“Bacon is love,” Wally corrected.
They all picked up their juices and clinked them as they cried, “Bacon is love!” And devolved into laughter.
Landry had only stayed a few weeks at the castle, but Caden had made the most of the time with her, even as tons of duties as the White Dragon King pulled him this way and that. But he found he could balance what he needed to do as one of the most powerful Shifters in the world with family and friends. They were what kept him focused on what mattered.
Until the wedding planning started.
And then Caden was looking for any excuse to escape it. Not because he didn’t want to marry Valerius. He so very much did. He dreamed of their wedding. He looked meaningfully into Valerius’ eyes for hours. He adored every second with the Black Dragon King. But more than the reports on world events were the wedding reports!
So that was partially why he was in a pink unicorn hoodie with a horn on the hood hiding in the Emporium. No one would find him here!
A woman came up with arms loaded with plushies. She also had a basket overflowing with them. “I got every color, didn’t I?” she asked Landry. “My little girl will be so upset if she doesn’t have a complete set.”
Caden perused the basket and said, “You’re missing Mephous, ma’am. The Green Dragon. I’ll go get you one.”
“Oh, thank you so much, dear!” She gave him a relieved smile, but then stiffened a little bit, “But the Green Dragon… that’s Illarion, right?”
Caden stopped in mid-step and turned towards her, even as he tugged his hood down lower. “Ah, yes, yes, it is. He’s the Green Dragon King.”
“Isn’t he the one imprisoning all his people? Maybe I shouldn’t get the green one for her if that’s true,” she said uncertainly.
Caden smiled. “That was true, but King Illarion has changed course. The citizens that were imprisoned have almost all been released. They are being compensated as best one can and given assistance as they re-enter society. The Blue and Red Dragon Queens are assisting him in this.”
“Oh!” The woman brightened considerably. “Well, then, that’s good! I guess I will get the Green Dragon, too!”
“Believe me, ma’am, that without the Green Dragon King we all wouldn’t be here right now,” Caden said.
He left her blinking in confusion as he hustled off for a Green Dragon plushie. He soon found out why she had missed out on that color. Despite it being full earlier--he swore he’d filled it!--the display for the Green Dragon plushies was empty. He frowned. Then he saw there was a trail of the plushies leading to the back of the shop and into the warehouse.
Had some little kid grabbed them all and run back into the warehouse?
Frowning deeply, Caden quickened his steps and entered the warehouse, not sure what he was expecting to see, but two wolfhounds being told to “fetch” the Green Dragon plushies was not it.
“Illarion!” Caden cried with enthusiasm.
The Green Dragon King’s arms were full of plushies, but he flashed a magnificent grin at Caden. “I am, little dragon! Did you miss me?”
“You know I did! And you brought your dogs!” Caden cried as he took in the magnificent wolfhounds that came loping back with plushies in their mouths.
“Of course! I would not be without them this visit. I told them all about you and they had to come!” Illarion told him. “Plus they are very good tracking hounds.”
“Huh? What?” Caden asked.
A set of powerful hands fell on Caden’s shoulders. “Yes, Caden, Illarion was convinced the dogs would find you. He was right. We had to track our prey down.”
Caden twisted around to see Valerius’ handsome face with a devilish grin on it. He couldn’t help leaning in for a kiss.
“You didn’t need dogs to find me! I mean I haven’t been--”
“Avoiding the fitting with Anwar?” Valerius tipped his head to the side. “No, not at all.”
Caden swallowed. “Uhm, have you seen the fabrics he likes?”
“Oh, yes, Caden,” Valerius said with a chuckle, “I have.”
“Which is why you are not getting out of this torture with us!” Illarion laughed as he sent another plushie flying that the dogs took off after.
“Hey! You have to buy those, you know! Landry needs the rent money!” Caden cried.
