Phantomcross

The Unexpected Contractor

While you deny wanting to be near them, the spell will find their presence a necessity. And when you realize you want them, the need will become your own.

"You have meddled with ancient magic. That is a fool's game for anyone, let alone one so young, and frankly you are lucky to still be alive. Those scales gracing your muzzle and paws are a blatant message to the world marking your failed attempts to control magics beyond you. Hot-headed, rash, prideful, and jealous; any potential to be found is so completely buried under your faults that most would consider you a lost cause unworthy of their time. You have done nothing to disprove these sentiments." The matriarch's tone was trenchant, each word cracking like a sledgehammer against the imperial's morale.

Her gaze bore into Phantomcross, and his scales prickled with the uncomfortable heat of embarrassment. Like an old wound that refused to heal, the all too familiar feelings of humiliation and inadequacy festered, threatening to swell up and consume him. He felt the customary lump forming in his throat, and he struggled to swallow. With an inner growl, Phantomcross grappled with himself. Pushing down those emotions he let his anger rise to the surface instead, wrapping around him like a familiar blanket. Steeling himself, the imperial matched Faelight's scrutiny with a defiant glare of his own. He would not tuck his tail nor hang his head in shame. The silence spanned between them as the tension mounted. Phantomcross felt every muscle in his body clench in anticipation.

Finally, she broke the silence,"Yet despite your ignorance and prejudice, you have somehow managed to . . . complete the bond with another."