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Don't Mess With My Dragon Mommy! #englishsub #fullepisode🎬🍿🍿
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The day we were supposed to complete our blood bonding ceremony, my mate Rylan had the clan
00:05sentinels drag me out of the sacred hall. He walked in with his childhood sweetheart instead.
00:11Lila's baby needs a father on paper. Once we divorce, I'll marry you.
00:16Everyone thought I'd swallow my pride and wait another month. After all, I'd already waited
00:21seven years. But that night, I accepted my family's arranged alliance and left the abyssal
00:27reach entirely. I disappeared from Rylan's world completely. Three years later, I returned
00:32to Abyss Reach with my mate for a clan ancestral right. My mate had a work emergency, so he
00:38had his people to collect me. At the border crossing, I walked out and froze. That person
00:44was Rylan, my ex. The arrival clearing. I spotted a scout holding a marker carved with my name,
00:51my formal alliance name, Hela, and walked over. Rylan was holding it. He had Lyra
00:57with him, plus a few of his clansmen, all craning their necks toward the tree line.
01:02Hey, isn't that Rylan's obsessed ex? Isn't that Evara?
01:05Rylan looks surprised to see me. He covered it fast.
01:09Told you she'd come crawling back.
01:12Evara vanished without a trace. Now she sees Rylan is in a higher rank. She probably cries
01:17herself to sleep every night. Evara, if you're gonna fake a random run-in, why show up like
01:23this? Couldn't you at least put on some makeup? Without Rylan, you can't even buy a nice outfit.
01:30Look pathetic. It was true. I used to make myself perfect every time I knew I'd be near Rylan.
01:36Sharpest claws, finest scales on display. Best version of me. Not anymore. No point. Because
01:44I'm carrying, and my mate refused to let me be uncomfortable. He had this soft traveling wrap,
01:50custom tailored for me. Listening to them mock me, it suddenly clicked. They only knew my alliance name.
01:56They had no idea the one they were here to collect was me.
02:00Evara, hey, it's good you're back. Rylan's been asking after me for years.
02:03Yeah, our son is entering the young training cohort soon. Now I'm in charge of the drop-off.
02:07He was still so incredibly arrogant, but I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I didn't want to waste
02:13another second on them. I was just about to tell them exactly who I was. I am-
02:17Please don't blame Rylan. He's just trying to take care of you. You disappeared for three years.
02:22Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive? Don't worry. Caring for my son is
02:28a
02:28respectable role. No one will look down at you. Rylan caught my expression and thought I was jealous.
02:34Something flickered in his eyes. All right, Evara, drop the attitude. You clearly can't survive out
02:40there, so stop throwing tantrums, take care of the kid, and learn your place.
02:45Damn, Evara, look how good Rylan is to you. He's given you free room and board. Isn't babysitting better
02:51than whatever trashy life you're living now? Hurry up and say thank you. Don't worry, dear. If my son
02:57acts up, I'll handle him myself. You won't be mistreated. Why would she be mistreated? She ran
03:04away over a tiny little misunderstanding. If she hit rock bottom out in the wilds, a little humility is
03:10good for her. My heart actually skipped a beat. Three years had passed, and he still thought it was a
03:15small matter to dump me and married Lyra? The Rylan who used to love me was truly gone. He wasn't
03:21the young warrior who'd carried me, wounded, crossed three territory borders in the dead of a moonless
03:27night. But whatever. It was all in the past. None of it mattered anymore. Besides, I was about to carry
03:33my second patchling anyway. I looked at Rylan calmly and said,
03:37Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go. Silence fell over the clearing. Then someone left.
03:43Pick you up? Please. Read it carefully. We are here for Hela. Do you even know who
03:51that is? Hela is the mate-bonded consort of the Frostridge line. She is blood-bonded to
03:57Lord Kale. Kale is a living legend. Coldest dragon alive in the field, but completely devoted to his
04:05wife. Rumor has it he refused all alliances for years. Just waiting for Hela. Everyone knows the rule.
04:12If you want Kale's favor, go through Hela. She is his entire world. Listening to them gossip about
04:19my marriage, I couldn't help it. A genuine happy smile spread across my face. We had been married
04:25for three years. Kale's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had spread everywhere. To claim
04:32Hela as his, Kale went to the ancient exchange and paid down a legendary artifact, the Eternal Fang
04:37bracelet, just to give to Hela. She's the most envied female in every territory.
04:48That bracelet! That's it! It's a pretty good fake. Which a lowborn Klansman bought you that?
04:55Buying you a cheap imitation. Absolute trash.
05:01Wow! It really is high quality for a fake. Way better than the replica I had made. But I'd never
05:07actually wear mine in public. These outer territory emmucations though? The craftsmanship is something
05:12else. The weight actually feels real. Or what, Evora? Are you gonna tell us you're Hela? Are you Lord Kale's
05:22bonded mate? Of course they did. It was absurd to them. Kale was a living legend across all
05:31territories. Cold. Absolute. Untouchable. And three years ago, I was just the girl Rylan had left
05:39standing outside the sacred hall. There was no version of reality where those two things connected.
05:47Just give it to me, Evora. I'll pay double whatever you traded for. Give it back. Kale gave me that.
05:57Shut your mouth!
05:59Rylan looked furious. Evora, do you have any idea what you're saying? You think you can just casually
06:06invoke Lord Kiel's name? Are you trying to get me killed? His Klansman piled on immediately.
06:12Do you know how hard we fought for this pickup assignment? Get on a trine for this pickup of
06:16season. Kale absorbed Rylan's clan faction last season. Our entire livelihood depends on him now.
06:20Are you two trying to ruin Rylan entirely? I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turned back to Rylan.
06:27Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch. Lyra caught it. She stepped forward and pointed a claw at
06:33my face. You ungrateful snake. Rylan offered you a place and you throw it back at him? I know you're
06:39still bitter about the past. Trying to sabotage his standing out of petty spite. That's sick.
06:44Hearing her say that, it felt exactly like three years ago. No matter what I did, Lyra would twist it,
06:51feed her poisonous version of the story to Rylan. In the early days, he used to defend me. By the
06:57end,
06:57he always took her side. Just like now. Jealous Shrik. For old time's sake, I'll let this go.
07:07Take these. Get yourself proper clothes. If you really don't want to tend Lyra's hatchling,
07:12I'll find you something tolerable next season. Don't worry. Ever since Kale absorbed us,
07:16this kind of thing cost me nothing. No, thank you. I don't take things from strangers.
07:28Not three steps out, Rylan grabbed my arm. You won't take what I'm offering?
07:35What does that mean I'm a stranger to you? I kept walking and said evenly,
07:40We dissolved our bond. Better not to stay tangled in each other's lives. Others might get the wrong
07:48impression. I was thinking of Kale, who had a very particular dislike of misunderstandings.
07:54My faction is hosting a tribute feast for Kale in three days. I was going to bring you,
07:58show you something real, but you'd need to present yourself properly. You can't embarrass me.
08:03I'm fine, but thank you.
08:06Fine. I'll take Lyra.
08:08I won't let you down. I didn't look back. Hope you're still this confident in three days.
08:13Fresh air. I stood there for a moment, breathing it in. The nausea faded.
08:19My mind flashed back to three years ago. My family had arranged an alliance overseas.
08:25I'd gone to Rylan for the first seven years together. I wanted to seal our bond before the journey,
08:31forced the decision. He agreed. But at the Sacred Hall, it wasn't just Rylan waiting.
08:38Her hatchling needs to be registered under my bloodline.
08:41I'll dissolve her bond claim in a month. Then I'll bond with you. This is just about hatchling.
08:47I watched him take her inside. That was the last thing I needed to see. I crossed the border that
08:53night,
08:53met Kale. Bonded with him a month later. Had our son the year after. Now I was carrying it again.
09:00And the only reason I was even back in the reach was to attend the clan ancestral rite with Kale.
09:06Honestly, if it wasn't for the rite, I never would have set foot back here. And I definitely wouldn't have
09:11run into Rylan.
09:12Three days later, I painted on a light adornment, threw on comfortable traveling leathers, and made my way to the
09:19feast grounds alone.
09:20The second Rylan saw me enter the clearing, his eyes lit up. A smug smirk spread across his face.
09:26You said you weren't coming, but here you are. Listen, if you want me back, you need to at least
09:32present yourself properly to match my standing.
09:34I walked past him without a word.
09:37Evara, I'm talking to you. Our circle is here. Where do you think you're going?
09:40I pulled free and said simply, That's your circle. Mine is up there.
09:46He followed my gaze to the head circle, the raised dais reserved for lords and their bonded mates.
09:52His face went pale. Lyra spotted my bracelet from across the ground.
09:56Evara, how did she get in here? She's here to cause chaos. How dare she wear that pendant tonight?
10:02Of all knights? Tonight is the first time Kale is bringing his bonded mate out publicly. Is she trying to
10:09humiliate Hela?
10:11She slipped past the sentinels. She's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kale.
10:16Rylan? Is this female with you? Rylan straightened. No.
10:21Take that bracelet off and get out. I looked at her with a faint smile.
10:25You sure you want me to leave?
10:27Lyra realized others were watching. Her eyes went vicious.
10:31Stop acting like you're something. Take it off now.
11:04Ow!
11:04Oh!
11:04I am Kale's-
11:05I am Kale's-
11:07Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Kale's kept female?
11:15You wish.
11:17She struck me again. When I came back to the reach, I hadn't planned to make a scene. It had
11:23felt beneath me. But now, she had made it worth it.
11:27Rylan crouched down in front of me, reached for my wrist. I pulled back instinctively.
11:33Are you done throwing your fit?
11:34Huh?
11:36You show up, wearing the bracelet, dressed down on purpose. You wanted me jealous. Just say it, and I'll give
11:44you what you want.
11:45I laughed. Short. Sharp.
11:47Rylan, you're finished. He frowned, opened his mouth, and then the clearing went dead silent. Guests began to straighten themselves,
11:58drifting toward the entrance path.
12:01Kale is here. Behave yourself.
12:07Lyra and I have dissolved our bond, by the way.
12:10I stared at him. I was cradling my nearly broken wrist, looking at the mail in front of me, thinking,
12:17How did I spend seven years on this person? What did his dissolution have to do with me?
12:22At that exact moment, Kale walked in with our son in his arms. Once they reached the feast grounds, our
12:29son squirmed and climbed down.
12:31He hit the stone path, all soft cheeks and small clawed boots, and every eye in the clearing went straight
12:39to him.
12:40His guardian scrambled after him. Rylan hadn't noticed who the cub was yet.
12:44If you stop being jealous of Lyra, I'll forgive you for disappearing three years. I'll give you another chance.
12:51Carry my hatchling. A real one. Ours.
12:55Just come back and tend to my son.
12:56I'll get rid of Lyra.
12:58I didn't say a single word to him. I just looked past him into the crowd, trying to catch Kale's
13:04and our son's eyes.
13:06Then it happened. Kale followed the cub's small, clumsy steps, straight to where I was.
13:12The second my son saw me, something broke open in his face. He threw himself into my arms.
13:23Why is there so much blood?
13:26One word.
13:27Mom.
13:30Every dragon in that clearing turned from the cub to me. The ones who have watched me get knocked around
13:35without doing a thing. All of them, staring. My son's warmth in my arms washed away everything
13:41that had been pressing down on me. I crouched down to his level, cupped his cheek. He took my hand.
13:47The cuffs. They see something hurting someone they love and they just fall apart.
13:54Who did this to you?
13:56Protecting you is mom's job too.
14:01Before I could say anything more, the air in the clearing changed. A heavy, suffocating stillness
14:06washed over the crowd. Kale was walking toward us. That quiet, controlled walk that made the air around
14:12him move different. Dragons moved aside without knowing why. I felt him before I saw him.
14:17I picked up our son and turned around. The blood on my wrist looked stark against his white wrap.
14:22Our son looked up at Kale immediately.
14:27Father. Someone hurt mother. We have to make them pay.
14:32Kale stepped forward and very carefully lifted my arm. His face was unreadable, but his voice was quiet.
14:37Ivara. What happened? I'm right here and you're already hurt. I can't take my eyes off you.
14:45Whoever did this.
14:57Looking at this cold, absolute lord turn into a fiercely protective mate made my heart ache. He was
15:03always like this. A mosquito bite. A bruise from sleep. Even just eating half a portion, he'd be beside
15:10himself with worry. The feast hall's ambient light was low and dim, but our son felt something hard
15:16beneath his boot. Father, isn't this the bracelet you gave mother?
15:21Kale took it from him. Turned it over. Saw the engraving. Then I looked at the shards scattered
15:27across the ground and at my wrist. The nearest stone pillar cracked in his grip. He drew me gently into
15:31the light. Bring every torch to the ground over here. When our eyes met, his pupils narrowed slightly.
15:38What happened to your face? They actually dared to do this to you?
15:44I softened my voice. I'm fine, Kale.
15:48Ivara, I am your mate. You never have to swallow this kind of treatment alone.
15:54Our son pressed close. No one gets to hurt mother! Honestly, I could have handled Rylan and Lyra myself,
16:01but perhaps it was pregnancy. Or perhaps it was just finally feeling safe. My voice cracked. All the
16:09weight I'd been holding for three days broke open. You weren't here, and they all came at me.
16:16The feast grounds had gone dead silent. Rylan's scouts from the border crossing were somewhere in that
16:22clearing, shaking hard enough that they needed the standing stones to hold themselves up.
16:27They didn't expect it either. The female they'd spent three days calling Rylan's lovesick cast-off
16:33was Lord Kale's bonded mate. Every single one of them was now looking for a way to disappear into the
16:39tree line. But then Lyra's companion, a female named Vessa who had arrived late, strutted out from the crowd.
16:47Evara, where did you find these two? Their performance is impressive. Do you want Lyra to
16:53get them placed with a traveling troop? Not that you could afford the placement fee.
16:57Vessa threw her head back and laughed at her own words. Usually half the clearing would laugh with
17:02her. But this time, the entire grounds just stared at her like she had lost her mind. Vessa noticed the
17:09dead silence. She doubled down. She turned to Kale and smirked.
17:14You're actually quite striking. If you ever want to leave her, I wouldn't mind taking care of you.
17:21My mouth twitched. She was propositioning my mate in front of me. Vessa finally registered
17:27the clearing's energy. She drifted toward Lyra for backup. Lyra wanted nothing to do with her.
17:33Before Vessa could even speak, Lyra spun around and struck her viciously across the face.
17:39Vessa, are you insane? You just insulted Lord Kale and his bonded mate. Do you want to be banished?
17:56I just told her mate I'd take care of him.
18:01Oh no!
18:02Then someone near the back of the clearing made a sound. Heads turned.
18:07Vessa had lost control of herself entirely. Her shift reflex had misfired in the most primal,
18:14humiliating way a dragon can in public. Scales broke out down one side of her neck and arm in a
18:21panicked,
18:22involuntary half shift. The kind that happened to hatchlings who couldn't control their fear responses.
18:28Kale's jaw tightened slightly. A sentinel materialized and quietly escorted her from the grounds.
18:34Lyra and Rylan went scarlet. The guests looked at them the way you look at those who have shamed
18:39themselves past the point of recovery. Meanwhile, a healer Kale had summoned was tending to my wrist
18:45nearby. I hissed. Kale and our son both turned with the same expression. Can you perhaps be a little
18:51more careful? The healer's hands started trembling. I shot them both a look. He's helping me. Stop.
18:58They immediately turned identical wounded expressions on me. Father and son, same face, same pout.
19:06Okay. I know. I'm sorry. Keep going. I told the healer. He visibly relaxed. When he finished, he turned to
19:16Kale.
19:17My lord, your mate is perfectly fine. The unborn is safe. The wrist is the worst of it.
19:24I will source the best remedies available and do everything possible to ensure no scarring.
19:29Kale said nothing. I knew exactly what that silence meant. It was the one that came before something
19:35irreversible. Standing in the crowd, Rylan looked terrified. But underneath the panic,
19:42he burned with something else. Jealousy. Watching how close Kale stayed beside me,
19:48his old possessiveness was peaking. But the survival of his faction was on the line,
19:53so he had to bite it down. Kale stood beside me and surveyed the clearing with the kind of stillness
19:58that made everyone in it feel like they'd already been found guilty of something. He looked almost cold,
20:05almost lethal. I actually found it a little endearing, especially with our son standing right beside
20:11him like a tiny, furious mirror image. I want to know exactly what happened. Everything. If you speak
20:20now, perhaps you survive this. If I have to find it out myself, every single one of you goes down
20:28with it.
20:28It was a naked threat. These dragons had clawed for the chance to attend this feast. None of them wanted
20:35to
20:35burn for Rylan's sake. Rylan panicked. He stepped forward. Lord Kale, there's been a misunderstanding.
20:50He unexpectedly said, former bonded partner with a particular emphasis. God blessed him. Such an idiot.
20:59The worst possible moment for it. He actually thought I had spent three years keeping myself for him,
21:05waiting for him to snap his fingers so I could come running back. He completely missed the murderous
21:11stillness crossing Kale's face. I heard the stone goblet in Kale's hand crack. Rylan kept going.
21:19You likely know she was quite devoted to me before the disavolition. Reconnecting after years apart,
21:25it's natural that emotions would- The goblet shattered in Kale's grip. Stone fragments fell. Blood ran down his
21:33fingers. I pushed Rylan out of my focus and reached for Kale's hand. Stop. Stop trying to put yourself
21:42between us. You had your chance and you threw it away. Don't flatter yourself. I have loved exactly one
21:49person my entire life, and it is you. Everyone here can hear me say it. I grabbed a clean wrap
21:56and
21:56frantically began binding Kale's bleeding hand. Rylan looked genuinely hurt. Evora, I know you're bitter.
22:03But Lyra and I have dissolved our bond. Her hatchling is ready to call you mother.
22:10You only bonded with Kale to wound me. I understand. I'm not angry. Just come back.
22:16Whatever he can give you, I'll work twice as hard to match it. Just return and tend to my son!
22:22If you don't want Leia, I'll make her disappear. I honestly could not believe what I was hearing.
22:29Kale's blood was smearing onto my wraps, but as I urgently pressed the binding to his palm,
22:34he suddenly let out a low, genuine laugh. I looked up at him, furious.
22:39Why are you laughing? Kale reached over with his uninjured hand and quietly rested it on top of my
22:45head. Evora, you just said I'm the one you love most. Our son made a face and looked away. His
22:52cold,
22:52fearsome father was currently acting like a lovesick hatchling, all because I'd defended him. The entire
22:59feast grounds went still. Half the guests were in shock. The other half were dying of quiet envy. The
23:05whispers spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass. The rumors are real. He is completely
23:11diverted to his mate. Rylan stood there, his knuckles white with humiliation. But our son wasn't finished.
23:18He looked Rylan up and down with open disdain. Cub tender? My mother is the most protected one in our
23:24den. You think you deserve her? Mother only carries two cubs. Me and my sister.
23:32You really think your unacknowledged Hatchie gets to call her mother? I know all about you.
23:41You're the one who broke my mother's heart. You're not as impressive as my father, not as strong,
23:48not as well formed. He tilted his head, studying Rylan with the kind of cold disdain that was entirely
23:54too familiar on that small face. And you smell like someone who peaked too early and never recovered.
24:00It's making my eyes water. Is your hatchling gonna grow up leaching off others just like you?
24:06The guests surrounding us erupted. They couldn't help it. Rylan bit his lip hard enough to draw blood,
24:12shaking with shame. Everyone in that clearing knew the truth. He had coasted for years on Lyra's family
24:19resources. It was not a secret. Hearing all of this, Lyra had completely lost her grip on rational
24:25thought. Her hatchling was the most important thing in the world to her. The most exceptional cub alive.
24:33And this female was going to replace her. Rylan had essentially said so himself. Lyra grabbed a
24:39bone-handled knife from the nearest table. You little wretch! I'll kill you!
24:44I didn't think. I let go of Kale's hand and threw myself entirely over our son. A blinding,
24:51searing pain ripped through my back. The color drained from my face. I didn't finish the sentence.
24:58Everything went black. I collapsed to the stone. The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was our
25:04son's face, white with panic. I wanted to tell him not to cry. I didn't get the chance. I woke
25:10to the
25:10sharp smell of healer's den. Dried herbs, warm stone walls. I stared at the ceiling for a moment,
25:17disoriented. My best friend Sorin was in the chair beside me. The second she saw my eyes open,
25:23she grabbed my hands. Oh, thank the ancient fires! You're awake! If you had stayed under any longer,
25:30your mate and your son were going to tear this entire territory apart.
25:35What? She was definitely exaggerating. Sorin caught the look immediately. I reached for my stomach on
25:43instinct. You're both fine. The healer said it was shock and pain. That's why you went under.
25:48The unborn is completely safe. That Lyra is something else. Going after a cub with a blade.
25:55My chest tightened. My son, Kale, are they- Both fine. Physically, completely fine. Slow down. Drink.
26:05Sorin handed me a cup of broth.
26:09I drank. The tightness eased a little.
26:14You didn't need to throw yourself in front of him. There were six sentinels in that clearing.
26:18Dre was never going to get touched.
26:21That's Dre. I know, I know. He's your whole heart. That terrifying little creature.
26:26He doesn't need protecting. He's more dangerous than most full-grown warriors.
26:30I smiled despite myself. Where are they? Sorin's eyes lit up.
26:35Getting revenge? I wanted to come along. But your mate and your son are genuinely terrifying
26:40when they operate together, so I volunteered to stay with you instead. She settled in and began.
26:46When I arrived, you were already under. From what I pieced together from the witnesses still standing,
26:52your son watched you collapse and went completely still for about two seconds.
26:55Then he picked up the knife Lyra had dropped and drove it straight through her hand.
26:59Into the stone beneath. A cub. I don't know where he gets that cut strength.
27:06Kale found out about the strike at the border crossing three days ago, and the bracelet,
27:10and everything they said to you. He had his sentinels hold Rylan down, and they dealt with
27:15the hand he used to hit you. I closed my eyes briefly. Lyra's face received the same treatment.
27:20And then Kale had a chest of gemstones brought into the clearing, all the shards from your broken
27:25bracelet, and he told Lyra that since she loved taking things that belonged to you so much,
27:29she had to swallow them. You know what Kale said?
27:42You love taking what is hers. So here, I am giving you everything you wanted. The stones and the mail.
27:49She refused at first. So Kale had her hatchling brought in. Then she did it. She swallowed a great
27:55many shards. They worked her over until she was barely conscious. Then Kale had her drop beyond
28:00the outer borders. Swallowed shards. Face first. Every dragon who stood around watching you get
28:06hurt, every single one of them carries a mark on their wrists now, just for doing nothing.
28:09If you weren't my closest companion, I'd probably have one too. I gave her a flat look.
28:14The clan records were updated, but the only news that spread was about Rylan's faction being absorbed
28:17and dissolved. Every allied group in that clearing with border exposure, Kale absorbed it.
28:21Some were disbanded entirely. Some are still bleeding out.
28:26Rylan was supposed to go the same way as Lyra. But Lyra stopped it. Threw herself in front of the
28:31sentinel's bottom time to run. I think she made a deal with him.
28:37It wasn't hard to figure out. The hatchling. When a mother is running out of time,
28:41the one thing she'll trade everything for is her child's safety. Rylan must have promised her
28:46something about the boy. Lyra had swallowed shards and stones for the chance that her son would be all
28:51right. Kale was precise, and he was cold. But every time I so much as bruised my arm,
28:56he acted like he personally failed. He was brutal because he was afraid. Not of losing power,
29:01of losing me. And Dre, my sweet, sharp, slightly terrifying cub, had been shaped by that same love.
29:08I had been trying to counterbalance it, clearly still working on it.
29:19His face was still swollen. He'd managed to find a decent cloak. The one I'd given him years ago.
29:25The one he'd told me was plain and unworthy of his rank. I stayed where I was. Last time I'd
29:31moved
29:32too fast. It had cost me. He seemed to read that. I'm not going to hurt you. I just needed
29:38to...
29:40What?
29:42I still love you. His voice broke on it. Every time I think about you, I can't breathe.
29:49I know it's too late. I know what I did. But I can't just...
29:53Raelynn. You were with another female while we were still bonded. You let me humiliate myself.
29:59You abandoned me and destroy me. And then tonight, when you had the chance to do literally anything
30:05else, you stood in front of my mate and told him I was devoted to you? You've had seven years
30:10and
30:11three more to figure out what you want. What you want keeps shifting based on what you can reach.
30:15That's not love. Raelynn's jaw worked. He wanted to argue. I was always your contingency.
30:21Raelynn. And you were never mine. Not really. He looked at me for a long time. Then he looked
30:26at the cloak. You gave me this for the winter solstice. I told you it was plain.
30:32I know. I kept it. I didn't say anything. He left quietly. Kale came in with his hand
30:41newly wrapped. Dre right behind him. They both stopped when they saw I was awake. Then they were
30:45both in front of me at the same time. Ivara. Kale's voice was unsteady. You're up.
30:50Are you... Does anything hurt? Do you need... Father, she was fine two minutes before you
30:56got here. She was talking and everything. Kale ignored him. Are you okay? Tell me you're
31:01okay. I'm okay. You say that every time. Because it keeps being true. Dre tucked himself under my
31:07arm. Spoke very quietly. Mom, are you upset that father raised his voice at me? Did he raise his voice
31:14at you? I am fine. He didn't yell. Dre said very firmly. Kale.
31:22He was scared. We both were. He wasn't really yelling. He was just loud. I kissed the top of his
31:32head.
31:33Protecting you is also my job. I'm not sorry.
31:38I know. I know, Mom.
31:45Soren eventually took Dre to find food and it was just the two of us. Kale sat by the bedside,
31:51not quite touching, like he was still afraid something would break if he moved too fast.
31:56He wanted to look at my wrist. I let him. I'll do better. He said.
32:02You won't be alone like that again. Kale, this wasn't your fault. You were alone and you got hurt.
32:09I was in a clearing full of dragons and I got hurt. That's not the same thing as being alone.
32:14He looked
32:14up. I'm not made of glass. I'm also not leaving. You understand that? I'm here. I chose this.
32:23You chose it because your family arranged the alliance. I chose to stay. Every single day for
32:29three years, I chose to stay. That's not an arrangement. That's me. He didn't answer,
32:35but something in his face shifted. I thought about the hidden chamber behind the clan tapestry,
32:40his quiet years-long devotion that he'd never once spoken aloud. The young unblooded dragon eating alone
32:47at the edge of the training grounds every day. The young unblooded dragon eating alone at the edge
32:52of the training grounds every day. While I stuffed a pouch of resource tokens into his pack and told
32:58him he was my honorary younger clansman. He'd loved me before he knew what to do with it. Before I
33:04even
33:04knew his name. I reached over and took his uninjured hand. You want to know what I was thinking? Every
33:11time
33:11things got hard and someone told me I'd bonded with the wrong dragon. He waited. But they'd never seen
33:17you bring me warp stones when the cold fever took me. Or stay awake beside me through three full nights
33:23because I was homesick and couldn't sleep. Or look at me the way you look at me when you think
33:28I'm not
33:28watching. They were comparing you to whoever they assumed you were. I know who you actually are.
33:34Kale didn't show weakness easily. He was showing it now. I don't need you to be fearless. I just need
33:42you to stop assuming I'll leave. I'm not going anywhere. He brought my hand up and held it against
33:49his face. Didn't speak. Didn't need to. They kept me in the healer's den two extra days. The morning they
33:56finally let me return to our den, I walked back through the entrance and stopped in front of the bonding
34:01tapestry. We were both so young in it. I lifted the tapestry and I found the wall behind it. Image
34:10after
34:10image after image etched in the old way. Dragon memory stone. Me at 19. Me at 16. Me at 14
34:25in a clan
34:26corridor. He'd loved me across a decade before I'd ever said his name. I heard the den entrance
34:33behind me. Kale froze in the corridor.
34:41Evira, I can explain. You noticed me first.
34:45I gave you resource tokens at the training grounds because I thought you couldn't afford to eat.
34:51I told you that you were my honorary younger clansman and I never even asked your name.
34:58I didn't know it was you until I found these. I'm a little upset it took us this long.
35:05Think about all the time you wasted.
35:09You're not upset about the stones? No. I'm glad. I'm glad you kept looking.
35:15Kale crossed the den in four strides and pulled me in before I could say anything else.
35:19I never thought you'd say that.
35:21I know. That's the problem. You've been waiting for me to leave since the day I arrived.
35:27I'm not leaving. I've told you. I'll keep telling you.
35:31For how long?
35:33I thought about it. As long as it takes for you to actually believe me.
35:38Drey appeared in the den entrance, took one look at us and silently backed away.
35:44Kale held on a little tighter. Outside, the ancient forests of the abyssal reach kept moving.
35:50Wind through the canopy. The distant sound of wings. The slow pulse of a territory that had stood for 10
35:57,000 years.
35:59And I stayed exactly where I was.
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