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  • 8 hours ago
The Dragon Consort’s Revenge
Transcript
00:23To be continued...
00:30Three years later, I returned to Abyss Reach with my mate for a clan ancestral rite.
00:34My mate had a work emergency, so he had his people to collect me.
00:37At the border crossing, I walked out and froze.
00:40That person was Rylan, my ex.
00:42The arrival clearing?
00:43I spotted a scout holding a marker carved with my name, my formal alliance name, Gila, and walked over.
00:50Rylan was holding it.
00:51He had Lyra with him, plus a few of his clansmen, all craning their necks toward the tree.
00:55Hey, isn't that Rylan's obsessed ex? Isn't that Avera?
00:58Rylan looked surprised to see me.
00:59He covered it fast.
01:00Told you, she'd come crawling back.
01:03Avera vanished without a trace. Now she sees Rylan is in a higher rank.
01:06She probably cries herself to sleep every night.
01:08Avera, if you're gonna fake a random run-in, why show up like this?
01:12Couldn't you at least put on some makeup?
01:14Without Rylan, you can't even buy a nice outfit. Look pathetic.
01:17It was true. I used to make myself perfect every time I knew I'd be near Rylan. Sharpest claws, finest
01:23scales on display. Best version of me. Not anymore. No point. Because I'm carrying. And my mate refused to let
01:29me be uncomfortable. He had the soft traveling wrap, custom tailored for me. Listening to them mock me, it suddenly
01:35clicked. They only knew my alliance name. They had no idea the one they were here to collect was me.
01:40Avera, hey, it's good you're back. Rylan's been asking after you for years.
01:44Yeah, our son is entering the young training cohort soon. From now on, you're in charge of the drop-off.
01:48He was still so incredibly arrogant, but I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I didn't want to waste another second
01:52on them. I was just about to tell them.
01:54Exactly.
01:55I am.
01:55Please don't blame Rylan. He's just trying to take care of you.
01:59You disappeared for three years. Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive. Don't worry.
02:03Caring for my son is a respectable role. No one will look down on you.
02:08All right, Avera. Drop the attitude. You clearly can't survive out there, so stop throwing tantrums. Take care of the
02:13kid and learn your place.
02:14Damn, Avera. Look how good Rylan is to you. He's giving you free room and board. Isn't babysitting better than
02:19whatever trashy life you're living now? Hurry up and say thank you.
02:22Don't worry, dear. If my son acts up, I'll handle him myself. You won't be mistreated.
02:26Why would she be mistreated? She ran away over a tiny little misunderstanding. If she hit rock bottom out in
02:31the wilds, a little humility is good for her.
02:34My heart actually skipped a beat. Three years had passed, and he still thought it was a small matter to
02:39dump me and marry Lyra.
02:41The Rylan who used to love me was truly gone. He wasn't the young warrior who had carried me, wounded,
02:46across three territory borders, in the dead of a moonless night.
02:49But whatever, it was all in the past. None of it mattered anymore. Besides, I was about to carry my
02:53second hatchling anyway.
02:55Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go.
02:57Pick you up, please.
03:00Read it carefully. We are here for Hela. Do you even know who that is?
03:05Hela is the mate-bonded consort of the Frostridge line. She is blood-bonded to Lord Kale.
03:12Kale is a living legend. Coldest dragon alive in the field, but completely devoted to his wife. Rumor has it
03:19he refused all alliances for years. Just waiting for Hela.
03:25Everyone knows the rule. If you want Kale's favor, go through Hela.
03:30She is his entire world.
03:32Listening to them gossip about my marriage, I couldn't help it. A genuine happy smile spread across my face.
03:37We had been married for three years. Kale's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had spread everywhere.
03:43To claim Hela as his, Kale went to the Ancient Exchange and paid down a legendary artifact, the Eternal Fang
03:50Bracelet, just to give to Hela.
03:52She's the most envied female in every territory.
03:56Lyra stopped. Then she pointed at my wrist and shrieked.
04:00That bracelet, that's it!
04:03It's a pretty good fake. Which a lowbring Klansman bought you that? Buying you a cheap imitation? Absolute trash.
04:14Wow. It really is high quality for a fake. Way better than the replica I had made.
04:19But I'd never actually wear mine in public.
04:22These outer-territory imutations, though, the craftsmanship is something else.
04:29The wait actually feels real.
04:32Or what, Ivara? Are you going to tell us you're Hela? Are you Lord Kale's bonded mate?
04:38The whole group fell apart laughing. Of course they did. It was absurd to them.
04:43Kale was a living legend across all territories. Cold. Absolute. Untouchable.
04:47And three years ago, I was just the girl Rylan had left standing outside the Sacred Hall.
04:53There was no version of reality where those two things connected.
04:56Lyra swung the bracelet around her claw.
04:59Just give it to me, Ivara. I'll pay double whatever you traded for.
05:03Give it back. Kale gave me that.
05:05Rylan struck me across the face before I could finish.
05:08Shut your mouth!
05:09My head snapped sideways. I tasted copper.
05:12Ivara, do you have any idea what you're saying?
05:16You think you can just casually invoke Lord Kale's name? Are you trying to get me killed?
05:21I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turned back to Rylan. Whatever he saw in my eyes made him
05:26flinch. His clansmen piled on immediately.
05:28Do you know how hard we fought for this pickup assignment? Kale absorbed Rylan's clan faction last season. Our entire
05:34livelihood depends on him now.
05:36The only way Rylan keeps his post is if Hela accepts us. And you're out here spreading wild rumors that
05:42you're connected to Lord Kale. Are you trying to ruin Rylan entirely?
05:46You ungrateful snake. Rylan offered you a place and you throw it back at him?
05:51I know you're still bitter about the past. Trying to sabotage his standing out of petty spite. That's sick.
05:57Hearing her say that, it felt exactly like three years ago. No matter what I did, Lyra would twist it,
06:03feed her poisonous version of the story to Rylan.
06:06In the early days, he used to defend me. By the end, he always took her side. Just like now,
06:11Rylan shook his head, muttered...
06:12Jealous shrew.
06:16For old time's sake, I'll let this go. Take these. Get yourself proper clothes.
06:21If you really don't want to tend Lyra's hatchling, I'll find you something tolerable next season.
06:26Don't worry. Ever since Kale absorbed us, this kind of thing cost me nothing.
06:31No, thank you. I don't take things from strangers.
06:38Not three steps out, Rylan grabbed my arm.
06:41You won't take what I'm offering? What does that mean? I'm a stranger to you?
06:45We dissolved our bond. Better not to stay tangled in each other's lives. Others might get the wrong impression.
06:50I was thinking of Kale, who had a very particular dislike of misunderstanding.
06:54Rylan glanced at Lyra. He had a knowing way.
06:56My faction is hosting a tribute feast for Kale in three days. I was going to bring you, show you
07:01something real.
07:02But you'd need to present yourself properly. Can't embarrass me.
07:05I'm fine, but thank you.
07:09Fine. I'll take Lyra.
07:12I won't let you down.
07:14Hope you're still this confident in three days.
07:16I didn't look back and walked into the tree line.
07:19Fresh air. The nausea faded.
07:21I stood there for a moment, breathing it in.
07:23My mind flashed back to three years ago.
07:25My family had arranged an alliance overseas.
07:27I'd gone to Rylan for the first seven years together.
07:30I wanted to seal our bond before the journey.
07:33Force the decision.
07:33Okay.
07:34He agreed.
07:34Fine.
07:35But at the sacred hall, it wasn't just Rylan waiting. Lyra was there too.
07:39Her hatchling needs to be registered under my bloodline.
07:41I'll dissolve her bond claim in a month.
07:43Then I'll bond with you.
07:44This is just about hatchling.
07:46I watched him take her inside.
07:47That was the last thing I needed to see.
07:49I crossed the border that night.
07:51Met Kale.
07:52Bonded with him a month later.
07:54Had our son the year after.
07:55Now I was carrying it again.
07:57And the only reason I was even back in the reach was to attend a clan ancestral rite with Kale.
08:02Honestly, if it wasn't for the rite, I never would have set foot back here.
08:06And I definitely wouldn't have run into Rylan.
08:09Three days later, I painted on a light adornment and made my way to the feast grounds alone.
08:14You said you weren't coming, but here you are.
08:19Listen.
08:20If you want me back, you need to at least present yourself properly to match my standing.
08:26I walked past him without a word.
08:28He grabbed my arm.
08:30Evara, I'm talking to you.
08:32Our circle is here.
08:33Where do you think you're going?
08:36That's your circle.
08:38Mine is up there.
08:39He followed my gaze to the head circle.
08:42His face went pale.
08:43Lyra spotted my bracelet from across the ground, and her voice cut through the clearing.
08:48Evara, how did she get in here?
08:50She's here to cause chaos!
08:53How dare she wear that bracelet tonight of all nights!
08:56Tonight is the first time Kale is bringing his bonded mate out publicly.
09:00Is she trying to humiliate Hela?
09:03She slipped past the sentinels.
09:04She's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kale!
09:09Ryan, is this female with you?
09:12No.
09:13Take that bracelet off and get out!
09:17You sure you want me to leave?
09:19Lyra realized others were watching.
09:21Her eyes went vicious.
09:23Stop acting like you're something!
09:25Take it off!
09:26Now!
09:27She lunged forward to rip it from my wrist.
09:29I swatted her claw away and stepped back.
09:31Someone behind me tripped me.
09:32I hit the ground hard.
09:34Lyra stepped on my arm and ripped the bracelet off my wrist.
09:37Treating this like it's something sacred.
09:40Trash.
09:43My arm screamed.
09:44My wrist was bleeding, but I just sat there.
09:47Staring at the bracelet lying broken on the ground.
09:49Pick her up and throw her out.
09:54Stop!
09:55I am Kale's!
10:00Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Kale's kept female?
10:04You wish.
10:08When I came back to the Reach, I hadn't planned to make a scene.
10:11It had felt beneath me, but now, she had made it worth it.
10:14Ryland crouched down in front of me, reached for my wrist.
10:17Are you done throwing your fit?
10:19You show up wearing the bracelet, dressed down on purpose.
10:22You wanted me jealous.
10:24Just say it, and I'll give you what you want.
10:28Ryland.
10:29You're finished.
10:31He frowned, opened his mouth, and then the clearing went dead silent.
10:34Guests began to straighten themselves, drifting toward the entrance path.
10:40Kale is here.
10:41Kale is here.
10:42Behave yourself.
10:45Lyra and I have dissolved our bond, by the way.
10:47I stared at him.
10:48I was cradling my nearly broken wrist, looking at the male in front of me, thinking...
10:52How did I spend seven years on this person?
10:55What did his desolation have to do with me?
10:58At that exact moment, Kale walked in with our son in his arms.
11:02Once they reached the feast grounds, our son squirmed and climbed down.
11:06And every eye in the clearing went straight to him.
11:09His guardian scrambled after him.
11:11If you stop being jealous of Lyra, I'll forgive you for disappearing three years.
11:16I'll give you another chance.
11:17Carry my hatchling.
11:19A real one.
11:20Ours.
11:21Just come back and tend to my son.
11:23I'll get rid of Lyra.
11:25I didn't say a single word to him.
11:26I just looked past him into the crowd, trying to catch Kale's and our son's eyes.
11:31The second my son saw me, something broke open in his face.
11:34He threw himself into my arms.
11:37Why is there so much blood?
11:41Mom.
11:42Every dragon in that clearing turned from the cub to me.
11:45The ones who have watched me get knocked around without doing a thing.
11:47All of them staring.
11:49My son's warmth in my arms washed away everything that had been pressing down on me.
11:53I crouched down to his level, cupped his cheek.
11:56I'm okay.
11:57He took my hand, bent his small head, and breathed very carefully on the wound.
12:01His eyes were wet.
12:03Who did this to you?
12:05Cubs.
12:05They see something hurting someone they love, and they just fall apart.
12:09Protecting you is mom's job too.
12:11Before I could say anything more, the air in the clear hand changed.
12:14Kale was walking toward us.
12:16That quiet, controlled walk that made the air around him feel different.
12:19Dragons moved aside without knowing why.
12:21I picked up our son and turned around.
12:23The blood on my wrist looked stark against his white wrap.
12:26Our son looked up at Kale immediately.
12:29Father, someone hurt mother.
12:32We have to make them pay.
12:36Ivara, what happened?
12:39I'm right here and you're already hurt.
12:42I can't take my eyes off you.
12:47Whoever did this.
12:51Looking at this cold, absolute lord turn into a fiercely protective mate made my heart ache.
12:56He was always like this.
12:58A mosquito bite.
12:59A bruise from sleep.
13:00Even just eating half a portion, he'd be beside himself with worry.
13:04But I loved how intensely he cared about me.
13:07The feast hall's ambient light was low and dim.
13:10But our son felt something hard beneath his boot.
13:13He bent down and picked it up from the stone.
13:16Father, isn't this the bracelet you gave mother?
13:19Kale took it from him.
13:21Turned it over.
13:21Saw the engraving.
13:22Then I looked at the shards scattered across the ground and at my wrist.
13:27The nearest stone pillar cracked in his grip.
13:30He drew me gently into the light.
13:32Bring every torch to the ground over here.
13:35Now!
13:37When our eyes met, his pupils narrowed slightly.
13:41What happened to your face?
13:43They actually dared to do this to you?
13:46I'm fine, Kale.
13:49Ivira, I am your mate.
13:51You never have to swallow this kind of treatment alone.
13:54Our son pressed close.
13:56No one gets to hurt mother.
13:59Honestly, I could have handled Rylan and Lyra myself.
14:02But perhaps it was pregnancy.
14:03Or perhaps it was just finally feeling safe.
14:06My voice cracked.
14:07All the weight I'd been holding for three days broke open.
14:10You weren't here.
14:12And they all came at me.
14:14The feast grounds had gone dead silent.
14:16Rylan's scouts from the border crossing were somewhere in that clearing,
14:19shaking hard enough that they needed the standing stones to hold themselves up.
14:23They didn't expect it either.
14:24The female they'd spent three days calling Rylan's lovesick cast-off was Lord Kale's bonded mate.
14:30They'd seen the bracelet.
14:31She'd told them.
14:32Multiple times.
14:33Every single one of them was now looking for a way to disappear into the tree line.
14:37But then Lyra's companion, a female named Vessa, who had arrived late.
14:40Vessa, where did you find these two?
14:44Their performance is impressive.
14:46Do you want Lyra to get them placed with a traveling troop?
14:49Not that you could afford the placement fee.
14:51Vessa had arrived late.
14:53She hadn't seen Lyra fawning over our son.
14:56She had no idea who Kale was or what his cub looked like.
14:59She was just Lyra's tail, dressed up to find a high-ranked mate to me.
15:03And she knew the easiest way to earn Lyra's favor was to make me miserable.
15:07Vessa threw her head back and laughed at her own words.
15:10Usually, half the clearing would laugh with her.
15:12But this time, the entire grounds just stared at her like she had lost her mind.
15:17Vessa noticed the dead silence.
15:18She doubled down.
15:19She turned to Kale and smirked.
15:21You're actually quite striking.
15:24If you ever want to leave her, I wouldn't mind taking care of you.
15:29My mouth twitched.
15:30She was propositioning my mate in front of me.
15:33I didn't know whether to call it brave or catastrophically stupid.
15:36Over the years, anyone who'd tried to get close to him had either vanished from the territories
15:40entirely or ended up reassigned somewhere they had no desire to be.
15:45Vessa finally registered the clearing's energy.
15:47She drifted toward Lyra for backup.
15:50Lyra wanted nothing to do with her.
15:52Before Vessa could even speak, Lyra spun around and struck her viciously across the face.
15:57Vessa dropped hard.
15:58Vessa, are you insane?
16:00You just insulted Lord Kale and his bonded mate!
16:07Do you want to be banished?
16:12Lyra is hell.
16:14I just told her mate I'd take care of him.
16:18Oh no!
16:19Kyle's reputation as the most protective bonded lord in any territory was not a rumor.
16:23Vessa started shaking.
16:24Then someone near the back of the clearing made a sound.
16:27Heads turned.
16:28Vessa had lost control of herself entirely.
16:31Scales broke out down one side of her neck and arm in a panicked, involuntary half-shift.
16:36The kind that happened to hatchlings who couldn't control their fear responses.
16:39On a grown female, in a formal gathering, in front of a lord, it was devastating.
16:44Kyle's jaw tightened slightly.
16:46A sentinel materialized and quietly escorted her from the grounds.
16:49Lyra and Rylan went scarlet.
16:51The guests looked at them the way you look at those who have shamed themselves past the point
16:56of recovery.
16:56Meanwhile, a healer Kale had summoned was tending to my wrist nearby.
17:01I hissed.
17:01Kale and our son both turned with the same expression.
17:06Can you perhaps be a little more careful?
17:08The healer's hands started trembling.
17:10I shot them both a look.
17:12He's helping me.
17:15Stop.
17:16They immediately turned identical wounded expressions on me.
17:19Father and son, same face, same pout.
17:22I sighed.
17:22Okay.
17:24I know.
17:25I'm sorry.
17:26Keep going.
17:31My lord, your mate is perfectly fine.
17:34The unborn is safe.
17:35The wrist is the worst of it.
17:37I will source the best remedies available and do everything possible to ensure no scarring.
17:43Kale said nothing.
17:44I knew exactly what that silence meant.
17:46It was the one that came before something irreversible.
17:48Standing in the crowd, Rylan looked terrified, but underneath the panic, he burned with something
17:53else.
17:54Jealousy.
17:55Watching how close Kale stayed beside me, his old possessiveness was peaking, but the survival
18:00of his faction was on the line, so he had to bite it down.
18:03Kale stood beside me and surveyed the clearing with the kind of stillness that made everyone
18:07in it feel like they'd already been found guilty of something.
18:11He looked almost cold, almost lethal.
18:13I actually found it a little endearing, especially with our son standing right beside him like
18:18a tiny, furious mirror.
18:20I want to know exactly what happened.
18:23Everything.
18:24If you speak now, perhaps you survive this.
18:28If I have to find it out myself, every single one of you goes down with it.
18:33It was a naked threat.
18:35These dragons had clawed for the chance to attend this feast.
18:38None of them wanted to burn for Rylan's sake.
18:41Rylan panicked.
18:42He stepped forward.
18:43Lord Kale, there's been a misunderstanding.
18:46As Avaras, as her former bonded partner, I was simply reconnecting with her.
18:50Things got out of hand.
18:52He unexpectedly said, former bonded partner, with a particular emphasis.
18:56God blessed him.
18:57Such an idiot.
18:58He actually thought I'd spent three years keeping myself for him, waiting for him to
19:02snap his fingers so I could come running back.
19:04Completely missed the murderous stillness crossing Kale's face.
19:07I heard the stone goblet in Kale's hand crack.
19:10Rylan kept going, oblivious.
19:12You likely know she was quite devoted to me before the dissolution.
19:17Reconnecting after years apart, it's natural that emotions would...
19:23Stop.
19:25Stop trying to put yourself between us.
19:28You had your chance, and you threw it away.
19:30Don't flatter yourself.
19:32I pressed carefully around Kale's cup, looked up at her.
19:35I have loved exactly one person my entire life, and it is you.
19:42Everyone here can hear me say it.
19:44I grabbed a clean wrap and frantically began binding Kale's bleeding hand.
19:48Rylan looked genuinely hurt.
19:51Ivarra, I know you're bitter, but Lyra and I have dissolved our bond.
19:55Her hatchling is ready to call you mother.
19:57You only bonded with Kale to wound me.
20:00I understand.
20:01I'm not angry.
20:02Just come back.
20:04Whatever he can give you, I'll work twice as hard to match it.
20:09Just return and tend to my son.
20:12If you don't want Lyra, I'll make her disappear.
20:16I honestly could not believe what I was hearing.
20:19His arrogance had no floor.
20:21Kale's blood was smearing onto my wraps, but as I urgently pressed the binding to his palm,
20:25he suddenly let out a low, genuine laugh.
20:28Why are you laughing?
20:32Ivarra, you just said I'm the one you love most.
20:36Our son made a face and looked away.
20:38His cold, fearsome father was currently acting like a lovesick hatchling, all because I'd defended him.
20:43The entire feast grounds went still.
20:44Half the guests were in shock.
20:46The other half were dying of quiet envy.
20:48The whispers spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass.
20:51The rumors are real.
20:53He is completely devoted to his mate.
20:56Rylan stood there, his knuckles white with humiliation.
20:58But our son wasn't finished.
21:00He looked Rylan up and down with open disdain.
21:03Cub tender?
21:04My mother is the most protected one in our den.
21:07You think you deserve her?
21:09Mother only carries two cubs.
21:12Me and my sister.
21:14You really think your unacknowledged hatchling gets to call her mother?
21:21I know all about you.
21:23You're the one who broke my mother's heart.
21:26You're not as impressive as my father.
21:29Not as strong.
21:30Not as well formed.
21:31He tilted his head, studying Rylan with the kind of cold disdain that was entirely too familiar on that small
21:38face.
21:38And you smell like someone who peaked too early and never recovered.
21:43It's making my eyes water.
21:45Is your hatchling going to grow up leeching off others?
21:52The guests surrounding us erupted.
21:55They couldn't help it.
21:56Rylan bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, shaking with shame.
21:59Everyone in that clearing knew the truth.
22:02He had coasted for years on Lyra's family resources.
22:05It was not a secret.
22:06Hearing all of this, Lyra had completely lost her grip on rational thought.
22:09Her hatchling was the most important thing in the world to her.
22:13The most exceptional cub alive.
22:15And this female was going to replace her.
22:18You little wretch!
22:20I'll kill you!
22:21I didn't think.
22:22I let go of Kale's hand and threw myself entirely over our son.
22:26A blinding, searing pain ripped through my back.
22:31Evala, are you...
22:33I didn't finish the sentence.
22:34Everything went black.
22:36I collapsed to the stone.
22:37The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was our son's face.
22:41White with pain.
22:42I wanted to tell him not to cry.
22:44I didn't get the chance.
22:45I woke to the sharp smell of Healer's Den.
22:48I stared at the ceiling for a moment, disoriented.
22:50My best friend Sorin was in the chair beside me.
22:53The second she saw my eyes open, she grabbed my hands.
22:57Oh, thank the ancient fires.
23:00You're awake.
23:02If you had stayed under any longer,
23:04your mate and your son were going to tear this entire territory apart.
23:09What?
23:13She was definitely exaggerating.
23:16I reached for my stomach on instinct.
23:19Sorin caught the look immediately.
23:21You're both fine.
23:23The healer said it was shock and pain.
23:26That's why you went under.
23:27The unborn is completely safe.
23:31That Lyra is something else.
23:33Going after a cub with a blade.
23:36Dre.
23:37My chest tightened.
23:39My son.
23:41Kale.
23:42Are they-
23:43Both fine.
23:44Physically, completely fine.
23:46Slow down.
23:47Drink.
23:48I drank.
23:49The tightness eased a little.
23:51You didn't need to throw yourself in front of him.
23:54There were six sentinels in that clearing.
23:57Dre was never going to get touched.
23:58That's Dre.
24:02I know, I know.
24:03He's your whole heart.
24:05That terrifying little creature.
24:07He doesn't need protecting.
24:09He's more dangerous than most full-grown warriors.
24:11Where are they?
24:13Sorin's eyes lit up.
24:15Getting revenge.
24:17I wanted to come along.
24:19But your mate and your son are genuinely terry-terrifying when they operate together.
24:23So, I volunteered to stay with you instead.
24:26She settled in and began.
24:27When I arrived, you were already under.
24:30From what I pieced together from the witnesses still standing,
24:33your son watched you collapse and went completely still for about two seconds.
24:37Then he picked up the knife Lyra had dropped and drove it straight through her hand,
24:41into the stone beneath.
24:43A cub.
24:45I don't know where he gets that kind of strength.
24:48Kale found out about the strike at the border crossing three days ago.
24:53And the bracelet.
24:55And everything they said to you.
24:57He had his sentinels hold Raelynn down,
24:59and they dealt with the hand he used to hit you.
25:02I closed my eyes briefly.
25:04Lyra's face received the same treatment.
25:06And then,
25:07Kale had a chest of gemstones brought into the clearing.
25:10All the shards from your broken bracelet.
25:13And he told Lyra that since she loved taking things that belonged to you so much,
25:17she could have them.
25:18All of them.
25:19She had to swallow them.
25:22You know what Kale said?
25:25Sorin cleared her throat.
25:28You love taking what is hers.
25:30So here,
25:31I am giving you everything you wanted.
25:34The stones.
25:36And the mail.
25:37She refused at first.
25:40So Kale had her hatchling brought in.
25:43Then she did it.
25:45She swallowed a great many shards.
25:48They worked her over until she was barely consciousness.
25:51Then Kale had her dropped beyond the outer borders.
25:54Face first.
25:55Every dragon who stood around watching you get hurt,
25:58every single one of them carries a mark on their wrist now.
26:01Just for doing nothing.
26:02If you weren't my closest companion, I'd probably have one too.
26:06Sorin fake-dabbed her eyes.
26:08I gave her a flat look.
26:10The clan records were updated.
26:11But the only news that spread was about Rylan's faction being absorbed and dissolved.
26:16Every allied group in that clearing with border exposure, Kale absorbed it.
26:21Some were disbanded entirely.
26:24Some are still bleeding out.
26:26Rylan was supposed to go the same way as Lyra.
26:29But Lyra stopped it.
26:31Threw herself in front of the sentinels.
26:33Bought him time to run.
26:35I think she made a deal with him.
26:37It wasn't hard to figure out.
26:39The hatchling.
26:40When a mother is running out of time,
26:41the one thing she'll trade everything for is her child's safety.
26:45Rylan must have promised her something about the boy.
26:47Lyra had swallowed shards and stones
26:49for the chance that her son would be alright.
26:51Kale was precise and he was cold,
26:53but every time I so much as bruised my arm,
26:56he acted like he'd personally failed.
26:58He was brutal because he was afraid.
27:00Not of losing power, of losing me.
27:02And Dre, my sweet, sharp, slightly terrifying cub,
27:05had been shaped by that same love.
27:08I'd been trying to counterbalance it,
27:10clearly still working on it.
27:11The den door swung open.
27:12I thought it was Dre.
27:14Kale, can you grab my-
27:16Ivara.
27:17It's me.
27:18I turned.
27:20Rylan.
27:21His face was still swollen.
27:23He'd managed to find a decent cloak.
27:25The one I'd given him years ago,
27:27the one he'd told me,
27:28was plain and unworthy of his rank.
27:31He had his methods,
27:32for getting past sentinels apparently.
27:34I stayed where I was.
27:35Last time I'd moved too fast,
27:37it had cost me.
27:38He seemed to read that.
27:40I'm not going to hurt you.
27:42I just needed to-
27:44What?
27:46I still love you.
27:50Every time I think about you with him,
27:52I can't breathe.
27:54I know it's too late.
27:56I know what I did.
27:58But I can't just-
27:59Rylan.
28:01You were with another female while we were still bonded.
28:04You let me humiliate myself.
28:07You abandon me.
28:09And destroy me.
28:12And then tonight,
28:13when you had the chance to do literally anything else,
28:17you stood in front of my mate
28:19and told him I was devoted to you?
28:22You've had seven years and three more
28:24to figure out what you want.
28:26What you want keeps shifting
28:27based on what you can reach.
28:29That's not love.
28:34I was always your contingency.
28:36And you were never mine.
28:38Not really.
28:39He looked at me for a long time.
28:41Then he looked at the cloak.
28:43You gave me this for the winter solstice.
28:45I told you it was plain.
28:46I know.
28:47I kept it.
28:48I didn't say anything.
28:49He left quietly.
28:51A moment later,
28:52Rylan hit the corridor outside
28:54and Cal's sentiments and Cal's fist.
28:56I heard it from inside the den.
28:58One impact.
28:59Then nothing.
28:59Cal came in with his hand newly wrapped.
29:01Dre right behind him.
29:03They both stopped when they saw I was awake.
29:05Then they were both in front of me at the same time.
29:07Dre getting there first.
29:08Ivara.
29:09You're up.
29:10Are you-
29:11Does anything hurt?
29:12Do you need-
29:14Father.
29:16She was fine two minutes before you got here.
29:18She was talking and everything.
29:21Kyle ignored him.
29:22Are you okay?
29:23Tell me you're okay.
29:25I'm okay.
29:28You say that every time.
29:30Because it keeps being true.
29:32Dre tucked himself under my arm.
29:33After a moment, he spoke very quietly.
29:35Mom, are you upset that Father raised his voice at me?
29:40Did he raise his voice at you?
29:43Dre's lower lip came out a fraction.
29:45He didn't yell?
29:46I pulled him closer and looked over his head at Colin, who was suddenly very interested in the den wall.
29:53Kale.
29:53Nothing.
29:54He was scared.
29:55We both were.
29:56He wasn't really yelling.
29:58He was just loud.
29:59I kissed the top of his head.
30:01Protecting you is also my job.
30:04I'm not sorry.
30:07I know.
30:08I know, Mom.
30:10Sorin eventually took Dre to find food, and it was just the two of us.
30:15Kyle pulled up a chair and stayed there, not quite touching, like he was still afraid something would break if
30:20he moved too fast.
30:21He wanted to look at my wrist.
30:23I let him.
30:24He was so careful about it, like the wound was still happening.
30:28I'll do better.
30:30You won't be alone like that again.
30:32Kale.
30:33This wasn't your fault.
30:35You were alone and you got hurt.
30:39I was in a clearing full of dragons and I got hurt.
30:42That's not the same thing as being alone.
30:46I'm not made of glass.
30:48I'm also not leaving.
30:50You understand that?
30:52I'm here.
30:54I chose this.
30:55You chose it because your family arranged the alliance.
30:58I chose to stay.
31:00Every single day for three years, I chose to stay.
31:02That's not an arrangement.
31:04That's me.
31:05He didn't answer.
31:06But something in his face shifted.
31:08I thought about the hidden chamber behind the clan tapestry.
31:11His quiet, years-long devotion that he'd never once spoken aloud.
31:16The young, unblooded dragon eating alone at the edge of the training grounds every day
31:20while I stuffed a pouch of resource tokens into his pack.
31:23He'd loved me before he knew what to do with it.
31:26Before I even knew his name.
31:28I reached over and took his uninjured hand.
31:30You want to know what I was thinking?
31:33Every time things got hard and someone told me I'd bonded with the wrong dragon?
31:36He waited.
31:37That they'd never seen you bring me warmth stones.
31:40When the cold fever took me.
31:43Or stay awake beside me through three full nights.
31:46Because I was homesick and couldn't sleep.
31:50Or look at me the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching.
31:54They were comparing you to whoever they assumed you were.
31:59I know who you actually are.
32:03Kale didn't show weakness easily.
32:05He was showing it now.
32:07I don't need you to be fearless.
32:09I just need you to stop assuming I'll leave.
32:12I'm not going anywhere.
32:15He brought my hand up and held it against his face.
32:17Didn't speak.
32:18Didn't need to.
32:20They kept me in the healer's den two extra days.
32:23Kale and Dre's insistence.
32:24Not the healer's.
32:25The morning they finally let me return to our den.
32:27I walked back through the entrance and stopped in front of the bonding tapestry.
32:31We were both so young in it.
32:32Kale already composed, already guarded.
32:35The barest pull at the corner of his mouth like he'd practiced not smiling until it became habit.
32:40Me looking sideways like I hadn't fully believed in the moment yet.
32:44I lifted the tapestry and I found the wall behind it.
32:48Image after image after image etched in the old way.
32:50Dragon memory stone.
32:52The kind that holds a moment in its surface like pressed light.
32:55Me at 19 handing out forage tokens outside the training grounds.
32:59Me at 16 laughing at something off frame.
33:02Me at 14 in a clan corridor, arms full of scrolls, annoyed at whoever had pressed the stone.
33:07He'd loved me across a decade before I'd ever said his name.
33:11I heard the den entrance behind me.
33:13Kale froze in the corridor, looked at the memory stones, looked at me.
33:17Ivara, I can explain.
33:18You noticed me first.
33:20He didn't move.
33:22I gave you resource tokens at the training grounds because I thought you couldn't afford to eat.
33:28I told you that you were my honorary younger clansman and I never even asked your name.
33:32I didn't know it was you until I found these.
33:35Silence.
33:36I'm a little upset it took us this long.
33:39Think about all the time we wasted.
33:40You're not...
33:42Upset about the stones?
33:44No.
33:44I'm glad.
33:47I'm glad you kept looking.
33:49Kale crossed the den in four strides and pulled me in before I could say anything else.
33:54He didn't speak for a long time.
33:56Then, against my hair.
33:58I never thought you'd say that.
34:00I know.
34:01That's the problem.
34:02You've been waiting for me to leave since the day I arrived.
34:05I felt an exhale.
34:06I'm not leaving.
34:07I've told you.
34:09I'll keep telling you.
34:11For how long?
34:12As long as it takes for you to actually leave me.
34:16Dre appeared in the den entrance, took one look at us, and silently backed away.
34:21Kale held on a little tighter.
34:22Outside, the ancient forests of the abyssal reach kept moving.
34:26Wind through the canopy.
34:27The distant sound of wings.
34:30The slow pulse of a territory that had stood for 10,000 years.
34:33And I stayed exactly where I was.
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