"Excellent!" shouted Ionian from his seat at the center throne. "We're all here."
He clasped his hands together as he looked out over the wedding. Most of the attendees were guards who worked for the Abraxis Clan– about a dozen in total. Jason and the children were in attendance, the three of them surrounded by a tight circle of guards. And Anna stood before the steps leading up to the throne, dressed in a white gown that was as old-fashioned as everything else in this home.
"Not much of a crowd, but I'm more interested in getting this, ah, show on the road than making sure this evening is the fete it ought to be," said Ionian, rising from his throne.
He was dressed in exquisite formal wear, his hair slicked back and his face painted with the haughty expression of a spoiled child on the verge of getting away with something.
"My wedding day," he said. "I never thought it would be like this, to be honest. I always thought there would be more fanfare, that I would be wed to a woman I loved, and it would be the start of ‘happily ever after' and all that bullshit. But if there's one thing being an adult has taught me, it is that love and all that nonsense is nothing compared to power. And so, by the end of the day, with my lovely bride at my side, I will have just what I want secured."
He stopped and looked around the room.
"And here I am, giving a little speech when I should be getting on with the show!"
He turned his gaze upon a wizened old man seated in front of him.
"All right," Ionian said, snapping his fingers at the man, "come on; let's get on with it."
The old man hurried to his feet and took a place at the makeshift altar at the base of the stairs.
"We are here today to–"
"No time for any of that," said Ionian, trotting down the stairs and standing next to the old man. "I want this as fast as possible while being both binding in the human and dragon worlds; I don't want this one slipping out of it on some technicality. Now, someone play some music or something!"
One of the guards turned on a stereo, which began playing a choral song that Anna didn't recognize. She guessed it was some dragon version of the wedding march. The music was alien and familiar all at once. She turned to Jason, who was watching everything unfold with a steely gaze. And the children were huddled together, fearful looks on their innocent faces.
"Now," said Ionian, his voice taking a bratty tone. "Let's get on with it!"
He gestured to Anna with an impatient movement of his hand. Anna took her place at the altar near Ionian. Before another word could be spoken by anyone, he kneeled down and pressed the side of his face against Anna's belly. Revulsion gripped her, and all of her instincts screamed at her to grab Ionian by the hair and shove him as far away as possible.
Wait for the signal, she thought.
Ionian looked up at Anna.
"Hard to believe there's so much power in such a little belly," he said. "My progeny inside of you will be so strong; I can't wait for him to grow and take what is rightfully his."
Ionian rose.
"And don't think that because this is a marriage of convenience you'll be exempt from your…wifely duties. I plan on taking full advantage of that lovely body of yours."
Anna didn't think it was possible, but she felt even more disgusted.
"Now!" said Ionian. "Let's get on with this!"
The priest fumbled through his books, which appeared to be a bible and some sort of dragon holy text. He flipped through the pages fearfully, landing on and reading just the essential parts, his watery blue eyes flicking to Ionian, as if to make sure he wasn't making the young man upset by taking too much time.
"Ah, the ring?" asked the priest.
Ionian shoved his hand into his suit pocket and withdrew a stunning ring fit with a beautiful silver jewel. It was unlike anything Anna had ever seen before, and she was able to appreciate the beauty of it even despite the circumstances.
The priest continued on, rushing through the vows.
"I do, I do," said Ionian, making a "move it along" gesture with his hand.
"And you, young lady?" asked the priest, turning his eyes to Anna.
Ionian looked at her with impatience. But Anna didn't say a word; she knew this was the signal. She looked at Jason, who offered her a solemn nod.
Now or never, thought Anna.
She opened her mouth to speak, but instead of saying a word, she pulled back her fist and drove it as hard as she could, right into Ionian's gut. The young man stumbled backward, staggering on his feet. Anna looked down at her hand, surprised she could have so much power in her punch. Jason told her that her dragon blood was beginning to show itself, but it was still a shock for her to see it in action.
But before she could think too much about the matter, Ionian spoke.
"Just what the…fuck, are you doing?" he sputtered, his eyes wide.
He didn't get a response.
"Now!" shouted Jason.
At his word, the glass on the left and right walls of the building shattered, three figures on each side bursting through them. Anna recognized them as human at first, but midflight, the six men shifted, each of them turning into a fearsome silver dragon, all of them taking flight.
The guards were now in a frenzy as the dragons flew overhead. Anna, as planned, rushed over to William and Sophia, covering them with her body as she rushed the frightened children to safety. The dragons overhead shot plumes of blood-red fire from their mouths, burning alive the vast majority of the guards. A few of the guards attempted to shift, but were snatched up by Jason's mercenaries and crushed in their claws. Whatever guards that remained fled the throne room, along with the bystanders.
Once the blitz was done, the dragons landed and shifted back to their human forms. Anna laid eyes on them, and saw they were all handsome, well-built men who looked born for combat. Jason ran over to Anna and the children, making sure they were all safe.
"Thank God," he said, pulling them all close and tight.
Then, he stepped back.
"Anna, allow me to introduce you to the rest of the Silver Dragons Mercenaries. Some of the best damn dragons you'll ever meet."
The men all nodded, pleased smiles on their faces from the perfect execution of their plan.
"Just what the fuck have you done?" shouted Ionian, who now struggled to his feet.
Jason rushed toward him with blinding speed, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
"Don't you even think about shifting, you miserable little fuck," he said, his voice a growl.
"Do you have any idea what my family will do to you when they find out what you've done?"
But Jason wasn't in the mood for anything Ionian might have to say. He shifted to his dragon form, letting out a roar that shook the walls as he stood before the young man in his full, silver glory. Then, after a deep inhale, a plume of blood-red fire poured from his mouth, the figure of Ionian disappearing within it. When the flame died down, there was nothing left but smoldering ash.
Then, he shifted back.
"Nice work, boys," said Jason, moving from man to man and shaking one hand after the other.
After this, he rushed to Anna and the children and embraced all three of them. It was over. They were safe.