Esme and Jahara were the hosts. They were both dressed in icy white dresses and had silver glitter on their faces. Ice buckets made of real ice held bottles of Krug, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon and more were set out. Glasses were filled and toasts were made with the patrons joining in.
“Thank you so much for doing this!” Caden said to Esme and Jahara.
“We did nothing. A little champagne. A little food. All that matters is that we get to spend time with you,” Esme said as she patted his cheek.
“I remember when you trusted me with knowing you could do magic outside of your Dragon form, Esme. That meant a lot,” Caden told her.
“And it meant a lot that you trusted me first with your secret after I had made such a hash of it with my own people,” Esme sighed. She brightened then as she said, “You gave me the boost I needed to trust myself again.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Caden told her. He then turned to Jahara. “I was so afraid to meet you.”
“My reputation precedes me,” Jahara said with a wry smile. “But you never had anything to worry about, Caden. I don’t trust people easily. As you know, I’ve been… let down. But the moment we met, I knew I could trust you. And that made me certain of my plan to ask the other Dragon Shifters to come to my territory and make it our territory.”
“I think if anyone could have made that work, it’s you,” Caden said.
“Actually, you made it work, Caden. We’re all united now in a way I didn’t think was truly possible. You and Iolaire have made us a clan. Have made us a chosen family,” Jahara said.
He embraced both women, feeling as if he couldn’t put into words what each of them meant to him.
Wally clinked a knife against his glass to get everyone’s attention. He cleared his throat and adjusted his balloon hat that squeaked a bit on his head. “I have the honor to give the toast to Caden here at our first stop tonight.”
Caden blinked.
“I met him while he was still in highschool, which wasn’t all that long ago!” Wally grinned.
Someone called out, “Little Caden!”
Caden grinned.
“He was unsure of himself. He was new to greeting customers. I remember that he got so nervous on the first sale that he actually started paying them for their purchase!” Wally chortled.
“I lost count!” Caden laughed. “What can I say?”
“But though I feared the kid might spend me out of business that first day, I didn’t regret hiring him a bit!” Wally smiled at him with that big, silly smile that caused Caden’s heart to hurt a little. “Because I knew he was special the moment I laid eyes on him. I know people will think that I’m just saying that after the fact. But no, I knew. There was something about this kid. Something extraordinary. Oh, and he became a pretty damn good salesman too. So to Caden!”
Wally lifted his drink.
“To Caden!” Everyone cheered and lifted theirs.
Caden hugged Wally tightly. “Thank you, Wally. For everything.”
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, kid. I should be thanking you,” Wally told him, his voice a little hoarse from tears.
The champagne and food was devoured and all too soon they were on their way again. Esme and Jahara though were not coming to the next place. They would meet up with them later.
“At the final place?” Caden asked.
“The final place. But we’re not there yet, Caden!” Rose laughed, looping her arm through his and tugging him out of the champagne bar.
Once more, they piled into the SUV with Simi and Ngoye in charge. They were laughing and talking over one another. The evening had just begun and it had begun beautifully. Caden felt like his blood was filled with champagne even though he hadn’t had any more Ambrosia.
They left High Reach and headed down into the Mid towards an area packed with clubs and nightlife. They headed towards a bar known for incredible homemade beers and bar food to die for. While the other bar had been crystal and elegance, this one was scarred wood, pool tables and dart boards. Tez, Mei and Kaila were waiting for them there.
Wally immediately headed over to the bar for a brew so dark and thick that Caden was pretty sure he could have stuck a fork in it and the fork wouldn’t have moved. Wally’s mustache and its own mustache of foam.
Tez gave Caden a golden brew that had a certain zing of grapefruit and lemon. He took a large, grateful swallow. Kaila, who was in a spirited dart game, insisted on feeding him some soft pretzel nuggets covered in a hot, beer-cheese sauce that Caden wanted to eat with a spoon.
“Are Anwar and Illarion with Valerius?” Caden asked Tez, not able to keep his desire to know about his soon to be husband out of his voice.
