“You have a plan for Scylla?” Caden asked, leaning forward, which allowed Valerius to rub his back.
At least this time around, Caden was awake, aware and with him, not a lifeless body on his lap. Chione came over and handed him a glass and bottle of his favorite barolo. She poured him a large glass.
“Can I tell? Oh, let me tell!” Kaila whined as one of her hands shot into the air like an over eager student.
Indulgently, Esme nodded as she ate her olives. “Go ahead, Kaila.”
“Scylla and Lana are going fishing!” Both of Kaila’s hands were now in the air and were waving like starfish.
“That sounds like… fun?” Caden made that sound like a question.
“Oh, it is! Two water Dragons fishing first in Esme’s territory and then in mine? Oh, the different fish! The amount of fish! The lazy days with just the two of us! It will be GLORIOUS!” Kaila arched back and stretched her fingers to the ceiling.
“She’s really selling it. Now I wish we were going fishing,” Caden said to Valerius.
“Oh!” Kaila’s gaze was lasered upon him and Valerius.
Valerius found himself up straighter, slightly alarmed. Maybe more than slightly as she barreled towards them, skidding to a stop only when her knees touched theirs.
“You can! You’re both coming on your tour this year and I promise we will fish!” Again with the fist pumping. “Though I promised my people you would make piles of snow! Even if it melts pretty quickly.”
“I promise we will,” Caden laughed.
“Excellent! Fishing and snow! It is perfect!” Kaila then swung around and headed towards the sideboard where she started eating shrimp as if they were swimming away from her.
“We all deal with being separated from our Spirits differently,” Chione whispered and patted his shoulder.
“The world tour is such a brilliant idea, Caden,” Esme said.
“Well, it seemed the right thing to do to show how we’re together in all of this. I may live in Valerius’ territory--”
“Our territory,” Valerius corrected gently.
Caden kissed his cheek. “Our territory, but I love the idea of seeing all of yours and being welcomed there.”
“You are going to love my territory best!” Illarion pronounced. “First, we will stay in the mountains in my castle. My zamok! You will have a bedroom in the west tower where all you can see are trees and snow. We will hunt! There is the best hunting there. And then!”
“Then?” Caden’s eyes were wide.
“We go to Moscow to the clubs! The nightclubs are the best! We will dance all night and into the morning!” Illarion thrust his hips right then left. “Then we will go into these wonderful little restaurants that serve pelmeni. These little pastry dumplings with minced meat and covered in butter!”
“Butter?” Caden blinked rapidly.
“So good! Melts in your mouth! Best post drinking and dancing food ever!” Illarion kissed the tips of his fingers. “And then!”
“Then?” Caden was leaning forward so far he might fall off the couch.
Valerius grasped the back of his pants to keep Caden from toppling off.
“We're going to Chernobyl!” Illarion’s eyes glittered. “Such a place of bravery and pathos! You can feel the sacrifices made there. It is epic.”
Caden sighed and leaned back against the couch, curling by Valerius’ side. “Wow. That sounds incredible.”
“I can outdo that in my sleep!” Mei pronounced.
“I think not!” Illarion sneered.
“Great Wall of China!” she shot out.
