00:12Kaelin Ashfield paid a fortune for me at the mate auction.
00:17I slept in a bed that smelled just like him.
00:20Three years passed.
00:22We had three hatchlings.
00:26Now he was handing me to his brother like an old coat he did not want anymore.
00:30He did this because his ex had come crawling back.
00:34Are you sure about this?
00:35The old man looked up from the bond ledger.
00:38His quill stopped in the air.
00:39You want me to take Amber off your name and put her on Roland?
00:43Kael set his jaw.
00:45You heard me, old man.
00:47Do it.
00:48You said it clearly.
00:49The clan elder looked at me.
00:50Then his eyes dropped to the wooden hatchling nest in my arms.
00:53One of the little ones had pushed its small head out of the clock.
00:57The elder lowered his voice.
00:59She just gave you three babies.
01:01My fingers gripped the nest tighter.
01:03The three hatchlings inside could not talk yet.
01:06They could only chirp at him.
01:07Their breath puffed out in tiny warm clouds.
01:10Blaze felt me shake.
01:11His tiny tail curled around my wrist.
01:14Kael did not even look at them.
01:15He pulled the fur cloak closer around the woman in his arms.
01:18His voice sounded cold.
01:20I will feed them.
01:21They will not starve.
01:22His jaw was tight as his eyes moved across my face.
01:25Then his gaze dropped to the nest.
01:27Blaze lifted his head first.
01:29Flint followed a beat later.
01:30Still half asleep.
01:32Amber tried anyway.
01:33None of them could get the word right.
01:35They could only chirp it over and over.
01:37Kael blinked his lashes.
01:38For one second, I thought he would do what he always used to do.
01:41I thought he would reach out.
01:45I waited for him to touch their tiny heads with one finger.
01:49Then Serafina pulled on his sleeve.
01:51Kael, you promised me.
01:53You said you wished you never left me at the Kael Tower.
01:56You said when you brought me home this time, you would never hurt me again.
02:00Kael pulled his hand back right away.
02:03His voice went flat.
02:04I do not feel sorry.
02:06At the auction, every shifter wanted her.
02:08Sera bit her lower lip.
02:10All those curves.
02:11Hips made for breeding.
02:13That is the only reason you topped every bid, is it not?
02:15That year, Kael had paid more for me than anyone in the clan thought possible.
02:20Now he was saying something very different.
02:22He was saying it in front of everyone.
02:25You think I wanted her?
02:26I wanted what was between her legs.
02:29There is a difference.
02:30The hatchlings flinched at his loud voice.
02:33They burrowed into my sleeves.
02:35Sera smiled at last and wiped her eyes.
02:38So you regret it?
02:40Kael did not even blink.
02:42Every single minute of it.
02:43I looked up.
02:44Kael.
02:45You said you could not live without me.
02:48Sera's face changed.
02:49Kael went still for one moment.
02:51Then his voice grew colder than before.
02:54That was the heat talking.
02:55Not me.
02:56Amber.
02:57Do not believe the things I say in bed.
02:59A few shifters near us gasped.
03:04The clan elder could not watch this anymore.
03:06Kael.
03:07I am telling you one more time.
03:09He tapped the page.
03:10Once I change this, it cannot be changed back.
03:12Not without Royan saying so himself.
03:15Are you sure?
03:16Kael refused to look at me.
03:18I am sure.
03:19Three years were gone in one short sentence.
03:22I was not his mate anymore.
03:23I belong to Raewyn.
03:25The clan elder shut the bond ledger.
03:26All right.
03:27Raewyn will come in tomorrow to press his thumb on it.
03:30Then it is done.
03:31His voice was flat.
03:32Amber, start packing tonight.
03:35I held the nest closer.
03:37Pack for where?
03:39Ronan's den.
03:40And the hatchlings?
03:42He stayed quiet for a long moment.
03:44Sera coughed softly.
03:45And Kael looked away.
03:47Take them as you walk.
03:49Blaze did not know what that meant.
03:51He reached his little tail out toward his father.
03:54Kael did not take it.
03:55Sera linked her arms through Kael's.
03:58She smiled as she walked past me.
04:00Oh, Amber, sweetie.
04:02Do not be sad.
04:03He bought you an attempt for just to smile.
04:06You were never the one he wanted, sweetie.
04:08Just a way to hurt me.
04:09Kael.
04:10I do not want to come home and see all her things sitting around.
04:14Her bed.
04:15Her clothes.
04:16All her old stuff.
04:18Make her clean it out.
04:19Okay?
04:20Kael stroked her hair like she was a child.
04:24I held the nest and followed them back to the den.
04:27It was the den that used to be mine.
04:29Kael never looked back.
04:30I did not know it yet.
04:31But Sera's about to tear my whole life apart piece by piece.
04:34Starting tonight.
04:38Sera's face fell the moment she crossed the threshold.
04:40She froze.
04:41Her eyes darted from the bed to the chest beside it.
04:44Finally, her gaze locked onto the wooden hatchling nest tucked in the corner.
04:49All of this is hers?
04:50Kael followed her gaze and frowned.
04:53I will have her clean it out.
04:54Sera raised her voice.
04:56Kael.
04:56You want me to sleep in the bed she slept in?
04:59You want me to sleep in the den she lived in?
05:02Kael softened at once.
05:04No.
05:05I did not mean it like that.
05:07She pulled her hand free and rushed past him into the room.
05:10She ripped the fur throw off the bed.
05:12Yanking open the chest, she flung clothes onto the floor one piece at a time.
05:17Sliding her hand under the pillow, she pulled out a charm pouch.
05:21I had spent weeks sewing that pouch for him.
05:24Now Sera was crushing it in her fist.
05:26I stepped forward.
05:27Give it to me.
05:29Kael looked at me too.
05:30He pulled his brow tight.
05:32Amber.
05:33Do not make her angry right now.
05:35I lowered my head and pressed the nest closer to my chest.
05:39Their small bodies stayed warm against the cloth.
05:41They did their clumsy best to suit me.
05:44Sera caught the movement.
05:45Her eyes sharpened.
05:46She gave you three babies and now you feel proud of her, do you not?
05:50Do not say my name.
05:51Sera let her tears fall on cue.
05:53She got to live in your den.
05:55Sleep in your bed.
05:56Give you three babies.
05:57Kael, do you really think any of that was fair to me?
06:01Kael's face softened all at once.
06:03Stepping forward, he pulled Sera into his arms.
06:06His voice went low and soothing.
06:08I am sorry.
06:10I let you down.
06:11Then I do not want to see her things.
06:14Make her take all of it out.
06:16Okay.
06:17Pull up the herb garden too.
06:20Kael paused for a heartbeat.
06:22The herb garden in the yard was mine.
06:25I had built it up from nothing.
06:27Now Sera only had to say the word and it would be torn out.
06:31I dropped my eyes.
06:32Holding the hatchlings, I turned to pick up the things on the floor.
06:36A britted cord ring.
06:37The crushed charm pouch.
06:39Old clothes.
06:41There were a few squares of soft cloth my hatchlings had been wrapped on when they were born.
06:45It was too much.
06:47I had the nest in one arm and tried to gather things with the other.
06:52Lifting one piece meant dropping another as I reached for the next.
06:56Blaze pushed his head out of the nest.
06:58He stretched his tiny tail toward a square of cloth.
07:01He tried to drag it back for me.
07:03That nest goes too.
07:05I looked up.
07:05She was pointing at the spare nest in the corner.
07:08I had been airing it out for the hatchlings.
07:09The main den was damp.
07:11I had brought their sleeping nest out into the sun today to dry it.
07:14Their familiar cloth was still inside.
07:16So was their scent.
07:18I will move it!
07:19Right now!
07:19Sera was already walking toward it.
07:21She bent down to grab the handle.
07:24It is just a beat up nest.
07:25Why are you so worked up?
07:31Do not touch it!
