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