Chapter 300: Choosing Each Other

There have always been many definitions of marriage.

And in some cases, those answers would change depending on people’s outlook and the state of their own relationship.

Some focus on how marriage is the process by which two people make their relationship public, official, and permanent.

Then there is the more formal explanation. Marriage as a legally, socially, and oftentimes religiously recognized union between two or more people, committed to establishing a partnership with mutual rights, responsibilities, and obligations.

Riley very deliberately did not mention the part about two or more people.

His golden dragon was already jumpy enough and him learning about such a possibility would likely end in a sea of flames.

So, no thanks.

Still, it felt like a strangely appropriate time for a free marriage counseling session, considering they were standing right outside the office and were quite literally about to get married.

But instead of dwelling on formal definitions, Riley found himself thinking about the ones he had picked up over time.

How marriage was finding that special someone you wanted to annoy for the rest of your life.

How marriage was loving someone enough to argue about nothing and everything.

All of those were good definitions. In fact they felt real and applicable. And somehow, even before getting married, Riley already felt like he could agree with them.

And yet, right now, another meaning kept surfacing in his mind.

About how marriage was choosing each other on days when the choice itself felt too hard.

He almost laughed at the timing.

Why be sentimental now?

Well, it wasn’t exactly by choice.

More importantly, he wasn’t even sure about this version of too hard.

See, as someone who had survived both the worst and the best with his very own dragon, Riley had a different understanding of what too hard meant. But standing here, he didn’t really have the luxury of ignoring it. Not with the increasing number of couples around them who looked seconds away from turning on each other.

Seriously?

Were they really doing this right now?

If everyone would just look forward, into the light, or at the very least toward the door of the Civil Affairs Bureau, there would probably be far fewer people struggling to choose each other right now.

The unfortunately observant ex-human resisted the urge to rub his temples in exasperation. Instead, he leaned subtly into his about-to-be legally-binding emotional support dragon.

As someone who still felt and acted very much like a human, Riley simply couldn’t help but sigh at why he hoped the line would move quickly.

Not because he disliked waiting. And not because he was in a hurry and wanted preferential treatment.

No.

But his quiet hope was mainly because instead of worrying about keeping his mana steady, he was far more concerned about the drama that might erupt right in front of them.

Here and there, the whispers stopped being whispers. Then again, even if they whispered to the best of their abilities, Riley would still have been able to hear them.

Haaay!

“Why are you staring like that?”

“I wasn’t staring.”

“You were staring. Don’t lie to me.”

Riley winced internally and leaned a little closer to Kael’s body, as if proximity alone could ward off whatever nonsense was brewing nearby.

Another voice cut in, sharper and louder than the rest.

“Oh really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re wondering if you’d rather be marrying the guy at the back.”

“The guy at the back?” came an incredulous reply. “Are you serious right now?”

“Yes. The tall one. Obviously.”

Riley didn’t need to wonder to know exactly who they were talking about when everyone here dwarfed his mate.

“What kind of absurd accusation is that?” the second voice snapped. “He’s clearly here to get married too. Why would you even say something like that?”

“Well, I don’t see them holding a marriage license,” the first person shot back. “Do you?”

“I was looking because he’s tall. That’s it. People look at tall things.”

“That is the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

“Well maybe if you weren’t so busy imagining me running off with someone else, you’d notice that I’m standing right here.”

Other people were somehow joining in, clearly not to de-escalate.

And yet, among all the couples nervously policing wandering eyes and misplaced glances, the most destabilizing presence was also the simplest.

He was the only being there who truly didn’t give a flying fuck about any of it.

Yes.

Because the hunky, undeniably head-turning piece of golden eye candy behind him was doing exactly one thing.

Waiting.

While other couples whispered, practically screamed accusations and bristled over imagined slights just moments before marriage, one golden dragon stood silently, eyes fixed on the doors of the bureau, holding out with remarkable restraint.

His arm was wrapped protectively around his mate’s waist.

And the only time Kael finally tore his gaze away from the offending door was when his twig quietly called his name and asked him to lean forward.

__

The dragon lord obeyed instantly.

He bent down without question, his tall frame naturally folding around his mate as the smaller figure shifted, turning his head and upper body toward him.

Kael’s arms were already there, encircling him from behind like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Riley’s voice was low when he spoke, almost swallowed by the crowd noise.

“I want to get married already.”

Kael, the great dragon lord, understandably froze.

Just for a second.

Surprise flashed through him, sharp and bright, before it melted into something dangerously pleased. His heart thudded hard in his chest, pride and relief tangling together in a way that made his fingers curl reflexively. But of course, he didn’t make a big deal out of it. After all, his twig had always been shy.

But before Kael could even form a coherent response, Riley turned fully, arms coming up to wrap around him without hesitation.

Right there.

In front of everyone.

Kael stiffened again, this time purely out of instinct. Not because he didn’t want it. But because his mate was suddenly very clingy and very public and clearly overwhelmed.

Ah.

So that was it.

His twig was excited. Too excited. No self control at all.

Kael sighed internally, already deciding that he really needed to figure something out so Riley wouldn’t sulk or spiral while waiting. This was entirely his responsibility as the rightful husband and not because he was out there prepared to just demolish the institution in excitement.

He returned the embrace carefully, one hand settling at Riley’s back as he rubbed slow, steady circles in what he believed to be a soothing manner.

There there.

He would fix this.

Eventually.

Once Riley calmed down.

Only then did Kael lift his head again, eyes drifting back toward the door as he began contemplating several non-destructive ways to gain entry without directly defying his twig’s very clear warnings.

But before any viable plan could take shape, Kael finally felt it.

The shift.

The attention.

He looked around.

Everyone was staring. Maybe it was how they had no mana in them and didn’t really feel like a threat to the dragon lord, but only now did he notice their intense stares.

Kael’s eyes narrowed immediately, a low protective instinct rolling through him as his arm tightened around Riley. His presence sharpened, his posture unmistakably territorial as if daring anyone to say something foolish.

That was when a woman stepped forward.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said carefully, glancing between them. “Would you and your partner like to switch places with me and my partner?”

Kael blinked.

Normally, his brow would have furrowed straight into the ground at such a dubious offer. But today was different.

Today, he was very motivated. Especially when he realized that the woman was pointing at a spot closer to that offending door.

“!”

“If you and your partner are willing to do such a thing,” Kael replied solemnly, “then today will be more than auspicious for your marriage.”

The words carried weight.

Not just meaning.

Mana flowed quietly with them, unseen and unnoticed, slipping into place like a promise.

The woman’s partner had been aghast the entire time she spoke, clearly bracing for an argument because it felt like he was being disrespected. But when Kael turned his attention to him and calmly stated that they would be blessed for such a favor, something shifted.

The man’s anger evaporated.

Whether it was the sheer presence of the speaker or the sudden sense of peace washing through him, even the man didn’t know.

All he knew was that his fiancée squeezed his hand and whispered that he wouldn’t worry anymore once those two were married, right?

So what was wrong with letting them go first so those two could get married faster?

And the man, as if realizing what that actually meant for them and actually seeing his fiancée smile at him in the process, couldn’t help but give way.

And just like that, the space opened.

What everyone expected to become a dramatic confrontation instead turned into murmurs of surprise as Riley stepped out of Kael’s embrace just long enough to thank the couple sincerely before they moved forward.

And then something strange happened.

Another couple gestured for them to go ahead.

Then another.

And another.

Polite smiles. Nervous laughter. Quick reassurances.

Kael stared in growing confusion as they advanced, his steps hesitant. Were humans always this generous? Or was today simply abnormal? Then again, his twig said it was the Year of the Dragon, so certainly as dragons, maybe fate was making way for them.

But despite such thoughts, the dragon lord did not like owing people.

So without even thinking about it, Kael began quietly weaving protections and small charms, nothing flashy. Just enough luck. Just enough safety. A version of just enough that was probably too much for actual humans who weren’t like his twig.

But that was something for various couples suddenly winning the lottery to talk about. For the dragon lord and his mate had other things to focus on.

Because just as Kael lifted his head once more.

The door opened.

A staff member politely stepped out and called, “Next couple, please.”

Kael blinked.

Riley blinked.

And lo and behold, when the crowd parted, what was left was the two of them.

It was finally their turn!

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