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00:00The day we were supposed to complete our blood bonding ceremony,
00:03my mate Rylan had the clan sentinels drag me out of the sacred hall.
00:07Lyra's baby needs a father on paper. Once we divorce, I'll marry you.
00:11He walked in with his childhood sweetheart instead.
00:14Everyone thought I'd swallow my pride and wait another month.
00:17After all, I'd already waited seven years.
00:20But that night, I accepted my family's arranged alliance and left the abyssal reach entirely.
00:25I disappeared from Rylan's world completely.
00:29Three years later, I returned to abyssal reach with my mate for a clan ancestral rite.
00:34My mate had a work emergency, though he had his people to collect me.
00:38At the border crossing, I walked out and froze.
00:43That person was Rylan, my ex, the arrival clearing.
00:47I spotted a scout holding a marker carved with my name, my formal alliance name, Hila, and walked over.
00:54Rylan was holding it.
00:55He had Lyra with him, plus a few of his clansmen, all craning their necks toward the tree line.
01:01Rylan looked surprised to see me.
01:03He covered it fast.
01:04Hey, isn't that Rylan's obsessed ex?
01:07Isn't that Ivara?
01:08I told you she'd come crawling back.
01:11His men laughed.
01:12Ivara vanished without a trass.
01:15Now she sees Rylan is in a higher rank.
01:17She probably cries herself to sleep every night.
01:20Ivara, 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.
01:33I used to make myself perfect every time I knew I'd be near Rylan.
01:36Sharpest claws.
01:37Finest scales on display.
01:39Best version of me.
01:41Not anymore.
01:41No point.
01:42Because I'm carrying, and my mate refused to let me be uncomfortable.
01:46He had this soft traveling wrap custom-tailored for me.
01:49Listening to them mock me, it suddenly clicked.
01:52They only knew my alliance name.
01:53They had no idea the one they were here to collect was me.
01:57Ivara, hey, it's good you're back.
01:59Rylan's been asking after you for years.
02:01Yeah, our son is entering the young training cohort soon.
02:05From now on, you're in charge of the drop-off.
02:07He was still so incredibly arrogant, but I wasn't that naive girl anymore.
02:11I didn't want to waste another second on them.
02:14I was just about to tell them exactly who I was.
02:18I am...
02:19Please don't blame Rylan.
02:20He's just trying to take care of you.
02:21You disappeared for three years.
02:23Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive.
02:26Rylan caught my expression and thought I was jealous.
02:28Something flickered in his eyes.
02:31Satisfaction.
02:32All right, Ivara.
02:33Drop the attitude.
02:34You clearly can't survive out there, so stop throwing tantrums.
02:37Take care of the kid and learn your place.
02:39Damn, Ivara.
02:40Look how good Rayon is to you.
02:41He's giving you free room and board.
02:43Isn't babysitting better than whatever trashy life you're living now?
02:46Hurry up and say thank you!
02:47Lyra touched the scales at her throat and spoke with false sweetness.
02:51Rylan smirked and glanced at me.
02:54Don't worry, dear.
02:55If my son acts up, I'll handle him myself.
02:57You won't be mistreated.
02:58Why would she be mistreated?
03:00She ran away over a tiny little misunderstanding.
03:02If she hit rock bottom out in the wilds, a little humility is good for her.
03:06My heart actually skipped a beat.
03:08Three years had passed, and he still thought it was a small matter to dump me and married
03:12Lyra.
03:12The Rylan who used to love me was truly gone.
03:14He wasn't the young warrior who'd carried me, wounded, across three territory borders
03:19in the dead of a moonless night.
03:21But whatever.
03:22It was all in the past.
03:23None of it mattered anymore.
03:25Besides, I was about to carry my second hatchling anyway.
03:29Aren't you here to pick me up?
03:31Let's go.
03:33I looked at Rylan calmly and said, silence fell over the clearing.
03:37Pick you up, please.
03:39Lyra held up the carved marker.
03:41Read it carefully.
03:42We are here for Hela.
03:43Do you even know who that is?
03:44Kale is a living legend.
03:46Coldest dragon alive in the field, but completely devoted to his wife.
03:50Rumor has it he refused all alliances for years, just waiting for Hela.
03:54Everyone knows the rule.
03:55If you want Kale's favor, go through Hela.
03:58She is his entire world.
04:00Listening to them gossip about my marriage, I couldn't help it.
04:03A genuine happy smile spread across my face.
04:06We had been married for three years.
04:08Kale's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had spread everywhere.
04:11To claim Hela as his, Kale went to the Ancient Exchange and paid down a legendary artifact,
04:17the Eternal Fang Bracelet, just to give to Hela.
04:20She's the most enviled female in every territory.
04:25Lyra stopped.
04:26Then she pointed at my wrist and shrieked.
04:28That bracelet!
04:29That's it!
04:31The clearing went quiet.
04:33Everyone looked.
04:34It's a pretty good fake.
04:36Which a lowborn Klansman bought you that?
04:38Buying you a cheap imitation.
04:40Absolute trash.
04:41Rylan grabbed my arm, studied the bracelet, then laughed.
04:44Wow, it really is high quality for a fake.
04:47Way better than the replica I had made.
04:49But I'd never actually wear mine in public.
04:51These outer territory imutations, though, the craftsmanship is something else.
04:54The weight actually feels real.
04:58Or what, Avara, are you going to tell us you're Hela?
05:03Are you Lord Kale's bonded mate?
05:06The whole group fell apart laughing.
05:09Of course they did.
05:09It was absurd to them.
05:11Kale was a living legend across all territories.
05:14Cold.
05:14Absolute.
05:15Untouchable.
05:16And three years ago, I was just the girl Rylan had left standing outside the Sacred Hall.
05:21There was no version of reality where those two things connected.
05:24Lyra swung the bracelet around her claw.
05:27Just give it to me, Avara.
05:28I'll pay double whatever you traded for.
05:30Give it back?
05:32Kale gave me that.
05:33Rylan struck me across the face before I could finish.
05:37Shut your mouth!
05:38My head snapped sideways.
05:39I tasted copper.
05:42Avara, do you have any idea what you're saying?
05:46Rylan looked furious.
05:48You think you can just casually invoke Lord Kale's name?
05:51Are you trying to get me killed?
05:53His clansmen piled on immediately.
05:55Do you know how hard we fought for this pickup assignment?
05:58Kale absorbed Rylan's clan faction last season.
06:01Our entire livelihood depends on him now.
06:05The only way Rylan keeps his post is if Hela accepts us.
06:09And you're out here spreading wild rumors that you're connected to Lord Kale.
06:13Are you trying to ruin Rylan entirely?
06:18I wiped the blood from my lip.
06:21Slowly turned back to Rylan.
06:23Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch.
06:26Lyra caught it.
06:27She stepped forward and pointed a claw at my face.
06:29You ungrateful snake.
06:31Rylan offered you a place and you throw it back at him?
06:34I know you're still bitter about the past.
06:36Trying to sabotage his standing out of petty spite.
06:40That's sick.
06:41Hearing her say that, it felt exactly like three years ago.
06:44No matter what I did, Lyra would twist it, feed her poisonous version of the story to Rylan.
06:50In the early days, he used to defend me.
06:53By the end, he always took her side.
06:55Just like now.
07:02Jealous shrew.
07:10For old time's sake, I'll let this go.
07:13Take these, get yourself proper clothes.
07:15If you really don't want to tend Lyra's hatchling, I'll find you something tolerable next season.
07:19Don't worry, ever since Kale absorbed us, this kind of thing cost me nothing.
07:23No, thank you.
07:24I don't take things from strangers.
07:27I don't take things from strangers.
07:33You won't take what I'm offering?
07:34What does that mean?
07:35I'm a stranger to you?
07:37Rylan grabbed my arm.
07:38He dissolved our bond.
07:39Better not to stay tangled in each other's lives.
07:42Others might get the wrong impression.
07:44I was thinking of Kale, who had a very particular dislike of misunderstandings.
07:48Rylan glanced at Lyra.
07:50He had a knowing look.
07:51My faction is hosting a tribute piece for Kale in three days.
07:54I was going to bring you, show you something real.
07:57But you need to present yourself properly.
07:59You can't embarrass me.
08:00I'm fine, but thank you.
08:03Fine.
08:04I'll take Lyra.
08:06I won't let you down.
08:13Hope you're still this confident in three days, I said, and walked into the treeline.
08:18Fresh air.
08:19The nausea faded.
08:21I stood there for a moment, breathing it in.
08:24My mind flashed back to three years ago.
08:26My family had arranged an alliance overseas.
08:29I'd gone to Rylan for the first.
08:32Seven years together, I wanted to seal our bond before the journey.
08:36Force the decision.
08:37He agreed.
08:38But at the Sacred Hall, it wasn't just Rylan waiting.
08:41Lyra was there too.
08:43Lyra's baby needs a father on paper.
08:45Once we divorce, I'll marry you.
08:48This is just about Hatchling.
08:49I watched him take her inside.
08:51That was the last thing I needed to see.
08:53I crossed the border that night, met Kale, bonded with him a month later, had our son the year after.
09:01Now I was carrying it again, and the only reason I was even back in the reach was to attend
09:05a clan ancestral rite with Kale.
09:08Honestly, if it wasn't for the rite, I never would have set foot back here, and I definitely wouldn't have
09:13run into Rylan.
09:14Three days later, I painted on a light adornment, threw on comfortable traveling leathers, and made my way to the
09:20feast grounds alone.
09:22The second Rylan saw me enter the clearing, his eyes lit up.
09:26A smug smirk spread across his face.
09:30You said you weren't coming, but here you are.
09:33Listen, if you want me back, you need to at least present yourself properly to match my standing.
09:40I walked past him without a word.
09:42He grabbed my arm.
09:44Evara, I'm talking to you.
09:46Our circle is here.
09:47Where do you think you're going?
09:49I pulled free and said simply,
09:52That's your circle.
09:54Mine is up there.
09:57He followed my gaze to the head circle.
09:59The raised dais reserved for lords and their bonded mates.
10:03His face went pale.
10:05Lyra spotted my bracelet from across the ground, and her voice cut through the clearing.
10:09Evara, how did she get in here?
10:11She's here to cause chaos.
10:13How dare she wear that bracelet tonight?
10:15Of all nights.
10:17Tonight is the first time Kale is bringing his bonded maid out publicly.
10:21Is she trying to humiliate Hela?
10:24She slipped past the sentinels.
10:26She's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kale.
10:31Is this female with you?
10:34No.
10:37Take that bracelet off and get out.
10:41I looked at her with a faint smile.
10:46You sure you want me to leave?
10:47Lyra realized others were watching.
10:50Her eyes went vicious.
10:52Stop acting like you're something.
10:54Take it off now.
10:55She lunged forward to rip it from my wrist.
10:58I swatted her claw away and stepped back.
11:00Someone behind me tripped me.
11:02I hit the ground hard.
11:05Lyra stepped on my arm and ripped the bracelet off my wrist.
11:09My arm screamed.
11:11My wrist was bleeding.
11:13Treating this like it's something sacred.
11:16Trash.
11:18But I just sat there, staring at the bracelet lying broken on the ground, shards scattered across the stone.
11:26Pick her up and throw her out.
11:28A few sentinels moved toward me.
11:31They reached for my arms.
11:32I struggled.
11:34I am Kale's.
11:36Lyra struck me across the face before I could finish.
11:39Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Kale's kept female?
11:43You wish.
11:46When I came back to the reach, I hadn't planned to make a scene.
11:50It had felt beneath me.
11:52But now, she had made it worth it.
11:56Your Lord Kale's kept female?
11:58You wish.
12:04Rylan crouched down in front of me.
12:07Reached for my wrist.
12:08I pulled back instinctively.
12:09Are you done throwing your fit?
12:11You show up wearing the bracelet, dressed down on purpose.
12:13You wanted me jealous.
12:14Just say it and I'll give you what you want.
12:16I laughed.
12:17Short.
12:17Sharp.
12:20Rylan.
12:21You're finished.
12:22He frowned, opened his mouth.
12:24And then the clearing went dead silent.
12:27Guests began to straighten themselves, drifting toward the entrance path.
12:31Kale is here.
12:32Behave yourself.
12:34Lyra and I have dissolved our bond, by the way.
12:36I stared at him.
12:38I was cradling my nearly broken wrist.
12:40I'm just stating word for again.
12:42Looking at the mail in front of me, thinking,
12:43How did I spend seven years on this person?
12:46What did his dissolution have to do with me?
12:49At that exact moment, Kale walked in with our son in his arms.
12:52Once they reached the feast grounds, our son squirmed and climbed down.
12:57He hit the stone path, all soft cheeks and small clawed boots.
13:01And every eye in the clearing went straight to him.
13:04His guardian scrambled after him.
13:06Ivara, if you stop being jealous of Lyra, I'll forgive you for disappearing three years.
13:13I'll give you another chance.
13:15Carry my hatchling, a real one, ours.
13:18Just come back and tend to my son.
13:20I'll get rid of Lyra.
13:21Rylan hadn't noticed who the cub was yet.
13:24I didn't say a single word to him.
13:27I just looked past him into the crowd, trying to catch Kale's and our son's eyes.
13:32Then it happened.
13:34Kale followed the cub's small, clumsy steps, straight to where I was.
13:38The second my son saw me, something broke open in his face.
13:43He threw himself into my arms.
13:46He looked at my wrist.
13:47Why is there so much blood?
13:49Mom.
13:49Every dragon in that clearing turned from the cub to me.
13:52The ones who have watched me get knocked around without doing a thing.
13:56All of them staring.
13:57My son's warmth in my arms washed away everything that had been pressing down on me.
14:01I crouched down to his level, cupped his cheek.
14:04He took my hand, bent his small head, and breathed very carefully on the wound.
14:09A dragon child's instinct.
14:11The faint warmth of an ember breath that couldn't yet burn but still tried to heal.
14:16His eyes were wet, cubs.
14:18They see something hurting someone they love and they just fall apart.
14:22Protecting you is mom's job too.
14:24Before I could say anything more, the air in the clearing changed.
14:28A heavy, suffocating stillness washed over the crowd.
14:31Kale was walking toward us.
14:32That quiet, controlled walk that made the air around him feel different.
14:36Dragons moved aside without knowing why.
14:38I felt him before I saw him.
14:40I picked up our son and turned around.
14:42The blood on my wrist looked stark against his white wrap.
14:45Our son looked up at Kyle immediately.
14:47Father, someone hurt mother.
14:49We have to make them pay.
14:52Kyle stepped forward and very carefully lifted my arm.
14:55What happened?
14:56His face was unreadable.
14:57Ivara, I'm right here and you're already hurt.
15:00I can't take my eyes off you.
15:02But his voice was quiet.
15:03He didn't finish the sentence.
15:05Whoever did this?
15:07He didn't need to.
15:08Looking at this cold, absolute lord turn into a fiercely protective mate made my heart ache.
15:13He was always like this.
15:15A mosquito bite.
15:16A bruise from sleep.
15:17Even just eating half a portion.
15:19He'd be beside himself with worry.
15:21But I loved how intensely he cared about me.
15:24The feast hall's ambient light was low and dim.
15:27But our son felt something hard beneath his boot.
15:29He bent down and picked it up from the stone.
15:31It was the central gem from my broken bracelet.
15:34Isn't this the bracelet you gave mother?
15:35Kale's inscription visible on its face.
15:38Kale took it from him.
15:39Turned it over.
15:40Saw the engraving.
15:41Then I looked at the shard scattered across the ground and at my wrist.
15:44The nearest stone pillar cracked in his grip.
15:46Bring every torch to the ground over here.
15:49Now!
15:49He drew me gently into the light.
15:51When our eyes met, his pupils narrowed slightly.
15:54I softened my voice.
15:55What happened to your face?
15:58They actually dared to do this to you?
16:00I'm fine, Kale.
16:03Evora, I am your mate.
16:05You never have to swallow this kind of treatment alone.
16:09No one gets to hurt mother!
16:11Our son pressed close.
16:13Honestly, I could have handled Rylan and Lyra myself.
16:16But perhaps it was pregnancy.
16:17Or perhaps it was just finally feeling safe.
16:20My voice cracked.
16:23And they all came at me.
16:25All the weight I'd been holding for three days broke open.
16:28Vesa had lost control of herself entirely.
16:31Her shift reflex had misfired in the most primal, humiliating way a dragon can in public.
16:37Scales broke out down one side of her neck and arm in a panicked, involuntary half-shift.
16:42The kind that happened to hatchlings who couldn't control their fear responses.
16:46On a grown female in a formal gathering, in front of a lord, it was devastating.
16:51Kyle's jaw tightened slightly.
16:54A sentinel materialized and quietly escorted her from the grounds.
16:59Lyra and Rylan went scarlet.
17:01The guests looked at them the way you look at those who have shamed themselves past the point of recovery.
17:08Meanwhile, a healer Kale had summoned was tending to my wrist, nearby.
17:13I hissed.
17:14Kale and our son both turned with the same expression.
17:17Can you perhaps be a little more careful?
17:20The healer's hands started trembling.
17:23I shot them both a look.
17:28He's helping me.
17:29Stop.
17:30I grabbed a clean wrap and frantically began binding Kale's bleeding hand.
17:34Rylan looked genuinely hurt.
17:37Ivara, I know you're bitter, but Lyra and I have dissolved our bond.
17:42Her hatchling is ready to call you mother.
17:45You only bonded with Kale to wound me.
17:47I understand.
17:47I'm not angry.
17:48Just come back.
17:50Whatever he can give you, I'll work twice as hard to match it.
17:53Just return and tend to my son.
17:55If you don't want Lyra, I'll make her disappear.
17:57I honestly could not believe what I was hearing.
18:00His arrogance had no floor.
18:02Kale's blood was smearing onto my wraps, but as I urgently pressed the binding to his palm, he suddenly let
18:07out a low, genuine laugh.
18:09Why are you laughing?
18:12Kale reached over with his uninjured hand and quietly rested it on top of my head.
18:17You just said I'm the one you love most.
18:18Our son made a face and looked away.
18:21His cold, fearsome father was currently acting like a lovesick hatchling, all because I'd defended him.
18:26The entire feast grounds went still.
18:29Half the guests were in shock.
18:30The other half were dying of quiet envy.
18:33The whispers spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass.
18:36The rumors are real.
18:38He is completely devoted to his mate.
18:41Rylan stood there, his knuckles white with humiliation.
18:44But our son wasn't finished.
18:45He looked Rylan up and down with open disdain.
18:48Cub tender, my mother is the most protected one in our den.
18:54You think you deserve her?
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