“He has hurt you,” he growled, the words coming out as a statement, rather than a question. Braern flinched, then slowly nodded, still unable to meet Adrissu’s eyes. “And that’s why you came here.” Braern nodded again.
Adrissu leaned back, sighing heavily. So much of the joy of meeting his mate again had dissipated in an instant. Evidently, it would not be as simple as starting up where they’d left off. Elves were so different, in both their custom and their physiology—Adrissu had no idea how an elf might remove themselves from a marriage, especially if—
The thought made him shudder with dread. “As you know, I am not truly an elf, so forgive me if this is... rude or blunt,” Adrissu said, rubbing his forehead. “But do you have children with this man?”
Braern let out a bitter laugh and shook his head, much to Adrissu’s relief.
“No, luckily,” the elf said, managing a smile that faded as quickly as it came. “I... Well, I did conceive, once, early on, but I—I lost it in such a way that I was... injured, and couldn’t anymore.”
“I... see,” Adrissu said slowly, frowning. “I apologize for bringing it up, then.”
“Don’t,” Braern replied quickly, shaking his head again. “It’s a relief, honestly. I never liked him, even from the start. And things have only... gotten worse.”
“Tell me everything,” Adrissu prompted. This time he did reach forward, gently placing one hand atop Braern’s fists, clenched in his lap. The elf’s gaze softened, and his grip relaxed. Adrissu could only hope that his affection was more obvious than the anger, still simmering low in his stomach. “Start from the beginning.”
“Well,” Braern said, a slight smile starting to spread across his face again. “I was born in Polimnos, actually. My family owns a business selling Aefrayan silks. My mother’s side of the family makes them, and my father sells them. My parents were here on business and I was born early, so they had me here, instead of back home in Aefraya like they’d planned.”
“I see,” Adrissu said. Another surge of relief rushed through him, knowing that the ritual still kept his soul nearby. He had only gotten lucky that Volkmar had been born in Polimnos and never left. He filed it away as something to consider for next time, then gestured for Braern to continue.
“I grew up in Menserine, which is a larger city in the south of Aefraya, the closest to the Autrethian border,” Braern said. “I’m the youngest of four, but all my siblings already had families of their own, when another silk business approached my father about combining their efforts. They accepted, and married me to the owner’s younger brother to... solidify things.” His gaze darkened, and he unclenched his fists to grasp Adrissu’s hand. “But then they ended up taking everything. My mother’s side of the family still provides the raw silks, so there’s money coming in that way, but my father’s business was entirely squandered. It all belongs to his family now.”
“How long have you been married?” Adrissu asked.
“Thirty years now,” Braern sighed. “Once my father’s business was out of the picture, Lorsan—my husband—became... worse. I tried to convince him to give some of it back, or at least pay my family a fair amount for the business they’d taken, so I stayed longer than I wanted to, but... I don’t know. I don’t know why I thought I could convince him. He’s always been cold. His whole family is that way.”
“So you decided to leave?”
“I... yes.” Braern’s gaze shifted away as he said it—there was obviously more there. “I had been reading about Polimnos, since I knew I was born there, when I saw the Academy—and your name—and I couldn’t believe it. I’d always thought they were just dreams. So when I decided to go, I thought... I thought I’d come here to see if you were actually real. I figured even if not, Polimnos seems like a nice place. And if worst came to worst, I could probably find a boat to somewhere else, somewhere far away.” He smiled, though the grin didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry if this is presumptuous of me—I paid for a room at an inn when I got here yesterday, but I only paid for a few days—but I feel... drawn to you. I don’t want to leave.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Adrissu said forcefully, shaking his head. He squeezed Braern’s hand, and after a moment, Braern squeezed back. “It is not presumptuous. I want you here, with me. And we will figure out how to deal with this... Lorsan.”
Braern peered up at him through his eyelashes and smiled. “I hoped you would say that.”
“You can stay as long as you want,” Adrissu continued. “Forever, if you want. You are... well.” He bit his lip, unsure of how much to say, considering how vulnerable Braern had just been with him. “As I said, I can restore the memories of your previous lives, if you’d like. But if you’d prefer, I could just... explain the necessary basics.”
The elf hesitated, eyes downcast again as he considered. “I think... just explain the basics of this all to me, first.”
“Okay,” Adrissu said. He gave Braern’s hand one last squeeze, before releasing it and leaning back in his chair to consider his words carefully. “Amongst dragons, there is a... phenomena, I suppose, in which two souls are drawn together. The means or reason behind this is unknown, but the pull of it is undeniable. We call them fated mates, or fated pairs.” He paused, glancing at Braern who was nodding, his brown eyes wide with rapt attention. Adrissu’s heart squeezed: he was beautiful, as elves so often were, but in a way that was familiar, that somehow still felt like he was looking at Ruan and Volkmar all at once. “You are my fated mate. I hadn’t thought it was possible for a human to be fated to a dragon—because you were a human, the first time we met—but I felt that pull toward you the first time I saw you. But because I knew you would die, and I would live, we...”
He trailed off, biting his lip. What was the most succinct way to explain the ritual, and in a way that wouldn’t upset him, the way Volkmar had been? He looked at Braern, who remained silent, but nodded encouragingly.
“While dragons are immortal, wecanbe killed,” Adrissu continued, rubbing his chin with one hand. “And so a ritual was devised, so that if one of a fated pair were to die, their soul was bound to their mate’s and they would be reborn, so that the pair could find each other again.”
“And we did that,” Braern said, before Adrissu could finish. He smiled, a fond pride already welling in his chest; Braern did not seem upset at all, only curious.
“We did,” Adrissu agreed, nodding. “And so, when you died the first time—you were a soldier—I waited and met you again in your second life, when you were about twenty—a human again. It didn’t occur to me that you could be reborn as an elf, so I admit I was surprised when I saw you standing there.”
Braern laughed—a soft, delicate laugh that suited his delicate elven features perfectly. “Understandable.”
Adrissu eyed him, affection swelling in his chest that drowned out everything else. “You’re taking all this rather well.”
Braern laughed again. “I think I already knew everything you’ve told me. I’ve dreamt about it for... well, since I can remember. I’ve had a long time to adjust to it, I think.”
“You’re not afraid?”
“I’mterrified,” Braern said, a nervous flash crossing his face. “But not of you. I feel like I’ve always known you.”
“You have,” Adrissu said softly. This time, Braern reached for him, almost imperceptibly; and Adrissu reached out to meet his hand, squeezing his fingers between his own. “What inn are you staying at? We can go get your things and bring them here.”
