The Dragon King (29 page)

Aaron

Sophia came into view on her father’s arm as a live orchestra played the wedding march, and I forgot to breathe for a few moments. She was the most beautiful bride I’d ever seen. People frequently commented she looked like a Faerie Princess, but today she looked like a tiny Faerie Queen.

We’d gone for a traditional wedding, though I hadn’t told her of my surprise. She knew I was arranging for the man who would officiate the ceremony, and I’d introduced her to him by one of his many names, Lovis, which is pronounced something like Jaw-iss.

So, when Jupiter had us face the audience after the kiss, preparing to introduce us, he froze time for every human without knowledge of who we really are, and introduced us as “Their Majesties, King Aaron and Queen Sophia.”

Jupiter dropped the glamour he’d been under and appeared before the assembled crowd in all of his glory. Everyone standing with us dropped to their knees, as did the audience. I could tell Sophia’s knees wanted to bend as well, but she kept them straight and stood proud, proof she was already a Queen in this realm, even if she hadn’t been officially crowned.

Jupiter waved his hand and I felt the weight of my Dragon crown on my head. It was always there, but — like my sword — it only showed up when needed.

I smiled as Jupiter held his left hand flat and waved his right again, making Sophia’s new crown show up in his left hand.

“Your Majesty,” Jupiter told my new wife. “You’ve been Dragon Queen since Aaron claimed you as his mate, but it’s time we officially crowned you.” He settled the crown on her head, and her beautiful hair — artfully piled on top of her head — seemed to adjust so it worked with the crown and made her seem even more regal.

Sophia and I stood as one, crowns on our heads before a little over seven hundred people, and Jupiter introduced us once again, “Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you, Their Majesties, King Aaron and Queen Sophia. Long may they live in peace!”

The audience stood and repeated the final sentence, and I could feel the Power in the wish. For a moment, the air felt more like it does in Faerie, and then the spell was broken as Jupiter transformed back into the man who’d presided over our wedding. He looked the same, and yet… different. Without his power shining forth, he looked like a large, handsome man.

Jupiter gave everyone a few seconds to regain their seats. He disapparated Sophia’s crown, and I did the same with mine, and Jupiter reanimated the humans and introduced us as a married couple to the crowd.

The orchestra burst into song once again, and Sophia and I led the procession to the pavilion, where the wedding cake and food would be waiting.

We stood in the receiving line forever, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. Nathan and Jupiter decided who got in line and who went straight to the reception area, so we only had to personally greet perhaps half of our more than seven hundred guests.

As Sophia and I took the dance floor, the orchestra shifted into Christina Perri’s
A Thousand Years
, and the vocalist we’d hired sang the beautiful lyrics. I’d insisted on being in charge of the music, and my wife’s watery smile told me I’d done well.

The party lasted well into the night, and I pushed energy into Sophia when I could see her growing tired. Everyone wanted to dance with the bride, but I only let about a dozen people take her from me for even a short time. The crowd clapped as she danced with her father, the supernaturals were in awe as she danced with Jupiter in his Lovis form, and no one seemed to understand why she danced with Brain and then Duke, but I could see how happy their presence here made her. She danced with Jonathan twice, as he wanted a slow dance and a fast dance, and it wasn’t in me to deny the man who’d likely saved her sanity during the time she lived in her father’s house — a bird in a gilded cage.

I’d expressed doubt about whether it was appropriate to throw birdseed at Swan royalty, but I’d been overruled. Sophia wanted the full wedding experience, and I wasn’t of a mind to take it from her.

Which was why it pissed me off so much when the Eagles attacked as we exited the building. They weren’t in Eagle form, because then the birdseed thing might’ve made for a joke. Instead, they were in human form, dressed in military body armor, and were armed with automatic weapons.

Lucky for us, Jonathan, Nathan, and I had arranged for our own forces to surround the building, and the limo was bulletproof.

I sensed the silver in the bullets as the first one struck me, but I’m not vulnerable to silver, thank goodness. I didn’t know if Sophia’s new status as a Dragon would shield her from it or not, but I didn’t take chances as I got her and Jonathan into the limo and closed the door, telling her head bodyguard, “I’m going back out because the silver won’t hurt me. Keep her safe.”

I didn’t give them time to respond before I was back outside, ignoring the flying bullets as I paused a split-second to figure out where everyone was. I’d taken two hits getting Sophia to the limo, both in my back. I’d healed most of the damage already, but could feel the sharp edges of the bullets re-shredding the muscles as they repeatedly tried to heal around the jagged metal. Cutting them out would hurt like a bitch, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

The wedding guests had mostly run back inside, though some had stayed to help fight. Many of our foe were in trees, and I quickly keyed in to the one giving orders. He was high in a tree on the edge of the field, and I made a quick decision to fly to him, even though giving away the secret I could fly in human form was a huge deal.

Three seconds later I had another four or five bullets in me, but I had their strategic leader’s throat in my hands as I dangled him above the field, and he screamed for his men to cease fire and stand down.

It seemed Vincent’s son wasn’t impervious to silver, and I could smell his pain as the silver bullet in his leg poisoned his system.

Five minutes later, we learned the plan had been to kidnap my bride and hold her ransom for the return of the former Eagle King. When we phoned him, the new Eagle King claimed he wasn’t aware of the plans, and demanded we turn his people over to him so he could deal with them.

I declined, and told him they would be sentenced tomorrow following supernatural law.

Sophia

I’d been exhausted when we left the reception pavilion, but the fighting, and my worry for Aaron, had rejuvenated me. I was terrified for him when he ran back out into the bullets, but Jonathan was more worried about making sure I was okay. A quick check of my body assured me a bullet had grazed my arm and kept going, and I seemed to be fine.

“You’re sure, My Queen?”

I looked at him, puzzled as I said, “It’s just a scratch, Jonathan. No big deal.”

“It was a silver bullet, Your Majesty.”

As soon as he said it, I smelled the silver and looked at him in shock.

He smiled as he realized I was truly okay and not just trying to be strong. “You’re more than Swan now, My Queen. Dragons aren’t susceptible to silver.”

“But you are!” I exclaimed. “Are you hit?”

He shook his head. “I’m good. Aaron managed to shield us both on the way to the limo. He knew he was going back out, and wanted to be sure I was in good enough shape to guard you.”

When the shooting stopped I tried to go back outside, but Jonathan stopped me. “Not until we get the all clear. You’re likely their target, don’t make it easy for them, ma’am.”

It was at least thirty minutes before Aaron came back to the limo, and he hugged me, smelled the spot on my arm the bullet had grazed, and said, “Thank goodness. Your Dragon blood makes you impervious.” He hugged me again before saying, “Vincent’s son led a group of Eagles who wanted to kidnap you and hold you ransom for the former Eagle King’s release. Nathan is overseeing their transport to Drake Security. We’re running out of holding cells, so we’ll need to chain the least dangerous into a cell together so we can keep the most dangerous isolated.”

I smelled his blood
and
his pain, though I hadn’t when he’d first entered the limo, meaning he’d masked his scent until he came to me.

“How many times were you hit?”

“I don’t know, seven or eight, probably, but I think I only have five bullets still in me. Nathan called Doc, he’ll meet us at our hotel room later. We aren’t going to be anywhere big enough for me to
change
.”

Jonathan growled and I could hear his cat, just under the surface. “One more person who’ll know where the two of you are staying tonight.”

“Doc’s safe,” Aaron told Jonathan. “You have to know I wouldn’t endanger Sophia. I’d live with these bullets in me another day or two if it would make her safer.”

“Not a doubt in my mind, but I can take care of you. No need to bring Doc in.” Jonathan looked to me and spoke before Aaron had a chance to respond. “Sorry we couldn’t keep them from messing things up, Your Majesty. It’s bad enough you aren’t getting a honeymoon, you shouldn’t have to watch someone cut bullets out of your new husband on your wedding night.”

“I’m just glad he and I are together, Jonathan. I’m not kidnapped, and Aaron isn’t dealing with silver poisoning.” I looked at my new husband and asked, “Are all of our people okay?”

“Duke took a silver bullet, but they cut it out of him fast enough he’s okay. A few more of my men were hit, and Doc will work on them before Nathan brings him to us.” His gaze shot to Jonathan as he said the last part, and then he looked back to me before assuring me, “Everyone will be okay, but we have some wounded.”

The limo had driven us away when Aaron got in, or I’d have run out to check on Duke and the others. Aaron knew, and he smiled and pulled me back into his arms, holding me in his warm strength. “Everyone will be fine, Soph. The wedding and reception went off without a hitch, and there was just enough excitement at the end to make it memorable.”

Jonathan’s phone rang, and we all heard Nathan’s voice through the phone as he told Jonathan, “We blocked cellphone activity at the first shots, which kept the humans from calling police, and we’ve brought some vampires in to rewrite their memories. We’re working on the orchestra, caterers, and other people brought in as employees first. Doc is on the way to Drake Security, as are the wounded. I’m about to transport our prisoners. I assume the royal couple are with you and safe?”

“Yes. Everyone’s good here. I have some skills the King is apparently unaware of, as I’ve had SOCM training. Sending Doc to us won’t be necessary.”

“Good to hear it, keep me informed.”

When they disconnected I asked Jonathan, “What’s SOCM?”

Aaron answered for him. “Special Operations Combat Medic training.” He looked at Jonathan. “I’ve seen your official records and it wasn’t listed.”

“As is the case with all DEVGRU members, as it was once used as a way to ferret out the top level people.”

“That wasn’t listed, either. Seems you and I need to have a talk, later.”

Sophia

I didn’t know of any other groups who might want to keep Aaron and me from being crowned today, but I was still a nervous wreck the next morning. Jonathan and Aaron had told me it wasn’t my job to worry about security, but I couldn’t help it.

We’d finally managed to get to sleep around five this morning, slept until ten, and the crowning was to happen at noon.

Titania and Mabel were waiting for us when we crossed over into Faerie, full of hugs and congratulations, as well as concern. They’d heard the news of how my wedding reception ended, after all.

Titania fixed my hair while Mabel ordered one of her people to give me a foot massage, and Aaron sat back and watched with a smile on his face.

“How will this work?” I asked. “Aaron explained how I can work the dragon crown. It’s always there, but only shows when I pull it into the current reality. How will it work with two crowns?”

“The dragon crown is thick and wide, the swan crown is skinnier and taller, more graceful. You can decide which to show and, if you desire, you can show both at the same time. They’ve been made so they’ll work together, as a unit,” Titania told me. I looked to Aaron, who nodded confirmation. I’d been in charge of the wedding — except for the reception music and the security — and Aaron had been in charge of the coronation. Of course, I hadn’t realized he’d planned
two
ceremonies, but I wasn’t complaining.

“We’ll start with nothing on our head,” Aaron told me, “and we’ll accept the swan crowns, and then partway through the ceremony we’ll bring our dragon crowns out, too. This is why I worked with you so much on it last night, before we finally slept.”

Mabel looked from Aaron to me and back again. “Tell me the two of you consummated your marriage last night.”

I shook my head. “Things were crazy, Mabel, and I was so tired I think I fell asleep before I was even in bed.”

Titania stepped away from me, as did Mabel, and Titania told me, “You have to consummate it before today’s ceremony, dear. There’s a reason your father wanted to do it after you were married, and it won’t take hold unless the marriage has been consummated.” She looked at Aaron. “Five minutes. You’re on a tight schedule.”

Both queens walked out of my bedroom and I looked to him in surprise. “They’re serious?”

“Seems like,” he said as he stepped towards me. “I’m thinking I should do this without messing up your hair.” He stood me up, pushed the robe off my shoulders, and walked me to the bed. “So just bend over and let me do the work, Soph.”

I hadn’t been in the mood, but his strong hand pushing me down as his other popped me on the bottom sent my heart racing, and I wiggled my bottom at him. “Don’t make me off balance. Do the other side!” I said with a laugh, and he promptly popped me on the other cheek.

His deft fingers had me ready for him in less than a minute, and I gasped in relief and bliss when he pressed into me. “My King, I love you so much.”

“And I love and adore you, My Queen.” He thrust his hips, impaling me, and I pushed back, wanting more of him.

He leaned over me, bit my neck to hold me in place, and pounded me from behind as I moaned and gasped. His teeth were primal, beastial, and I instinctively knew he’d hold me like this when we were dragons. We’d never been on this kind of time frame before. I mean, sure, we’d had quickies, but they just kind of spontaneously happened, and if we’d wanted it to turn into something longer, we could’ve. This was sex-on-demand, and with a time limit, and it was new to me. Apparently, I thrive under pressure though, because it took almost no time for me to reach orgasm, and Aaron managed within about thirty seconds of my finishing. He usually times it so we finish together, so this was another novelty for me — experiencing him at the peak of his arousal while I was near the bottom. I loved the feeling, the experience, and when he finished I turned and threw my arms around him, full of energy instead of tired as I normally was when he finished with me.

“I love you, too, Soph. We need to invite the Queens back in, though.”

I couldn’t look them in the eye when they first came in, but Mabel broke the tension by saying, “Oh please, Sophia. I watched you have sex in a blood spattered dress. Don’t get embarrassed now!”

We all laughed, and fifteen minutes later my hair and make-up were perfect, and Mabel followed us to the gateway we’d exit in Charleston, a few miles from the location of the crowning ceremony.

She held me close a few moments before Aaron and I walked through the gate, saying, “You’ve grown into a woman your mother would be proud of, Sophia. The specter at the crossroads was not your mother, you know this, right?”

“I do, but thanks for saying it.”

“Hold your head up and
be
their Queen today, Sophia. I am so proud of you.”

Jonathan and two dozen guards were waiting for us when we stepped through the gate, and we were once again herded into a limo. We looked like something out of a Disney movie today, with me in an overblown ball gown, and Aaron in breeches, tall boots, a frilly shirt, and a short-waisted jacket with long tails in the back and
huge
shoulders with epaulets. I loved Aaron’s small waist in comparison to his large shoulders, and this outfit enhanced the effect.

“Everything’s on schedule,” Jonathan told us from the back of the limo. “As before, Nathan’s handling event security and I’m in charge of your personal security. We’ve put together another stage on the other end of the property, with twenty-nine stockades, and Jupiter spelled it so no one can shift to another form while on or above the prisoners’ stage.”

I closed my eyes and said, “I know what to do with Boris, Cyrano, and Vincent’s son, but I’m conflicted about the rest.”

“You’ve had to hire people to work in the screen printing shop your father owned, the one that makes all of the tourist shirts, hats, bags, and whatnot,” Jonathan said, his voice quiet. “You expressed doubt you could keep the prices so low without the slave labor he used.”

I shook my head. “They weren’t trying to kill me, so this isn’t a life-for-a-life sentence.”

“True,” Aaron said, “but as Queen you can do what you wish with the Swans, and can get away with up to a fifty year sentence for the Eagles without having to ask a higher authority.”

“Boris and Cyrano are going to be confined to a cage until one year from the next equinox, and they won’t be allowed a female to assist them with the change until the fall,” I told them.

Aaron winced, but nodded. “You have to be brutal in this realm, too. I approve.”

“I won’t provide a female for either in the fall. Someone will have to come of her own free will, and she can’t be paid to do it. If no one wants to volunteer, the prisoners can choose to not shift, or to be flogged so they can shift, but will be turned back to human as soon as they
change
.”

Aaron nodded and I continued, “Vincent’s son will receive one hundred and forty lashes once a week for a year, and he won’t be allowed to shift and heal in between.”

“Surely you don’t intend to let them go after a year?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ll assign the lot of them to hard labor for fifty years. We’ll do some research on the ones who were likely only along for the ride, and possibly free them in five years. I’ll have to see how things go.” I nodded to Jonathan and said, “I think I like your idea, so the ones capable of handling the screen print shop duties will be assigned there during the day, and the rest will be put on the wheel in the basement to generate electricity. I understand my father saved thousands in utility bills each year this way.”

I looked at Aaron and allowed myself a few minutes to whine. “This wasn’t what I wanted my first job as Queen to be. I want to be seen as benevolent, a caretaker. I know they need to see me capable of making the hard decisions, too, but…”

“We’ll hold court for two hours after you’ve announced their sentence,” Aaron told me. “You’ve watched your father enough, you know the rules, and know your options for solving various problems.”

I took a shaky breath. “Thanks, Aaron. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I looked to Jonathan and added, “Same goes for you, kitty cat.”

His genuine smile gave the old phrase meaning as he said, “I serve at the pleasure of the Queen, Your Majesty.”