Mark of the Eternal Bracelet

The day we were supposed to complete our blood bonding ceremony, my mate Rylan had the Clan Sentinels drag me out of the sacred hall. Lyra's baby needs a father on paper; once we divorce. I'll marry you. He walked in with his childhood sweetheart instead. Everyone thought I'd swallow my pride and wait another month after all, I'd already waited seven years, but that night I accepted my family's arranged alliance and left the Abyssal Reach entirely. I completely disappeared from Ryland's world. Three years later, I returned to Abyss Reach with my mate for a clan ancestral rite. My mate had a work emergency, but he had his people collect me. At the border crossing, I walked out and froze. That person was Rylan, my ex. The arrival clearing—I spotted a scout holding a marker carved with my name, my formal alliance name, Gila—and walked over. Rylan was holding it; he had Lyra with him, plus a few of his clansmen, all craning their necks toward the treeline. Rylan looked surprised to see me. He covered it fast. "Hey, isn't that Rylen's obsessed ex? Isn't that Evarra? " "Told you she'd come crawling back. " His men laughed. "Evarra vanished without a trace. Now she sees Rylen is in a higher rank; she probably cries herself to sleep every night. "Avarra, if you're going to fake a random runin, why show up like this? Couldn't you at least put on some makeup? Without Rylan, you can't even buy a nice outfit. Look pathetic. It was true; I used to make myself perfect every time I knew I'd be near Rylan—sharpest claws, finest scales on display, best version of me. Not anymore. No point because I'm carrying, and my mate refused to let me be uncomfortable. He had this soft traveling wrap custom tailored for me. Listening to them mock me, it suddenly clickedthey only knew my alliance name; they had no idea the one they were here to collect was me. "Evarra, hey, it's good you're back. Raylan's been asking after you for years. " "Yeah. our son is entering the young training cohort soon. From now on, you're in charge of the dropoff. " He was still so incredibly arrogant, but I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I didn't want to waste another second on them, I was just about to tell them exactly who I was. I am please don't blame Rylan, he's just trying to take care of you. You disappeared for three years; who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive? Rylan caught my expression and thought I was jealous. Something flickered in his eyes—satisfaction. All right, Avarra, drop the attitude. You clearly can't survive out there, so stop throwing tantrums. Take care of the kid and learn your place. Damn, Avarra, look how good Rayon is to you—he's giving you free room and board. Isn't babysitting better than whatever trashy life you're living now? Lyra touched the scales at her throat and spoke with false sweetness. Rylan smirked and glanced at me. "Don't worry, dear. If my son acts up, I'll handle him myself. You won't be mistreated. " Why would she be mistreated? She ran away over a tiny little misunderstanding. If she hit rock bottom out in the wilds, a little humility is good for her. My heart actually skipped a beat. Three years had passed, and he still thought it was a small matter to dump me and marry Lyra. The Rylan who used to love me was truly gone. He wasn't the young warrior who'd carried me, wounded, across three territory borders in the dead of a moonless night. But whatever, it was all in the past. None of it mattered anymore, besides I was about to carry my second hatchling anyway.

Fresh air. The nausea faded. I stood there for a moment, breathing it in. My mind flashed back to three years ago. My family had arranged an alliance overseas. I'd gone to Rylen for the first seven years together. I wanted to seal our bond before the journey forced the decision. He agreed, but at the sacred hall, it wasn't just Rylen waiting. Lyra was there too. Lyra's baby needs a father on paper. Once we divorce, I'll marry you. Three days later, I painted on a light adornment, threw on comfortable traveling leathers and made my way to the feast grounds alone. The second Rylan saw me enter the clearing, his eyes lit up, a smug smirk spread across his face. You said you weren't coming, but here you are. Listen. if you want me back, you need to at least present yourself properly to match my standing. I walked past him without a word. He grabbed my arm. "Evarra, I'm talking to you. Our circle is here. Where do you think you're going? "I pulled free and said simply, "That's your circle, mine is up there. "He followed my gaze to the head circle, the raised dais reserved for lords and their bonded mates. His face went pale. Lyra spotted my bracelet from across the ground, and her voice cut through the clearing"Evarra. how did she get in here? She's here to cause chaos! How dare she wear that bracelet tonight of all nights? Tonight is the first time Kael is bringing his bonded maid out publicly. "Is she trying to humiliate Hella? She slipped past the Sentinels, she's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kale. Is this female with you? No. Take that bracelet off and get out. I looked at her with a faint smile. You sure you want me to leave. Lyra realized others were watching her eyes went vicious. stop acting like you're something take it off now. she lunged forward to rip it from my wrist I swatted her claw away and stepped back someone behind me tripped me I hit the ground hard. Lyra stepped on my arm and ripped the bracelet off my wrist, My arm screamed, my wrist was bleeding. Treating this like it's something sacred. trash. But I just sat there staring at the bracelet, lying broken on the ground, shard scattered across the stone, pick her up and throw her out. A few Sentinels moved toward me, they reached for my arms, I struggled. I am Kael'. s Lyra struck me across the face before I could. finish Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Kael's kept female. You wish. She struck me again when I came back to the reach, I hadn't planned to make a scene it had felt beneath me. But now she had made it worth it.

Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go. I looked at Rylen calmly and said, "Silence fell over the clearing. " Pick you up, please. Lyra held up the carved marker. Read it carefully. We are here for Hella. Do you even know who that is? Kael is a living legend, coldest dragon alive in the field, but completely devoted to his wife. Rumor has it he refused all alliances for years just waiting for Hella. Everyone knows the ruleif you want Kael's favor, go through Hella. She is his entire world. Listening to them gossip about my marriage, I couldn't help it; a genuine happy smile spread across my face. We had been married for three years, and Kael's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had spread everywhere. To claim Haila as his, Kael went to the Ancient Exchange and paid down a legendary artifactthe Eternal Fang bracelet, just to give to Haila. She's the most envied female in every territory. Lyra stopped, then she pointed at my wrist and shri. eked. The clearing went quiet. Everyone looked. It's a pretty good fake, which a lowborn clansman bought you that buying you a cheap imitation absolute trash. Rylan grabbed my arm, studied the bracelet. then laughed. Wow, it really is high quality for a fake way better than the replica I had made. But I'd never actually wear mine in public these outer territory imitations though the craftsmanship is something else the weight actually feels real. Or what, Avarra, are you going to tell us your hella? Are you Lord Kael's bonded mate? Give it back Cale gave me that Rylan struck me across the face before I could finish Shut your mouth My head snapped sideways, I tasted copper.

Nevara, do you have any idea what you're saying? Rylan looked furious. You think you can just casually invoke Lord Kael's name? Are you trying to get me killed? His clansmen piled on immediately. Do you know how hard we fought for this pickup assignment? Kael absorbed Rylan's clan faction last season; our entire livelihood depends on him now! The only way Rylan keeps his post is. if Hella accepts us. and you're out here spreading wild rumors that you're connected. to Lord Kael. Are you trying to ruin Rylan entirely? I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turned back to Ryland Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch Lyra caught it She stepped forward and pointed a claw at my face. You ungrateful snake Ryland offered you a place and you throw it back at him? I know you're still bitter about the past, trying to sabotage his standing out of petty spite. That's sick! Hearing her say that felt exactly like three years ago. No matter what I did, Lyra would twist it and feed her poisonous version of the story to Rylan. In the early days, he used to defend me; by the end, he always took her side—just like now. Jealous shrew. For old time's sake, I'll let this go. Take these; get yourself proper clothes. If you really don't want to tend Lyra's hatchling, I'll find you something tolerable next season. Don't worry; ever since Kael absorbed us, this kind of thing costs me nothing. No, thank you, I don't take things from strangers. You won't take what I'm offering, what does that mean. I'm a stranger to you. Rylan grabbed my arm, he dissolved our bond. Better not to stay tangled in each other's lives. Others might get the wrong impression. I was thinking of Kael, who had a very particular dislike of misunderstandings. Rylan glanced at Lyra; he had a knowing look. My faction is hosting a tribute feast for Kael in three days. I was going to bring you, show you something real, but you need to present yourself properly. Can't embarrass me. I'm fine. But thank you. fine. I'll take Lyra, I won't let you down. "Hope you're still this confident in three days. " I said, and walked into the treeline.