Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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I was worried that Lazarus and Graike will start fighting. In a match of a werewolf against a dragon, I was quite sure that werewolf is the one who gets squished or roasted. How could Alex defeat a one-ton flying creature that has scales for armor?

I didn't understand what was going on, but I heard the words spoken.

As much as I was touched that Lazarus took a stance to shield me, I couldn't allow him to get hurt.

I circled around Lazarus and stood between him and Graike before asking, "What's the importance of Graike giving me a ride?"

Lazarus gave me an annoyed look and I was not sure if he was angry at Graike or at me.

"Do you think that dragons give anyone a ride on their back?", Lazarus snapped.

I blinked. I didn't think about it, but now that Lazarus mentioned it, I remembered that dragons are prideful and non-submissive, and letting me ride him like some flying mount is out of character.

"Can you, please, clarify?"

Lazarus rolled his eyes at me. "It's part of the wedding ceremony."

Before I could process Lazarus's words, Graike let out a deep chuckle, his heated gaze glued to me. "On the day of our wedding, I let you ride me, sweetheart, and I will get to ride you for the rest of your life."

My eyebrow twitched as I questioned Graike's sanity. "Wedding? Are you kidding me?"

Suddenly, I remembered the scene of Lazarus urging me frantically to get off Graike. Maybe jumping down was not a bad idea.

"Don't worry, Serina.", Graike said, and I relaxed. I knew he was joking. Right? RIGHT?

His next words made me tense.

"We will take it slow. I will not force you into marital duties until you get used to your new home…"

"Marital duties?", I interrupted whatever he was about to say next. "New home? How many screws got loose in your head?"

Graike wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. "Screw..." He took a step toward me. "Sweetheart…"

"Stop calling me that!", I snapped.

Does Graike have some filter in his mind so that he can hear only bits that interest him? I had to be direct.

"I need you to stop. I am not your sweetheart. I am not your anything."

"Actually, you are my wife number 47.", Graike said matter-of-factly.

I exhaled in frustration. Did he just say that he has 46 women at home (wherever that is), and I am 47th? And he said that with a straight face, like I should be honored?

"If riding you is considered accepting a marriage, then you should accept me walking away as a divorce.", I tried this approach.

I stomped away, and Graike was quick to block my path. "That is not how things work where I'm from, sweetheart."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Reeeealy? That is how things work where I'm from. Don't get in my way unless you want to anger me. I might end up asking for hefty alimony."

Graike looked at me with amusement. "Feisty. I like it. But you know, we don't have a concept of divorce."

I rolled my eyes and walked away.

"Dumbass.", Lazarus said to Graike and jogged to catch up to me. "I'm sorry I didn't come a minute earlier to stop him or at least to explain the significance of getting onto his back. If I knew that he was planning to trick you into marriage, I would never let him leave my sight."

"It's fine. You tried to warn me, but I was not listening." I let out a long exhale together with part of my frustration. A second later, I burst into laughter. This whole situation was ridiculous.

"Ha! I knew that you need only a minute to accept it.", Graike's voice reached me.

He obviously interpreted my crazed laughter as joy to be married to him. Lazarus was right. Graike is a dumbass.

"I'm not accepting your ridiculous idea of a marriage, Graike!"

"Dragons don't acknowledge divorce."

I grit my teeth in annoyance and turned to face him.

Why did he lose his top again? All those muscles are distracting! I forced myself to focus.

"People don't get married by riding on someone's back."

"I am a dragon and I follow the customs of my species and my realm."

At this point, my frustration was palpable. "Listen here, Graike, Lord of the Dragons…"

"Lightning.", he corrected me, and my nostrils flared.

"Fine!", I squeezed through my teeth. "Graike, Lord of the Lightning, as you can see, I am not a dragon, and we are not in your realm, so this marriage is not valid."

He cocked his handsome eyebrow at me. "It would be valid if we are in my realm."

"Well, if I ever step into your realm, we can continue discussing the matter of me being your wife number 47. How about that?"

Graike flashed me a grin. "When will you come?"

My insides churned. Is there any way for this man (or a dragon) to understand that I'm not interested in playing this game?

"How about… never?"

Graike frowned at my words and I didn't want to engage in this pointless conversation. I continued walking toward the villa with Lazarus by my side.

"You know… You shouldn't give him hope like that. He could kidnap you and take you to his realm."

Lazarus's words put me on alert. I remembered that Aldus said how Graike would never force anything on me.

"He wouldn't." I didn't sound convincing.

"Are you sure?", Lazarus asked. "When you were up there, I thought that he will fly away if not for Aldus's protection that doesn't allow anyone to fly in or out of this property."

Lazarus's words made me nervous, and I scooted closer to him.

"Thanks for watching my back, Lazarus."

Lazarus grinned. "Anytime, princess. I will not let anyone bully you."

I was glad that Graike stopped following us. Actually, he was behind us but keeping his distance without showing an intention to spout more nonsense about marriage. At least, that's what I thought.

In the dining room…

It was time for breakfast, so Lazarus and I headed straight for the dining room when we reached the villa. Aldus and Vesper were there already.

Aldus pulled a chair for me to sit and then Graike entered with a big grin on his face.

"Greetings, father-in-law…", he said to Aldus cheerfully.

Aldus looked at me questionably and I pinched the roof of my nose.

"Serina…", Aldus's voice was low, demanding an explanation.

I felt like crying. Why am I in trouble, when Graike is the one who is crazy?

I let out a slow exhale and met Aldus's gaze before explaining, "I wanted to see the extent of the damage I caused to the villa, and Graike offered me aerial view. I didn't know that if I ride on his back he will call it a marriage."

Aldus frowned at Graike. "You changed into your dragon form in my backyard, and went up in the air?"

Graike shrugged. "You told me that your staff is aware of non-human creatures, so… Should I kill someone to keep them silenced?"

I shuddered at his words. How can he speak so easily about killing people? Well, ancient texts speak of dragons who eat humans so maybe he treats people like snacks.

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