“I did not say it to her face. I just think it,” Illarion admitted.
Valerius chuckled. “I’ll bet.”
“You’ve emptied the camps with their help so that’s really good. In just two months!” Caden said with enthusiasm and warmth.
Illarion rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know if this will be a good thing or not. Much lawlessness happened in the camps. Civilians became criminals. I don’t know if they can return to the straight and narrow.”
The truth was that Illarion’s people had been traumatized and abused. Valerius could have brought that up again, but he’d already made his point during the month after the battle with the Behemoth. Illarion’s way of handling his territory could not be allowed. Illarion understood that and he’d done as Valerius had asked. But the Green Dragon King wasn’t wrong that there would be social unrest for a long time to come. Actions such as Illarion had taken had left scars that might never go away.
“We will help you deal with what comes,” Valerius simply said. “As you are helping others.”
“We found another wall,” Illarion said softly.
Caden drew in a deep breath. Valerius patted the White Dragon King’s nearest hand.
“In Moscow. Not three blocks from my palace.” Illarion’s lips thinned. “Right out in the open.”
“Did you alert Jahara?” Valerius asked.
Jahara, Tez and Kaila were dealing with the walls. Mapping where they were and dismantling them. While the Behemoth was gone, none of them believed it was forever. But the Hydra would not find them unwatchful again. Nor would it find walls in every territory. Though, for as many as they found and took down, one new fresh one had been discovered. People were still working against them, still worshipping the Hydra of death, still wanting a war.
“I did. I wanted to destroy it myself. Mephous and I were going to dismantle it brick by brick!” Illarion’s eyes glowed a hot green. “But Jahara told me that we needed to wait. That they wanted to investigate it. It’s a wall! They’ve found nothing special about them!”
“Except that we know them when we see them,” Caden pointed out. “Not every blank wall is a doorway. Only some are and we all know which ones are different. I’m certain that Jahara and the others will figure it out. When Anwar is able to change his focus from the people who… well, who didn’t come back to their bodies, he’ll help too.”
There was silence in the SUV at that. While many of the souls--like Landry, her brothers, and Jasper Hawes--returned to their bodies immediately upon the destruction of the Behemoth, many others did not. Sakhra and her sister Tamira, whose brave video had alerted Anwar and them to what was happening, did not return. And, of course, Fadel, Anwar’s lower, also had not.
Their bodies remained alive, but empty. Anwar had taken the lead in caring for these people. No one wanted to say that they would never return. But, unlike the souls that Caden had met in the Spirit Realm, theirs were seemingly nowhere to be found. Hence why fuschia was going to be the main color at the wedding regardless of Valerius’ feelings about it. He so wanted to give Anwar some joy, but he wasn’t sure it was working. While the other bodies were kept at a state of the art facility in Anwar’s territory, he had brought Fadel with him, helping with the physical therapy to keep Fadel’s muscles from wasting away as he now lay still and silent on a bed.
It was Illarion who, thankfully, broke the silence and their thoughts when he suddenly said, “And they are not the only women that plague me! Vozyth! Vozyth is driving me insane!” Illarion shook his head, which disturbed the dogs. “I’m sorry, my darlings! I did not mean to jostle you! Oh, my sweet ones, forgive me.”
“Wait, wait, wait! Vozyth?! The Ruby Dragon Spirit is bothering you? Why? How?” Caden boggled.
Valerius frowned as well. “Has she been attacking Mephous?”
“Attacking? No, if only that were true then she would be gone by now, because Mephous would have trounced her again.” Illarion grimaced. “Ripped her head clean off. That was a great battle, wasn’t it, Valerius? When you were all pathetic and human and needed my protection. And there I was! Strong, gallant and brave! Rescuing your weak, puny self. Yes, it was a great battle.”
Valerius rolled his eyes. Repeatedly. Illarion never went a single day without reminding him of that battle. He supposed it was a small price to pay for his life having been saved and Illarion being a team player then he would pay it. Gladly.
“So she’s not attacking Mephous and Mephous is not attacking her…” Caden left the sentence hanging meaningfully.
Lips twitching, Valerius asked, “Does Mephous like Vozyth?”
“What? That’s so ridiculous! Mephous and I are lone wolves. Lone wolves,” he repeated as he thumped the dogs’ sides and ruffled their ears.
“Does Vozyth like Mephous?” Valerius turned the question around.
“Who would not like Mephous? Mephous is marvelous! And has many admirers,” Illarion shrugged.
Caden had turned around in his seat and was studying Illarion. In the rear view mirror, Valerius could see Illarion begin to squirm.
“They like one another. Are they mates?” Caden asked.
“NO!” Illarion shouted and then winced as the dogs, evidently annoyed, stomped on his crotch. Valerius felt a welling of happiness. “No, well… no, but… no, well, maybe. I don’t know! Vozyth sits in the area outside Mephous’ lair. She hasn’t tried to come in, thank the spirits!”
Everyone was quiet again as Valerius drove the car towards the bridge that led to High Reach.
Finally, Valerius said, “You know when Iolaire first appeared, Raziel acted quite upset about it. Raziel was alarmed at the idea of being connected to another being. As was I.”
