She just winked at him. “Definitely by magic. My magic.”
“Tez! Mei! Kaila!” Anwar greeted three of their Dragon Shifter brethren who were already seated on a couch that curled around the firepit.
“Did you know they cook fish here, too, Anwar? Really good fish! I saw at another table and I need just a little one.” Kaila had a huge fish in her hands and her lips were dripping with its juices.
“I see that now.” Anwar laughed.
“Want some?” She offered her fish to the Silver Dragon King.
“The next one.” He smiled as he backed away.
The minute that they sat down, the staff was already coming and setting up skewers of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and more to cook around the fire. Skewers of tomatoes and onions cooked beside whole blackening peppers and unshucked ears of corn. There were baskets of cheese-filled breads that were small enough to pop in his mouth and release a gush of cream-cheese and herbs. Sweet roasted bananas and salty polenta were available in abundance to be eaten with the meat and vegetables.
Valerius found himself inhaling food, hardly speaking, even as everyone around him joked and laughed. He was pleased to be there with them. He was also glad that he didn’t have to be the center of conversation. He was definitely included but there was no pressure on him. Again, he was sure this was Chione’s doing, but the little sparkle Marban gave him, made him wonder if the Swarm Shifter hadn’t already picked up what kept him comfortable.
He certainly used to know what would make me uncomfortable.
As the edge to his and Raziel’s hunger was slightly taken off, Mei stood up and clinked her glass with a knife. Their party quieted down as Valerius stared at the Red Dragon Queen. She smiled at him. A genuine smile. Mei was like him and didn’t long for company, but she was clearly making an effort. He hoped that his smile back at her showed he appreciated it.
“We’ve all known each other for many, many centuries, millennia,” Mei amended with an eyebrow lift, “but I would swear that I finally know you today.”
There were “awwwwsss” from Tez and Kaila. Illarion smiled and nodded.
“In the past, I had only a construct of all of you. It was easier that way. I put things in boxes. I categorize. It’s neat. It’s tidy. It’s not… accurate. But it felt manageable,” Mei admitted.
“We understand, Mei,” Kaila said.
“I think we all kept each at arm’s length. We pretended that we were not a clan, were not a family. Every other Shifter on Earth had each other, but we were… unique, singular, alone,” Mei said after a watery smile at Kaila.
Valerius knew exactly what she meant.
Mei’s gaze focused on him. “When news of Caden and Iolaire’s joining reached me, and I realized I had an excuse to come to see you, Valerius, I told myself that I did not feel relief or joy or a desire to connect.”
Valerius’ eyes were somehow wetter than they had been.
“I was just coming to exploit and plan and strategize my way with this new Shifter.” She smiled, but there were tears coming down her face. “But, though I would not--could not--admit it, I knew that coming to see you, Valerius. And that being in your presence would make this wrongness that I had been feeling for so long go away.”
He wiped a tear that fell and threatened to roll down his cheek and fall off his chin.
“I know I am not alone in this. And now, as we celebrate your upcoming marriage to Caden and Iolaire, I find that I am not alone at all. That none of us is anymore. Your happiness is mine and mine is yours,” Mei told him as she lifted a glass. “Valerius, you are my king, my clan, my family and my friend. I wish you all good things in the world.”
The others at the table raised their glasses and added their voices to Mei’s words.
“Oh, why do I always have to go after someone says something fabulous?” Tez whined. “Really, Mei, you should have been last!”
The Red Dragon Queen merely shrugged and drained her champagne glass that was filled with more. Tez got to his feet and smiled at Valerius in his warm way that always made Valerius smile.
“Raziel and you are not beautiful, Valerius. In fact, some would find you monstrous,” Tez said, which had Illarion snorting his drink out his nose. “What? What? I’m just stating facts here!”
“Brilliant beginning, Tez,” Chione laughed.
“Keep going. I cannot wait to hear the rest,” Valerius said, chucking into his own drink, a rich, red syrah that had replaced his champagne.
Tez looked affronted at the others, but then smiled sweetly at Valerius. “But while outer beauty can help a leader lead, there must be something more inside. You must inspire loyalty and love. You must make those look to you in times of need, even if they forget you in times of plenty. For you are the backbone, the spine, that everything and everyone in this world gets their strength from. You and Raziel are the king of kings, Valerius, which Eldoron and I are so very glad of. Because we cannot think of anyone more worthy.”
Valerius actually felt his throat tighten at those words and he could only nod his thanks.
“So I am extremely grateful that Caden and Iolaire can look past your outside and see the beauty within!” Tez ended.
