- 5 hours ago
The Dark Lord's Mate
Category
š„
Short filmTranscript
00:00It was my wedding day, yet my fiancƩ kicked me straight into the mud.
00:03The bodyguards held me down, hard, on the ground.
00:07He looked at me like it meant nothing.
00:09Nova's baby needs a father on paper.
00:11Once I divorce him, I'll marry you.
00:14Everyone thought I'd swallow my pride and wait another month.
00:17After all, I'd already waited seven years.
00:20But that night I accepted my father's arranged match
00:22and left Dusk Hollow entirely.
00:25I vanished from his world completely.
00:27Three years later, I was back to the town.
00:30The demon spirit tournament here was about to begin.
00:32I was here helping my husband holding this.
00:35My husband had a work emergency, so he had his people in Dusk Hollow to collect me.
00:39At the boundary road where the old forest met the town,
00:43I walked out and froze.
00:44That person was Silas, my ex.
00:47The town boundary, torchlight from the iron posts.
00:50The air smelled like pine resin.
00:52Hey, isn't that you obsessed ex? Isn't that waiter Lena?
00:56Silas looked surprised to see me. He buried it fast.
00:59See?
01:00I told you.
01:01She'd come crawling back.
01:04The group laughed.
01:06She probably cries herself to sleep every night.
01:08But Lena, if you were going to stage a reunion,
01:11at least show up in something decent.
01:13You can't afford better than that?
01:15You look this pathetic?
01:17I used to dress sharply every single time I knew I'd see Silas.
01:20Best clothes.
01:21Best version of myself.
01:23Always.
01:24Not anymore.
01:25No point.
01:25I was pregnant now.
01:26My husband had told me to wear whatever was comfortable.
01:29The soft, traveling leathers I had on were custom made by him.
01:32But I noticed.
01:33They only knew my old name.
01:34They had no idea I was the person they'd been sent here to collect.
01:38Quinn!
01:39Lena, hey, it's good you're back.
01:42Silmus has been asking after you for years.
01:45Yeah, our son is, uh, entering the young training cohort soon.
01:50You're in charge of the drop-off.
01:51He was still so incredibly arrogant.
01:53But I wasn't that naive girl anymore.
01:55I didn't want to waste another second on them.
01:57I was just about to tell them exactly who I was.
02:00I am-
02:01Please, don't blame Silas.
02:03He's just trying to take care of you.
02:05Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive these years.
02:09Maybe a hooker.
02:10Three years, Nova still wore that exact same expression.
02:14It still made my skin crawl.
02:16Silas caught my face and assumed I was jealous.
02:18Something flickered in his eyes.
02:20Satisfaction.
02:21All right, Lena.
02:22Drop the attitude.
02:24You clearly can't survive out there, so stop throwing tantrums and learn your place.
02:29Damn, Lena.
02:31Look how good Simus is to you.
02:33He's giving you free room and board.
02:37Isn't babysitting better than whatever trashy life you're living now?
02:42Hurry up and say thank you.
02:45Don't worry, dear.
02:46If my son acts up, I'll handle him myself.
02:48You won't be mistreated.
02:49Why would she be mistreated?
02:51She bolted over nothing.
02:53She's back because the outside world didn't want her.
02:56A little humility is good for her.
02:58My heart stopped for a beat.
03:00The Silas who used to love me was long gone.
03:03He was no longer the one who protected me when I was sexually assaulted in the bar.
03:07But that was fine.
03:08It was over.
03:09No point.
03:10I was about to have my second child.
03:13I looked at Silas calmly and said,
03:14Aren't you here to pick me up?
03:16Let's go.
03:17Pick you up?
03:19Please.
03:21Read this carefully.
03:23We're here for when.
03:25You even know who that is?
03:26Of course I knew.
03:27It was my name.
03:28Wynn is the lady of the Asheville line.
03:30She's made it to the Lord Caius.
03:32Our bar's mistress.
03:33Yeah!
03:34Caius is a legend.
03:36The child of the dark.
03:38He is coldest creature alive in the field.
03:40But completely devoted to one mate.
03:42Rumor is he refused every offer for years.
03:44Just waiting for Wynn.
03:46Everyone who matters knows the rule.
03:49You want Caius' favor?
03:50Go through Wynn.
03:51She is everything to him.
03:53I listened to them talk and felt myself smile.
03:56Three years of marriage.
03:58Caius' business had doubled.
04:00So had his reputation as the most fiercely devoted mate
04:03any supernatural alive had ever witnessed.
04:06Caius had a one-of-a-kind piece commissioned.
04:09The Nightbloom Pendant.
04:10An enchanted moonstone set in black iron.
04:12He paid a witch lord's ransom for it.
04:15Just to give to Wynn.
04:17She's the most envied woman in every territory.
04:21That pendant.
04:23That's it!
04:32Nice knockoff.
04:33Is this your salary for fucking man?
04:35I pulled my arm back.
04:37I ran my thumb over the moonstone.
04:39Silas saw me smiling, and his expression changed.
04:42He grabbed my wrist again and ripped the pendant free.
04:44I wasn't ready for that.
04:46He got it.
04:47Nova took it from him.
04:48Turned it over in her hands.
04:50It's better quality than the replica I had made.
04:53Not that I'd ever wear mine outside.
04:56This outer territory imitation is something else.
05:00Then she laughed.
05:01Wait.
05:02Don't tell me you're Wynn.
05:04Don't tell me you're Lord Caius' mate.
05:07The whole group fell apart.
05:08It was absurd to them.
05:10Caius was a myth walking.
05:12No one had ever seen his face and lived to gossip carelessly about it.
05:16And three years ago, I was just the wolf girl who'd been abandoned.
05:19They certainly wouldn't believe that two people like that could have any connection.
05:23I'll buy it off you, Lena.
05:25Double what you paid.
05:26I was scared she'd drop it.
05:29Give it back.
05:31Caius gave me that.
05:34Shut up.
05:35You do not say that man's name.
05:38You want to spread rumors about being connected to him?
05:40You trying to get us all killed?
05:43Caius is the bar boss.
05:44We all answer to him.
05:45Everything depends on staying in his favor.
05:47I wiped the blood from my lip.
05:49Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch.
05:51Nova caught it.
05:52She stepped forward, pointed a finger in my face.
05:55Pathetic.
05:58For old time's sake, I'm letting this go.
06:00Take the gold.
06:02Get yourself something decent to wear.
06:04If you don't want to watch my pal, I'll find you something tolerable.
06:06Don't worry.
06:07Took the pendant from Nova's grip.
06:11No thanks.
06:12I don't take things from strangers.
06:15The Hollow and Fang is hosting the Grand Congregation in three days.
06:19I was going to bring you.
06:20Show you something real.
06:22But you'd need to actually look the part.
06:24Can't embarrass me.
06:26I'm good.
06:26But thanks.
06:29Fine.
06:30I'll take Nova.
06:32I won't let you down.
06:34Hope you're still this confident in three days.
06:37Three days later, the Hollow and Fang, the most famous gathering place in the supernatural world.
06:42Silas saw me the second I pushed through the iron door.
06:46Couldn't stay away.
06:48But if you're trying to win me back, you have to put in more effort.
06:52You can't show up to the Grand Conquitation dressed like that.
06:55I'm talking to you.
06:57Our staff table is over here.
06:59Where do you think you're going?
07:00I pushed the pouch back.
07:02That's your table.
07:05How did she get in here?
07:07How dare she wear that pendant tonight of all nights?
07:10Tonight is Lord Caius' first public appearance with his mate at the Congregation.
07:15Is she trying to humiliate Wrynn?
07:19Silas, is this woman with you?
07:22No.
07:22Take that pendant off and get out.
07:27You sure you want me to leave?
07:38Trash.
07:39Acting like it's something sacred.
07:44Throw her out!
07:46Yeah!
07:49Stop.
07:50I'm Caius'...
07:52Oh, now you're his what, exactly?
07:54His kept wolf?
07:56You wish.
07:57I hadn't planned to make a scene tonight.
08:00Wasn't worth it.
08:01But she'd made it worth it.
08:03Are you done?
08:04You show up chasing after me, wearing the pendant, dressed down on purpose.
08:08You wanted me jealous.
08:10Just say it and I'll give you what you want.
08:13Silas, you're a dead man.
08:15He frowned, opened his mouth.
08:17Who dares touch my woman?
08:19Creatures who'd been arguing, drinking, dealing.
08:25The Child of the Dark.
08:42Boss is coming.
08:43Behave.
08:45Nova and I broke it off, by the way.
08:47I don't understand what this has to do with me.
08:49Did he think I still like him?
08:50Gross.
08:51I was cradling my nearly broken wrist, looking at the male in front of me.
08:55Then Caius landed with our son in his arms.
08:58Our son squirmed down and ran.
09:02Lena, I'll forgive you for the three years.
09:05I'll give you another chance.
09:06Have my pup.
09:07I promise I'll get rid of Nova.
09:09I wasn't listening.
09:10I was watching our boy weave through the crowd of vampires and witches and wolfbloods toward me.
09:16He went completely still for a second when he saw my face.
09:20Mom!
09:21What happened?
09:22Who hurt you?
09:26Why is there so much blood?
09:27The ones who'd watched me get knocked around without doing a thing.
09:30All of them staring.
09:33I'm okay.
09:38Who did this to you?
09:42My chest ached looking at him.
09:45Caius was already crossing the bar toward us.
09:47Supernatural creatures moved aside without knowing why.
09:51I felt him before I saw him.
09:52He was going to be angry.
09:54I knew that.
09:55Since I'd started carrying our second, the sickness had been brutal.
09:58Caius had barely let me out of his sight.
10:01The only reason I'd arrived separately was because of his business.
10:04If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have come ahead without him.
10:07I turned around.
10:08Our son's white shirt made the blood on my wrist look worse than it was.
10:12And our son immediately straightened.
10:14Dad!
10:15Someone hurt Mom!
10:16Caius stepped forward and very carefully lifted my arm.
10:19His face was unreadable, but his voice was quiet.
10:22Lena, what happened?
10:25I'm right here and you're already hurt.
10:27I can't take my eyes off you.
10:29Whoever did this...
10:30He didn't finish the sentence.
10:32He didn't need to.
10:33The whispers completely stopped.
10:35Not the comfortable silence of last call.
10:38The kind that fell when every predator in a room, Silas' friends, shaking hard.
10:43Enough that they needed the counter to hold themselves up.
10:45The female they'd spent three days calling Silas' pathetic ex was Lord Caius' mate.
10:51They'd seen the pendant.
10:53She'd told them, multiple times.
10:55Nova's friend, a witch named Petra who'd arrived late, hadn't gotten the memo.
10:59Nice performance, Lena.
11:02Where'd you dig up these two?
11:03Nova can get them booked with a traveling carnival if they need the work.
11:06Not that you could afford the commission.
11:08She smiled at Caius.
11:10Petra had arrived late.
11:11She had no idea who Caius was or what his child looked like.
11:15She'd dressed up tonight to find a high-ranking mate.
11:18The entire venue stared at her like she'd lost her mind.
11:21That finally got to her.
11:23She turned to Caius.
11:24You're actually quite something for someone standing next to her.
11:26If you ever want to leave, I wouldn't mind taking care of you.
11:29My mouth twitched.
11:30She was propositioning my husband.
11:32In front of me?
11:33I genuinely could not decide if that was brave or catastrophically stupid.
11:38Over the years, anyone who'd tried to get close to him, slipping notes under the bar's private door,
11:44sending signals through intermediaries making moves at the convocation,
11:48had vanished from every territory entirely.
11:52Petra finally registered the bar's energy.
11:55She drifted toward Nova.
11:58You just insulted Lord Caius and his mate.
12:01Do you want to be exiled from every terry at once?
12:06Lina, his rink.
12:08I just offered to take care of Lord Caius.
12:11Caius' reputation as the most protective mate in any supernatural circle was not a rumor.
12:17Petra started shaking.
12:18Then, someone near the back of the venue made a strangled sound.
12:23Heads turned.
12:24Petra's magic had misfired completely.
12:26Two of his people materialized from the shadows and quietly walked her out.
12:31Nova and Silas went scarlet.
12:33The gathered creatures looked at them the way you look at someone who has embarrassed themselves
12:37so completely, there is simply no coming back.
12:40Nearby, a healer, Caius had summoned, was cleaning the wound on my wrist.
12:44Could you be slightly more careful?
12:46He's helping me.
12:47Stop.
12:51Okay.
12:52I know.
12:52I'm sorry.
12:53Keep going.
12:54He visibly relaxed.
12:56She's fine.
12:56The baby is fine.
12:58The wrist is the worst of it.
12:59I'll use the best healing balm we have, do everything possible to make sure there's no scar.
13:02Caius said nothing.
13:03I knew that silence.
13:05Silas was sweating.
13:07He'd spent the last three days telling his ex to care for his pup.
13:10Shut up.
13:10And she was, in fact, his boss's mate.
13:14Watching Caius with me now, Silas felt something he hadn't expected.
13:18He recognized it as jealousy and hated himself for it.
13:21But he couldn't afford to act on it.
13:23Not with his position on the line.
13:26I want to know exactly what happened.
13:28Everything.
13:29From the beginning.
13:30If I have to piece it together myself, the outcome will be significantly worse for every single
13:35one of you.
13:39It was a misunderstanding, my lord.
13:45As Lena's, as her former intended, I was simply reconnecting with her.
13:50Things got out of hand.
13:51Male ego.
13:52The absolute worst moment for it.
13:55You probably know she was quite devoted to me before she left.
13:58Reconnecting after years apart, it's natural that emotions would...
14:02Stop!
14:03You had your chance and you threw it away.
14:06Don't flatter yourself.
14:08I have loved exactly one person my entire life.
14:11And it's you.
14:13Every creature here can hear me say it.
14:17Lena.
14:19Nova and I are finished.
14:21Completely done.
14:22I know you mated with Caius to punish me.
14:24I get it.
14:24I'm not angry.
14:25Just come back.
14:27Come back.
14:30Nova can disappear.
14:32Just come home with me.
14:33I honestly could not believe what I was hearing.
14:36His arrogance had no floor.
14:38Caius' blood was smearing onto my wraps.
14:40But as I urgently pressed the binding to his palm, he suddenly let out a low, genuine laugh.
14:46Why are you laughing?
14:49Lena.
14:50You just said I'm the one you love most.
14:53Our son made a face and looked away.
14:55My fearsome father was currently acting like a lovesick hatchling, all because I defended him.
15:00The whispers spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass.
15:03The rumors are real.
15:04He is completely devoted to his mate.
15:06Silas stood there, his knuckles white with humiliation.
15:09But our son wasn't finished.
15:11He looked Silas up and down with open disdain.
15:13Cub tender?
15:15My mother is the most protected one in our den.
15:18You think you deserve her?
15:21I know all about you.
15:22You're the one who broke my mother's heart.
15:24You're not as impressive as my father.
15:27Not as strong.
15:28Not as well formed.
15:29And you smell like someone who peaked too early and never recovered.
15:32It's making my eyes water.
15:34Is your hatchling going to grow up leeching off others?
15:37Just like you?
15:38The guests surrounding us erupted.
15:40Everyone in that clearing knew the truth.
15:43He had coasted for years on Lyra's family resources.
15:46It was not a secret.
15:47Hearing all of this, Nova had completely lost her grip on rational thought.
15:52I'll kill you!
15:56The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was our son's face, white with panic.
16:03I wanted to tell him not to cry.
16:05I didn't get the chance.
16:06I woke up in the bar owner's private office, which had a bed specifically for the owner
16:10to rest on.
16:11I stared at the ceiling for a while, feeling a bit dizzy.
16:14My best friend Amy was sitting in the chair next to me.
16:17As soon as she saw me open my eyes, she grabbed my hand.
16:20Oh, thank God!
16:21You're awake!
16:22If you had stayed under any longer, your mate and your son were going to tear this entire
16:26bar apart.
16:28What?
16:28She was definitely exaggerating.
16:30I reached for my stomach on instinct.
16:32You're both fine.
16:33The healer said it was shock and pain, that's why you went under.
16:36The unborn is completely safe.
16:39That Nova is something else.
16:41Going after a cub with a blade.
16:43My chest tightened.
16:45My son!
16:46Gaius, are they-
16:47Both fine.
16:48Physically, completely fine.
16:49Slow down.
16:51Drink.
16:52The tightness eased a little.
16:54You didn't need to throw yourself in front of him.
16:56Your husband will protect him.
16:58That's Choa.
16:59I know, I know.
17:01He's your whole heart.
17:02That terrifying little creature.
17:03He doesn't need protecting.
17:05He's more dangerous than most full-grown warriors.
17:09Where are they?
17:10Getting revenge.
17:12I wanted to come along, but your mate and your son are genuinely terrifying when they
17:17operate together, so I volunteered to stay with you instead.
17:20When I arrived, you were already under.
17:22From what I've pieced together from the witnesses still standing, your son watched you collapse
17:27and went completely still for about two seconds.
17:30Then he picked up the knife Nova had dropped and drove it straight through her hand, into
17:34the stone beneath.
17:35A cub.
17:37I don't know where he gets that kind of strength.
17:40Caius found out about the strike at the border crossing three days ago, and the pendant, and
17:45everything they said to you.
17:46He had his people hold Silas down, and they dealt with the hand he used to hit you.
17:51Nova's face received the same treatment.
17:53And then Caius had a chest of gemstones brought into the clearing.
17:57All the shards from your broken pendant, and he told Nova that since she loved taking
18:02things that belonged to you so much, she could have them.
18:05All of them.
18:06She had to swallow them.
18:09You know what Caius said?
18:10You love taking what is hers, so here.
18:13I am giving you everything you wanted.
18:15The stones.
18:16And the mail.
18:17She refused at first.
18:18So Caius had her hatchling brought in.
18:20Then she did it.
18:21She swallowed a great many shards.
18:23They worked her over until she was barely conscious.
18:25Then Caius had her dropped beyond the outer bounders.
18:27Face first.
18:29Everyone who stands by and watches you get hurt is banned from the bar's transaction list.
18:33Then Amy left.
18:34That's my boy Caius.
18:35The child of the dark was precise, and he was cold.
18:38But every time I so much as bruised my arm, he acted like he'd personally failed.
18:42He was brutal because he was afraid.
18:44Not of losing power.
18:45Of losing me.
18:46The den door swung open.
18:47I thought it was Caius.
18:48Caius, can you grab my-
18:50Lena.
18:51It's me.
18:54His face was still swollen.
18:56He'd managed to find a decent cloak.
18:58The one I'd given him years ago.
19:00The one he'd told me was plain and unworthy of his rank.
19:04He had his methods for getting past sentinels, apparently.
19:07I stayed where I was.
19:09Last time I'd moved too fast, it had cost me.
19:11I'm not going to hurt you.
19:13I just needed to-
19:14What?
19:15I still love you.
19:17Every time I think about you with him, I can't breathe.
19:19I know it's too late.
19:21I know what I did.
19:22But I can't just-
19:23Rylan!
19:24You were with another female while we were still bonded!
19:27You let me humiliate myself!
19:29You abandon me!
19:31And destroy me!
19:33And then tonight, when you had the chance to do literally anything else, you stood in front of my mate
19:38and told him I was devoted to you?
19:41You've had seven years and three more to figure out what you want.
19:44What you want keeps shifting based on what you can reach.
19:47That's not love!
19:48I was always your contingency.
19:50And you were never mine.
19:52Not really.
19:53He looked at me for a long time.
19:55Then he looked at the cloak.
19:56You gave me this for the winter solstice.
19:58I told you it was plain.
19:59I know.
20:01I kept it.
20:02I didn't say anything.
20:03He left quietly.
20:05A moment later, Silas hit the corridor outside and Caius' fist.
20:09I heard it from inside the den.
20:12One impact.
20:13Then nothing.
20:14Caius came in with his hand newly wrapped.
20:16They both stopped when they saw I was awake.
20:18Then they were both in front of me at the same time.
20:21Chal getting there first.
20:22Lena.
20:24You're up.
20:24Are you-
20:25Does anything hurt?
20:26Do you need-
20:26Father.
20:27She was fine two minutes before you got here.
20:30She was talking and everything.
20:32Are you okay?
20:33Tell me you're okay.
20:36I'm okay.
20:38You say that every time.
20:40Because it keeps being true.
20:42Chal tucked himself under my arm.
20:44Mom.
20:45Are you upset that father raised his voice at me?
20:50Did he raise his voice at you?
20:52He maintained firmly that he was fine.
20:55He was the worst liar.
20:57Chal.
20:57He didn't yell.
20:59I pulled him closer and looked over his head at Caius, who was suddenly very interested
21:03in the den wall.
21:04Caius.
21:05He was scared.
21:06We both were.
21:08He wasn't really yelling.
21:09He was just loud.
21:14Protecting you is also my job.
21:15I'm not sorry.
21:17I know.
21:18I know, Mom.
21:18Amy eventually took Chal to find food, and it was just the two of us.
21:23Caius pulled up a chair and stayed there, not quite touching, like he was still afraid
21:27something would break if he moved too fast.
21:29I'll do better.
21:31You won't be alone like that again.
21:34Caius.
21:36This wasn't your fault.
21:37You were alone and you got hurt.
21:39I got hurt.
21:41That's not the same thing as being alone.
21:44I'm not made of glass.
21:45I'm also not leaving.
21:47You understand that?
21:48I'm here.
21:49I chose this.
21:50You chose it because your family arranged the alliance.
21:53I chose to stay.
21:54Every single day for three years, I chose to stay.
21:57That's not an arrangement.
21:59That's me.
22:00I thought about the hidden chamber behind the clan tapestry.
22:03His quiet, years-long devotion that he'd never once spoken aloud.
22:08While I stuffed a pouch of resource tokens into his pack and told him he was my honorary
22:13younger clansman.
22:14He'd loved me before he knew what to do with it.
22:17You want to know what I was thinking?
22:18Every time things got hard and someone told me I'd bonded with the wrong mate?
22:22That they'd never seen you bring me warmth stones when the cold fever took me?
22:26Or stay awake beside me through three full nights because I was homesick and couldn't
22:30sleep?
22:31Or look at me the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching?
22:35They were comparing you to whoever they assumed you were.
22:38I know who you actually are.
22:40Caius didn't show weakness easily.
22:43I don't need you to be fearless.
22:46I just need you to stop assuming I'll leave.
22:51I'm not going anywhere.
22:55They kept me in the healer's den two extra days.
22:58Caius and Dray's insistence, not the healer's.
23:01The morning they finally let me return to our den.
23:04I walked back through the entrance and stopped in front of the bonding tapestry.
23:08We were both so young in it.
23:10Caius already composed, already guarded.
23:13The barest pull at the corner of his mouth.
23:15Like he'd practiced not smiling until it became habit.
23:18Me looking sideways, like I hadn't fully believed in the moment yet.
23:23I lifted the tapestry, and I found the wall behind it.
23:27Image after image after image.
23:30Etched in the old way, dragon memory stone, the kind that holds a moment in its surface
23:35like pressed light.
23:36Me at 19, handing out forage tokens outside the training grounds.
23:40Me at 16, laughing at something off frame.
23:43Me at 14 in a clan corridor, arms full of scrolls, annoyed at whoever had pressed the stone.
23:49He'd loved me across a decade before I'd ever said his name.
23:52I heard the den entrance behind me.
23:55Caius froze in the corridor.
23:57Looked at the memory stones.
24:00Lena, I can explain.
24:02You noticed me first.
24:04I gave you resource tokens at the training grounds because I thought you couldn't afford to eat.
24:09I told you that you were my honorary younger clansman, and I never even asked your name.
24:13I didn't know it was you until I found these.
24:15I'm a little upset it took us this long.
24:18Think about all the time we wasted.
24:21You're not...
24:22Upset about the stones?
24:24No.
24:24I'm glad.
24:25I'm glad you kept looking.
24:29I never thought you'd say that.
24:31I know.
24:31That's the problem.
24:32You've been waiting for me to leave since the day I arrived.
24:36I'm not leaving.
24:37I've told you.
24:38I'll keep telling you.
24:40For how long?
24:42As long as it takes for you to actually believe me.
24:45Chol appeared in the den entrance, took one look at us, and silently backed away.
24:50Good cub.
24:51Caius held on a little tighter.
24:54Outside, the ancient forests of the abyssal reach kept moving.
24:58Wind through the canopy.
25:00The distant sound of wings.
25:02The slow pulse of a territory that had stood for 10,000 years.
25:06And I stayed exactly where I was.
25:08The unbelievable thing about the angle she's moving.
25:08I'm so glad you're here.
25:08You're in the middle of the bend.
25:09I'm so glad you're here.
Comments