The Dragon Consort’s Revenge

Lima's baby needs a father on paper. Once we divorce, I'll marry you. 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. 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 disappeared from Ryland's world completely. Three years later, I returned to Abyss Reach with my mate for a clan ancestral rite. My mate had a work emergency, so he had his people to collect me. At the border crossing, I walked out and froze. That person was Ryland, my ex. The arrival clearing? I spotted a scout holding a marker carved with my name, my formal alliance name, Gila, and walked over. Ryland was holding it. He had Lyra with him, plus a few of his clansmen. All craning their necks toward the two. They only knew my alliance name. They had no idea the one they were going to bleed 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. "I am. " Please don't blame Rayan; 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? Don't worry; caring for my son is a respectable role. No one will look down on. you. 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 Rylan for the first seven years together. I wanted to seal our bond before the journey. Force the decision. He agreed. Fine. But at the sacred hall, it wasn't just Rylan waiting. Lyra was there too. Her hatchling needs to be registered under my bloodline. I'll dissolve her bond claim in a month. I'll bond with you. This is just about hatchling. I watched him take her inside. That was the last thing I needed to see. I crossed the border that night, met Kael, bonded with him a month later, had our son the year after. Now I was carrying it again, and the only reason I was even back in the Reach was to attend a clan ancestral rite with Kael. Honestly, if it wasn't for the rite, I never would have set foot back here, and I definitely wouldn't have run into Rylan. Three days later, I painted on a light adornment and made my way to the feast grounds alone. 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. Evarra, I'm talking to you, our circle is here, where do you think you're going? That's your circle. Mine is up there. He followed my gaze to the head circle. 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 mate out publicly is she trying to humiliate H. ella she slipped past the Sentinels she's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kael. Ryan, is this female with you? Take that bracelet off and get out. 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. I'm not treating this like it's something sacred. trash. My arm screamed, my wrist was bleeding, but I just sat there staring at the bracelet lying broken on the ground, pick her up and throw her out. Stop, I am Kael's. Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Cale's kept female, you wish? 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.

Evarra, do you have any idea what you're saying? You think you can just casually invoke Lord Kael's name? Are you trying to get me killed? I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turned back to Rylan. Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch. 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? You ungrateful snake! Rylan 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, feed her poisonous version of the story to Ryland. In the early days, he used to defend me; by the end, he always took her side, just like now. Ryland shook his head, muttering, "That's true. ". 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 Kale absorbed us, this kind of thing costs me nothing. No thank you; I don't take things from strangers. Not three steps out, Rylan grabbed my arm. You won't take what I'm offering? What does that mean? I'm a stranger to you. We 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 misunderstanding. 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'd 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 didn't look back and walked into the tree line.

Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go. Pick you up, please. Read it carefully. We are here for Hella. Do you even know who that is? Hella is the matebonded consort of the Frost Ridge line. She is bloodbonded to Lord Kael. 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. Kael's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had spread everywhere. To claim Hella as his, Kyle went to the ancient exchange and paid down a legendary artifact. The eternal Fang bracelet, just to give to Hella. She's the most envied female in every territory. Lyra stopped, then she pointed at my wrist and shrieked, "That bracelet! That's it! "It's a pretty good fake, which a low brain clansman bought you that buying you a cheap imitation. Absolute trash. 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? Evarra, are you going to tell us your hella? Are you Lord Kael's bonded mate? The whole group fell apart laughing. Of course, they did; it was absurd to them. Kael was a living legend across all territories—cold, absolute, untouchable. And three years ago, I was just the girl Rylan had left standing outside the Sacred Hall. There was no version of reality where those two things connected. Lyra swung the bracelet around her claw. Just give it to me, Avarra. I'll pay double whatever you traded for Give it back Kael gave me that Rilan struck me across the face before I could finish Shut your mouth My head snapped sideways I tasted copper,

Rylan crouched down in front of me. reached for my wrist. Are you done throwing your fit? You show up wearing the bracelet, dressed down on purpose you wanted me jealous. Just say it and I'll give. you what you want. Rylan. You're finished," he frowned, opened his mouth, and then the clearing went dead silent; guests began to straighten themselves, drifting toward the entrance path. Kale is here, behave yourself. Lyra and I have dissolved our bond. by the way. If you stop being jealous of Lyra, I'll forgive you for disappearing three years. I'll give you another chance, carry my hatchling, a real one ours just come back and tend to my son I'll get rid of Lyra. I didn't say a single word to him I just looked past him into the craft trying to catch Kyle's and our son's eyes the second my son saw me something broke open in his face he threw himself into my arms. Why is there so much blood?