Chapter Thirteen

Soren paced the inside of his cave fitfully. How dare that human do something so stupid for a damned flower? This only confirmed his suspicions that no human was meant to be his fated one. Their short lifespans and dull senses simply were not compatible with that of a dragon. Besides, he was one of the last of his kind. If he were to breed strong offspring, he'd have to do so with a stronger species than a mere human. 

She was even covered in wounds! How poorly she much care for herself, to be in such a state. Soren had no doubt that she sustained those injuries doing something just as idiotic as climbing that unstable mountainside. Although...

Soren's pacing stilled. He did have to teach that impudent child a lesson for threatening his human. And admittedly, the injuries didn't look like she did them to herself. Just what happened last night?

As Soren sat and contemplated the possibilities, he heard movement behind him. Though he didn't bother to turn and greet the figure that now stood at the entrance to his home. Only one being would dare set foot in a dragon's den. The bastard that is the king of the fae. Only now, he had an unusual scent coming off of him.

"Soren," the elf started. "We must discuss the events of tonight."

It seemed the Fates were playing a hand in their lives. His timing was a bit too uncanny. Soren was curious as to what Marcel had discovered, but he didn't like the fact that he was hovering around that human's business. 

Soren simply huffed and refused to turn around. He may be reluctant to accept the human that he was fated to, but the strings of fate were tied just as tightly around him as they were on anyone else—the jealousy of having someone else take an interest in her burned in his chest. 

"Soren! You damned lizard, this is important! You and I need to have a real conversation about what's been happening. Now." 

The commanding tone that the kind of the fae took with Soren grated on his nerves. However, Marcel didn't often command things of him. If he was trying Soren's patience, then it meant the matter at hand truly was important. 

With a sigh, Soren shifted out of his true form and into one that made it easier to communicate. His scales blended into tanned skin, where his horns used to be were now graced with flowing black hair. The only downside of his transformation was that he was now nude. He didn't care though. With his fire raging inside of him, the cold didn't bother him.

Soren turned to Marcel, now in his human form. "Speak, oh pompous king of the fae. What business do you have that would warrant a serious conversation?"

Marcel bared his teeth in a grimace."You say you do not care for your fated partner, but perhaps it is time you start."

Soren rolled his eyes. Not this again." If that is all you have to say, then begone."

While not as deep as Soren, Marcel growled with enough power to shake the mountain. When the king who ruled over the forest got angry, everyone would know. "You damned beast, do you not realize what her pairing with her means for their kind!"

Soren was confused. What was this idiot talking about? 

Marcel could see that he didn't understand and gritted his teeth with frustration. "Do you know the customs of humans when it comes to the Fates?" He had his hands in his hair, pulling at the long silver threads.

Soren shrugged. "I know they worship them like gods. They follow their word like lost little pups in the dark. What more is there than that?"

All Marcel could do was sigh at his friend's shortsightedness. "The marks of Fate, you idiot. The one that every living creature has emblazoned on its body. Do you know what the humans do with them?" Marcel paused long enough to receive another shrug from Soren. "They read them like fortunes! They have their clerics decipher the word of the Fates and send them off on their destined path. It's how all humans live. It's their religion."

Soren rolled his eyes. "What does any of this have to do with the topic at hand?"

"It matters, Soren. Human clerics can only follow the paths made by the strings if their destiny is tied to another human. If the person they're looking at is tied to a creature like us, then all they see is darkness. No fate, no destiny, no future."

Realization slowly sank into Soren's bones. If they were so devoted to having their destiny laid out before them, then what does that mean if they can't see it? 

Marcel continued on. "Now are you starting to understand? You and I have both known humans long enough to know that they fear what they do not understand. And they surely do not understand a human with no discernable fate."

Dread landed in Soren's gut like a stone, weighing heavily on him. "Then, if you are so wise on these matters, tell me why I must care. You know I do not want that human as my partner."

Marcel scowled. "And yet you would let no one else touch her." A sigh escaped him. "You dragons are always so fickle. You do not want to claim what is weak, yet you refuse to lose what is yours. What do you expect this human girl to do Soren?" Marcel paused, waiting for an answer.

And it would never come. Because Soren hated to admit that he expected her to sit quietly tucked away, like some long-forgotten treasure. Kept safe, but never brought into the light of day. 

"You fool. She's being abused." With that comment, Soren's head snapped up from his thoughts, his full attention on Marcel once more. "They stoned her tonight, you damned lizard. They held her down and pelted her with all manner of brickabrack until she was bruised and bloodied. Then one of the brutes dragged her into my forest, no doubt thinking she'd be eaten by the creatures that reside in it. Perhaps even by you."

Rage. That was all Soren could feel. Those filthy beings dared to touch what was his, and he would make them pay for it. The fire that lived within him was stoked by his blinding fury. 

Marcel reached out to the fuming dragon and smacked him on the side of his head. "Snap out of it! As much as I think we need to raze the whole village, we can't do that. The only option to save her is for you to accept the bond!"

Before Marcel could finish his lecture, a horn sounded in the distance. Both magical creatures looked to the opening of the cave to see a figure approaching by horseback. The figure was clad in knight's armor, with a blue plume adorning the top of his helmet. The symbol of the Western Empire's imperial family. This did not bode well. 

The horse approached the cave entrance, maneuvering the snow-covered ground without issue, though it barely evaded the trench left by Soren's tantrum. It whinnied as it drew closer to the cave, causing the rider to dismount. Once at the entrance, he kneeled before Soren, showing no indication that he cared that the dragon, in the form of a man, was nude.

"General Soren Bludborne, the Emporer has requested your assistance. A skirmish had broken out over the southern end of the Craggy Mountains."