Chapter 2

I always knew these twin black dragons resented me.

I was mild, ordinary, and just a fragile mortal who couldn't even use magic.

I used to live a quiet life in the abbey, mixing the simplest herbs and taking care of sick orphans.

Back then, I naively thought being an apothecary was enough to change my destiny.

Until the Oracle's light descended from the sky, forcefully binding me to the most powerful black dragon twins in the royal city.

Kaelen and Cassian.

They were the Alphas most likely to compete for the High Council’s seat. They were the dream mates of countless female dragons and noble shifters.

If it weren't for the Oracle’s absolute decree, our paths would have never crossed.

On the night of the bonding, I arrived at their estate, my heart a nervous drum against my ribs.

I foolishly thought I’d finally found a family.

"I will work hard to be a worthy mate to you both." I stood before the two dragon Alphas, my voice trembling with hope. "I don't have magic, but I can brew potions and use healing arts. I can help you."

Kaelen gave me a cold look and said nothing.

Cassian just turned and walked away, dropping a single cruel word before he left: "Useless."

The following months became the darkest trial of my life.

Because they were bound to an "embarrassing" mortal mate, the brothers became the laughingstock of the noble circle.

Other noble shifters would mock them to their faces at banquets, whisper behind their backs, and some even suggested the Temple reassign their mate.

And the price of all that humiliation fell entirely on me.

"Look what you've done." Cassian would smash the glass on the floor when I brought him a potion. "A worthless human who can't even use magic. What right do you have to be our mate?"

"Three noble families laughed at us at the Council today." His slitted eyes burned with fury. "All because of you, you burden! What can a fragile human do besides drag us down?"

Every word lashed at me like a whip.

And Kaelen? He didn't hurl insults. He just looked through me, as if I were nothing but air.

I desperately tried to prove my worth.

I studied potion-making day and night, not stopping even when my fingers were covered in blisters from the herbs.

I memorized their combat habits to brew the perfect recovery potions. I learned to read their moods, always showing up exactly when they needed me.

I thought my hard work could win them over. I thought if I was considerate enough, they would finally see me.

And for a while, it seemed to work.

I don’t know when it started, but they began to soften.

Kaelen especially. He stopped treating me like a ghost.

Every time I handed him his moon-wine, he would take it and even say thank you.

Sometimes he would look at me, suddenly lean in, and affectionately sniff the scent of my hair—just like how normal dragon mates acted.

I had never known such kindness. My foolish heart soared.

And Cassian wasn't as vicious anymore. He'd occasionally let me watch him practice his swordplay.

He’d complain I was in the way, then casually incinerate a monster sneaking up behind me with a flick of his dragonfire.

I thought I had finally reached them. I thought the worst was over.

Until that night three days ago. Until that shattered glass of moon-wine.

It turned out that in his eyes, all my hard work over the past year—all my passion, my care, my foolish delusions—was just a pathetic attempt to cling to them.

I was just a disgusting leech, desperately clinging to a warmth that was never mine.

I covered my face, tears slipping through my fingers.

All my effort, all my devotion... boiled down to a single, ugly word. Leech.

Maybe the Oracle was wrong. I was never meant to be their mate.