Regretfully, the photo they could use for the marriage license was not the one where his twig had been locking lips with him. Instead, what was accepted was the shot taken after they pulled away from each other.

Riley seemed to like it a lot because he picked it right away without hesitation. Kael, on the other hand, didn’t quite understand the need to pick when obviously all of them were going to look good, anyway.

So why not just use them all?

It was probably the benefit of being a magical being who had no idea that he looked vaguely murderous in the other shots. Those had been deleted immediately, for the sake of someone’s continued existence. The remaining images showed expressions that were unmistakably pleased, amused, and undeniably close.

The great dragon lord shook his head faintly, something wistful settling in his chest.

His twig liked him. A lot.

In fact, the extremely golden soon-to-be husband couldn’t help but wonder how he would be able to leave his mate alone for long periods of time if he preferred to cling like that.

What if his mate simply sulked all day if they did not see, hug, or kiss at least once every hour, judging by how things had gone today?

If Riley was that open with kissing in public then how close would they have to be in private so he could rightfully satisfy his twig’s needs.

Kael’s thoughts wandered far too freely as images surfaced of his mate pulling him in for a kiss right in front of that questionable contraption that guy called a camera.

He had stared at it intensely then, unable to understand how something so small could possibly be a camera at all.

The issue wasn’t with knowing what a camera was. He, at the very least, knew about such a thing. But what he couldn’t make sense of, was how the same thing could be classified as a camera.

It was nothing compared to the cameras held by the people who always chased them. Those were far bigger and could sometimes extend to the length of someone’s leg.

So why, for something as important as their marriage, were they using a tiny rectangular device?

Was that not an insult?

And yet, somehow, the toy camera produced an acceptable photo.

More than acceptable, apparently.

Kael had immediately offered to buy all the photos. And the tiny toy camera.

It was just that his twig said no.

Fine.

So instead, the dragon lord settled for adding a bonus to have all the photos printed and sent to his mobile phone. He raised a brow when he saw the same printed images now displayed on that rectangular screen.

That was something he would need to learn more about later. If printed photos could appear there, then surely the reverse was possible too.

What grand uses such a thing could have.

Those thoughts, however, were quickly shelved.

Because they were finally getting married.

Huh?

Kael slowed, brow furrowing as he looked ahead.

"Why is there a gathering crowd?"

The area they were supposed to return to was now filled with far more heads than before. People stood closer together, murmuring, craning their necks.

Was this a hostage situation? Were they holding their documents?

Or was this some kind of barricade meant to stop them from getting married?

Beside him, his twig walked on without concern and simply said, "Ah. They found out."

Kael blinked.

"Huh?"

__

Well, it was just as Riley had figured. The higher-ups had found out about their marriage.

But that would be the nice way of putting it.

In reality, the news had spread like a blaring emergency alarm, the kind that demanded immediate attention. Even the busiest departments had dropped what they were doing. Meetings were abandoned. Documents were left half signed. Coffee went cold.

Because this was not just any situation.

There were always big names in every industry. Figures each race knew better than to offend. But above even those stood beings people dare not even think of in case they could apparently read minds too.

Those at the very top of the food chain.

The dragons.

And among them, one stood unquestionably above the rest.

The golden dragon lord, Kael Dravaryn.

Who, at that very moment, was downstairs registering for marriage to a human. After lining up outside like everyone else.

Gods.

What if they all got annihilated tomorrow?

And so against their better judgement and out of immense fear for tomorrow, everyone up top practically descended to welcome the ruler of all rulers.

Only when they arrived all they could do was to shake in their boots while bowing as the being that was mostly a myth to them with his rare public appearances simply strode over with an actual human.

It was really true and they couldn’t even hold it out against dragon fear.

__

As the crowd parted and bowed, Riley simply greeted the official ahead of them and continued walking alongside Kael toward their destination.

Thankfully, no one tried to stop them.

They remained where they were, witnesses rather than participants. Riley could practically smell the fear rolling off them. The tactfulness did not come from courtesy. It came from helplessness in the face of something so overwhelmingly beyond them.

If only they knew how restrained Kael actually was.

How he was not leaking anything at all.

Such control.

Riley nearly chuckled to himself. Not too long ago, he would have been among the ones trembling. And now here he was, about to get legally married to the same being who had once terrified him.

Worse, he now saw Kael through an entirely different lens. What stood out most was not his power, but the way he always prioritized Riley and what they were building together.

No wonder people said love was blind.

To the terrified humans around them, he probably looked completely insane.

And yet, as they stood before the same registrar to submit their photos, Riley smiled.

So be it.

This was the kind of blind he had fought tooth and nail to earn.

Which was why, when the registrar hesitated and moved to skip the declaration portion, Riley spoke up.

"Sir, as per the guidelines, we are supposed to read the declaration."

The room stilled.

Several people exchanged looks. Many couples preferred skipping that part. Despite the formal wording, it still felt personal. Awkward. Embarrassing.

And the fact that a human had just insisted on it, with a dragon lord standing beside him, made several hearts seize in terror.

What if the dragon took offense?

But the groom who knew his fiancé best knew better.

Kael would absolutely take offense if such a thing were skipped.

The idea that Riley could have sworn his vows aloud but was denied the chance because humans thought it embarrassing would not sit well with him at all.

Clearly, they had no idea what dragons considered embarrassing.

Like this.

What truly bothered the dragon lord was that their witnesses were all strangers. Humans they did not know. Humans they had no connection to.

His ears twitched when he heard mention of the declaration.

If the filing was not private, then it should be done properly.

Of course it should.

So, to the near death experience of the watching humans, the dragon lord vanished.

Gasps erupted. Several people braced themselves for flames. Someone nearly screamed.

And then Kael reappeared.

With company.

Four adults.

And two... stumps?

Covered in blankets.

Wearing sunglasses.

"???"

The scene was bizarre enough that no one could process it properly. But whatever confusion they felt was quickly overridden by something else.

Because two of the newcomers looked uncannily like Kael.

The same bearing. The same presence.

Oh good heavens.

The realization hit all at once.

The dragon lord had called in his relatives.

__

Riley almost doubled over.

In fairness to his mate, he had asked first. Very politely, too. He said it would be better to even out the unfair distribution of witnesses. For legality. For stability. To make sure it stuck, he objectively reasoned.

But the once single human, and about to be married dragon, didn’t expect to see his little brother and Orien standing there under what could only be described as the most haphazard disguise known to mankind.

A blanket draped over each of them.

Sunglasses awkwardly perched over two uneven holes that had very clearly been cut out so they could see.

Please.

Riley pressed a hand to his mouth, shoulders shaking. He genuinely wanted to lie down on the floor and laugh himself breathless.

Ah. Truly. Marrying his golden dragon was the best decision he had ever made.

And when the time came for them to read out the declaration, Riley knew with absolute certainty that he meant every word.

Well. Maybe minus the part about him being exactly human.

"I, Riley Hale," Riley read aloud, voice steady.

"I, Kael Dravaryn," Kael followed immediately, his tone deep and unwavering.

Together, they continued.

"Hereby declare that:

We meet all legal requirements for marriage and are eligible to register our marriage.

We enter into this marriage voluntarily, without coercion, fraud, or interference from any individual or organization.

Neither of us is currently married, and we do not have any relationship prohibited by law.

We willingly choose each other as spouses and intend to establish a lawful marital relationship together.

All information provided in this application is true and accurate.

We understand that marriage is a legally recognized union that establishes mutual rights and obligations, and that this marriage will be protected by law upon registration.

By signing below, we confirm our intention to apply for marriage registration and accept legal responsibility for this declaration."

They read it side by side.

Sometimes their voices overlapped. Sometimes one paused just long enough for the other to catch up. Every now and then, Riley glanced sideways, only to find Kael already looking at him.

It became obvious very quickly that Kael was no longer reading.

He had memorized it.

Every word.

The officials noticed. The witnesses noticed. Even the two figures under the blanket stiffened in awe.

And as Riley met Kael’s gaze again, warmth blooming quietly in his chest, he realized that nothing about this felt forced or rushed or strange.

It felt right.

Exactly right.