MATHONWY, the Duke of Draco, strode up the dais steps with his sweet, little dragonmate, Bethany Aura Draco hopping along behind him. The Dragon Scepter awaited him.
Excitement bubbled through his mating bond with Bethany, as usual. His dragonmate’s effervescent personality bubbled all the time, and he loved every minute with her. Life with Bethany was constant laughter and adventure, and Math rocketed home every day from his business with the realm, his many committees and boards and planning, to find her organizing their wedding, or handfasting as the witches call it, in Desert Stars that would finally take place tomorrow. Her attention to detail for the wedding was as meticulous as it had been for the Dragon Den casino’s preparation, and he couldn’t wait to see what she came up with every day.
They’d jokingly discussed the possibility of a dragonling sooner rather than later, both of them reaching through their mating bond with excitement and happiness while they joked that they might have a “whoopsie” in the bedroom.
He had even considered that, after their handfasting and the party the next evening, he might hold out his heart as magic flowed their bond and offer her the possibility of a child together.
But for now, he had to pick up a stick and see if their lives would be changed forever.
As he approached the Dragon Scepter, magic from the object flowed around him, warping the space of the ballroom. Both witches and fae had been involved in its making, and their combined eldritch powers were more than reality could withstand.
He reached toward the scepter with Bethany’s arms wrapped tightly around his waist, holding her close to him with his other arm. Her purse got in the way of his hand for a minute, and he navigated the straps to tuck her close to his side. The sharp beads on her gown scraped his palm.
The mating bond between them seemed to thicken in the presence of such powerful magic, and he could feel her excitement and pride in him as his hand neared the scepter.
Tendrils of the scepter’s magic reached for his hand, and a magnetic pull dragged his hand to the object.
When he clasped his fist around the rod, magic poured through him like a waterfall.
Bethany gasped as the power flowed through their bond and into her, too.
Mathonwy knew they had been chosen even before he lifted the Dragon Scepter to eye-level and then higher. As he did, magical fire fountained over both of them and flowed over the stage.
When he looked over at the queen and king, Bronwyn and Llywelyn were grinning and holding hands, and then they stood and clapped with the rest of the New Wales Dragon Clan.
Mathonwy felt the scepter crack in his fist.
He looked up.
The Dragon Scepter gave one last blast of magic and crumbled to dust in his hand, falling into ash on the dais.
He turned and looked at the king and queen, who also had wide, startled eyes and open mouths.
Queen Bronwyn said, “Well, it was looking a little shabby after the last ceremony. I think the selection was just too much for the poor thing.”
Bethany gasped and sprang from Math’s side, whipping a dustpan and whisk broom from her purse and kneeling to sweep the ash off the floor. “There, there. I’ve got it.”
The king and queen watched, bemused.
Math held out a hand to help her up from her knees, considering that she was wearing a slim, beaded ball gown. “You don’t have to—”
She grabbed a wet wipe out of a pack from her purse and wiped the ash off his hand. “It’s okay. A home and hearth witch is always prepared for any problems.”
“Bethany,” he said, laughing. “You don’t need to do this.”
“It’s fine. It’s fine. I’ve got it.” She pulled a lipstick-sized tube from her purse and twisted it. A tiny whoosh emerged, and she vacuumed the little bit of remaining dust out of the carpeting.
Math laughed more loudly. “Queen Bethany Aura, quit worrying about the bit of dust so you can be crowned!”
“I—what?” Bethany looked up.
Math grinned down at her. “Come, my love. The thrones await us. The ceremony includes our coronation. Bronwyn and Llywelyn want to get started on their retirement.”
He heard them laugh, and the whole hall joined in joyous laughter.
Bronwyn trotted over to where Bethany was still trying to fluff the carpet. “Come on, dear. There are pictures to be taken, the first of many.”
Bethany took Math’s and Bronwyn’s hands and was helped up from the floor. “Okay, so what do we do?”
Mathonwy smiled down at his dragonmate and led her over to the vacated thrones. Bronwyn and Llywelyn were already standing behind the chairs, holding the kingdom’s diadems.
Bronwyn pronounced them the Dragon King and Dragon Queen, and a priest of the Dragon Lords bustled out of the crowd to anoint their foreheads and chests with olive oil blessed in the temple.
Bethany’s face was smooth and solemn as the occasion warranted, but through their bond, Math could feel how thrilled she was at this next step in their adventure together.
Deep satisfaction suffused Mathonwy. His whole life had been a preparation for this, he felt. He could feel how, with his contacts and wide network, they could lead the dragon clan into the next era. Now, with his dragonmate Bethany by his side and the crown in his hoard—he meant, on his head—he felt confident they could take it all on.
Yes, this was for the best.
The crown settled on Math’s brow from behind, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Bronwyn crown Bethany as the Dragon Queen.
At the front of the dais, Arawn and Willow, and then Cai and Ember, walked up the steps to be the first to congratulate them.
He stood and held out his hand to help Bethany to her feet.
She laughed and held his hand, even though they both knew she was fine.
Arawn and Willow slipped in front of the others and were the first to shake their hands.
Willow flapped her arms around Bethany. “You’re going to make such a spectacular queen!”
Arawn shook Math’s hand. “Congratulations!”
Cai and Ember shoehorned in. Ember joined in the group girl-hug going on, while Cai shook with Math. “We’ll hug you when all of these people aren’t around.”
Math asked his oldest friends, “Are you guys okay with this?”
“Of course,” Arawn said, shrugging. “You were the obvious choice.”
Cai laughed at Math. “It was always meant to be you.”