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Anya, who looked to be as regal as Terra, had her curls done up in intricate knots weaved with golden thread.

She lightly slapped her husband’s chest with the back of her hand.

“You’ve repaid us plenty, honey.” Her chestnut brown eyes traveled over his face and concern etched the slight crease of her brow.

Despite their many years on Alessandro, the couple had barely aged a day since she’d taken him in. Such was the gift of a long lifespan that the family now looked like a collection of brothers and sisters.

Anya didn’t voice her concern. She merely raised a hand and laid it gently on Alessandro’s cheek.

Tension released from his shoulders, and he nuzzled her palm in gratitude.

“The heirs of the houses have their people gathered and accounted for in the coliseum.” Terra said with the slightest smile on her face. “Are you ready, my king?”

Stone raised the crown, and Alessandro knelt.

Like always, it felt heavy as it settled upon his brow. He despised the thing, but when all those in the room gazed at him with it on, it reminded him of its necessity.

He was their pride and hope with it on. Their protector, whether it be from the outside world or from themselves.

The stadium was full of as many dragons that could make it to the ceremony. The roar from the sheer size of the crowd was deafening as he made his way to the pair of matching thrones set on the raised stage at the center of the stadium.

Terra had outdone herself with the decorations.

Where there was usually dirt and training equipment, she’d raised a garden of blooms that peppered the air with the sweet smell of nectar.

The rows of bone white seating had never been brighter, each section draped with cotton linens.

The crests of every family hung from each box, thousands of them reminding him how far a small village had come through the years.

From his first footstep into their view, a hush fell over the crowd. Terra stayed back to await Rowan and her family. His parents tore from his side as they approached their own family branch.

Aqua and Blaise stood at the base of the steps, joining Stone and Naseem behind him as they ascended.

His generals lined up next to his throne. Stone diverted to stand next to where Rowan would take her place. When he sat, Alessandro took in the faces of those looking down at him.

Some were eager, but he could sense the disappointment of many.

Facing the entrance again, he felt his dragon settle into the familiar cadence of Rowan’s name.

Though the marking had settled the more territorial aspects of his dragon, Rowan had not yet given him everything that a bond like mates required.

She hadn’t so much as grazed their connection with a curious tug, or given memories to it.

She remained as distant as the day she told him to fuck off.

Yes. She desired him, perhaps more than she’d ever desired anyone. She enjoyed their time together. But that wasn’t enough. He needed her trust, her devotion, her fucking heart on a platter.

When he felt her magic, as slight as it had become after her injury, his dragon relented in the chants. He relaxed into his throne, but it was a momentary condition.

His breath left him as he took in her visage.

Underneath an intricate golden wired corset, the woman wore black and blue swaths of thin fabrics that hugged every curve. His colors. How had she known? Had she seen it in a vision? They had never appealed so much to him.

Tendrils of white hair curled along her shoulders. Golden cuffs hugged the base of her black horns. They glinted underneath the flames of the surrounding torches. Her black wings acted like a cape as she kept them carefully tucked away.

For a moment he thought she’d found some way to heal her missing eye, but as his attention zeroed in on the new appendage, he recognized the starry iris as Odin’s Eye.

His favorite part of her ensemble was the golden scale mail that made up shoulder and neck pieces. They framed her creamy breasts, showcasing their mating mark for the entire kingdom to see.

Without realizing it, he was on his feet and a wide grin that warmed everything inside of him took residence on her face. How could she look at him like that and yet keep what he needed most from her just out of reach?

Her full attention was on him and even the weight of the crown couldn’t stop him from taking the untraditional action of leaving his chair to meet her at the bottom of the steps.

Before her, he hadn’t known it would be possible for anyone to look at him the way she did every single time he met her. As if their separation was too long, as if he was the sun coming out after weeks of night.

It cemented his resolve.

He leaned down and captured her mouth in a kiss that put everything on the table. He was utterly hers. The rest of the world be damned.

The action set the crowd into a frenzy of whispers. The Dragon King had never been publicly affectionate with his candidates before. To witness it was a stronger confirmation that he had found his mate than even the ceremony.

Her magic, as diminished as it was, brushed against the bond. Sweet, sweet progress.

Peace only lasted the briefest moment as he felt three very familiar and concerning magical signatures.

His eyes cut up to where her guests had arrived.

Family and friends along with a very cocky and impeccably dressed raven-haired woman with the wings, horns and tails denoting her as the mother of all succubi blood, Lilith.

A stoic blonde-haired, blonde-bearded and blue eyed-man Alessandro hadn’t seen out of the endless hells in nearly a century, Lucifer.

And a wary, surprisingly sober viking of a witch, Japhet.

Terra was leading them to their reserved box, shooting him a concerned look when their eyes met.

He glanced down at Rowan, who had caught the tension and was following his line of sight.

“We’re definitely going to talk about how you fit into all of those relationships. For now, shall we continue, Dragon King?”

He took her small hand in his. He’d never quite realized how much smaller she was. “Before you climb those steps, there’s been a change of plans.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Rowan, this isn’t your place. I’m no longer sure this is even mine.”

Her bright blue eye filled with confusion, Odin’s Eye reacted by glimmering.

He took a deep breath and looked around. Her confusion reflected in all the faces that stared down at them, the buzz of whispers growing into a roar the longer they stood there.

“I’m going to announce my retirement.” Saying it out loud brought him a sense of relief he never thought he’d feel when he pictured this day.

Rowan’s confusion melted into understanding. He could feel her prodding their bond, attempting to figure out what was happening.

“Right now?” She asked softly.

“Well, they are gathered.” He shrugged.

She shook her head. “Oh my gods, they’re totally going to blame me! Alessandro, are you sure? Or is this a side effect from the mark?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Have I not made it clear I am an overthinker before I decide on a move? I told you in the cave that Stone could take my place with the support of my generals. It was the truth. I started planning all of this when you were lying on that hospital bed. I knew I’d reached a point of no return.

My plan was to ask for your neck after the power was fully transferred.

But you pushed my dragon too far by offering the bite. ”

She was ready to lash out, but he stopped her with a soft kiss.

“My generals are aware of what this is. My heir is willing and ready to try his hand at power. It’ll be a slow transition, so you will sit at my side during this period.

It won’t be traditional, and it won’t be easy, but it is what is right. ”

She narrowed her eyes. “This really should have been a conversation.”

He scoffed. “I tried to make it one, several times, but you kept jumping my bones.”

She scoffed, “I kept jumping your bones? I was half convinced you were an incubus.”

He grinned down at her and held his hand out. “What do you say, Rowan Dahl? Want to be my queen for whatever time my reign remains?”

“Well, they are gathered.” She echoed his words and took his hand, “You’re sure sure?”

“I’m sure, sure.” He kissed her knuckles before turning and leading the way back up.

He could feel her shock over the declaration as they climbed. If nothing else, the bond allowed him to feel her emotions, and he’d gotten plenty of practice during their five day escape. He felt the moment her shock faded into nervousness. He squeezed her hand to remind her she wasn’t alone.

Stone stepped up when they reached the top-most landing, a smaller version of his black and gold crown in hand.

Rowan gave his hand one last squeeze before dropping it.

He returned to his seat, silence returning as he shot a look around at the whispering crowd.

Rowan knelt before his heir, tilting her head up to meet his steady gaze.

“Princess Rowan Dahl of the Eastern Elven Kingdom, before the Thunder, before the Dragon King Alessandro, before our ancestors, we are here to welcome you into our ranks, not only as an esteemed honorary member, but as our queen consort.” The stomps began small and slow from the bleachers.

Stone beamed down at her as if pleased by the sound.

“Will you accept the duties to support the Dragon King Alessandro’s role through a dedicated study of our laws and culture to shape a more successful future of dragon kind?

” Stone’s voice thundered to every crook and cranny of the stadium as the stomps began gathering speed and more participation.

These moments made being their king worth it. Alessandro basked in the sound of his Thunder coming together.

“I will.” She answered, casting the same spell with what Alessandro could feel was a monumental effort.