’ limited vantage point, he could see a bare leg only partially covered by a nightgown. There was at least one person in the bed.
“Landry’s parents,” Illarion answered his unasked question. “They are still unconscious from whatever the Behemoth did to them. Plus being thrown about by Caden’s Dragon Breath. Their boys are trussed over there in the corner by the closet.”
Valerius thought of how Caden had to keep strengthening the ice prison that held Landry. He reminded Illarion not to forget their strength.
“Oh, I know. I am keeping an eye on them,” Illarion said, and there was that green glint in his irises again that boded ill if Landry’s brothers so much as batted an eyelash at them.
“We need to get their parents’ medical attention and lock Ross and Harvey up. I wonder if any prison is strong enough to keep. There would not be one strong enough to keep us,” Valerius said, trying to sit up again and failing miserably. His strength had clearly deserted him now.
“I called Chione. People are coming,” Illarion said.
Valerius let out a relieved breath. “Good.”
“She is handy, that one. You should be lucky I don’t try to steal her from you,” Illarion said.
“You are insane if you think she would go with you,” Valerius retorted.
“I can be quite charming. Caden likes me,” Illarion said, and there was some satisfaction in his tone.
“Yes, well, Caden is forgiving,” Valerius muttered.
