Chapter 292: Passenger Princess

Thankfully for everyone else, Lawrence Hale managed to suggest a compromise.

Since even the instructor was fully aware that no accident had actually taken place, it would be best to allow an on-the-spot retake.

Of course, there were those who had been completely fooled by Kael’s restraint and wanted to force him to return another day.

They were clearly choosing to live dangerously, but for humans who had never thought they would be able to make a dragon obey, they felt the need to make the most out of it.

Well, that was their initial hope.

But after the ground subtly trembled beneath their feet when the golden dragon glanced their way, unanimous agreement came remarkably fast.

He passed on the fourth try.

All that effort for a flimsy card that he had to enchant just so it would survive his touch.

Bah!

__

So really, there were so many things he could say about that damned license.

And yet, despite the many grievances simmering in his chest, the dragon lord just kept his mouth shut to protect his dignity.

But just when he was about to drown in foul memories, his twig suddenly said something that made his ears twitch.

“I can’t believe the photo on your license actually looks this good,” Riley muttered, squinting at the card. “Mine looks like I haven’t slept in weeks.”

“Granted, back then I really didn’t sleep much and I’m pretty sure you know why.”

It came with a quick side-eye and the dragon lord had to clear his throat while saying, “Sorry. My fault.”

His busy twig shrugged at him before saying, “Haaay, you. So lucky to end up with someone as magnanimous as me.”

Riley put up his hands as if in exasperation and Kael just swallowed his words about the magnanimous aide looking for assassins to hire at one point in time.

Thankfully he did, for his mate just busied himself with pulling out his own license, holding the two up side by side. “I should really have them take a new photo once I get my license changed. Tsk tsk.”

Kael glanced at him.

“Changed?”

“Huh?” Green eyes flicked over.

“You’re getting your license changed?” Kael asked slowly.

Riley hummed. “Well. I guess that would depend on how and if we want to do this.”

The golden dragon raised a brow.

When Riley didn’t immediately elaborate, Kael narrowed his eyes at him.

Only then did the teasing twig chuckle.

“Well,” his twig began, “your mother is known to everyone as Lady Cirila Dravaryn. But I’m guessing that’s just the name people use now. A few thousand years ago, it might not have been the same.”

“Hmm. Come to think of it, maybe I should ask her about that?”

Kael didn’t really say anything but just listened.

“See, for humans,” Riley continued, “most people would automatically assume her name was Lady Cirila Dravaryn because they recognize her bond with Lord Karion as marriage.”

“Because, as archaic as it sounds,” he added lightly, “marriage for humans used to involve taking a partner’s surname so people can easily identify them as a unit.”

Kael blinked.

“What?”

“But don’t get me wrong. While that’s still true, there’s really no pressure to change names or anything. It would still work fine provided the right documents are filed.”

“No. Tell me about taking a partner’s surname.”

“Oh, that? Well, okay.”

“It just means that once we are legally married, either of us could alter our names,” Riley explained. “I could be Riley Hale Dravaryn. Or you could take the unusual route and be Kael Dravaryn Hale. Or we could just keep everything the same or even combine them.”

He shrugged. “But if we do change legal names, we would need new identification. Which means my license would have to be updated.”

“And while the MBE couldn’t care less about name changes provided the unions involving magical creatures are filed, humans somehow do.”

Silence filled the car.

Then, without warning, the vehicle smoothly changed direction.

Riley blinked at the passing scenery.

“…Wait a minute,” he said slowly. “Where are you going?”

Kael did not look away from the road. “Where else?”

“That is not the way to the coffee shop.”

“We’re going to the Transportation Office,” Kael replied calmly. “To get you a new license card.”

Riley stared.

“What? No!” he exclaimed. “We can’t change it yet! We’re not legally married! You need papers for that!”

Kael frowned deeply.

He didn’t like that answer.

At all.

All that legality was going to drive him crazy. And that civil affairs bureau better think about their processes because the dragon lord was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to survive failing to get married four times.

And if he ended up suffering because of bureaucracy, why would he ever allow anyone else to live a good life?

Moreover, it didn’t help that his twig kept on laughing at him.

It was quiet at first. Then it grew.

Kael shot him an offended look. “Why are you laughing?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Riley said between chuckles. “It’s just. You looked way too ready to march back in there.”

Kael huffed.

Riley reached out, resting his hand lightly over the one near the center console. “We’ll test my ability first. Let’s go to a cafe.”

Kael glanced at him.

“While we’re there,” Riley continued, “we can double check the steps my mom mentioned about registering the marriage. Then we’ll go to the civil affairs bureau.”

“Hmph.”

Kael was still clearly miffed. Mostly because Riley had laughed at his enthusiasm.

But then the shameless twig did something unexpected.

He laced their fingers together.

The dragon stiffened.

The forward-facing Riley turned his head slightly, eyes warm. “This is how couples drive around together.”

The golden dragon’s grip tightened instinctively but still remembered just how fragile his twig was.

“When the passenger trusts their partner,” Riley said softly, “and knows their partner is a great driver, they can hold hands like this.”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“And since my fiancé seems to be a very good driver,” Riley added with a knowing smile, “maybe we can stay like this for a while.”

Kael squeezed back, heart hammering hard against his ribs.

Fine.

The Transportation Office could be allowed to survive this year.

But he would come back again. For sure.

__

It was a great drive overall.

Surprisingly, Riley actually felt like a passenger princess.

Sure, he was still circulating his mana in that very particular way. He had not forgotten that. But most of the time, he found himself simply enjoying the view.

Not the scenic landscape that he had seen countless times but the man on the wheel.

Because really, how many people could honestly say that the Dragon Lord of Eryndra had driven them around in a car?

Well, not counting the unfortunate souls at the Transportation Office that Riley knew nothing about, and his father who had clearly been the biggest accomplice in all of this, he still felt special.

Very special.

And holding hands while cruising down the road?

If anyone saw them like this, they would probably never guess that just days ago, they were threatened by the possibility of impending doom.

They were sticky. Too sticky for beings who supposedly heard the prediction of a possible apocalypse.

Ahem.

Their fingers remained intertwined, warm and steady while Kael’s grip stayed firm but careful. As a budding dragon with control issues, Riley was starting to understand more about the mighty dragons.

Knowing just how difficult it really was to regulate anything, he couldn’t help but think about the restraint exercised by his mate daily.

In fact, every time Kael touched him gently, he couldn’t help but simultaneously develop an appreciation for his dragon’s efforts.

So driving safely and attentively while holding him like that?

Ten out of ten.

And if not for Thyrran’s presence lingering faintly at the back of his mind, Riley was fairly sure he would have acted even worse.

Right now, he already felt like a teenager experiencing first love. The ridiculous kind. The one where everything felt new, dramatic, and slightly unreal.

To think all they did was go out for a drive!

He leaned his head back against the seat, thumb absentmindedly brushing over Kael’s knuckles.

If his morning was starting off like this, just how exciting would today be?

But maybe he really should have never thought of that.

As the self-proclaimed leader of all the individuals with the unfortunate capacity for self-sabotage, he really should just shut his mouth and mind.

But who could have expected a calamity to occur when just moments ago he was lovingly caressing the hand of his beloved dragon?

He certainly didn’t.

And he was pretty certain that the people inside the quaint coffee shop weren’t expecting tremors here and there as they all hoped for a peaceful day.

But it wasn’t like Riley meant for things to happen.

How could he have imagined things to spiral from someone simply calling out?

“Riley?”

“Huh?”

“Oh wow! Riley! It’s really you!”

Nope. He really should have said nope.

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