章 12: Chapter 12 - Grey

"Grey. He said he'd get rid of them if they didn't find mates... I didn't think he'd do it anyway. I..."

Azra was understandably upset and wanted to rip that beast to shreds but he prided himself on being a Level-headed beast.

Before harming anyone he would go and check his cave and make sure she wasn't there first.

He couldn't stop himself from glaring at Haran before scolding himself too. He also left them alone... His self loathing could wait though. He must find them before anything else bad happens.

Haran felt like his world was crumbling around him.. would the last time he saw his mate be when he made her cry so pitifully?

Why.. as he glanced at Azra storming forward he shook off his uncertain thoughts and followed along.

The two made it to his cave in no time.

But it was empty, there was nothing left in it.

All they could see was the cave floor looking like someone gouged it out to dig a pitfall.

Azra's heart felt like it was shattering, his females power ... It was gone. Does that mean she has died? Is that why he couldn't feel her presence at all? Rage was all that remains as he feels like his mate was forcibly ripped away from him by the very same male that ruined his arm and took over as the leader of this city years ago.

Not only did that bear take his mate but took the female his mate considered her sister as well. Someone his mate would be willing to give her own life for. He wouldn't let him go any longer.

Haran looked at the cave in disbelief, how was it gone? There was so much there, and even that healing water, how could it just disappear?? Azra must know why it's all gone all the sudden right?

____^

Briar was stunned that Azra just abandoned Kasia like that. He didn't seem like the type to ever leave his mate for something so small.

"I'm sure it wasn't anything bad, maybe he had something important to do? But why wouldn't he tell you? Hmmm it should be fine."

Kasia shrugged and let out a half smile while looking at her hand that he pressed his forehead onto. She held it up above her head and stared at the slight shimmering light underneath the skin. It felt warm and full of love even now, but why did he run off?

Kasia fell onto her back and stared at the shimmer under her skin and poked at it.

"I told him about my world and he left.. that's his right to do so. I just... I had hoped he could be someone I could love with all my heart since we became mates. He even gave me such a beautiful vow.."

Briar froze in shock for a few moments watching her sister poking at her hand playfully. Not understanding the weight of what she just said.

"He gave you a vow? Really?? What was it? How did it go?? Please tell me! I've never heard a dragon's vow!"

Kasia flinched at her sudden enthusiasm for this topic. Wasn't this normal for this world?

She reluctantly started speaking as he had spoken

"I swear from this moment forward, I will never treat you with anything less than my utmost respect and to honor you. I will offer a vow to love you. I vow to carry you , to journey with you, and to love each moment that I have with you in my life. No matter the outcome good or otherwise I will stand by your side for the rest of my life."

Briar screamed in excitement and looked at her full of confidence. Slightly jealous she thinks about how lucky her sister was to find a dragon mate. They are rare and it's even rarer to actually become ones mate.

"He didn't abandon you. No matter what! He will never abandon you because he vowed to you. It's sacred to the dragon race. They think about what they will vow to their mate their whole lives. So it's really meaningful!! They are giving you all the love they couldn't give before they met you and promising to never stop. So to them, they have loved their mate from the moment they were born and want to give it to them no matter what. At some point it became the sacred vow"

Kasia was stunned. It was such a thing? He mentioned about it slightly but who knew it was something so.. so.. adorable!! Her face grew more and more red as she thought about it.

"Does it matter that I gave him a vow as well?" Her face was terribly red even as she shielded her face and peeked through her fingertips

"You gave him a vow too!???"

Kasia nodded yes

"I vow that I will never abandon you. Although just beginning, this love that is but a droplet of water will be an ever flowing spring in time, never wavering and always there to quench your thirst when you feel the need for it. So long as you keep your vow and stay with me forever."

Briar just hugged her naive sister and told her that there was nothing to worry about, It was super sweet though. And he will carry those words with him for his entire life. Because dragons don't ever get vows in return.

Kasia's face felt like it was burning when she noticed Azra outside. Oh beast goddess.. you want to bring him back right now?

Briar chuckled at her before abruptly stopping when she saw Haran.

Then she looked at their faces. They seemed really serious for some reason. She tried to get Kasia to look but she was too embarrassed at the moment and hiding her face.

They seem to be pointing at the cave and having a conversation very quietly with one another before they started storming off again.

Well it wasn't so bad now that that beast was gone She shook off what curiosity she had over the matter and then started teasing her sister once again. They'll be fine.

_____^

Azra looked at the empty cave in anger. He nearly threw all that anger at Haran when he started asking dumb questions.

" Why is everything gone? What happened to your house Azra? Your healing water is gone too... "

Azra glared but kept his cool before responding in a soft tone. With a hint of sadness of not knowing where his mate was.

"That stuff in there was my mates. None of it was mine, she was the one who put all of that in there, not me. That's her power."

Haran was shocked All of those things were hers not Azra's? And he was so rude to her for failing his mate? How could I have been so thoughtless, no wonder Briar liked her so much. She was amazing...

Azra looked at Haran and told him he was going to go attack Grey. He wouldn't let this go any longer, He messed with the wrong female this time.

Haran took a deep breath and followed behind Azra who walked away full of confidence. He hadn't wanted to confront that awful beast until now and he had no plans to stop him. Quite the opposite, he wanted blood too.