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