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