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