1 For a Mortal's Sake

Their home realm had been tossed and turned recently, but Sinclair King cared too little about that place he didn't even recognize. No matter how bad the situation was in that place these days, he chose to stand next to Ainsley's bed and hoped for a miracle.

Three days ago, his good friend had gotten drunk, like their normal Friday nights. However, in a flash, the fun on the weekends to follow was wiped out. A black car with broken headlights appeared out of nowhere, hitting Ainsley and sending him meters away from the collision site. His skull was cracked, and his bones were broken. He was undeniably dying, but none chose to give up.

Especially not Sinclair.

Despite his busy schedule, this man had been staring into space after hearing about the matter. Ainsley's parents had already passed away, and so the hospital had no one to contact but him… the benefactor paying for the medical fees from his own pocket. Every hour that passed, he could only take a look at his phone for any kind of news.

The past forty-eight hours were the most critical. If Ainsley couldn't wake up before the time was up, he was most likely going into comatose and could only peacefully expire in his sleep. Of course, Sinclair didn't like that.

Right now, however, he could only stare down at Ainsley who was sleeping soundlessly in his hospital room. The heart machine was the only thing that guaranteed Sinclair that his friend was still alive. It's just that… whether Ainsley would still wake up or not, it was pretty much decided. The forty-eight-hour window was up, and he didn't even open his eyes.

Sinclair bent down slowly as if scared that any movement would suddenly cue the machine to dive into a red line. He weakly picked up Ainsley's limp hand, and his eternally clear eyes blurred for once. The pain crushing his heart was finally getting to his eyes, and the man didn't even bother letting his tears out. Tears would never turn the events upside-down.

"Leo… will you forgive me? Your pure human soul is slowly escaping, and yet I have been holding onto it. If you find out that I cannot let things end like this, will you berate me for being thoughtless and stupid?" A soft, deep voice came from Sinclair. His tone was too calm as if the pain had turned him entirely numb.

The hold he gave Ainsley's hand tightened. Within the silhouette of a tall man in a coat was a speck of light. Soon, this light began to glow stronger, albeit Sinclair's face growing paler. The sounds of a pounding heart echoed in the room… until green light glowed from Sinclair's chest. The green light emerged and formed into a silhouette of a heart. The magic in it pulsed like a heartbeat, causing the silhouette to wriggle according.

A weak smile curled Sinclair's lips as he brought the green beating heart closer to his face. He stared at it and felt the breeze of its power for the last time. "You have been quite useless to me since I obtained you. Now, make yourself useful."

The green heart then descended from his hand slowly and into the body of the male on the bed. The glow disappeared as the dragon's heart fused with Ainsley's. It would take a while before it could start manifesting its green magic; it was only a matter of time before Ainsley returns to him.

Despite the smile, Sinclair felt like his body was falling apart. His source of dragon essence had left his body, and the drain of power caused his body to cave in momentarily. Sinclair quickly held his mouth and caught his cough. Blood tainted the snow-jade skin, but the dragon couldn't care less. His teeth reddened, but he still kept on smiling.

"I'll see you tomorrow, rascal. You better call me yourself as soon as you wake up." Sinclair finally let go of Ainsley's hand. His quivering eyes took in the favorable changes in Ainsley's countenance. The patient's pale face was getting its color back, and it even felt like Ainsley was waking up at that very instant.

"…co…" At this single sound, Sinclair almost collapsed.

However, he didn't give in to his overwhelming relief and only took out a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped out the blood on his face and hand before kneeling down to stroke at Ainsley's head. "Shh, rest and recuperate, idiot."

After hearing nothing anymore, aside from the normal sound of breathing; Sinclair finally sighed. The dragon's heart didn't reject Ainsley and was now starting to connect itself to the human. This was good news. The dragon got to his feet and walked to leave through the door.

With a flick of his hand, he placed a magic barrier around the room. Only the nurses and doctors of this hospital were allowed to enter—be it door, wall, ceiling, floor, or window. He actually narrowed his eyes as his body seemed to retain a few wisps of dragon essence. "I should be able to conserve this more than I can imagine."

"Why did you do it?" A familiar voice echoed in the hallway, but Sinclair thought that it was out of place. He then moved his head to look over his shoulder, getting a glimpse of his brother's image leaning on the wall facing the private ward.

"It's a decision you cannot argue with me about." Sinclair didn't pay more attention to him as he started to walk away.

The brother turned to him and realized that it was as if he was taking a look at his own broad back. "Sinclair, you do realize that you are putting the clan in danger, right?"

Sinclair stopped and spoke without turning to him again: "What are you going to do about it? Take out the core from his body? We both know it's going to disintegrate if done so hastily. After all, it cannot be returned to me anymore."

"…the other clans are evacuating that place into a secret island here in the mortal realm. They will find out about us… and then about you." The brother then glared at the room's wall before him. "Soon, about him. Are you willing to get killed for a mortal's sake?"

"Don't get me wrong, Roth. He only has half of my dragon's heart." Sinclair finally turned his body to face his brother and raised his right hand. His hand then transformed into a white claw that glinted cold light in the dimly lit hallway. "Also, correction; you should've asked me…

"Am I willing to kill for a mortal's sake? Damn right, I am."