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