“It’s King Illarion! The Green Dragon King! Wow! He’s arrived for the wedding!” A woman shouted.
“Did you know he’s King Valerius’ best man?” another asked loudly.
“Never would I have ever thought the day would come when that would happen,” another responded just as loudly.
“Wonders will never cease!” the first one said.
The cries caused yet more people to turn around to look at what had caught their fellows’ attention. Some began to even surge into the street, blocking the way. The SUV squealed to a halt. Illarion waved and smiled, mugging for the camera with his two dogs. Caden slid down in his seat on the off chance that someone noticed them. But no one suspected he and Caden would be driving the other Dragon Shifter.
“Valerius, if they find out that we are in here, too…” Caden left the sentence hang.
“I know.”
Valerius goosed the gas a little to urge people out of the way. He honked the horn in short blasts. Thankfully, the people reluctantly moved to the sides and the SUV could creep forward again.
“Can you sign my shirt, King Illarion?” A buxom blonde woman asked as she practically jogged alongside the car, thrusting her chest towards the Green Dragon King who gave her an appreciative leer.
“Of course! Give me a pen! Now you must pet Vanya and Viski, too,” Illarion said broadly and waggled his eyebrows in what he likely thought was an engaging manner.
From the way the woman giggled, maybe it was. She also petted the dogs eagerly as he signed her tight t-shirt before she bounced off. Valerius saw a clear side street and quickly turned down there to get away from the crowds. Illarion made an “awww” sound.
“You don’t want me to have any fun while I’m here,” Illarion grumped, but he was still smiling as if he didn’t quite mind.
“You can come down here later, after the fitting, to greet your female fans,” Valerius rumbled.
Illarion stretched his arms up with a small sigh and put them behind his head, looking content, rather like a great, green cat.
“You look happy, Illarion,” Caden remarked. “It’s not just because you’re back here, is it? I’ve been hearing about all the good things you’re doing in your territory. You must be relaxed because of that.”
“Very smooth transition, Caden,” Illarion snorted, but was still smiling. “Truthfully, Valerius thinks my mind is on women, but I am sick of women right now.”
“Sick of women?” Caden’s eyebrows rose.
“They have been underfoot. Esme! Mei! Oh, by the Spirits, those two with their suggestions! My only joy has been having my hackers access Mei’s iron men and cause them to run amok!” Illarion chuckled darkly. “She’s had to slag so many of them herself and she has no idea what’s wrong with them!”
“Illarion, that’s mean! She’s only there to help!” Caden cried.
The White Dragon Shifter was completely fond of Mei and, to Valerius’ shock, she appeared to feel the same way. Raziel had told him fully of what had transpired in the Spirit Realm when Caden was there. Caden had too. But it was useful to hear it from a Dragon’s perspective. And, apparently, Caden was now their “little dragon” to be protected and coddled at all times. The feelings were shared by their human counterparts, too.
“I am doing Mei a favor by showing her the weaknesses in her programming!” Illarion insisted. “Imagine if someone not as honorable as me could do what I do?”
Caden considered this and then nodded. “I do see your point. But still. You should let her know what you’re doing.”
“Oh, no, that would take the fun out of tormenting her.” Illarion looked fondly at his dogs.
“Tormenting… yeah, you’re like the boy in class that pulls the girl’s pigtails because he likes them,” Caden sighed and shook his head.
“I’m listening to her and taking her advice. I need some payment for that,” Illarion pointed out.
“And Esme? What are you doing to torment her?” Valerius asked, not having heard from the Blue Dragon Queen of any “pranks” that Illarion had played since she’d gone to his territory in Moscow.
“Nothing! That woman, you short-sheet her one night and she turns every bit of bedding to ice!” Illarion shivered.
“Basically, she not only gets even but gives more in kind?” Valerius asked dryly. That sounded like Esme.
“Indeed! No sense of humor in that woman. But she’s old so one has to respect one’s elders,” Illarion said with a sniff.
“I’m sure Esme loved you saying that,” Caden snorted.
