Chapter 322: After the Night

To be fair, Riley woke up with limbs intact and a body that didn’t particularly feel like he’d gone through an entire boxing match, only to be told to do all the rounds all over again.

But he could have ended up like that. In fact, he could have felt even worse as someone who didn’t particularly enjoy pain. Especially the pain in places he didn’t realize existed.

However, he had been saved from such a fate by a certain golden dragon who stayed awake through the night to tend to his mate. The same ex-mortal mate who said they should rest, backpedaled, and eventually fell asleep long before they ever reached the bed.

And that was saying a lot, because they hadn’t been particularly far away.

Just a few measly steps.

But Riley had apparently been sated enough that sleep had been welcomed a little too gloriously.

Kael had misgivings the moment he realized his twig had fallen asleep.

He couldn’t help but feel guilty because, after saying all that, he had still given in to temptation and done all sorts of things to his mate.

But then Riley had smiled in his sleep.

It wasn’t even something that Kael was merely imagining. The smile came with a tighter snuggle, and the golden dragon let out a quiet sigh.

Clearly, Riley had won that.

At the very least, he seemed content.

But to ensure the events of that night would be something that could happen again, Kael had made it his mission to make sure his mate didn’t wake up feeling like he had accidentally been stepped on by giant beasts.

Because that was what it usually felt like after the first time pheromones were exhausted by dragons who were still incapable of maintaining enough mana reserves to keep everything going.

It really hadn’t been a matter of them going nowhere or all the way. In the end, the backlash would still exist because his mate had more than just used said pheromones as an invitation.

Riley had kept it going just until he nodded off.

And the golden dragon didn’t want a traumatized and aching mate when it could be avoided.

So through the night, Kael spent his time using healing potions, salves, and careful massage techniques, even as Thyrran silently judged him for his life choices.

The familiar had hidden himself away for as long as possible for the sake of his own personal and mental health.

But eventually, he had to return to tether back to his master just to survive.

“My Lord,” Thyrran said at last, his small body coiled near the bedside. “The Young Master seems to be progressing well and even faster now. It would really be best for him to get a hold of his inheritance as soon as possible.”

Kael looked over to the snake that still looked far too much like a worm. If anything, Thyrran seemed to be looking rounder and rounder for some odd reason.

The golden dragon narrowed his eyes at him.

Still, he nodded.

It was not as if he didn’t understand such a thing.

More than anyone else, he wanted his mate to get his hands on that damned inheritance.

But they had to be particular with security and all that, so it was something much easier said than done.

However, it was also true that his twig was progressing faster now. With that level of pheromones he released and given how long he’d been able to sustain it, clearly he was controlling more mana now.

If anything, they even managed a visit to the cafe and a full-blown marriage ceremony before all of that.

He hated to admit it as someone extremely paranoid, but it was time.

Kael’s gaze drifted back to the sleeping man in his arms.

Riley’s breathing was slow and even, lashes resting against flushed skin. Kael reached out and brushed his thumb along his cheek, lingering there as if to memorize the warmth.

Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Riley’s lips.

It was barely more than a peck.

Even so, Riley shifted in his sleep and leaned into it, a quiet sound leaving his throat before he settled again.

Kael pulled back and let out a low sigh.

He straightened slowly.

And then, finally, he made a decision.

Even if it worried him to no end, the golden dragon decided that he would agree to going to that damned water park.

__

They just had to survive until they could get their hands on reservations.

That was the current goal.

Because the dragon estate had not been this chaotic since the day Kael had very nearly threatened to burn everything down in his worry for his mate.

And yet, here he was.

Perfectly awake.

Perfectly alert.

And already developing a headache early in the morning.

The cause of it became apparent the moment Riley stepped out into the open space.

Little creatures were already waiting.

They hovered nearby like puppies that had learned patience through sheer obsession. Small bodies clustered together, pretending they weren’t watching. Tails flicked. Wings fluttered. Feet shuffled in barely contained excitement.

And then they saw him.

Kael’s husband. His very own Riley.

That was when decorum was completely abandoned.

The little cretins waddled forward with all the confidence of beings who had never known consequence, puffing themselves up and doing their absolute best to impress him with bodies that were, frankly, not impressive in the slightest.

Riley stopped short.

“Oh my god,” he breathed, immediately crouching. “You’re all up already?”

Kael felt something dangerous coil in his chest.

If Riley wanted to coo over golden scales, then he could simply look at him.

There was absolutely no need to pinch Orien’s cheeks like that, especially when Kael’s dragon form was covered in scales that were far superior in size, sheen, and historical significance.

Tch.

If it wouldn’t be difficult to move around the tiny (not) house in his full form, then he would have walked around to show them what dragons really looked like.

Hmph!

If anything, the issue would be those iridescent crystals on Competitor Number One.

Still, it wouldn’t be impossible to solve.

Kael could simply go into the dragon vault and retrieve the fanciest crystals he could find. He would attach them to himself and shimmer just as bright.

Surely that would be more than enough.

It would be better.

Superior.

And most importantly, they wouldn’t be monopolizing his husband when Kael had just gotten married and had absolutely no business sharing attention with children.

Married people deserved privacy.

If they wanted to bother someone, then they could bother each other. They had just talked about getting married anyway.

Kael huffed.

Just before his left eye twitched.

Because his twig had just handed each child a cake pop.

He even fed them with his own hands.

Personally.

Really.

How was this even acceptable?

It truly shouldn’t be.

But nothing could be done when everyone around them seemed to delight in the children’s expressions as they ravaged that thing called a cake pop with absolute enthusiasm.

It didn’t help that with what happened yesterday, these cretins might just be alive for way longer than expected.

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