The sun was bright in the sky, casting gentle shadows with the white and burgundy red silk banners that had been strewn around the yard, dotted with bouquets of matching roses. The yard was abuzz with family, friends and the royal court of dragons, all itching to see their future king take his mate.

There had been plenty of controversy about it, as Antonio had expected, but he’d also been right in assuming that the younger generation would take his side and the older… well, they still had his mother to complain to, and he would allow them as much. The truth was, the moment he was wed and mated, the crown would be his, the rules of their court requiring a king to have a queen. And what a queen he had.

He stood impatiently at the altar, waiting for his first glimpse of Julie, with Giovanni holding guard behind her. Giovanni chuckled, making Antonio’s head snap to look at him.

“What is so funny, little brother? Do you enjoy to view of your sibling frying in the heat of the sun, wearing a suit of all things to his wedding?” he asked, cocking his brow.

This wasn’t exactly the kind of ceremony Antonio would have had, had he been wedding a dragon, but concessions had to be made in order to satisfy both sides. In the end, he was more than ready to throw tradition to the wind to have a ceremony that would speak to Julie and her family. Then, privately, and without humans watching, they would have the ceremony that bonded the dragon to the mate. It needed a full moon, and apparently that wasn’t exactly a staple of human weddings.

“I do, in fact,” Giovanni said with a grin.

He was a different man now. Antonio had never known Giovanni to be a particularly open man, but he was one hop and a skip away from a show-tune medley at all times now, it seemed.

“I will remind you of that at your own wedding,” Antonio said, but hushed immediately after as the crowd shifted to peer over their shoulders.

The music started and they all stood as the bride came to view. She was on the arm of her father, in a gown of pure white and crimson red, and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Tony was in Julie’s mother’s lap, in the first row, and Antonio couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his little man, growing so quickly. He had never known what happiness truly felt, and now he seemed to be bursting with it.

Impatiently, he waited for Julie to come to him. When he took her hand from her father, he was filled with a sense of pride and peace. His dragon had been right, and that nagging feeling inside of him that had pushed him to look for Julie one last time had now paid off in spades. He would have everything he desired and no one could stand in his way.

“La mia bellezza,” Antonio said, happy that it said everything he wished it did.

“I love you,” Julie whispered, smiling giddily as they were moments from tying their lives to one another for the rest of their days. “But before we go on, I need to tell you something.”

Her expression turned serious for a moment and Antonio found himself squeezing her hand. Had something happened? Was something wrong? A million possibilities blew through his head, none of them good.

“What is it, my love?”

“I’m pregnant,” she said, mischief sparking in her eyes again.

Dumbfounded was a word Antonio Capirelli would not think was applicable when speaking of him, but right at that moment, it encompassed all that he was. Just as quickly though, it warped into joy the likes he’d never known. Without thinking about it, he grabbed Julie and spun her around, much to the gasps of those around them.

“How did I not notice!” he said, inhaling deeply and now sensing it so clearly like a slap in the face.

“Must have been love,” Giovanni offered smugly.

All Antonio knew was that he would be the happiest man for as long as he yet had to live, and he was going to make sure that it would be a long, long time with his mate and his family.

“I love you, Julie,” he sighed, kissing her despite it not yet being time for it. Then, he turned to the crowd and with pride blooming in his chest, yelled out: “We’re pregnant!”

This was going to be a good wedding day.

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