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Damien
“You’re positive this is a real thing?” he asked.
“Very positive,” she replied, not letting go of his hand. “The Legate handles all legal matters. We are still humans living in a non-magic country. Many of the customs there are used by us.”
“Uh huh.” He wasn’t so sure he bought that line. After all, there was no real way for him to verify this information. Anna could just be conning him into something.
Not that he was overly worried. He would do anything for that woman, but sometimes it didn’t hurt to put up a little bit of resistance. Make her work for things she really wanted. It helped him know what really meant a lot to her, and what didn’t.
“Oh, come on, what’s the harm?” she teased as they exited the building where the dragons were housed and headed across the courtyard.
“I don’t know...yet.”
She swatted at him with their joined hands. “Oh, come on. It’s not a big deal.”
He frowned. “Actually, it kind of is a big deal to me,” he said, ignoring the stares coming their way as they walked together, not bothering to hide their relationship from anyone.
There was no need anymore. The rumors of what had happened at the outpost had reached the Academy itself before either he or Anna had returned. Everyone now knew they were an item—if they hadn’t already—because of the now infamous Dormitory Dustup, as it was being called.
Still, he felt somewhat uncomfortable being the center of so much attention, and worried that those radicals, those who did not approve of the union of dragons and witches, would act out against Anna. It had been a week and so far, no change, but he did not know what the future held.
“Why is it such a big deal?” she asked, looking up at him. “It’s not taking anything away from you. Just adding.”
Damien considered that, his head bouncing from side to side as he thought it over. “You’re right,” he agreed. “But at the same time don’t forget, it’s changing me. Making me unlike the rest of my people, in a way that they have never done before. So, if you look at it that way, it is a big deal.”
Anna’s pace stalled and she spun lightly to be able to face him as they came to a halt. She didn’t drop his hand.
“If you’re not okay with this, my darling, we don’t have to go through with it. I just thought...”
“I know,” he said, giving her a reassuring grin. “And I’m not saying I don’t want to do it. Not at all. I just want you to know that it’s not just a casual thing you’re asking of me, but that it is a big deal.”
Anna nodded. “You’re right. I hadn’t really considered that it would be such a big deal for you. I’m sorry, dear.”
Damien smiled and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. “No need to apologize, my love. I just wanted to ensure you were aware, that’s all.”
“Well I am now,” she said, cozying up at his side. “So, what do you want to do?”
“I want to go forward with it,” he said. “So let’s go!”
She smiled and started walking again. “That’s a sudden bout of enthusiasm,” she said suspiciously. “What am I missing?”
Damien grinned, leaning over to whisper in her ear as they walked. “Well, after we’re done with this, I figured that maybe we could go celebrate, and try out that thing you wanted to do with the...”
Anna swatted at him. “Oh, my God, you pervert,” she hissed. Then she smiled slowly. “Okay.”
“Then lead on!” he said loudly, taking several large steps, until Anna was forced to hurry to keep up.
“Good lord, what have I gotten myself into?” she moaned playfully.
Damien shook his free finger at her. “As if you don’t know. Now, we have a serious thing to take care of first, my dear. So, get your mind out of the gutter if you can.”
Rolling her eyes, Anna guided him into the main hall and toward a set of stairs. “As if I’m the one with the dirty mind. Yours is filthy.”
“Maybe,” he agreed with an innocent smile, bending over and abruptly lifting Anna into his arms. She yelped but didn’t fight back, having come to expect that sort of thing from him.
The Legate’s office was on the third floor. He carried her right up to the door before letting her down.
“Last chance to back down,” she offered.
He snorted and pushed the door open. “Not a chance.”
They walked inside and up to the desk, where a bored-looking witch waited. “Welcome to the Legate’s Office. What form do you need?”
Anna looked at Damien. He nodded his assent.
“We’d like to file for a formal change of name.”
The witch nodded. “Very well. You’re taking his?”
Anna shook her head. “No.”
Damien squeezed her hand. “I’m taking hers.”
***
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