The city was already awake.
Merchants hawked wares. Citizens bustled along cobblestone streets. Guild banners fluttered in the early morning wind. And somewhere, just out of sight, rumors of yesterday's dungeon collapse were spreading like wildfire.
Ethan clenched his hands together, trying to make sense of his life. Married. Bonded. With a Frost Dragon Sovereign. And apparently now, the entire city had begun speculating about him.
Lyssara moved beside him with effortless grace, wings tucked neatly against her back. Her eyes glimmered with icy authority, scanning the streets as though already calculating the political consequences of their appearance.
"You do understand the public appearance today is not optional," she said softly. "Curiosity, fear, and admiration will follow you wherever you go."
Ethan groaned. "…I'd hoped that was optional."
She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "You are married to me. The world does not grant husbands privacy."
The system chimed quietly in his vision.
Global Attention RisingPublic Exposure — MaximumReputation Status: 'Bridegroom of the Frost Queen'Warning: Presence will attract unwanted attention
Ethan exhaled slowly. "…Unwanted attention. Great."
The streets beyond the residence were already lined with whispers. Citizens paused as Lyssara walked beside him. Even through her casual, fluid movements, a trace of frost radiated around her — subtle, but enough to make most bystanders step back instinctively.
She leaned slightly closer to him, hand brushing his as they walked. Not touching fully, just enough that he could feel her warmth through the thin fabric of his shirt.
The system pinged aggressively.
Bond Triggered — Physical Proximity AlertBond Level Increased → 4.5Effect: Heightened arousal and synchronization with partner
Ethan's pulse raced. "…Lyssara…" he muttered, "…do you have to be so close in public?"
She glanced at him, eyebrow raised. "…Do you wish me not to be?"
He blinked. "I… it's… complicated."
"Complicated?" Her lips curved faintly. "The world has already judged you as mine. Your body is responding accordingly. You may as well embrace it."
He swallowed hard. "…You really have no sense of subtlety, do you?"
Her gaze softened, just enough to make him forget his protest entirely. "…Subtlety is a waste of time for bonded pairs."
They walked past a marketplace, where a small crowd had gathered. Children pointed, whispering about the "dragon queen and her husband," while merchants muttered under their breath, calculating the potential danger — or profit — that might come from harboring a sovereign and her mate.
Ethan felt every gaze on him like a physical weight. Every heartbeat of his was echoed, amplified, by the presence of Lyssara.
"…I hate that they're all staring," he muttered.
"They are staring," Lyssara said softly, "…because you are mine. Your presence, your bond, is evident to everyone. The system… and my instincts… broadcast it naturally."
He flushed. "…Broadcast what?"
She let her fingers brush lightly over the back of his hand. "Desire. Possession. Synchronization."
Heat bloomed along his veins. His body responded automatically — his chest tightening, pulse hammering, every muscle subtly alert. The system pinged violently.
Dragon Mate Bond — Forced Exposure DetectedEffect: Heightened erotic awareness in publicWarning: Emotional and physical synchronization beyond human norms
Ethan tried not to stumble. "…Lyssara… we're… literally walking down a street."
She leaned in closer, just enough that the warmth of her body brushed his side. "…And everyone notices," she said, voice soft but commanding. "…That is the point."
He groaned audibly. "…This is insane."
Her hand moved, brushing his wrist in the most casual, deliberate way possible. The sensation shot straight through him. A shiver he couldn't suppress raced down his spine.
"…I feel like the system is mocking me," he muttered, voice tight.
Lyssara's smirk deepened. "…The system merely reports reality. You are mine. Your body confirms it."
The heat pooling in his core threatened to overwhelm him. Every nerve ending screamed in response to her touch. He tried to focus, tried to maintain composure, but the combination of public scrutiny, her proximity, and the undeniable pull of the Dragon Mate bond was almost too much.
"…I… I can't…" he gasped quietly.
Her gaze softened. "…You can. You must. Control is part of bonding. Desire is inevitable."
Ethan swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. "…Control… right."
The system pinged again.
Bond Synchronization — Progressing RapidlyPassive Effect: Heightened response to partner's presenceWarning: Desire and attraction at critical levels
Lyssara let her hand linger on his wrist a fraction longer. Not fully holding, not pressing, just grazing. But it was enough. Enough to make him hyper-aware of every curve, every shift in her posture, every breath she drew.
A merchant muttered under his breath: "Is that… the Frost Queen? And… her… husband?"
Ethan's face burned. "…They're all… staring at me like a fool."
Lyssara tilted her head. "…Because you feel like one. Desire makes you… human."
He groaned. "…I hate you sometimes."
"Good," she whispered, letting her fingers trace a line up his arm. "…Then you will remember that I am yours. Even in public."
His pulse slammed in his chest. Every rational thought scrambled. The crowd continued to watch, whispering, gossiping, calculating, but Ethan barely noticed. His focus narrowed to the warmth against his side, the brush of her fingers, and the undeniable pull of the Dragon Mate bond.
"…I… I'm going to lose it," he muttered, voice trembling.
Lyssara's smile was faint, predatory, amused. "…Then do not resist. But remain composed. That is your test."
He nodded shakily. "…Right. Composed."
Her hand moved slightly, guiding his closer to her side — not enough to be obvious, but close enough that he could feel her body heat radiating against him.
The system flared violently.
Dragon Mate Bond — Public Forced Proximity CompleteBond Level Increased → 5Passive Effect: Heightened erotic tension in publicWarning: Emotional and physical synchronization reaching peak levels
Ethan's breath hitched. "…This… is… insane."
Lyssara leaned in slightly, her lips just inches from his ear. "…Insanity is part of awakening," she whispered. "…And you are awakening beautifully."
Heat roared through his body, awareness sharpening, senses alive in a way that terrified and thrilled him simultaneously. The system pinged repeatedly, unable to quantify the sheer intensity of his reaction.
Ethan's hands trembled. "…Lyssara… I…"
She pressed a finger lightly to his lips. "…Not here. Control. Observe. Learn. Bond."
He swallowed hard, chest heaving, pulse hammering. "…Right… observe…"
Lyssara let her hand linger along his arm, every movement deliberate, teasing, and completely overwhelming. The streets, the crowd, the guilds, the city — none of it mattered.
The bond was everything.
And it was consuming him.
Outside the city, news of the Frost Queen walking publicly with her new bridegroom spread like wildfire. Guilds whispered of his sudden rise, hunters gossiped about the apparent intimacy, and the system quietly updated his global notoriety:
Reputation Status: 'Bridegroom of the Frost Queen' — Public Exposure MaxBond Status: Level 5 — Dragon Mate AwakeningWarning: City-wide rumors and attention may destabilize normal life
Back on the street, Ethan's gaze met Lyssara's. Her expression was calm. Commanding. And faintly amused.
"…This is… unbelievable," he whispered.
She leaned just slightly closer. "…Yes. And it is only the beginning."
The city was watching. The world was noticing. And Ethan Vale, the porter turned husband of a sovereign, had officially stepped into a life where desire, power, and forced proximity would define every waking moment.
And somewhere deep in his chest, his heartbeat began to sync fully with hers.
The Dragon Mate bond had officially awakened in public.
And nothing would ever be the same again.