Legendary master

by Majannajsnns89

As a kid Damon’s dream was always to catch legendary Pokémon but he wasn’t a kid now he could finally travel oh in own without anyone accept his Pokémon he was determined to achieve his dream

10. Kepp

Charlie POV

Charlie woke in a fit of painful gasps. He shot up as if he was planning to sprint out of bed. Adrenaline pumping, he grabbed his wand from the nightstand and held it at the ready for a defensive spell.

His eyes struggled to focus in the dimly lit room. After a moment, he secured that he was indeed alone in his room.

Lowering his wand, he noticed body was drenched in sweat as he peeled himself off his bed. His hand went to his bare chest. It burned. He rubbed his sternum to no avail.

Whatever was bothering him ran much deeper. He faintly noticed his magic feeling restless. It left his skin tingling. He hadn't felt his magic lose control like this since his first year at Hogwarts.

A terrible sense of longing swelled in his heart.

Why was he so sad all of a sudden? To his shock, tears were rolling down his cheeks. He gently wiped them away.

He has a sudden urge to see his family. It's been over a year since he left to work at the Romanian Dragon reserve. Maybe he can request a weekend off this month.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Maybe that'll help soothe whatever is aching in his soul.

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Theodore POV

Theo sighed tiredly. He spent most of the day dealing with his father's mad dealings. Nothing ever seemed to please the man.

Not his perfect marks, not his above average ability for spell casting, not even his political engagements with the other heirs of nobility.

Well at least making his life miserable made his father satisfied. He considered it a good day when he didn't suffer through drinking down a healing potion due to his father's preferred method to teach new spells.

He was about to call it a night when he suddenly found himself kneeling on the ground gasping for air. It was like his lungs forgot how to breathe properly.

Terrible agony racked his body. Every cell in his body felt as if they were replaced with fire. Magic began to coil around his limbs, flowing in every direction as it forced him to change. To embrace a long dormant part of him.

Theo's mind was rapidly trying to catch up. How was this happening now? He wasn't due for his creature inheritance for another few years. Why now?!

Rage, sorrow, misery all rolled into one massive symphony of emotions battered against his mental defenses, reducing his shields to shreds.

These weren't his emotions. It was obvious he was feeling someone else's struggles. A crippling fear grew in the back of his mind.

He knew from the journals left behind by his mother that it was likely he was to inherit her genes. To become a Dragel.

Ever since, he has read everything he could about the seemingly extinct race. He may not be well versed, but he knew enough to know that the only way he could be suffering in this way was due to a bond. And considering that it's triggering an early inheritance, it had to be a soul bond of some sort.

All rational thought fled his brain as the agony grew ten fold. He cried out, begging for the pain to stop. He wasn't sure what was worse, his body ripping itself apart in its forced transformation or the havoc wrecking his soul to pieces.

He suddenly felt warm hands holding his shoulder's steady. Theo lifted his head, eyes meeting another pair. He could see the concern and confusion swirling in those earthly brown orbs.

He didn't know who she was, however he knew he was safe with her. He felt his consciousness fading.

"It's going to be okay. I got you. I promise."

Theo promptly blacked out in the embrace of his mentor.

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Blaise POV

"Mother?"

"Yes Dear?"

"I…don't feel well." Blaise had been up late reading with his mother when he his head began to throb. At first it was dull and easy to ignore, yet it rapidly escalated into a terrible pain that left him rubbing his temples.

His mother rushed to kneel beside him, worry plastered across her usual serene features.

"This was quite sudden. Perhaps you have been staying up too late these last few days and have grown exhausted. What have I told you about pushing yourself my dear?"

Blaise frowned. He had been perfectly fine just before. He would have known if he overwhelmed his boundaries.

This was strange. He felt…alone. And sad. So very sad. He could not comprehend the level of sorrow emitting from his core. All he wanted now was warmth.

His magic was greatly unsettled. It was swirling unhappily, craving something unknown. He choked it down. He refused to have another outburst. He has made too much progress lately only for him to lose control now.

He pulled his mother into a deep hug. It had startled her as he was not known to be an initiator of physical affection, however she was quick to respond in kind.

"I love you Mother."

"Oh my dear, I love you more."

———————————————————————

Draco POV

The incident was never spoken of, but Draco was no idiot. He was acutely aware that his parents had been deeply unsettled earlier in the summer.

Draco had been contently aiding Severus with potion preparations until a tsunami of dark emotions flooded his core. Wrath had mysterious consumed him.

Every rational thought faded like smoke, only to be replaced by burning and righteous vengeance. He wanted to set the world aflame. Which apparently he managed successfully on a smaller scale.

The entire potion laboratory had been wrapped in a cocoon of blaze. Ferocious crimson flames swelled, consuming everything in sight. Years of research and a small fortune of ingredients had been lost.

Luckily the wards naturally set to the laboratory contained his outburst and the rest of the manor was not reduced to ashes.

Draco had been horrified to learn that his veela inheritance was to blame. Veelas were exceedingly rare in his family nowadays and for a male to inherit any ability was more of a myth than reality.

Both of his parents had been equally shocked by this revelation. Luckily they saw it as a blessing in disguise. It only made sense, a dragon should be able to breathe flames after all.

Yet a looming feeling never left his mind. He questioned the incident silently to himself. Why did he lose himself to such powerful sensations of rage? He was many things. Gluttonous, and envious at times. Prideful, for sure. Yet wrath was foreign. He had no cause for the strong emotion.

No matter how hard he tried, he could not pretend that there was more to what he knew.

——————————————————————

3rd Person POV

The atmosphere at Hogwarts since the students arrived this year had been strained at best, hostile at the worst.

No one was immune, students and professors alike.

There was something wrong within the castle walls. It's effect instantaneous the moment anyone made it within the grounds of Hogwarts. The magic in the air was heavy with lament. There was profound sorrow echoing in the halls. Fires were dimmer. Food blander. Music quieter.

The ghosts and portraits were no better off. They were subdued. Milder and less inclined to interact with the living world.

No one knew exactly what had happened or even how this could happen, but the hushed whispers of rumors toiled around quickly.

The first and most obvious, the lack of the 'Golden Trio.'

Harry Potter was not at Hogwarts.

By the deep worry etched on the faces of his closest friends and the professors, it took no effort to figure out that no one knew where he was.

Could the absence of one person really cause such a powerful effect?

For some, it was impossible. Harry Potter may be gifted, but he was nothing special. Certainly not enough for the magic of one of the most ancient buildings in the world to plunder.

For others, it proved to cement truly how powerful Harry Potter was. His magic was wild and free and had brought prosperity wherever he went. Hogwarts was no exception.

It was exactly two weeks after the beginning of the new term when the news officially broke.

The Daily Prophet came in earlier than usual. That alone brought forth waves of unease. It was a little known fact that the paper only was dispersed early when a truly important article had been written.

The headline alone destroyed the last thin piece of order before the entirety of the great hall broke into chaos.

The Boy-Who-Lived: Murdered!

Hello readers,

It is with a heavy heart that I found myself writing this news. It is in fact true, Harrison James Potter was proved to be murdered by a team of experienced Aurors late last night.

Two weeks ago, when Harry did not show at Hogwarts, students and staff alike knew something was afoot. An immediate investigation went underway.

According to his best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry Potter had ceased returning letters a day before his birthday. ( July 31st)

This was odd, yet not a real cause of alarm as this has seemingly occurred before. It was revealed that Harry's muggle family, (yes you heard that right readers, Harry was raised by muggles!) strongly dislike the use of magic.

Aurors arrived at Harry's muggles place of residence and uncovered a shocking tale.

My dear readers, brace yourselves. The following details are gruesome and those with weaker stomachs and those of you that are young readers, I advise parental supervision.

The investigators were met with immediate hostile force by the muggle relatives. I quote, "They were the foulest and most despicable muggles I have ever encountered." So says lead investigator Amelia Bones.

There was no choice, but to stun the family to allow the investigation to commence.

There was no seemingly evidence that Harry Potter even resided there. Not a single picture or piece of belonging that pointed to Harry was found in the house. It was not until his chest, wand, and owl cage were located upstairs in the smallest bedroom that proof of his residence was found.

It was quickly revealed that Harry Potter spent most of his childhood living in the cupboards under the stairs. A handful of old clothing was used as bedding. There was significant trace of blood, ( Later identified to belong to Harry) and other bodily fluids in the tiny space.

There was now enough evidence for the investigators to legally use mind magics to search for the whereabouts of Harry Potter.

It was then, in the memories of the family, that it was found Harry Potter had been lethally shot with a muggle weapon to the chest.

The memories showed that Harry used powerful accidental magic to disapparate to safely. ( An incredible feat to manage by the way.)

Aurors traced Harry Potter to an area far away from any known civilization. It was there that they uncovered his body. He sadly passed away from blood loss shortly after the muggle mortally wounded him.

Harry Potter's relatives are now awaiting a trial hearing to stand accused for his murder.

Now stands the question we are all wondering, how did this happen? How did the savior of our world end up in the hands of such despicable muggles? How did no one know the truth? How did no one see the abuse?

We have questions and we won't stop until they are answered.

With a heavy heart,

Rita Skeeter

Chapter 3: Four Years Later

Summary:

As a stranger intrudes at the edge of his warded island, Harry recalls the day he woke up and saw that he was no longer a wizard, but a dragel.

Notes:

This was a tough chapter to write. Theo and Ilsa are not easy characters to write, but I hope I did the Blood Wraith some justice.

The level of angst in this chapter is about about a 6/10. So, not too bad. Just wait till we get to 10/10 chapter!

Chapter Text

Four years later……

Theo POV

"Must you go?" He half whined to his mentor as she finished her last minute preparations. The short and stocky Gheyo was preparing for battle; perfectly fitted black leather amour covering every weak spot, brown hair pulled up and away into a tight bun, sharp daggers neatly tucked around her waist. Not to mention he had eyed a great deal of other weapons being stuffed into her bag.

He also didn't miss the various potions discreetly being hidden away in there either. His lump of worry grew in his chest. "You only returned from your last mission."

Ilsa Gorgens sighed softly as she paused her musings to sit beside Theo on the sofa. She gave him a gentle tussle of his hair. "You know I must. This case is dire."

Theo rolled his eyes as he snapped his book closed and rested it on his lap. "All of your cases are. Can't you request for another to take your place? Maybe one of the other elemental champions?"

Ilsa's expression darkened. "Actually I cannot. All of the others are currently indisposed with their own missions."

His mentor was a powerful and highly skilled fighter, even among dragel society. She was known as the Blood Wraith. A title of immense respect. It was only when the Earth Court felt a situation was too severe for traditional hunter circles that she was summoned for aid.

Theo could never fathom to consider her as weak. Nothing was further from the truth. Theo held the upmost respect for his mentor. Ilsa…is the first person he has ever cared for since his mother's passing.

Four years ago…when he thought his life was ruined after going through his painful early inheritance she was there to pick up the pieces and been by his side since.

"Stop it Theo. I can practically hear your thoughts. This isn't my first rodeo. Often times it's only a precaution to send me and usually overkill in my opinion. I'll be back sooner than you think. I don't want to miss your first Hunt Season after all."

Theo felt a blush creep up on his cheeks. He finally turned of age this year and could go out to seek a potential mate. He wasn't sure if he was truly ready to begin a circle, however, yet again, who was?

"I doubt I'll find someone on my first Hunt. I'm too young and inexperienced for most to spare a glance at me for anything more than eye candy."

"Theodore Gorgens- Nott, kindly shut up. You are a gifted and powerful dragel of the Earth Clan. You have trained and studied harder than most despite your youth. And you are mine. I did not scoop you up from that shamble of a whore house only for you wallow in self pity, am I clear? I promise many will be unable to keep their eyes off you. Or are you saying I've been lesser mentor? That I made a mistake taking you on as my heir?" Ilsa cocked a grin, full well knowing she had won the argument.

Theo knew he was caught. "Of course not. You've been the best mentor in all the realms, nay, the best mentor of all time. No one can hold a candle to your wisdom and skill."

Ilsa let out a satisfied chuckle. "Ah, flattery like that my dear pupil will get you far in court politics. Now, try not to get into trouble while I'm away. Oh and don't forget to drink your tea! I don't want to hear about chest pains when I return."

"Yeah, yeah, I will." Was his reply as he watched his mentor strut away.

Harry POV

Harry woke to a flare of unknown and uninvited magic appearing too close to his ward boundary. A low growl rumbled low and deep from his chest as he slowly shuffled from his napping spot towards the disturbance.

He has spent the last four years protected on his tiny island of solitude and had little desire to be invited back to the chaos of society.

After his 'death', he had awoken here with little instructions. His saviour said this island was protected from the outside world. Something about it existing in its own realm. Harry had to admit that most of the concept flew over his head. All that he cared about was that this place was safe and it was his.

No wizarding magic could trace him here and any spells or rituals would fail miserably. Which lead to the current question, who was here? At a place that was meant to be hidden.

Maybe he could just scare them away? He had zero interest in fighting. Harry desired tranquility after his shitty childhood.

His body began to shift rapidly into the form he had woken to years ago. Harry laughed to himself as he recalled his initial reaction to seeing what he had become.

The first glaringly obvious change had been his poor vision. It has been replaced with perfect sight. To the point that Harry's vision did not falter even in the dark depths of the ocean.

His once green eyes retained their brightness despite the shade becoming significantly lighter. A mirror of all the sea's green hues with a touch of teal. Harry had stared at his new eyes in the reflection of the lake for hours before noticing his other changes.

Harry never considered himself a vain person. After years of mental abuse, his sense of self-worth might as well be utter garbage. He knew objectively that a handful of others thought he was cute. Hermione often said so.

But she didn't know. She wasn't subject to witnessing all the scars littered across his body. The years of beatings from his Uncle and Dudley's constant torments left their marks. Bruises that never truly faded. Ugly misshaped pale lines left over where his magic worked overtime to knit shut. Places where his bones looked too sharp and jutted through his too thin of skin due to a decade of malnutrition.

No….Harry could never have seen himself as handsome or beautiful.

Until now.

The person who stared back at him through the lake's calm waters was too perfect. Not in his wildest dreams did he envision himself appearing so…so…pretty.

It was nearly painful. It made his chest tight with raw emotion. To see a version of himself so beautiful. So…flawless. There were no marks. No scrapes. No scars. Nothing to remind him or anyone else of his tainted past.

Silent tears rolled down his all too perfect face. This face looked wrong with tears. This face should never be brought to tears. His fingers moved automatically to wipe them away and that's when he noticed.

His skin…wasn't skin. Instead replaced by the smallest intricate scales that overlapped so tightly and perfectly that from a distance it was not easily detectable that he had rock hard natural amour instead of soft flesh.

Harry's torso, inner arms and inner thighs were all various shades of a silvery white. The ones near his belly button were the brightest pearly white, appearing translucent and shiny when the sun's rays reflected off them.

The further out from his center he looked, the darker the colours became, until they tampered off into soft blues hues. His arms and lower thighs were between royal blue and navy. His back and calves and feet were so dark of a shade of purple that they easily could be mistaken for black without direct light.

After he had finished inspecting his newfound scales, his attention went back to his face. His ears were long pointed finlike appendages that were transparent from how thin the membranes were. When he had reached up to gently caress the strange change, he had hissed from immediate oversensitivity and quickly removed his hand from continuing to explore.

Apparently his ears were extremely useful for hearing underwater sounds and so any touch made his entire body tingle and shudder. Harry made a mental note not to touch them often.

His fingers and hands were now longer, more delicate in structure despite having nearly four inch black claws at the end of each slim appendage. There was thin yet strong webbing connecting each of his fingers. Luckily the tissue didn't lower his dexterity or the ability of having an opposable thumb. Thank the gods.

Harry moved on to poke at his teeth. Each and every one of them were sharp little daggers in his mouth. His canines had elongated into two inch fangs which he accidentally prick his finger on.

That drew attention to the most terrifying change of all so far, his blood was blue. And cold to the touch. That had sufficiently distracted him for nearly ten minutes as mind struggled to catch up with the new changes.

It was not until he moved and tripped over his own tail that he even realised he had a bloody fucking tail!

The large extremity's size was over twice his entire body length at nearly a dozen feet long. He poked at it with awe as it wrapped around his torso.

There were hundreds of wickedly sharp spins connected by the same membrane that his ears resembled that stuck out from the middle of his tail in a tall arch. A dorsal fin, his brain supplied the correct anatomy after blanking for too long.

The scales here followed the same pattern as the rest of his body. The base was lighter and the tip darker while the underside held a thin strip of silvery white.

Lastly and Harry's least jarring change was his hair. Over time it grew out to touch the middle of his back, but his iconic messy, recently-shagged style never wavered. His hair darkened to the colour of rich ink. So black in pitch that it gave the appearance of sucking in any light it touched and made his scales and eyes shine brighter in stark contrast.

Harry had instantly loved his new form. It took weeks to adjust and it felt like everyday he learned something new about himself. If he had thought being a wizard was wicked, that had absolutely nothing compared to being part dragon.

A merrow to be exact.

Harry had been gifted a small library of books in his little hut on the island. Most were lengthy and took him months to make a dent in the wealth of information.

But with little to do on his tiny island, reading soon became his favourite past time. That and hunting. He spent a considerable amount of his time fishing in the deep abyss.

He knew that there was an entire realm outside of his wards. One filled with tens of thousands of others like him. Other dragels and magical creatures with just as pretty faces and epic magical powers.

He knew about their culture and customs. Their government and laws. About the circles and mates.

And that's why he has kept away for so long. Sure, his heart ached deeply. It longed for attention since the day he woke. He desperately desired to build ever lasting bonds of love and friendship. But something held him back.

His fear.

At the time when he was alone, bleeding out and slowly dying, his soul had called out in a desperation. Harry did not know then, but he knew now. His soul had released a soulscream that night.

One of most powerful pieces of soul magic to exist. It had meant to protect him. To save him. To call on his soul mates and bring them forth. And yet….his soul wrenching cries were met with silence.

Magic told him that ancient seals had placed upon him. To prevent his true nature to come forth.

Yet… a small part of him wondered that perhaps his soulscream failed because he was not worthy of having mates. Too broken. Too damaged. That he was and still is unlovable.

Magic might have given him a new body, but his soul and memories remained. And it was those that cannot be fixed.

Or worse, perhaps he indeed had soul mates that heard his cry and chose not to come. The very thought of sheer rejection forced a mournful chittering sound escape his throat.

Harry shook his head. This was not the time to reminisce. He had an intruder to kick out. Time to pull himself together.

Harry's head broke the surface of the lake to eye down the interloper.

———————————————————————

Ilsa POV

The mission was simple. Find out what was causing the nearby portal gate to become unstable. The reports state that the gate had been fine for decades and suddenly four years ago, small disturbances began.

In the beginning, the strange influxes were minor and rarely caused issues. Not enough to cause concern at the very least.

It wasn't until six months ago that the minor issues became significant problems. Entire caravans were being displaced. Sucked up and thrown randomly around the realm. Some disappeared without a trace. It was decided to shut down access until the source of the problem could be located.

Rune Masters came first. For weeks they tested the area and did countless rituals. Nothing was found. The best that could be inferred was that something or someone with an extreme affinity to wild magics was affecting the gate.

Using the best tracking circles, they were able to stumbled upon a nearby island with wards so thick and potent that nothing seemed to be able to pass.

It took several months of the most highly skilled ward masters in Nevarah to create an amulet that should be able to bypass the ward. The amulet that she now had around her neck.

Ilsa saw the reason to assign this case to her. There are very few beings that can pull off creating a ward of that magnitude. And none of them bode well.

She had to take a small boat to cross the water. It would have been nice if the Water Champion could have taken this case. Would have at least made accessing the island easier. Of course Merrows couldn't be bothered with LandWalker problems. As per usual.

The air tingled with over flooded magic as she crossed the ward's threshold. She let out a small sigh of relief. Glad she wasn't reduced to ash or cursed. That's always a plus.

The island was beautiful. Not overly large, perhaps a full day's hike to one side to the other from what she saw on her way here. It appeared untouched by modern civilisation. Nothing, but wild growth and sandy beaches in sight.

The earth dragel ventured forth towards the heart of the island. The most likely place the disturbed would be located.

She was caught off guard by the large fresh water lake in the centre of the island. Its waters were so crystal clear and blue that despite her usual aversion to swimming, all she wanted to do was jump in to cool off from the tropical heat.

That's when her keen eyes spotted them. A head popped up from the surface of the lake. Only their eyes were above the water line, however she knew immediately they were a merrow.

She did not move yet, but her eyes never left the other's gaze. Merrows were exceedingly rare to see outside of their usual watery realm. And to find one here was not at all what she was expecting. Last thing she needed was to start a fight with a merrow near a lake, on an island in the middle of the sea.

The mysterious figure swam closer until they were standing knee high in the shallows. Revealing a ferros unbonded submissive merrow. The shinning silvery white scales might as well been a beacon to the world with how brightly they shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.

Ilsa blinked slowly as her mind raced to put together this very confusing puzzle. How could there be lone submissive here of all places?

It was clear he was young. That much was obvious. Perhaps the same age of her dear Theo. Although Merrows were more difficult to tell their age. They tend to retain more youthful features for much longer than their elemental counterparts.

"Why are you here?" The merrow spoke first. Their voice was eerily soft and whimsical yet held an icy edge behind their words that promised danger if provoked.

"I was assigned to see why there have been magical influxes in the nearby area. Our reports tell us that those pulses are originating here." Ilsa kept her voice level and calm. She had no desire to make this young one see her as a threat.

The merrow tiled his head in thought as his sea green eyes bore into her golden orbs. She could tell he was looking for the slightest bit of deception.

"I see. Well there is no one on the island, but myself. Whatever you are looking for, it's not here. Please leave."

"There must be something here. I cannot leave without located the source-"

She was cut off by a menacing rumble. The boy's eyes narrowed to thin slits as his fangs flashed menacingly. "I already said it's not here. You have rudely intruded into my home without permission. I won't ask again. I want you to leave."

Ilsa raised an eyebrow. This was probably the most hostile submissive she's encountered outside of one protecting their children. Ferros indeed.

His statement however had her concerned. He openly admitted to being here alone. How long has he been here? A submissive dragel was not designed to live a solitary life. Really no dragel should. The toll of living without a circle is not taken lightly. She could not in good conscience leave him here to suffer that gruesome fate.

"I'm sorry. No one was aware that you were here." Her apology seemed to have eased a tiny bit of the growing tension.

"That was the point. I wished to be alone." His arms crossed his chest, but she could tell that his magic was beginning to surface despite his lack of movement.

The air grew thick, heavy with magic and moisture. The lake's once calm surface was now choppy with steady waves as clouds formed to block the sun. The temperature was rapidly plummeting.

Ilsa sighed inwardly. This was going poorly. But she can't leave him like this. She may not be his mentor, but she was one. And her guilt would never fade if she left him to a fate of loneliness and madness.

"Do you know what will happen to you if you remain here? A submissive like yourself cannot thrive with the lack of a circle, you will quickly go-"

"Shut up." The merrow's lyrical voice was all ice now. "You have no right to come here and lecture me. I only want to be left alone! Why does no one understand!"

Just as the merrow shouted his displeasure, a 15 foot wave of water surged up like a great wall. It moved with incredible speed as it rushed towards her.

The earth elemental hastily created a domed wall to shield her from the force of the tidal wave as it smashed onto shore.

The magically enforced tsunami tore through the forest behind her as if the trees were nothing more than sandcastles. Even her powerful earth shield had been nearly demolished by the impact. This merrow was gifted with his water element.

Another deep rumble filled the air and it was only Ilsa's honed instincts and keen agility that kept her from being pulled into the lake's depths as long tendrils of water whipped around like the tentacles of an octopus searching for opportunity to drag her into the murky water.

She dodged and weaved with grace, avoiding being snatched with ease. This was getting to be annoying. Fighting a merrow in their own element was too tedious. She needed to get him to come unto land if she wanted to get her advantage.

"Merrow, you can't keep this up all day. I can avoid all your attacks without using magic. You'll tire yourself out eventually."

The lake began to boil and steam with the merrow's rage. "Fine. If you really want a fight, then let's fight. I'm done being controlled and manipulated. You're just like everyone else."

She hid her wince. That was a low blow. She understood where he was coming from. From his perspective, she was the villain in his world even if she was trying to save him from himself.

The merrow rushed to the shoreline with amazing speed. For being untrained, he moved with the grace of a true predator. She saw it in the way he moved. He has lived a much more dangerous life than any submissive should have. That fact alone broke her heart. What kind of horrors did this young boy had to see to have become this guarded? This feral?

His blows were clumsy and easy to out-manoeuvre, but from how a nearby tree splintered into pieces from a single hit meant for her, the warrior knew he had immense strength beyond the average dragel.Those were not punches that she would want to land.

Ilsa had no desire to hurt him, however seeing that he was far from settling down, she began to fight back. Deflecting his messy combat style and carefully placing low impact hits across his limbs and torso I hopes to slow him dow.

It was a hard battle seeing that she had to balance not to injure him too greatly while avoiding getting her head smashed into jelly by his powerful fists.

Meanwhile the terrain was in shambles. Waves from the lake kept slamming into the forest, upturning everything in the rushing water's path. She had to take flight a few times to avoid being swept away by a swift river of mud and debris.

It took much longer than she would have wanted, but she finally managed to strike a blow to his temple as he slowed from physical exhaustion, knocking the feral submissive out. She caught his limp form before crumpled to the ground.

"You did well, little merrow. I'm sorry it had to be this way. But I promise on my clan's magic, I will make sure you won't suffer anymore."

Ilsa noticed the wards on the island fell the second the merrow had passed out. So it had been him the whole time. The powerful wards were likely causing interference with the gate. Her mission was a success then.

Without the wards, she could open a portal back home with ease. Hopefully Theo won't be too grumpy that she was bringing home a stranger.

Chapter 4: Rough landing

Summary:

Theo and Harry meet and it's a very rocky start.

Chapter Text

Theo POV

He heard from the household staff his mentor returned and as per usual was creating a mild frenzy by the hushed furious whispers floating around.

Not able to help himself, he curiously searched for her. He stood at the doorway frozen with shock as he watched Ilsa gently placing an unconscious merrow on the sofa.

"Uh Ilsa, why do you have an unconscious merrow in our living room? Please tell me you didn't steal him."

"I found him while on my mission. He was quite in a bad state. A stubborn one too. Never met such a spite-fire of a submissive. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. He is ferros after-all."

Theo blinked. A ferros submissive? That's interesting. Ferros dragels are generally uncommon. For a submissive to be one, that was simply a rare combination.

Theo stepped a little closer until he was leaning over the sofa and took the time to appraise the smaller male.

The sleeping merrow was…beautiful. Even for a merrow. The water dragels tended to be more much ethereal and delicate with their appearances compared to their other elemental counter parts. Yet this one….was much more than that. It was like looking at a fallen celestial. Every little detail, every etch, every scale were simply too exquisite to be real.

The earth dragel felt his face burning bright red. Partly in guilt of shamelessly checking out an unconscious person.

Before Theo could ask more questions, a pain in his chest suddenly flared to the extreme. He clutched his sternum as his lungs released a terrible wheeze.

Ilsa was at his side instantly, a hand on his back as she guided to a sitting position. "Did you drink your tea? I warned you that you have to drink it everyday. I know it tastes terrible-"

He waved for her to stop. "I did." He gulped down a few breaths as he focused on slowing down his racing heartbeat. "It randomly flared up just now. It's never…hurt this much before. Not since my inheritance."

A pensive expression grew on his mentor's features. Her eyes floated over to the sleeping submissive before slowly returning to catch his stare.

"I can't read minds ya know. What are you plotting?"

She rolled her eyes. "You wound me, my dear. I have a hunch. A strong one. Allow me some time though before I share it. Just trust me on this one Theo."

He sighed. "Fine. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough." He didn't have it in him to argue. Not now. His chest was still violently burning with a pulsing ache.

"How long do you think until-" Theo was cut off by a series of coughs. The merrow was awake. Well that answered his question.

Bright sea green eyes were trained directly towards him. Theo could make out confusion swirling behind those stunning eyes. The puzzlement shifted into recognition and then rapidly into horror.

The merrow nearly teleported from his spot on the sofa to hugging the furthest wall in the room.

"Woah there Little One. Careful, you ended up getting a nasty bang to the head. Sorry about that. You should be taking it easy. Are you hungry?" Ilsa causally chatted as she tried to discreetly place herself between Theo and the submissive.

The merrow's eyes narrowed to silts when he recognized Theo's mentor. "You! This is all your fault! What have you done? This is the worst possible outcome! No. No no. NO! How is it even possible? Does the universe have a giant grudge against me?!"

Theo was exceedingly confused. This was a strange reaction from the merrow. He shuffled between looking at his too calm mentor and the poor submissive about to have a panic attack in his living room.

"So it's true then? I had a quick hunch, but the chances were slim."

The merrow let out a terrifying screech of anger. Theo winced. The other male was beyond pissed.

"I refuse. He can suffer for all I care."

Ilsa's face fell. "You don't mean that. Not truly. You don't know him. Give it time. Don't rush into-"

"You need to shut up about things you don't know. I know everything I need to know about him." The merrow's melodic voice was being distorted by the icy venom laced with each word.

Theo's pain was borderline unbearable now. What was happening? Why was he in such agony? It was as if his very soul was burning, being stretched to the breaking point.

His soul. Oh. Oh. OH.

His eyes flickered to the merrow. "You're…you are my soul mate?" The second those words escaped his lips, the other male flung himself forward with razor sharp claws out and ready to turn Theo into shreds.

Theo had been so stunned that if Ilsa hadn't stepped in-between, he would have been mauled.

"Okay okay. That's enough Little One. I understand this was not the most ideal way to go about this situation, but let's not hurt my precious heir."

"Fuck you. Fuck you both." The merrow hissed with pain promised in those furious eyes.

Theo finally got his bearings. This was not how he wanted his future mate to feel. His instincts were roaring for him to calm his distressed potential intended.

"Look, I'm not sure why you hate me so much, but I promise I'm not here to hurt you. I don't think I could even if I wanted to."

"A bit late for that Theodore Nott."

The following silence was deafening. Ilsa's head snap towards Theo with her own equally confused expression.

"How do you know my name? We've never met. Have we?" Theo would have known if somehow stumbled into his soulmate in the past. Especially if his soulmate knew his given name.

"I never took you as a dumb one. We went to school together. Hogwarts ring any bells? I'll give you a hint, I was a Gryffindor."

Theodore wracked his brain. The merrow looked like no one he could recall. He searched the submissive's face for any hint, any clue. That's when he settled at those eerily too bright eyes. Green eyes. Like gems glowing in the night. They weren't the same shade now, but he felt like an idiot for not noticing sooner.

"Harry?" Theo asked in wonder.

"Bingo. Looks you aren't completely blind. Good for you."

Ilsa held back her laughed behind her hand as she watched the back and forth bickering.

"But how? You died. Everyone wanted to reject it, but they said there was a body found and the trial…"

Harry scoffed lightly before those bewitching eyes turned cold. "I did die. No thanks to you."

Theo flinched. "Harry, I have no idea what you're talking about."

The former Gryffindor stood to his full height. Theo discreetly noticed that Harry's head barely came to the center of his chest. That's…kinda adorable. It would be cuter if Harry's expression wasn't promising an agonizing death.

"The night I died, four years ago, my body let out a soulscream. I laid there slowly bleeding out, praying and hoping for anyone to help. I waited…and waited until I slowly realised that no one was coming. You, my supposedly destined soulmate, never came. That was my first and last act as a dragel."

Harry's eyes were shining with unshed tears as his gaze scorched directly into Theo's battered soul.

Theo swallowed thickly. How was he meant to reply to that? Because now…it all made sense.

The night was also when his inheritance came. He should have known then. His soul had ached so terribly for weeks. He hadn't been able to move out of bed, he hardly ate. It was the worst time of his life.

Everyone told him it was a by product of an early inheritance and that it would fade with time. It never did. He had to drink a special tea to damper the pain everyday just so he could function unimpaired.

This whole time…he was being punished. By soul magic itself. He had been unable to go to his soulmate in their time of need. Something had messed up his chance and the consequences were dire.

He wondered…was the pain worse for Harry? Has his soulmate being suffering a worse fate this entire time? The notion alone made Theo violently nauseous. The guilt was settling in and gods, it was awful.

"You said you died…but you're here. I don't understand Harry." Theo needed to know the whole truth, no matter how painful.

A far off look relaxed the merrow's once wrathful expression. "I was saved. By an Immortal. While my body could not be restored, it was apparently…too damaged, my soul was placed in the another vessel that matched. Another who had died before their time too." Harry seemed to collapsed within himself. All the rage had billowed out and only left exhaustion in its place.

Theo heart twisted at the brokenness forming on Harry's features. That look should never be there.

"I'm so sorry. Harry, I…I know there is nothing I can say or do to show you how truly sorry I am. I wish more than anything that I could have been there for you. You're right to be angry. I would be too in your place." Theo's voice trailed off.

He didn't know what else to say. What exactly does one say to their soul mate when you failed to keep them alive? Nothing. Because there is no excuse.

Harry simply nodded. "That's why I didn't want to come here. To Nevarah. I feared meeting my soulmates. Because all I have been able to think about for the last four years is why I was abandoned."

Theo closed his eyes. He couldn't look at those heart-wrenching eyes anymore. It was tearing him apart. All he wanted was to give Harry the tightest hug possible and never let him go. To smother him in affection and love. To spend the rest of his life proving that could and would never reject his soulmate.

Question is, will he get that chance?

Ilsa finally decided to step in. "I think that's enough for now. Let's get some food while I call for a healer. Sounds good?"

Harry didn't respond nor did he move from his spot.

Ilsa sighed. "Harry? Listen, I know this all…more than anyone should be able to handle, but I made you a promise ok? I promised to look after you and I will stand by that. You just need to give me the tiniest tiny bit of trust."

The merrow made eye contact for a brief moment to acknowledge the earth champion. "Doesn't seem like I have much of a choice now."

Both Ilsa and Theo winced in unison before leading the wallowing submissive to the dining room.

This was going to be an uphill battle. Harry wanted nothing to do with them. Well, nothing to do with Theo specifically. Now the Alpha just needed to come up with a plan to show his soulmate that he was worthy of redemption

Chapter 5: Truths and punishments

Summary:

Harry and Theo clash. Theo comes to new realisations.

Chapter Text

So Harry, oh is it alright if I call you that?" Ilsa asked as they moved to the dining room. Harry took a seat furthest away on the opposite end of the table.

The young merrow shrugged. "It's fine. My actual name is Harrison. Or well, it was. I guess I'm not technically a Potter anymore so I'm not sure what my last name is."

"Ah, yes, your unique situation would certainly be a valid reason to have an identity crisis. Perhaps you'll take on a new last name when you decide to begin your circle."

Harry rolled his eyes slightly. "If I have my way, I'll be a grand circle of one." He took a little pride in seeing Nott flinch slightly.

Ilsa's nonchalant attitude showed through as she whizzed by his sarcastic snarks. "What would you like to eat? The kitchen's able to prepare a vast array-"

"Fish. Just fish. Any kind really. And preferably raw or lightly cooked." Harry's reply was quick. He has had the same simple diet for years and he's grown quite accustomed to it.

Nott coughed awkwardly into his hand. His eyes darted around sheepishly.

Harry sighed loudly with annoyance. "What is it Nott? Judging me for liking fish?"

"No no." The earth dragel held up his hands in a surround motion. "I just thought it would be…I don't know weird, ya know, considering…?" Nott gestured to Harry's overall presence.

The merrow raised an eyebrow. "Are you calling me a cannibal? Cause I got fins instead of wings? Says the one with pebbles for brains and probably eats dirt for the heck of it. First off, I'm way more of a dragon than you. I spent the last four years hunting in the depths of the oceans for every single day. While you, sat here in your golden palace and got spoiled rotten. And second, what do you think merrow's eat? It's not like we have underwater helpless cattle or goats to mindlessly slaughter. Seems kinda obvious that seafood is our main source of protein."

Nott's faced turned pink in embarrassment. "Yeah okay. That's fair. I'm sorry Harry." Theodore sighed as Harry didn't bother to give the other male a second glance.

"So Little One, you seem well versed in dragel culture, but you didn't mention having a mentor. How come?"

Harry cocked his head. "Huh? I'm pretty sure I did. Although I had to self learn most of the time since they were busy often. I didn't mind though. I enjoyed a lot of me time."

Ilsa's smile fell. "That's a pretty piss poor mentor. They shouldn't have abandon you. It defeats the purpose of having a mentor to begin with."

Harry's neutral features transformed into another scowl. An expression he found himself having more and more often lately. "Why you are all so bloody concerned about things that do not involve you? You know literally nothing of my situation. My mentor was great and they provided for me when no one else did. Besides, if you want pick a fight with someone that abandoned their responsibility maybe you should turn your attention to your mentee."

"Okay ow. That one hurt. Ilsa could you maybe NOT accidentally throw me under bus. I'm struggling over here."

Silence followed for a while until the food was served. Harry did not wait long before digging into his dish. Hungry jaws wolfed entire fish until nothing, but clean bones remained. It wasn't until his fourth helping that he paused to notice that both other dragels were peering at him with awe.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Where are you putting all the food? You're eating like an entire suite of gheyos combined. It's sort of impressive really."

The submissive shrugged. "I always eat this much. Actually this is rather tame compared to what I usually hunt."

"Who would have thought that someone so small could pack away that much though." Nott teased lightly.

"I'm not that small. You're just huge. Aren't alphas meant to be towering himbos with giant muscles."

Nott rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Uh, well, I'm actually average height and size for an alpha. But, no offense, you're the smallest dragel I've ever seen. Are you even five feet tall? Although I guess your huge tail makes up for it huh?"

Harry stabbed his fish a little harder than needed with his fork. He was a bit sensitive about his shorter stature. Sure, he was…fun size. Tiny yet mighty. "Well maybe the universe paired little ole me with you because you're a below average sized alpha."

Harry snapped back and threw a fish skull at Nott's head. "I took offense. And stop looking at my tail like that. Are you a…pervert? Are tails what get you off or something?" The submissive gathered his long appendage up into his lap feeling a bit self-conscious now.

Nott froze like a deer in headlights before his entire head turned crimson. "Wait what?! No no. That's not at all what I meant! It's just really long! Like it's big for someone so little. Wait, no. Uh, it's thicker than usual! Oh fuck, that also sounded wrong. Ah, just let me die now please and thank you." Theodore slammed his head on the table in defeat.

A few moments later, Nott's head popped up excitedly despite being pelted with a fish carcass. "Ooo wait, did you admit we were meant to be together?"

Harry gave the earth dragel a deadpan glare. "I never said we weren't. Soul magic doesn't lie. I'm just refusing to act on it. I don't understand what the universe was thinking pairing me with you anyways."

"Listen I know I made a mistake-"

"It's not that. Nott, was your family not associated with the wizarding world's equal to the devil? I seem to recall your father being one of Voldemort's weird dark slaves. You know, the man that murdered my parents and indirectly killed me?"

Theodore hung his head as his brown locks shadowed his eyes. "You're right. My family was corrupt with zero morals. My father especially did some fucked up things. I know I can never attune for the sins of my name, but I can promise that I was never one of them. I would rather have died than take the Dark Lord's mark."

Harry gave Nott a long soul searching look. He believed the other male. There was true sincerity behind those words.

"Whatever. Doesn't matter. I have no desire to return to the wizarding world. They'll have to adjust without having to rely on me to save the day."

"Wow. Never thought I would see the day that the golden boy gryffindor himself would refuse to courageously and foolishly save the world."

The merrow chuckled dryly. "You forget, that boy died long ago. Going back isn't an option. That life is over. I cannot keep looking back."

Ilsa clapped in approval. "Well said Little One. You are wise for having such an out look."

After the merrow licked the bones clean of his seventh fish, he patted his slightly bulging tummy in satisfaction. "So what are you two planning to do with me? Keep me prisoner here?"

Ilsa and Theodore shared knowing glances. The earth champion answered. "Harry, you're not a prisoner. I brought you here because I worried about your mental health. Dragels are not solitary creatures. Not to the extent that you were on that island. I honestly must say that I am impressed that you managed to be fine alone for so many years without any negative symptoms."

Harry rested his head on his propped up hand. "I'm more likely to punch the crap out of Nott. But I suppose knocking around an alpha gives me the same satisfaction as sunbathing."

Ilsa grinned. "That's more like it. Theo could use the challenge. He's gotten a tad too cocky in spars lately. Perhaps you could knock him down a peg or two."

The younger earth dragel screeched out in betrayal. "Ilsa! Whose side are you on?!"

"Ignore him Harry. Theo is preoccupied with his ego. Mhm. Now that I think about it perhaps with your ferros ranking, it's best that you and I train. If you can master a decent combat style, that enhanced strength you posses can truly catch any dragel off guard."

Harry's eyes began to sparkle with genuine interest for the first time since being here. There was no doubt in the submissive's mind that Ilsa was extremely talented. If he could learn half of her skills, Harry felt confident he finally could defend himself from all those that refused to leave him the fuck alone.

"Are you serious? Are you actually willing to train me?"

"Of course. I made a promise didn't I? Besides, I find myself curious to see what a ferros submissive can do without an entire circle trying to subdue your fighting urges. This might be my only chance to witness your hidden power."

Harry released a truly feral grin. "When do we begin?"

——————————————————————

Theo POV

After settling Harry in his own private suite across from Theo own rooms, Theo and Ilsa retired to the den downstairs.

"Ilsa. What are you planning? You know that better than I that submissives, ferros or otherwise, should never need to enter a fight unless the rest of the circle is completely decimated. If it gets out that you trained a submissive to seek out combat, it could ruin him. It could ruin you."

Ilsa swirled on her heels, a viciously livid expression thundering across her stern features. "Have I raised an ignorant fool? Are you blind and deaf as well? Because you are acting like a complete buffoon. I thought I taught you better than this."

Theo wilted like a thoroughly chastised child. "What?" He gave a puzzled head tilt.

"Harry is a submissive, yes. That's clear as day. However too many dragels in our culture have grown accustomed to equating a submissive rank to a submissive personality. Those are not mutually exclusive." She sighed exhaustedly and motioned for Theo to sit beside her.

"Harry may be a submissive, but in his heart, he is a true dragon. A powerful and ancient creature that cannot and will not be burdened. His soul yearns for absolute freedom. Any one with eyes can see it. He was destined to be a warrior. You know him better than I. You know his past and yet you are blind to his needs. He has spent his entire existence fighting tooth and claw to stay alive. And from what little I know from the wizarding news, Harry did not go down without a fight."

Ilsa reached over to caress Theo's lushes locks. "My dear Theo, If you want to win his heart, to be accepted as his mate, you must take the time to understand Harry. He is special. He matured away from the tight social expectations dragels have enforced for millennia. He doesn't need some big bad alpha to whisk him off his feet like a damsel in distress. He needs the role of an equal. Someone to truly see him and not all the extra titles and powers. To understand his person to the core. To support him and raise him to become the very best that he can be."

Theo listened carefully, his chest clenching tightly as he began to understand a perspective he never had considered.

He rapidly realised his mentor was absolutely correct. Harry Potter was a known champion of courage and fought for justice, even back as a first year. He was literally born destined to fight the epitome of darkness and evil. The savior of the wizarding world.

Theo felt his throat close with swelling emotion. He choked back tears as he bore a hole into the ground, not able to meet Ilsa in the eye.

"I just…want to protect him. Every cell and instinct in my body wants to wrap him in the thickest softest shield and spoil the shit out of him. I can't look into his eyes without this immense wave of guilt threatening to drown me. I failed him. I don't care if there outside reasons, I should have been there." He tries to wipe his eyes free only for his vision to blur instantly with fresh tears.

"My mind hasn't stopped conjuring images of a lethally injured little Harry crying desperately for help. It's haunting me Ilsa. It's like I was there. Standing on the side lines, completely unable to interfere, forced to endure watching my soulmate die."

"It's possible…that the soul magic tethered to you both is indeed placing that burden. It may not have been your fault that you were unable to fulfil your duty as an alpha, but magic may not care. You may in fact be seeing the events of that night through the lens of Harry's soul as punishment. That is a terrible curse. I find myself very lucky to have never experienced such torment. To lose a soulmate…I am not sure many could survive the loss." She pulled Theo into her warm embrace. Hoping to soothe her heir's distress.

"Theo dear…I have one last observation to make. One that you must take into consideration. It's…entirely probable that Harry has experienced this pain as well. For a soulmate to reject a summons…it is like stripping a piece of your soul away and smashing it into dust. The anguish and knowledge that you were not wanted…there is no greater loss for a submissive dragel. And…"

Theo's eyes widened comically before another flood of tears streamed down his cheeks. "Oh no. Please no. Harry felt this with every possible soulmate he has? But he could have a dozen soulmates easily! Oh poor Harry…how does he stand it?"

Ilsa pulled Theo tighter to her chest. "Because Harry is a fighter. A little yet mighty dragon. Don't forget that."

"I won't. I can't. I will anything it takes to prove to Harry that I am here for him. Even if it takes me a century of begging."

Chapter 6: Less Healing, more Damaging

Summary:

Harry gets dragged to go to the healer's. It does not go as planned. As per usual.

Chapter Text

Harry POV

The last three weeks have been quite an ordeal for Harry. For starters, Ilsa's training plan to improve his combat prowess had to be a regime straight from hell. Either to train demonic warriors or purely a form of enteral punishment, Harry hadn't decided.

Not a single muscle was free of severe soreness and stiffness. Harry could barely shuffle his protesting body to dinner at the end of the day. He slumped against the cool wooden table and groaned softly.

"Everything hurtsss." He mumbled weakly.

"You know my offer to massage your sore muscles still stands." Theo sounded much too smug from his spot across the table.

"Touch me and you'll loose a hand."

"Aw c'mon Harry. I know I'm starting to wear you down. You haven't punched me in three days. A new personal record."

The merrow lifted his head just enough to send a withering glare towards the alpha. "Only because my arms feel like cooked pasta noddles." Theo laughed as at his misery.

Harry would never admit it, but Theo was slowly worming his way to his heart. He found himself genuinely enjoying the other's presence. Theo was funny and charming in a way that made his heart do little flips in his chest despite Harry's wishes.

The merrow cursed the concept of soul mates. He really did. This was a rapidly losing battle. It's not easy to hate someone that literally was made for you.

These days Harry knew he was losing the level of hostile heat he held against the earth dragel weeks ago. His jabs were seen more as jokes and teases than actual threats.

Which on some occasions Harry liked to prove that he was not all bark and no bite. Once his form and stances were considered to be semi passable from Ilsa, he used any opportunity to lay Theo flat on his ass. Apparently his tiny stature was ideal for judo flips.

"Good morning my dear boys! It took some time since the Hunt has booked nearly all available healers, however I pulled some strings to get Harry seen today." Ilsa gave both of them gentle hair tussles as her preferred form of greeting.

"I had hoped you had forgotten about that. I still don't think I need to go to a healer. I've told you that I'm fine. I don't want to waste their time."

"Harry we made a deal. We don't know the extent of what happened to you. There are a lot of questions left unanswered. What if those seals remained?"

"I know for a fact that those old seals and curses didn't transfer. I trust my mentor. I wish that you trusted me."

Theo wisely remained silent. He had zero desire to backtrack from his weeks of progress. Getting into Harry's good graces was exceedingly the one most difficult task in his entire life.

"It's not that I don't trust you Harry. Can you blame me for worrying? It'll be fast, I promise."

Harry huffed. "Whatever. I'll do it because I made a promise. But if the healer tries anything…"

Ilsa sighed exasperatedly. "Healers are held by a strict code. They could never try anything inappropriate. I keep telling you this Harry, but yes, if by the tiny tiny chance a healer makes an advance on you, you have total permission to rip off their limbs."

That seemed to please Harry's feral side as he let a happy little trill. Theo chuckled softly. Harry was such a blood thirsty little submissive. It was oddly adorable.

Ilsa and Theo found themselves way over their heads as they made their way towards the clinic. For some reason they forgot how…unique Harry was.

For starters, Harry has retained staying in his halfling form since Ilsa brought him from his island. Theo and Ilsa had gotten accustomed to seeing all of Harry's dragel features that they completely forgot it was both rare for the general public to see and that it could be seen as hostile in some circles.

"Please Harry? At least lose the tail? You're literally tripped people left and right." Theo pleaded gently in the vain hope that today was a rare day that Harry was feeling cooperative.

"I said no. People have eyes. Maybe they should be the ones to move. I'm not changing to make random strangers more comfortable. Do you not care about MY comfort? I don't like not having my claws and tail out. What if I need them to defend myself?"

Theo clenched his jaw. He knew he was walking a razor thin wire. He didn't want to piss Harry off. Especially not when he agreed with Harry. If staying in halfling form felt right, who was he to ask Harry to switch?

Theo just…did not enjoy the vast amount of wanton and lustful glances Harry kept receiving. He had gotten used to have Harry all to himself for weeks. Now everyone was able to freely enjoy Harry's stunning beauty and he couldn't do anything about it except sulk.

Although Theo was very much basking in joy every time some bloke gathered enough courage to walk to Harry only for the feral submissive to send such a seething glare that it instantly made any potential courter freeze in fear. It was nice not to be at the receiving end of that terrifying expression.

Nevarah Clinc

THEO POV

The health clinic was…chaotic at best. Wall to wall bodies filled up every available space. Between the dozens of patients waiting to be treated, the vast healing teams, and the numerous fighters assigned to protect the healers and keep the peace, it was a wonder the place hadn't collapsed in on itself.

Theo noticed Harry's immediately discomfort as the three of them went to the reception counter. The small dragel flinched constantly and at times hissed angrily under their breath. The sub was not fond of loud crowded places.

Ilsa and Theo tried to be physical buffers whenever possible. The last thing they needed was for Harry to go feral and attack someone for stepping on his tail.

Theo found himself in an internal battle. His alpha instincts demanded to soothe the distressed submissive. To scoop Harry into his arms and press the small dragel tight to his chest and whisper soft sweet nothings to calm them down.

If only that could work. Right now, Harry was likely to claw his face to ribbons if he attempted that. Theo just needed to be patient. It's only been a few weeks and he knows he's made progress. It gave him hope that not all was totally lost. That one day, all his naughty daydreams could come true.

"You have an appointment?" The receptionist eyed their little group. Her gaze fixed on Harry's merrow halfling form immediately and her left eyebrow shot up to her hairline. "Stuck in his form or something?"

Harry's eyes narrowed and Theo quickly stepped in when he spotted the the purple flush of annoyance dusting the merrow's cheeks. "Not really professional of you to ask, but no, nothing is wrong with his form. We have an appointment with Healer Quinn."

At least the woman appeared sufficiently chastised as she confirmed their information. "I don't see him in our data based. I see the appointment registered under a Theodore Gorgens. The City's registration doesn't have you listed to be bonded however. Is there a mistake?"

"Ah yes," Ilsa cut in before Harry's sharp tongue got them into a mess. "That was my doing. Harry is a bit of a special case. He is…Theo's soulmate. However there are…complications. I have recently taken him under my care and until I get a clean bill of health first, nothing else takes priority."

Harry huffed loudly, but kept silent otherwise. Theo thanked whatever gods were watching for the small miracles.

"I see. I'm sure the circumstances are pressing. I understand health is always a priority. I'll let Healer Quinn know you're here." The receptionist was smart enough to know not to question Ilsa. No one wanted to be on the bad side of the Blood Wraith.

The wait time was short despite the high volume. Either someone leaked that it was an important VIP patient or this Healer Quinn was proficient and worked fast.

A door opened revealing a medium height fae male with forest green hair and soft brown eyes. He was fairly attractive in the way all fae typically were. "Hello, my name is Kyle and I'll be your medic today. I'm Healer Quinn's assistant. Fair warning, Quinn isn't able to communicate well vocally so I help out by being his voice. Hope that's all right with you. If not, we can have another Healer take a look at you."

Theo noticed Harry visually relax when Kyle revealed himself. As if a massive weight was suddenly lifted off his shoulders. Was he expecting something or someone else? That was odd, even for Harry standards.

"No, of course that's not an issue. Right Harry?"

The merrow shook his head. "Not at all. I think it's pretty great you help him. I know it can be tough being stuck without a voice."

Theo and Ilsa shared a look between them after hearing Harry's casual reply. That statement shouldn't have sent a bad vibe tingling down their spines.

"I'll be out here waiting boys. Do try to behave okay? I don't want to explain why Harry disembowelled someone. Way too much paperwork." Ilsa waved them off as the two were escorted into a private room.

Kyle clapped his hands. "Well great, let's get started. Take a seat on the table there. So basic stuff first. Name, age, rank, status, and reason for coming?"

Harry shuffled uneasily as he answered. "Harrison, but I like to go by Harry. I'm seventeen. Submissive merrow and I'm unbonded. Sort of. I'm here against my will, but I guess it's just a check up to make sure I'm not dying."

Theo sighed tiredly. "Harry…."

The merrow rolled his eyes. "Okay okay. I'll play nice. Stop giving me that look."

Kyle glanced between the two of them with a puzzled expression. "So you two aren't bonded? I thought you were his Alpha?"

Harry chuckled dryly. "He wishes."

Theo felt a migraine forming already. This was going to end with him feeling like shit, he could tell. "Technically…I'm Harry's soulmate, but uh, Harry is currently not in the mood for bonding."

Kyle blinked slowly as his brain tried to put that information together. A submissive refusing to bond to a soulmate? That usually spelled disaster. Kyle would usually assume that meant the intended was behaving in such a despicable way that the sub could not tolerate it. But then why would they come together to the clinic if they couldn't stand each other?

"You know what, I think maybe we should wait for Quinn. This seems like it's going to be a long explanation. Oh good, he's here."

The door opened again and a medium size dragel entered. Quinn was roughly the same size and build as Theo. Only the healer had wavy blond hair instead of rich brown. His light teal colouring for eyes gave a hint of merrow descent.

Theo would have assumed having another merrow around would be great for Harry. Merrows usually tend to stick to their own. Perhaps it was instinctual or maybe it was their magics being able to harmonise.

But oh no. Theo was very wrong.

Harry had plastered himself against a far wall. The merrow was breathing fast and hard while a jumble of unintelligible words strung past his lips. A flashback of when Theo first met Harry played in his mind.

The air in the small room grew heavy as raw magic began to seep out of the smallest dragel. The scent of sea salt and storm clouds flooded the enclosed area. It was intoxicating. If Theo closed his eyes, he could imagine he was standing at the edge of the ocean on a stormy day, waves spraying a salty mist into the sky.

Theo suddenly remembered that he can't recall sensing Harry's magic before this. Which…isn't possible. The two of them have been sparring and practicing everyday for weeks. Yet, no, his memory is blank.

"Harry? What's wrong?" Theo asked gently. He wanted to soothe the little sub, but he knew a physical touch right now would only cause more issues.

It took a few deep breathes and a lot of concerned glances, but eventually Harry calmed down enough to allow Quinn to step forward.

"I'll be translating everything Quinn says, within reason, from this point. You can still direct your questions to him." Kyle moved out of the way, but stuck to hearing range.

"Hello, I'm Healer Quinn and I'll be your provider for today. I'm assuming it's Harry that is the patient?"

Theo nodded. "Yeah. That's correct. I'm just here for uh, moral support."

Quinn's brow cinched together. "I see that Harry is unbonded, however you share a tie. Is there a reason?"

Theo sighed again. This was getting to be a pain to answer. "He and I are soulmates, however he isn't wanting to bond with me." Saying that was akin to drinking poison. Theo loathed to admit that his own soulmate wanted nothing to do with.

"I see. And how did you find out about your connection?" Theo doubted that Quinn understood, but he gave the man props for keeping it professional.

Theo paused to glanced at Harry to see if the merrow wanted to answer. Harry shrugged and motioned for him to continue. "Four years ago, Harry unfortunately was in a situation that resulted in a soulscream. And…I was unable to arrive. I didn't know about Harry until a few weeks ago when he and I happened to met in a random encounter." He wanted to keep things vague for now. The sordid details were not necessary.

Kyle and Quinn both back up with shock laced across their features. "You rejected a soulscream?" Theo could hear the accusatory tone hidden behind a thin facade of calm.

He didn't blame them. A soulmate rejected a soulscream summons was akin to one of the greatest crimes a dragel could make. Right below harming a child.

"I wasn't aware of it. The circumstances were dire. At the time, Harry had seals placed on him specifically to suppress soul magic. It didn't work fully. I believe that his soulscream triggered my inheritance early. I don't think it was a coincidence that it happened on the same night."

As he explained more of the story, Quinn's eyes grew darker with an unreadable expression. The healer began to uncork various vials and little jars of powders. He mixed a few things in silence. Quinn motioned at Kyle. A shorthand for something.

"Uh, well, so Quinn is preparing some tests. Meanwhile I'm going to take a history. Harry, you don't need to answer, but keep in mind that the more you tell us, the better we can help. Are you currently using any potions? If so, what kind? Have you had any major illness and if so, what were your symptoms?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I haven't taken any potions and I haven't even had a cold."

"Ever? Not once?" Kyle asked again.

"Not in this body."

The sound of tinkering stopped. Theo sighed. Again. Harry was going to be the death of him. That's not casual news to simply drop without context.

"Elaborate, please." Quinn asked via Kyle.

"Oh. I died. This isn't my original body." Harry's eyes narrowed and his voice turned icy, "When my soulscream failed and none of my mates came, my soul was transferred by an Immortal that happened to take pity on me."

Theo suddenly felt uneasy. He can't read Harry's emotions with a lack of a bond, but he has gotten talented at reading the smaller dragel's body language.

The subtle darkening of his green eyes and how they narrowed to the thin shape of a hunting predator. Harry's ears pressed tightly against his skull, almost entirely hidden in his inky mess of curls. The merrow's massive tail which naturally swayed and moved constantly had become deathly still. That's how he knew Harry was pissed.

"So…" Harry continued. His words were getting tighter and Theo felt the magic in the room shift. It was becoming stifling. He imagined the floor opening up to a swirling whirlpool and dragging everyone here to a watery grave. "What were you doing Healer Quinn, four years ago? What excuse do you have?"

Theo could not stop the gasp that escaped his lips. His eyes widening with surprise as he watched Quinn's expression turn into sheer horror. This was not good. Not good at all. Is it too late to invent a time spell?

Kyle seemed to be the only one not to place the pieces together as he rose up with a furious expression. "Excuse you! How dare you ask such a personal question! That's none of your business. Apologize to Quinn."

Harry cocked his head to the side, appearing all too much like a feral beast. "Not my business?" His voice was whisper soft yet it cut through the air like daggers. The merrow's eyes shifted back to Quinn who had been frozen in place since the reveal. "Well? Is it not my business? Let me guess my own answer. It's those blocks you have on you, isn't it? You can't feel our connection at all can you? Is that why you couldn't come when I called?"

Theo winced in sympathy as Quinn physically recoiled as if he had been struck. Was this how he looked when Harry called him out? Did he have that same expression of despair and agony? Because fucking hell, Quinn looked simultaneously ready to cry and commit bloody murder.

Kyle at least seemed to finally get the picture. "You're…you're Quinn's soulmate?!"

Harry glanced at Kyle and gave the fae a heart-wrenching sorrowful smile as silent tears streamed down the merrow's cheeks. "I was."

Chapter 7: Harry's compromise

Summary:

Quinn learns about Harry's past. Harry sets a few conditions. Theo gets a hug.

Notes:

I want to give a HUGE shout out to Eridanus_achernar for giving me so much inspiration and fuel for writing the biggest chapter I've written so far. Thanks so much for sticking by my story. Means the world to me.

Chapter Text

POV Quinn

Quinn slowly snapped out of the thick daze that stunned him. His heart was fluttering wildly in his chest and his emotions were running wild. Anger, confusion, sadness, worry, all these feelings swirled around in his mind, threatening to drown him.

He stepped back to lean against the sink. He had to focus on his breathing. To get it under control. This was not the time to have a panic attack or have a rage episode.

Especially not with those sea green eyes peering into his soul with such venom. Quinn rarely felt intimidated or fear from another being, but at this moment, he felt as if his soul was stripped naked and placed under intense scrutiny.

Harry was his soulmate.

Harry was his soulmate.

This was not on his list of potential events to happen today or even within this decade. He honestly had figured after becoming a null rank and taking up of the mantle of a healer, his chances to be in a circle was slim. Not many submissives would accept a dragel unable to procreate.

Kyle's voice broke him out of his stupor. "You're….you're Quinn's soulmate?" His friend's shock was relatable. Quinn was equally surprised. This was quite the fucked up situation.

And that's when he saw it. His soulmate's heartshattering smile. Harry looked so broken, so defeated. Quinn shuddered at the sight. Not a single person deserved to feel that way and certainly not someone that his mate.

He cast a glance at Kyle.

"Wait, no. I know this is a big fucking deal, but Quinn, you're not suppose to use that spell except in emergencies. Besides you've been working non-stop for two days, the toll-"

Quinn let out a low rumbling growl in warning as his glance transformed into a fierce glare. Kyle's jaw snapped shut, but Quinn could tell his friend's annoyance remained.

This hundred percent classified as an emergency. No one could blame him for using the spell. He pulled out his small pendent hanging from his neck and touched it gentle as he spoke, " Ororo Carmena ." A band of condensed black magic spilled out and delicately wrapped around the base of his throat.

"Kyle, out. Now." The sudden appearance of his voice startled the two other dragels.

"Quinn…"

"That was not a request. This is a private matter between soulmates. I will call for you when I'm ready. Oh, and will you ask for my scheduled to be cleared for the rest of the day?"

The fae sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "I don't know why I even bother trying to protect you. So ungrateful I swear."

Quinn tapped his foot impatiently.

"Okay okay, I'm going! Don't get your wings in a twist. I'll be outside if you need me." Kyle gave the three males one last pointed look before closing the door behind him.

Quinn refocused back on Harry and Theodore. Harry had wiped away his tears and resumed his customary scowling. Meanwhile Theodore was giving Quinn sympathy eyes.

The healer sat in his chair and faced the two dragels. Quinn took a deep breath before continuing. "Can we start over? Let's start at the beginning. I believe there is mixed communication and confusion here."

Harry simply huffed loudly as he rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure how the story will fix what has already happened."

"Harry, please, try to work with us here. How long are you planning to hold this against us? We didn't ignore your soulscream on purpose." Theodore kept his tone light as he tried to reason with the hostile merrow.

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously. "I planned to be spiteful to my grave. Sorry, my bad, my second grave."

Theodore pinched the bridge of his nose. He glanced at Quinn. "It's been like this for the last three weeks. At least you haven't been punch through a wall yet. Take that as a win."

The blond swallowed thickly. "I see. Well, what have you gathered so far since Harry doesn't want to be very forthcoming."

Theodore gave a dry laugh. "That's putting it mildly. Well to begin with, Harry and I were raised in the wizarding world. Not in Nevarah. And I'm not sure if you keep up the news there, but to put it mildly, it's been bat shit crazy. A Dark Lord hellbent on killing half of the population and enslaving the remaining half.

A war broke out, the stereotypical light vs dark cliché. It was getting bad. Thousands dying everyday and the Dark Lord was winning. Until Harry came along. For reasons unknown, Harry was sought out by the Dark Lord to be killed. Yet when the time came, somehow as a baby, Harry defeated the most vile and powerful dark lord of our time. No one really knows how. It's been a huge topic of debate for the better part of two decades. As you can imagine, Harry was hailed a hero and savior after that.

Fast forward to the beginning of our third year of Hogwarts. That's when…some truths began to unravel." Theodore reached into his coat and pulled out several tightly folded papers. "I figured that with Harry coming to do a medical check, his background might have come up, so I brought these. I saved them from four years ago. It's the newspaper article that destroyed the Wizarding World and the trial reports that took place a few weeks later."

Quinn took the offered documents with slightly shaking hands. He carefully unfolded them and began to read.

The healer had to pause several times because his vision had blurred too much to continue. Quinn wasn't sure if it was pure rage or inconsolable sorrow that kept fueling his tears. Perhaps both.

Harry had lived a terrible life. Filled with too much strife and turmoil for any sane person. The blond was beginning to understand why Harry was ferros. No one could go through these things and come out without the instinct to survive.

"So it's true?" The blond returned his focus at Harry who had remained akin to a marble statue. "You were not able to be saved that night?" He asked softly.

It took several long moments for the merrow to respond. "No. I wasn't. My injuries were too critical for my magic to heal. I had accepted my death. Just when I thought I was crossing over, a mysterious being appeared. They wanted me to live. And so, I was saved, in a way. Harry Potter's body was too damaged and beyond repair. So my soul was transferred to this body. Supposedly this is actually one of my past lives that met an end too soon."

Quinn bit on his bottom lip nervously. This was beyond anything he could have imagined. He doubts something like this has happened in Nevarah's history.

Harry was a walking and talking miracle. Immortals rarely intertwined themselves so intricately within the life of a mortal.

A blessing here and there, yes. Extra abilities or a fancy title? Sure.

To completely mess with the order of reality and risk upsetting the fragile balance of life and death? Definitely not.

"I believe I own you my story now. It doesn't excuse me, as your soulscream should have summoned me despite my circumstances." Quinn truly felt more guilt wallowing in his heart than before simply because he knew now that Harry needed a healer. Of all the potential soulmates Harry might have summoned through his soulscream, he was the only one that should have saved Harry.

And he failed.

"Four years ago…I was an alpha rank. A very temperamental one at that. I'm not proud of the things I did and said. I was hostile to even my closest family and friends. I struggled to control my alpha tendencies and as you can probably imagine, that lead to issues.

I made a poor choice and it cost lives and trust of many people I love. Not to mention…it's the reason I have to use a spell to be able to communicate." Quinn slowly unraveled his scarf. A gruesome scar was revealed under the fabric. It covered the entirety of the front of his neck. It was well healed over, but it was clear the damage had been extensive.

"It is one of my deepest shames. I should have had better control. The fae wished me dead for my actions. Luckily…they were able to get satisfaction through other means. I became a null rank soon after."

Theodore looked horrified at the mention of the cost and even Harry looked displeased. The fae asked for too much. If Harry did accept Quinn as a mate, the fae would do well to avoid crossing paths with him. Not if they wanted to keep their own family jewels in one piece.

A pensive expression past over the merrow's face before a sudden chime of musical laughter made both Quinn and Theodore jump in fright.

"Hahaha, oh my gods. I just realized…you were meant to be my Alpha first!"

The blond blinked slowly as his brain caught up meanwhile Theo stood up violently with a booming growl and fury radiating off his body.

"What are you talking about Harry? I'm supposed to be your alpha!"

Harry grinned manically. "Maybe now. But think about it. In order of events, Quinn was already an alpha for several years. He had the experience. He struggled with anger issues. Hello? Have you met me? Plus, he has bit of merrow descent in his blood. He would have been the ideal Alpha for me. I guess you lucked out Nott. If Quinn hadn't lost his rank, you would have likely been my beta instead."

Theo wilted. He knew Harry had a point. Quinn would have been a better choice by that logic. He found himself feeling like an imposter now. The second runner up. The left overs.

Quinn winced as he watched Theodore deflate like an old balloon. He could relate better than most on how the younge alpha was currently feeling. "That may be true, however things happen for a reason. If I had remained an alpha, my temper could have be your ruin. A ferros submissive with an uncontrollable alpha would have been an epic disaster in the making. Perhaps the universe saw that and decided to promote Theodore instead. To make sure Nevarah wasn't destroyed."

The earth dragel gave Quinn a weak smile. Theo appreciate the attempt to raise his spirits. It didn't help unfortunately.

An uneasy silence filled the space. It was Quinn that decided to break the tension. "Harry, are you still adamant about rejecting our bond?"

The merrow's features scrunched up in conflict. "I…don't know. If I am being completely honest, I wonder if I am too broken to deserve having mates. Yes, this body doesn't physically carry my scars, but I still feel them in my soul. They weigh me down at all times."

Harry cast his eyes down to the floor, unable to keep eye contact with either of them. "These scars will always be a part of me. And that part…fears being controlled again. My whole life was basically planned out without me having a choice. When I woke up to this body. I was so so happy. To be something powerful and free. It felt right. I knew I was meant to be a dragel in that moment."

Harry paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. "When I started to read about our culture and what it meant to be a dragel, I began to have fear again. I feared my submissive rank would make me be seen as weak. Someone too delicate and has to be protected. As someone to be manipulated and told what to do. Or worse, someone to use and abuse and push out babies like a brood mare."

I knew that I had mates out there. I could always feel you all. I still do. My soul scream opened a link to each potential soulmate. But it's only one way. None of you felt me, but I could sense you. Most of the time, it's so muted that I can easily ignore it. But when I get physically close, the link grows louder. That's how I knew you were one of mine Quinn.

However I was afraid of knowing the truth. I wondered every single day if you all rejected me. Abandoned me. That maybe I was not worth saving.

So I decided it would be easier to keep you all at a distance. I never left my island to search for you. I didn't care if I died from loneliness. I rather die than face knowing you didn't want me.

Then as time went on, I grew resentful. And it was so much easier to hate you than crave for a touch that would never come."

By the end of Harry's speech, all three of them were crying heavily as raw emotions spilled over.

Both Quinn and Theo were giving Harry a painful look of longing and the submissive caved. "You can give me a hug…if you want."

Theo teleported from his spot as he latched onto Harry's side and lifted the tiny submissive into his chest. His arms easily wrapped around Harry's lithe frame and Theo let out a deep purr of satisfaction when he noticed how Harry felt so perfect in his embrace.

The smells of sea salt and rainstorms was impossible to ignore this close from the source and it was by far his new favorite scent.

Finally being able to shower his submissive with the slightest bit of physical attention was enough to break the internal dam and Theo found himself sobbing into Harry's messy nest of hair.

"Oh Harry…I…I am so sorry you felt that way." Theo struggled to get his words out as the lump in his throat kept choking him. "I would never restrict your freedom Harry. We are meant to be equals and I truly mean that. You may see yourself as only a submissive, but that's not all you are. You're the heart and soul of the circle. No matter how big or small it becomes. You are single-handedly the most important person to us. You are irreplaceable."

Quinn nodded in agreement. "I may not know you as well as Theodore, but I can promise that I would never knowingly reject you. A mate is a precious thing our world. And to me, you are the most important person now. If you decide that you want me."

Harry peered at both of them with wide bright eyes. It took the young merrow a few moments, but he slowly nodded. "I think I do want you. Both of you."

Theo could not help the massive grin forming on his face. He's been waiting to hear those words for so long now.

"Hold on there, don't get too excited Pebbles. This is a big change for me and I need to do this slow. Is it okay if we properly court for while before jumping into a full bond? I just…want to make sure that you truly want me and won't get tired of me the second I open my legs to you."

Theo blushed despite the insult to his character. "That's more than fine. I rather court you properly anyways. I will prove to you that I'll be a good mate."

"I am not against this plan either. I would need the time to prepare as well. Bonding with a healer is a bit tricky as I have to be able to keep my blood pure for healing magic. There are special rituals that I have to do so that we can properly bond."

"Oh okay. Well, I'm glad that we're on the same page." Harry awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Um, what do we do now?"

Quinn stood from his spot. "Now we finish what we started. Your health check up. But I will need to call Kyle back in here and release this spell. I've had it active for much longer than I should have and it's beginning to strain my body."

Quinn knocked on the door to signal for Kyle to return before he released the spell allowing to speak. He wheezed harshly as the magic faded. His throat felt as if he had drank liquid fire. The healer went over to the sink and got himself a cup do water to aid in soothing the stinging.

Kyle poked his head and surveyed the room before fully stepping in. "Good. I was afraid the three of you were going to turn this room into rubble. Nice to know it's still standing in one piece."

Harry smirked. "There's still time for that."

Theo poked the merrow's cheek. "Harry, you just said we could work on courting."

"I know. I was talking about smacking Kyle around."

Kyle stepped a few paces backwards. "Woah woah. I didn't do anything. I'm innocent."

Harry's eyes narrowed and the playful grin morphed into a more predatory snarl. "Doubt it. I get a feeling that it's not a coincidence that you're a fae that happens to be working with Quinn."

Quinn inwardly sighed. Perhaps he should have refrained from telling Harry that specific detail. Although he was mildly impressed that Harry was able to connect certain dots with such little information.

Kyle looked at Quinn with worry and Quinn could only shrug in response. He can't exactly force Harry to accept the fae if he decided to harbour a feud. Strangely, it made Quinn feel cared for.

Perhaps that's Harry's peculiar love language. If Harry doesn't threaten someone with violence and death, does he truly love you? Quinn found himself smiling at the notion.

"So…we're finishing the health check up? Uh, okay." Kyle went back to his file to start off where they left off. "So no potions, great. How's your sleep doing? How long are your rest cycles?"

Harry actually blushed a lovely shade of lilac as he toyed with a strand of his hair. "Uh, I sleep a lot. There wasn't much to do before so sometimes I napped for days at a time. I can't actually say how long my rest cycle is, but I think it's every three months for seven days. Roughly."

Quinn raised an eyebrow at that. "While not completely unheard of, those are not common time spans. We will have to make sure to time them properly next time. Alright, let me a scan while Quinn preps a few items."

Kyle stepped forward and began casting several spells over the young merrow. A scroll appeared, floating nearby in mid air. It began writing for a few seconds before stopping abruptly. Kyle paused as a deep frown formed as he scanned the readings.

"This can't be correct." The earth fae doubled checked the results before handing them to Quinn. The healer read the findings with wide eyes.

"Harry," Kyle spoke as Quinn, "You're a full blooded merrow."

Harry nodded. "Yes, I'm aware."

"But your magic isn't of the water element."

Harry nodded again. "Yes? I know. I'm nameless. However water is my preferred element to use though."

Quinn shook his head. "No, you don't seem to understand. There has never been a full blooded merrow that wasn't a water dragel."

Harry shrugged casually. He was too used to be able to do things that shouldn't be possible by now. "Guess there is now."

"Uh, Quinn? I think we have a bigger issue. The scans can't be completed…because Harry doesn't have any magic. At all. Which is impossible. But the scan can't locate his magic core."

"Trust me, he does. Harry could be considered extremely gifted in terms of raw magic reserves. I've seen him use it numerous times. Usually directed at me." Theo chimed in.

"Oh. That's probably because of this." Harry lifted a small silver chain from underneath his shirt. There was only a single black pearl hanging from it. "It's enchanted to prevent my magic from being detected as well as serves as a magic damper. It roughly seals fifty percent of my magic away. I created it two years ago and I haven't taken it off since."

Quinn's expression turned serious. "Harry, that's a large amount of your core to be locked away. There are many circumstances where I can justify certain seals, but I don't understand why you would need to do so. Your rank doesn't require it and from what I've seen, you have impeccable control over your magic."

The merrow sighed softly. "I can show you why. How secure is this room?"

That question caught both Kyle and Quinn off guard. "There are several wards that can be activated to keep both people in and people out. Privacy and silencing wards. There are runes in the walls to allow for magical backlash as well. It is very safe I promise."

Harry nodded in understanding. "Alright. Just, uh, brace yourselves. Theo, you should probably let me go now and stand over there." The alpha pouted heavily, but he did as instructed and released Harry. The sub gently removed his necklace and placed it on a nearby table.

The effect wasn't immediate. Harry's magic gradually became noticeable without the seal siphoning it away. It grew exponentially at a steady pace.

The small office was filled with the heavy scent of ocean spray and fresh rain. The other three males found themselves becoming rapidly intoxicated by the taste of such pure unfiltered magic.

The merrow's magic continued to swirl and twist roaring to life as it was freed from its long term shackles. A sudden breeze took flight, sending papers and small items to flight. The air began to shimmer, distortions forming as the energy came off the small dragel in thick waves.

Quinn was impressed. Submissives tend to be magical powerhouses naturally, but Harry was easily a contender for the higher end of magically powerful. Quinn would be surprised if Harry's circle was anything smaller than ten. He would need a lot of mates to keep his power grounded.

That's when the other's noticed. Harry's physical form was shifting as his power swelled to newfound levels. Growing through his inky mess of curls, two long horns were sprouting. The twin points extended up and backwards, appearing like a stag's majestic antlers. They matched the same pitch dark hue of his hair. The new features grew tall, giving Harry nearly an added foot in height.

Out of Harry's spine, several webbed spikes protruded, creating a sail like dorsal fin. And finally the merrow's already stunningly long tail extended another two feet in length.

Another pulses of magic coated the room and Kyle hissed under his breath in discomfort. Unknowingly to Theo and Quinn who both were immune to Harry's potent presence, the levels of raw magic were beginning to fray at the wards.

To anyone that wasn't bonded to the merrow, his magic held corrosive properties when exposed to high volumes. A lesson that the earth fae was now experiencing.

Kyle was on his knees with his arms wrapped around his stomach as he dried heaved violently. Nothing, but spittle came out. Sadly that didn't lessen the disgust he felt from having his body forcibly ejecting its contents. Cold sweat poured down his temples, trickling to his neck and chest as his insides spasmed in agony.

The medic was at a loss. He knew it was theoretically possible to become magic intoxicated. A rare and potentially lethal phenomenon.

Before Kyle could attempt to signal for assistance another tsunami of magic poured out of the submissive. Doubling the magical output in an instant.

Kyle promptly fell to the sweet realm of unconsciousness. The overwhelming magical pressure grew too great for his body to bear.

The runes on the walls began to flicker, the intrinsic spells struggling to maintain the vast amount of influx energy. Cracks began to form on the once pristine tiles and walls as the force of Harry's magic chipped away at their integrity.

The wards were falling.

Meanwhile, Theo and Quinn were completely hypnotized as they witnessed the sheer beauty radiating off their intended mate.

Harry was positively glowing. Each of his scales twinkled like little pulsing stars.

His horns shined with barely restrained power as brilliant blue light shrunk the shadows to mere dots as every surface was illuminated.

The office was basked in warm heat. It was as if Theo and Quinn had been transported to a tropical beach with the sun's rays gently kissing their skin.

"Okay, I think that's enough…."Harry reached for his necklace and returned it to its home at the hallow of his throat. Slowly all the magic began to dissipate and as his extra features receded so did the mesmerizing affect Theo and Quinn had fallen victim to.

The merrow's mates were left panting heavily with cheeks aflame. "That was…" Theo lacked the words to describe the rush he had been subjected against. The earth dragel might as well be drunk and stoned simultaneously.

Quinn smiled weakly as his tried to hide his dark blush staining across his cheeks.

Harry flushed nervously. "Hence why I use seals. It was becoming a pain in the ass when I was affecting the weather accidentally back on the island. It rained a lot."

"Uh, did anyone notice that Kyle is knocked out cold?" Theo pointed to the fae curled up on the floor.

Harry did in fact notice, but he decided to remain silent. He was feeling a bit vindictive.

Quinn rushed towards his friend and begun to perform basic diagnostic spells. Luckily it seemed the fae was fine. His mind and body shut down to prevent being excessively overwhelmed. It's likely that both the dragel and elemental magic difference did not mix well with fae and the clash lead to extreme mental and physical distress.

"QUINN! KYLE! WE'RE COMING IN!" No sooner than those words reached the inhabitants of the room, the door was flung off its hinges, narrowly missing both the healer and the medic.

A massive and towering gheyo with equally hulking muscles stepped through the doorframe. Dark eyes swept across the room and took in everything with a calculating stern glare. Finally the giant's gaze settled unto the healer. "Quinn, are you alright?"

The blond nodded. He gestured a few times. Harry didn't understand, but apparently the fierce looking gheyo did.

"Yes it was necessary. First Kyle comes out all annoyed and flustered, but he refused to explain on the matter. Then an hour later the wards of the entire clinic nearly collapsed. We had to evacuate in precaution. So yes, I found it necessary to break in and make sure you haven't gotten yourself into more trouble. I see I was correct."

Quinn rolled his eyes. The level of dramatics of his family were unparalleled. The healer made a few more gestures, this time slower and more obvious. There was a point towards the merrow and then a point to Quinn's chest. Harry was able to piece together that Quinn was explaining who he was.

Dark eyes widened with surprise. "That is good news Quinn. I am happy for you." The huge dragel let himself relax, now knowing there was no danger. "I apologize for the intrusion. I am Bharin. A gheyo of Quinn's family circle. It is a pleasure to met Quinn's soulmate."

Harry stepped forward. He almost laughed aloud at how comical he must have appeared standing next to Bharin. The man was almost twice his size in both height and width.

"It's nice to meet you too. Thank you for taking good care of Quinn. I promise I will protect him under my care."

Quinn flushed violently in embarrassment. He could not believe Harry would be so bold. Well, perhaps he should have seen it coming now that he thought about it.

Bharin cracked a smile. "Glad to hear that. I'm sure Quinn will no doubt be a trouble magnet for you."

The merrow smirked. "Actually, I'm counting on it. So I'm guessing you know all of Quinn's embarrass stories? I'm going to need those, just in case he decides to get too crazy."

Theo leaned in beside Quinn as Harry and Bharin continued to chat without a care to the others. "We are so royally whipped. I hope you're ready for the chaos he's about to unleash."

The healer found himself smiling softly. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Chapter 8: Courting and Bonding

Summary:

Quinn wonders how his life will change with having an intended. Theo stresses over the perfect courting gift and Harry makes a choice.

Notes:

There is mild spice at the end of this chapter. Just fair warning.

Chapter Text

Quinn POV

"So, how are you taking the news?" Bharin asked gently as he set the baths to the correct temperature. The gheyo finally convinced the blond to take a break from the clinic and return home for some much needed rest. It wasn't simple as the healer decided to be stubborn? but luckily Bharin used a new card up his sleeve.

Harry.

Once the submissive was aware of Quinn's hidden exhaustion, the merrow nearly threw the blond out of the clinic with the threat of postponing their bonding. Bharin found it greatly amusing how quickly Quinn fell in line. Although it wasn't too surprising. It was difficult to disobey a submissive when they demand anything. Especially when it comes to ensuring one's health.

Quinn stripped slowly and methodically placed his clothes on a table. He replied using their shared mental connection. "Better than how the rest of the family is going to take the news."

The massive gheyo scoffed lightly. That was putting things mildly. The entire clan will be having reactions from both sides of the spectrum.

"I meant, how do you feel? The other's feelings are irrelevant at this moment."

Quinn gave a mental sigh as he stepped into the warm waters. His aching muscles instantly began to relax as the mild rejuvenating herbs and healing charms worked their special magic. "Excited. Worried. Scared. Harry is…something new. Different. He doesn't follow the traditional norm of a submissive. He behaves like a one man circle, wanting to fulfill every rank on his own. I don't see how that's possible."

Bharin joined the worn down healer, settling in behind the smaller dragel and fitting them nicely between his legs. The gheyo softly began to kneed the tense back muscles, coaxing Quinn to let a low groan as he leaned forward. The fighter's talented fingers never failed to make the blond turn to putty.

"I know of tales like Harry. None as extreme as his, but perhaps it'll be enough to ease your worry. A submissive may take on extra roles when none others are present to release them from the responsibility. You mentioned that Harry did not grow up with other dragels. Therefore he has never experienced any circle life. He was also an orphan, correct? So he lacked the protective parental shield most others had. He was forced through hostile environment to change if he was to survive. Not many dragels could boast the same. Most dragel ranks are too rigid to adapt properly. Very few would have survived Harry's upbringing."

Quinn splashed the gheyo. "How is that helping? I don't need a reminder of his dark past."

Bharin flicked the back of the blond's head. "What I mean is, I don't believe it's a coincidence that Harry and you met so early with his circle just beginning. Harry is strong. Granted, stronger than most, but eventually that weight he bares will drown him. He will need you, just as much as you will need him."

The healer raised an eyebrow. "That was simultaneously wise and cryptic advice. I just hope that the rest of the family approves. They might not understand Harry's unorthodox habits."

"Quinn, it does not matter what anyone else thinks of your intended. He is yours, not anyone else's. All that matters is that you are happy."

The healer sighed softly. "You're right. I'm finding excuses. I feared that no sane dragel would want me the way I am now. Now I find myself with an extremely gifted and special merrow as my intended. How the tables have turned. Mama will be over the moon. She frets too much over me. And Papa will be happy for me. Once he gets over how feral my Harry can be."

The gheyo grinned. "Your Harry? That was a quick acceptance."

The blond sent another splash across Bharin's face as his own cheeks burned crimson. "Shut up."

"Stop acting like a little brat, you're about to be bonded."

"Bharin, I said shut up please!"

A low chuckle echoed in the bathhouse. The ghyeo was looking forward to the chaos.

THEO POV.

"Oretta, what should I give him? There's too many options! And it has to be perfect. It's his first courting gift." Theo paced back and forth across the living room looking like a disheveled mess.

Ilsa found the sight equally comical and heartwarming. "Theo, you are stressing too much. At this rate, you'll go grey by the end of the day. I'm positive Harry will adore anything you pick."

"It's a bit early for a scale exchange…so a ring? A necklace? Hair pins? Earrings? Clothes? There are too many choices! What if he hates them? Harry is already apprehensive about the courting. If I mess up, I might lose him!" The young alpha pulled at his hair, a panicked whine tearing through his lips.

Ilsa stifled her laughter as she poured a calming tea for them both. Seeing her usually calm and collected disciple acting it was the end of the world was greatly amusing. Theodore was experiencing his first struggles of proper courting and it nice to see her heir behaving his age for once.

"Theo, please sit down before you injure yourself."

"But…"

"Sit down. Good. Now stop fretting. All of those ideas have merit. Harry might be unconventional, but he is still a dragel. Not to mention a merrow. He may not show outward interest, but I am positive he would enjoy anything pretty and shiny." The earth heiress handed her mentee a big cup of the calming tea and waited for him to drink at least half before continuing.

"Merrows in general are quite attached to pretty things. Which you and Healer Quinn should take as a great compliment. It means you both are interesting enough to keep his attention. Now, I'm only saying this because I love you and I'm worried you'll make a hole in my floor, you should consider getting him armor."

Theo leaned back in his chair and stared at his teacher with wide eyes. "That's…" It was a good idea. Harry loved training and sparring. The tiny sub spent at minimum eight hours a day honing fighting techniques. And the young merrow was becoming a true menace nowadays.

Theo's inner dragel was torn. On one hand, watching his future bonded gracefully dance across the training field, demolishing training dummies with terrifying ease never failed to make his loins hot and bothered.

And then on the second hand, the notion of putting his submissive in harms way intentionally made his protective instinct go haywire.

"I can practically see the fumes coming out of your ears. You're overthinking. The way I see it, we both know Harry will not hesitate to jump a fight. At least if you get him the proper protective gear, part of your instincts can settle down."

"Oh." The golden eyed alpha saw the benefits. Ilsa was right, Harry is bound to be a trouble magnet and a set of armour would ease some of his worry. "Are you not worried about the repercussions that others will ultimately give? A submissive, even a gheyo ranked one, openly displaying a fighter's status, it could cause trouble."

Ilsa cracked a feral grin. "Let them. What are they going to do? Judge him? Harry's extraordinarily powerful and equally as beautiful. No, I don't think anyone would dare to speak of it. It's too risky. Offending a submissive's clothing choice is akin to asking for clawed up faces."

Theo hummed thoughtfully. "Well, then, will you help me commission his armor? It needs to reflect him perfectly."

"Of course I will. I would be honored. Let us order in some dinner and get to brainstorming. I have ideas written down in my journal."

Theo cocked his head to the side. "You were planning on getting him armor yourself, weren't you?"

Ilsa pretended to appear innocent. "We should hurry before Harry comes back."

HARRY POV

Harry lucked out that Ilsa's home had massive acreage. A rich green forest spreading several miles in each direction. The scent of wild magic filled his lungs as the young dragel set about exploring.

It made sense once he thought about it. Earth dragel's tend to be more in tune with nature and having a home deep in a valley matched the heiress from a prestigious earth clan.

His lucked doubled when he found a sizable pond and creek hidden from sight in bright meadow. Harry glanced around with keen vision to ensure he was alone before he peeled off his thin layer of clothing.

Both Ilsa and Theo disliked his habit of wearing jeans and a plain top. They both considered it unbecoming and will not cease with their side commentary until they convince Harry to dress more of someone of his station. Personally he didn't care what he wore. Clothes had hardly been a priority and he can't see that changing now.

He stretched his stiff muscles after he placed his clothes under a close by rock. He tried to come here at least once a day to go swimming.

Being above the surface of the ocean for long periods tend to make his scales itch something fierce even with the aid of special moisturizers. Nothing replaced the real thing.

The merrow preformed a heavily rehearsed swan dive into the pond from a tall rock on the shore. He entered the water without so much of a single splash.

He let out a deep exhale of satisfaction as the cool waters rejuvenated his body. It felt good to return to a source of his main element. Not quite the same feeling as the ocean, but it was best option open to him.

He let himself slowly sink to the bottom. His eyes followed the few schools of fish that swam by. A rare couple came up to him and nibbled on his fingers or toes. Catfish, Harry learned, were very curious creatures.

The young merrow blew a string of bubbles from his lips toward the catfish. The bubbles grew as they traveled, entrapping the creatures in perfect spheres of magically rejuvenated water.

Harry giggled to himself as he observed the fish swim in circles in his bubbles. It was actually a technique he used to hunt when he feeling lazy. Poor fish never had a chance when he could control the very matter his prey used to live.

The dragel laid on his back, using his tail as a pillow as he stared directly up to the rippling surface. The late afternoon sunlight trickled down, casting an array of oranges and reds to reflect off his blue and white scales.

Harry may or may not be avoiding his intendeds. He knows he agreed to pursue them and to allow them to court him in return, but the fear in his heart did not fade.

His mind wondered to his future alpha. Theo was…many things. Persistent came to mind. The earth dragel never wavered. His calm and collected personality made Harry instinctively lean towards the other male.

His own inner dragel craved someone that could balance out in his own wild and chaotic nature. And Harry knew that Theo would perfect. Who better than an earth element for an alpha to bring stability and grounding?

Of course it didn't hurt any that his soon to be alpha was easy on the eyes. Okay, fine. Who was he kidding? Theodore was gorgeous. Tall and broad-shouldered with a predator's grace, Harry caught himself dazed whenever he had a chance to watch Theo train. And those warm golden eyes made him weak in the knees every time their glances locked.

It took quite a bit of effort on Harry's part not to mewl and ask for permission to bite the alpha's inviting neck so he could get a taste of his soulmate's rich blood.

The merrow sighed. Stupid attractive alpha. That man was going to be the death of his self control.

He reached up with slender fingers and forced one of his new pet fish to float toward his palm.

His mind wondered to Quinn, his second intended. Harry already knew he was rapidly falling for the blond healer. It actually frightened the merrow how much he cared for Quinn. Something about their temperament and kind nature brought forth a deep level of content.

And just like his alpha, Quinn was stunningly handsome. Strong jawline and high cheekbones gave an air of nobility that made it clear the healer came from a prominent family. Pair that with round kind teal eyes, it was a perfect blend of sharp and soft features that made Quinn seem otherworldly.

Harry recalled the noticeable injury on his intended's throat. The memory of a such a gruesome scar filled the merrow's chest with tightness. A simmering wrath silently boiling. Quinn may not have been his when the incident occurred, but the healer was his now. And no one touches his.

The blond may be reluctant to say the truth, but Harry will find out one way or another. He knew the fae were involved and Kyle had held some influence over what occurred.

Harry knew that the medic and healer held a tight kinship and solely for the respect Harry had for Quinn, he would accept the earth fae. Well, he would tolerate the fae.

It was probably for the best that both of his intended were oddly calm natured and able to handle stress remarkably well. He doubted that was a coincidence.

Since Harry came to Nevarah, his temper ebbed and flowed swifter than the ocean changed its weather. He blamed his new body. Merrows seemed to have serious anger management issues.

Harry was not excited for the day he encountered another of his element. It might be best to wait until his circle was more established with more calming influences lest he was going to find himself an outcast.

Three Days Later

Harry POV

The days flew by. Between intense training and spending his afternoons with his intendeds, Harry barely noticed time moving.

Harry spent most of his time with Theo which the young alpha had no qualms with. The two of them usually spent a lot of time in the library, curled up next to each other as they read in peaceful silence.

It may not have been traditional courting events, but Harry absolutely adored it. The young sub was still adjusting to being around other people after living in solitude for so long and Theodore was more than happy to take his social anxiety into account.

Harry got to bask in the soothing presence of his soon-to-be alpha while feeling no pressure to fill the silence with awkward talk.

Although every once and awhile, the two of them would enter heated debates about various topics. It felt nice to feel seen and heard.

Throughout his childhood and his time at Hogwarts, he had been forced to hide his intellect and his thirst for knowledge. If he succeeded in getting better marks than his cousin, he was sufficiently punished. Accused for using his freakish ways to make poor Dudley look bad.

Then at Hogwarts, Hermione's pride of being the smartest bookworm in their year made it difficult for him to do anything that could dismantle her confidence. He wanted her to be happy even at his own expense.

Besides Ron disliked it when Harry said or did anything that made him seem interested in schoolwork. Being a nerd was not a trait The-Boy-Who-Lived should have according to his once best friend.

Harry sighed inwardly. As much as he was content spending so much time with Theo, he found himself longing for his other intended.

Quinn was unfortunately busy with his work at the clinic. The healer said he would request time off so the two of them could have time to get to know each other. Harry declined the sweet gesture.

He of course wanted to be around his intended, but he wasn't nearly so selfish to prevent Quinn from doing the job the healer loved so dearly.

The blond promised to make it up to Harry. The merrow had been invited to meet Quinn's family this weekend for dinner. That reminder alone nearly sent Harry into a mental spiral.

What if Quinn's family circle didn't approve? What if Quinn's parents didn't want their son to bond to a merrow? Or bond to a merrow with extreme feral bloodlust? Or bond to a non native Nevarah citizen? He feared a great many possibilities.

"Harry?"

The submissive blinked out of his daymare and followed the voice to a smiling Theo. The alpha was standing a few feet away, shifting on the balls of his heels a bit nervously.

Seeing Theo act unlike his collected self brought Harry's full attention to the earth dragel. "Are you alright?"

Theo flushed slightly. "Yes, I'm fine. Are you free for a few moments?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at his intended. What exactly was he up to? The merrow snapped his book shut. "Sure. What's up?"

Theo glanced at the door to the library. "Let me put up some privacy wards first."

Harry's interest was growing. Theo was behaving oddly. He caught a glimpse of a package in the alpha's hands. He couldn't make out what it was through the packaging. Was that why Theo was acting strange?

Theo sat across the submissive, cheeks glowing pink. "So as you may know, it's tradition during the courting process to give gifts. I'll admit finding something to suit you was a bit of challenge. I wanted to make sure it was perfect so I apologise for the delay." The alpha revealed the medium sized box and gently placed it on the coffee table between the two of them.

It was Harry's turn to blush. He knew about courting gifts and he had prepared for this, but preparing for something and experiencing it are two separate situations.

He reached for the box with slightly shaking hands. Harry slowly opened the lid and a loud gasp broke the silence as he stared at the item inside.

"Is this…?"

"Of course. It occurred to me that you would find an untraditional gift more suitable. It's practical and it'll ease my worry if you had this."

Harry carefully lifted the item so he could admire it fully in the light. He was holding a full gheyo amor set. Granted it was significantly smaller than what he had seen worn by gheyos since this was tailored for his exact measurements.

So this is why Ilsa had been pushy for him to get new clothes. She used his need for a new wardrobe to get his size.

The tightly woven leather shined like polished marble. Whatever it was made from, he knew it was tougher than even dragel scales. Perhaps it's the powerful enchantments he could feel running through the material.

Either way, it was beautifully crafted. The leather had been dyed a deep silver with black trims. Intricate symbols, runes he realized, covered the inside of the chest and leg pieces.

"Do you like it?" Theo's voice was soft yet thick with emotion. Those golden eyes were fixed on his own sea green orbs. Harry could see the alpha's stress hidden behind his calm façade. Theo was afraid of his rejection. The vulnerability made Harry's heart soar.

The merrow put the armor back into the box for a moment. He closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath. For the first time since he left his island, he was transforming into his human form.

Within mere seconds his tail, claws, and fins all began to recede back into his body. His bright scales dimmed as they turned into soft flesh. His skin remained tinted a light purple and his ears slightly finned, but otherwise, all his dragel traits had morphed away.

Theo's golden eyes were massive with surprise and awe. "Oh Harry…you're so beautiful." The alpha's voice was breathless and airy as he absorbed every inch of Harry's body and committed it to memory.

The merrow flushed as his heart fluttered wildly. "Thank you for this gift. It's the most amazing and thoughtful present I've ever gotten. I love it." And it was true. He meant every word. That's how he knew that it was time.

Harry gulped audibly. Okay, he had to do this before he chickened out. "Theo…I want to…exchange marks. Please."

Harry swore that Theo stopped breathing for an entire minute. Golden eyes shifted to a pitch black hue as a deep guttural growl tore through the small library.

A burst of raw magic swirled through the room sending books and papers flying. Harry felt the alpha's potent earthly magic pressing against his own. The merrow welcomed the feeling and allowed the magic to flow into him.

"Harry…" Theo's words came out gruff and an octave lower than usual. "Are you certain? I need to do know. There is no going back-"

Harry leaned forward and pressed his soft lips against Theo's, effectively shutting him up. Hot rapid tingles shot down his spine. Warmth flooded each and every cell in his body. Oh gods, Harry was actually kissing Theo!

At first, the alpha didn't return the kiss, his body too stunned to move, but once his brain caught up the fact that Harry was actively moving those sinful lips against his own, everything escalated.

Another rumble echoed throughout the room, shaking the walls as Theo grabbed onto Harry's waist and pulled the tiny dragel flushed against his hips without breaking their connection. Strong arms wrapped around the merrow's thin frame and pressed their bodies tightly together.

Harry whined and let out a low moan as his head grew heavy and dizzy with pure lust. As their groins rocked into each other, Harry's blush darkened to a deep purple as he realized how aroused both of them had become.

Theo broke their kiss first. He needed oxygen desperately or the threat of passing out would be real. He only pulled away an inch, keeping their noses touching. The alpha was left panting and chest heaving wildly.

Once the both of them caught their breath, Theo's dark eyes raked over Harry's. "I want you. And I don't think I can control myself anymore."

Harry nuzzled Theo's cheek for a few seconds before his lips began to wonder down the alpha's neck. His tongue poked out cutely to lick a delicate swipe against Theo's pulse point. Harry smirked as the earth dragel shuddered under his teasing touch.

"Then lose control. My alpha." Harry's voice was a broken whisper as he planted a kiss against the hollow of Theo's throat.

There was no time to react after those little words were spoken. There was a booming bellow that shook Harry down to his bones before bright stars suddenly whited out the submissive's vision as he felt a pair of sharp fangs sink into bare neck.

It was only out of sheer instinct that Harry managed to find a spot against Theo's neck to place his own mark. His own fangs slid from the roof of his gums and with ease stabbed through Theo's skin one inch above the clavicle.

A flood of raw emotions and powerful magic poured into Harry in an instant as he gulped down mouthful after mouthful of rich blood. He could sense all the pure love and unfiltered adoration Theo possessed for him through their newly cemented bond. Tears welled up in his eyes and began to flow down his cheeks with uncontrollable sobs.

All his fears that had hung over his head for so many years have suddenly vanished. And with that, the overwhelming weight of failure vanished as well.

"Harry, my precious little treasure, it's okay, let it all out. I'm here for you. It's okay." The young sub's cries only grew louder as all his emotions he bottled throughout the years burst forth past his once thick walls.

His wails echoed off the walls until his voice cracked into hoarse whispers and his lungs burned viciously. His vision blurred and began to slowly blacken at the edges. Sea green eyes blinked tiredly at a pair of concerned golden hues.

"M'tired. Gonna sleep."

A low chuckle filled Harry with a net of safety and love. "Rest, my lovely bonded. I shall not leave your side."

Harry let himself succumb to the realm of dreams as his new alpha gently caressed his hair to help lure him into much needed sleep.

Chapter 9: A Bonded Pair

Summary:

Harry and Theo continue to consummate their bond.

WARNING: This is chapter is 98% smut. If that is not your cup of tea, please skip. If it's your cup of tea, then well, enjoy

Notes:

WARNING* This is chapter is 98% smut. If that is not your cup of tea, please skip. If it's your cup of tea, then well, enjoy

Chapter Text

The merrow woke slowly. He struggled to open his eyelids fully, too much feeling like lead at the moment. "Mhm? Theo?" He could sense his alpha's presence nearby. A soft needy chirp escaped his lips and he could hear Theo's breathing increase slightly.

"Harry? Have you woken up?" Gentle fingers stroked through his silky hair. Harry released a content purr at the simple touch. The submissive tried not to think about how touch starved he truly was at this point.

"If you keep touching me like that, I'm gonna fall back to sleep." Harry hummed sleepily.

"And? Nothing wrong with that. You've only been sleeping for an hour." Harry could hear the smile in Theo's voice. The earth dragel was too smug at the moment.

"Only an hour?" It felt like much longer with how heavy his entire body felt. Bonding was apparently an exhausting endeavour and the two of them hardly went past first base. "Do you not…want to continue?" Harry asked timidly.

His alpha chuckled. "Trust me my treasure, I very much want you. You are more tempting than I care to admit aloud."

Harry's face darkened as his brain took in those implications. His bright eyes glowed in the dim light as he woke fully. He caught golden orbs sparkling with amusement directly down towards him. Harry blinked quickly as he realised his head was firmly placed in Theo's lap.

A tiny squeal of embarrassment left his lips and yet he was much too comfortable to motivate himself to move. Besides… this was allowed. Theo was his now. If the merrow wanted to lay on his bonded's lap, then so be it.

Actually…Harry was craving more. Their bond was almost complete. His neck throbbed with mixed magic from his new mark. Harry's inner dragel was pushing against his control and he wasn't sure it was possible to stop his instincts. He had forced his dragel nature to be silent for years and now that he allowed himself to act on those animalistic urges, there was no going back.

Harry twisted his torso so he was lying on his belly. Soft fluff tickled his palms. Theo must have conjured a thick wooly rug to lay on the library floor.

Theo raised an eyebrow at his bonded. "Are we done napping?"

Harry nodded. "We haven't finished what we started and I'm not the type to do things half way." A teasing smirk formed on his lips as he watched with satisfaction as Theo's eyes darkened with lust.

"And what exactly are you plotting you sly little minx?"

Harry wasn't sure where all this newfound confidence was coming from, but he was taking it and running with it. "I want to taste my new Alpha until my mind is dizzy with your scent. And afterwards I want you to make me yours. Inside and out. Theo, I want you to fuck me."

Theo wheezed out a choke as his grip on Harry's hair tightened into a strong pull. The submissive tried not to think about how much that turned him on.

"Shit. Harry, you can't say things like that!" Theo's voice had dropped into that lovely low tone that sent tingles straight to Harry's dick.

The merrow raised an eyebrow. "Why not? It's true. Are you going to deny your submissive?"

Theo tossed his head back as a deep groan rumbled through his chest and an entire shelf of books came tumbling down from the ruined furniture. The earth dragel didn't bother to flinch.

Theo's usual calm expression was far gone. His bonded appeared wild and slightly feral. "No. Of course not. You can always have me. You never need to ask."

Harry smirked. Theo was going to regret giving him that much liberty. Nimble fingers hastily attacked at his alpha's clothing. It took exactly five seconds before Harry lost his patience and used his claws to shred the offending articles.

Harry froze like a startled deer as he was almost knocked out by his alpha's hard cock as it sprung forth. The pulsing flesh smacked against Theo's bare stomach with a resounding thump.

Harry swallowed thickly as he stared at his bonded's package. He recalled from their earlier dry humping that Theo was quite large, but to see its full glory without a single barrier to suppress it, Harry was intimidated.

Theo was…big. With a quick mental calculation, he guessed the alpha had to be ten inches in length and as he gingerly wrapped his hand around the base, he blushed violet when his fingers failed to make it halfway around the width.

Harry moved lower to cup the heavy and full sack. It took both of his hands to be able to hold both orbs without them overflowing. They were nearly double the size of chicken eggs. What was Theo eating to make him so fucking big?

The alpha's sharp eyes bore into his submissive. Theo fisted the rug tightly to keep himself from touching Harry. He wanted his bonded to go at their own pace, even if it was driving him wild.

Harry could have spent hours exploring his bonded's body, but he got the impression that if he didn't do something soon, Theo was going to lose his mind. The knowledge that he wielded that kind of power over his alpha fueled him.

Harry steeled himself as he leaned up on his elbows and arched his neck for a better angle before wrapping his lips around the leaking crown. He moaned as a light salty flavor sparked across his tongue. Theo tasted amazing, just as he imagined.

Apparently that was his alpha's breaking point because the next thing Harry knew Theo's large hands returned to the back of his head and with little pushing were guiding Harry to sink further.

The submissive relaxed his jaw and throat to allow Theo's thick cock to slid as far as possible. He was more grateful for being a merrow now more than ever. His ability to hold his breath for long periods of time had a very nifty second use. The stretch burned, but it burned in the best way possible. He hardly noticed when his nose was suddenly pressed against his alpha's groin.

Theo howled and Harry distantly heard the telltale ripping and swooshing of wings unfurling. "Fuck Harry, you took every inch. Such a good boy."

The sound that came out of Harry's chest was downright pathetic and needy. The praise had Harry in a choke hold. He would do anything asked of him if Theo said it in that husky tone with that seductive pet name.

One of Theo's hands released its death grip on his hair and travelled down to where Harry's mating mark was violently throbbing. Theo's fingers traced the outline, bringing shudders down the smaller dragel's spine. Then those teasing digits moved up and traced a spot on the bottom of Harry's throat.

It took the submissive a few moments to gather what Theo was doing. The alpha was rubbing a bump. Harry's slender neck was physically bulging outwardly from Theo's massive cock. "I can see the outline of my cock here. You look beautiful like this, filled perfectly by your alpha. Do you like keeping my dick warm little submissive?"

Harry was instantly reduced to a dizzy mindless disaster by Theo's dirty words. He wasn't sure how much more of this his brain can handle. His own neglected cock trapped in his pants was ready to blow a sticky load at any second.

Theo decided it was time to start moving. The thrusts began slow and steady. A blob of saliva gushed past Harry's lips and trickled down to Theo's hefty balls, but the sticky cooling mess only added more lubrication.

Harry's throat was sore and he was fighting the urge to gag. He couldn't stop the twitching and tightening around the huge cock that was busy trying to reshape his esophagus.

A spike of magic and a quickening of Theo's rough thrusts were the only hints that Harry had that his bonded was nearing climax.

He used one hand to steady himself against the alpha's inner thigh as he used his second hand to give a curious squeeze against Theo's oversized testicles.

That was enough to bring his bonded over the edge. A wave of raw magic pulsed outwards destroying the remaining furniture as the floor shook violently with tremors.

Harry felt Theo's cock throbbing madly against the roof of his mouth as a flood of thick cum steadily flowed directly into his waiting belly.

It took two full minutes for the alpha's orgasm to slow into a trickle. Harry gulped down every drop, moaning sinfully, until his felt slightly bloated from the vast amount of seed he just consumed. He was immediately addicted to the primal taste of his bonded. Now Harry was conflicted on which bodily fluid he enjoyed more. His alpha's rich blood or his alpha's potent seed.

Well…now he had access to both. So why choose?

He whined pitifully when Theo tried to pull out of his mouth. He growled softly and pushed his claws in Theo's thighs to make the alpha cease moving. He was very comfortable like this and…Harry may have discovered a hidden oral fixation. He licked Theo's softening cock clean before letting it rest on top of his tongue.

"Okay okay. Ouch Harry. Careful there my love. We don't need to move if you're not ready. My body is yours, I promised that." Theo's eyes had returned to that pretty shade of yellow golden that Harry adored.

His alpha transfigured several books into pillows and placed them behind his back and underneath Harry to maximize comfort. Theo also grabbed a blanket and covered most of Harry's exposed body, leaving just his head in view. Theo had a suspicion the two of them may fall asleep like this and he didn't want preventable soreness to occur.

"You did amazing Harry. You are amazing. I can't believe you're mine." Harry let out a happy trill that made Theo's heart soar. His submissive was content and that soothed his inner dragel.

"Get some rest my love." Theo stroked Harry's long soft hair, carefully detangling the knots he had caused. Harry's eyes fluttered closed and within minutes he was deep asleep.

Theo stayed awake for a while longer. His gaze never left his beautiful bonded as the smaller dragel snoozed.

Part of him was still sure this was a dream. To think that he actually had such a wonderful, wholesome, wickedly scary bonded was a miracle.

Theo would do anything for Harry. He will do anything for Harry. The alpha can't fail. Not again. Not as long as air fills his lungs and his heart beats in his chest.

Because Harry deserves the world. Whether the submissive wanted to save it or raze it to the ground, Theo would be there without question.

Anything for the love of his life.

Chapter 10: Dinner Party Gone Wrong

Summary:

Harry learns of Theo's unintentional deceit. Family drama ensues at the dinner party.

Notes:

There is angst. A lot of angst. Good luck.

Chapter Text

When Harry woke, he was curled up between Theo's thighs with his arms firmly latched onto his alpha's leg like a needy koala bear.

Theo reassured he found Harry's unconscious need for touch endearing when he saw how mortified his submissive looked.

It took an hour for the two of them to get dressed and finally leave the sanctuary of the library. Harry wanted time to explore his newly bonded alpha's body and who was Theo to deny such a request from his lovely submissive.

Theo was able to steal a few more kisses from Harry ( Harry guarded his lips fiercely) before the two of them undid the privacy wards.

Harry's stomach growled loudly the second he was no longer distracted by his carnal impulses. Theo chuckled and pressed a kiss on Harry's temple as he lead them to the kitchens. "Guess that meal earlier didn't fill you up completely huh?"

Harry walked into a wall. "Oh my gods Theo! Shhh. Someone could hear you!"

The alpha shrugged nonchalantly and continued to rummage through the pantry to search for something easy to make. The alpha didn't want to admit that his cooking skills were abysmal at best.

Harry watched Theo struggle for several long minutes before giggling at his bonded's futile attempts to cook. "Theo, you're gonna hurt yourself. That's not even how you turn on a gas stove. You might blow up the house at this rate and I don't think Ilsa would appreciate that. We already wrecked her library. Let's keep the damage contained to one room." The tiny dragel flashed a reassuring smile towards his bonded as he gingerly took the pan out of his alpha's hands.

"Don't judge. I never was any good at household charms. They are surprisingly challenging. I never understood how someone can have dozens of charms working simultaneously with so little effort."

Harry shook his head in mild disbelief. "You know that we don't need to use magic for everything right? Cooking is a skill that should be taught to everyone."

Theo sat at the counter with his chin held up with his palms as he savoured the view of his submissive gracefully and skillfully wrangling the entire kitchen under his control. "But now I have you to save me from accidentally offing myself through a stove fire."

Harry shot Theo an unimpressed look over his shoulder as he began to chop vegetables.

It wasn't ten minutes later that Ilsa walked into the kitchen with a massive smug expression plastered across her face. "I see you two are in high spirits. Nearly turned the house into rubble last night so I imagine it had to be good."

Theo grinned triumphantly as Harry hid his blushing face. "Oretta, we may have done some damage to the library. I'll fix it later today."

"You better. So Harry, learned that Theo is a true menace in the kitchen? I remember the first time he tried to make dinner. I had to replace half of my equipment and install fire proof wards to the walls."

Harry smirked. "Finally something that Mr. Perfect isn't able to do." The merrow plopped all the diced ingredients into a pot and set it to simmer with broth. He pulled out a slab of meat from the cooler and began to create little bite sized cubes.

"Theo, I'm assuming you've told Harry by now?" Ilsa asked as she took a seat beside her trainee.

Harry paused and turned to raise an eyebrow. "Tell me what?"

Theo paled slightly and looked at his hands as if they were the most interesting objects in the world.

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Theodore…."

The alpha sighed wearily. "Okay okay. No need to get feisty my love. I was planning to tell you. In my defense, we became distracted." Theo smiled knowingly although Harry's face remained stoic. The merrow was not thrilled at the hint of secrecy.

"I have caspers. Three of them. When I first came into my inheritance, my magic was uncontrolled and too powerful for me to handle. I brought down my entire family mansion by accident without much effort. There's a reason Ilsa is my mentor. She's one of the most powerful dragel in the earth element. If it wasn't for her, who know what kind of destruction I would have unknowingly caused."

Harry blinked a few times. That was not at all what he was expecting. Caspers were interesting. There were two kinds that he knew of. Made and Forged.

Made caspers, the ones that Theo likely had, are semi-conscious soul manifestations of the dead, mainly crafted by magic and bearing the original individual's soul. It is formed from a soul-fragment. They are commonly used as valves for powerful dragel's to prevent their own magic from overwhelming themselves. Although they can also be used as protectors and providers of wisdom as well.

Forged caspers were a different story. Each element has a specific casper, often summoned like a guardian and given demi-god status. Their selfless sacrifice and immense power earned the Immortal status that allows them to exist infinitely.

Harry turned back around and began to stir the pot. He didn't have anything personally against the use of Caspers. In fact, he understood that they prevented a great many of potential disasters.

Yet, he disliked them for one solid reason. Caspers often required sacrifice. Even the ones with the best intentions, leveraged something important to those they have created a contract with. Often it was one's own magic, however it could lead to one's life, and in extreme cases, a casper could take the lives of an entire circle.

That sort of manipulation and control was the reason he could never condone the use of a casper for himself. If he was going to die protecting someone he loves, he was going to do it on his terms and only his terms.

Besides, Harry could not let his magic fall into another's control. Not even for his own protection. He refused to be dictated by anything or anyone. Living or dead or in between.

"I see. Well, thank you for letting me know. That does explain the muteness on your magic. I should have noticed earlier." Harry added the meat cubes into the stew without much fuss. The silence following made Harry's jaw twitch.

"Oh? I didn't think it would have an effect on my magic. Although it makes sense now that we are bonded that you could detect them better. Well, since you seem to know what they are and we are officially bonded, I want to give you access to my password if you should ever need of it. It's-"

Harry moved so quick that neither Theo nor Ilsa could react. All they saw was a blur of movement before the smallest dragel shoved a piece of raw meat into Theo's mouth to sufficiently shut up the alpha.

Theo froze, golden eyes wide with shock. He stared at the blank expression Harry wore. A bundle of concern wormed itself into the alpha's chest.

When the submissive spoke, his voice had lost all its earlier cheeriness. "Theodore, you should have asked my permission before attempting to give out something like that. Let me be crystal clear, I do not want to know your password. I do not want to have any sort of relationship with your caspers. That is between you and them and perhaps Ilsa. I know you mean well my love, but I have no need nor want to access your magic. It's yours for a reason."

The alpha spat out the piece of meat. "Harry, I apologise for not asking you first. But I want you to have it for emergencies. There are so many things that could go wrong and it's my job to protect you. If having a little extra firepower keeps you alive, then I can rest easier at night."

Harry shook his head before Theo finished. "I said no. I don't want it. You're my alpha, not my personal magic battery. I told you before, I don't want you to become my shield. I don't want to be treated like a damsel in distress."

Theo stood. His inner dragel was threatening to burst out. He had to do whatever he could to protect his bonded. That was his instinct and he had no desire to fight against it.

"It's my choice Harry. I'm telling you that I want, no, I need to know that you are protected no matter what. That if I am not there beside you, that at least my magic can save you. I can't… I can't fail you again."

Harry's eyes softened. He almost caved there for a moment. Almost. He felt his bonded's worry and stress through their connection and it truly pulled at the merrow's heart strings.

"What are they? What kind?"

Theo tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Your bond with your caspers. What do you give in exchange if your password was invoked?"

Harry was met with overwhelming silence. Theo's face paled and his eyes hovered to bore a hole in the counter before he replied. "My magic…and my life. I have Brindus Bonds."

The wooden spoon in Harry's hand snapped with a loud crack. The air temperature dropped several degrees as the merrow reigned in his agitated magic. He did not want to flood the house. He has done enough property damage this week.

Harry closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He counted to ten. Then counted to twenty for good measure.

"Theodore, did you just try giving me a password that would have ended your life if I had used it? Without telling me the consequences first?" Harry's voice was whisper soft yet held a tone that sent shivers down both Theo's and Ilsa's spine. It was the calm before the storm.

The alpha clenched his jaw. This is not how he thought the morning was going to go. He did not like having his submissive getting upset. "I was planning to change my vows and the punishment. I got caught up in everything and I pushed it back."

The merrow was not impressed. The air was becoming oppressive and thick with shimmering waves of magic rolling off the submissive. "Do you take me for a fool? You have been courting me for weeks. Weeks, Theo! At any point you could have redone your vows. Or at the very least, you should have told me the stakes before you and I essentially married each other! I cannot believe the sheer audacity you have Theodore Gorgens."

The pipes and plumbing in the house were creaking and rattling something awful by now as Harry's control cracked slightly. The entire building was vibrating at this point as the water pressure grew close to the bursting point.

Harry fixed his livid glowing eyes at Ilsa who flinched in recoil as the merrow's magic latched onto to her body like tentacles and rendered her inmobile. "And you. Don't think you are innocent in this Lady Ilsa. I know you are the creator of brindus bonds and were likely the one to create the caspers for Theo. You knew this entire time and said nothing. Was kidnapping me from my home not enough? I was trying to trust you, for Theo's sake, and you've betrayed it. No wonder you two were paired together. Two bloody peas in a pod, the both of you. Selfish, narrow-minded lizards with pebbles for brains."

Theo at least seemed to appear bashful as he dunked his head in shame and sat back down. He knew there was no chance to win this argument. "You're right. I'm sorry Harry. I wasn't thinking."

Harry's anger didn't lessen, but he was able to release the house from its chokehold. The pipes stopped making terrible noises as his magic settled back down. Harry waved his hand to repair the splintered spoon and resumed cooking in raging silence.

Luckily there wasn't much left to do. Once the stew was ready, he made two heaping bowls. He placed one in front of Theo and the other for Ilsa who had remained politely silent during the entire argument.

"Please enjoy. There's more in the pot if you want seconds. If you'll excuse me, I have to go get ready for Quinn's dinner party."

The submissive silently cast several charms. One to keep the food warm, another to clean and put away the dishes, and another to clean the rest of the kitchen.

Harry paused as he made it the doorframe leading to another room. He twisted back and settled an eerily calm look at his alpha. "This is one. Your first strike my dear alpha. Get to three and you will personally find out why the dark lord was killed by me three times."

Theo stared at the bowl in front of him. The poor spoon in his hand was bent nearly in half from his intense grip. He was so fucked.

The alpha sighed with frustration. Harry had a perfectly valid reason to be angry at him. He can't believe he let this spiral out of control. He made a dumb mistake and now he was pricing a price that he wasn't sure he wanted to pay.

A loud slurp broke the alpha out of his stupor. He turned to eye his mentor with disbelief. "How can you eat at a time like this?"

The earth heiress shrugged. "The stew is wonderful, you should try some. Harry is quite talented."

"Oretta, I can't be bothered to eat right now. I need to come up a plan to fix this mess-."

"And that starts with you eating a meal that your submissive made for you. Trust me, you will not be getting in his good graces if you don't eat his food and I promise he will know if you have or not." Ilsa shoveled another spoonful in her mouth after gesturing for Theo to eat.

"Besides, there is no plan to make. You and I both made a mistake. I should have told you to change your vows the second Harry came into the picture. Gheyos like myself have no issue with sacrificing everything for the good of the circle. It's in my blood. My basic instinct. But you are not a gheyo and treating you like one was a mistake I made."

"I'm still the alpha. Protecting the circle with everything I have is part of my duty. And I already failed him once. I wanted to prove to him that I would lay my life down for him. That he deserves that and more. He doesn't understand that it's something I need and somehow I'm in the wrong." Theo rested his cheek on the table, looking as pitiful as he felt.

"You are not wrong. The responsibility of an alpha is great and seemingly endless. More so in the beginning stages of a circle. You will stumble and make errors. No one is perfect. The needs of every circle are different. What may work for one, may be disastrous for another. You have to figure out what works for you and your circle. And since Harry is the heart and soul of your circle, you must figure out how to understand him."

Theo whisked his spoon through the stew mindless as he listened. "Mhm. Not that you aren't correct, but you're sounding quite confident there Oretta for someone that also get yelled at. Are you in denial that your precious cute student is royally pissed at you?"

Ilsa fought off the pout threatening to expose her. "I was really hoping to slid under the radar. Harry reminds me too much of Bahn."

Theo blanched slightly in horror as he thought of Harry and Bahn meeting each other. It'll either be a bloodbath between Nevarah's too most hardheaded submissive's or it'll be a bloodbath for Nevarah else when those two team up.

"Oretta, we can't let them be friends. The realm will collapse."

Ilsa turned pensive and suddenly paled as she connected the dots. "Oh no."

Quinn's POV

"Mama, please stop fretting so much." The blond healer sighed exasperatedly as he watched his mother bark orders to the entire family.

Nothing was right apparently. The table cloths weren't the correct color and the wrong china type was set out. The entire menu had been switched out twice and the seating arrangements shifted half a dozen times.

Quinn glanced at his father and sire in the vain hope that they could attempt to make his mother relax a little. They both pretended to not noticed him. Figures. No one wanted to get in between a submissive and their absolute desire to make their home perfect.

"How could you invite your intended to dinner without asking what he likes to eat? What if he has food allergies? What if he dislikes Indian cuisine?" Surajini, his poor mother, was frantic.

He reached over and grabbed her hands and made her focus into his eyes. "Mama, I promise everything is wonderful. Harry will adore you and everything you've done."

"Quintin, thank you for trying, but I doubt I can stop worrying. Harry is another submissive. He will automatically and subconsciously be evaluating me and my ability to uphold my rank." She tugged at the tablecloth to balance it out.

"He's not like that at all. I'm sure he'll be impressed no matter what. Besides, shouldn't I be the one worrying? I'm the one courting."

His mother gently caressed his cheek before reaching down to straighten his outfit. "You look handsome my luv. I'm so happy for you. I still can't believe this is happening. I've been worried. I…worry you would be lonely."

The younger healer did a poor job of hiding his wince. Quinn knew his mother kept herself awake at night often thinking about her youngest son's lack of a love life. He disliked making her sad and hated it more that it was his own making.

"I've been busy. You know how important my career is. I had to focus on-"

"Dear, we both know those are excuses. I'm your mother, there is no fooling me. I know of your fears, for they are also my fears. After your…accident. I knew your path was going to be difficult. Does he know about…?"

Quinn wished the floor could swallow him alive at this moment. He has been able to avoid this topic for years with great success and he had hoped to keep it that way. "Yes. I mentioned it. Harry accepted me despite it. He actually turned bitter at Kyle thinking he was to blame. Perhaps it'll be best to avoid speaking of it and mentioning fae around Harry."

Surajini hummed in thought. "If he accepted you, then I am content. Tells me that he is able to separate his instinct from rational thinking. Otherwise his dragel would have disapproved, soul bond or not. That shows incredible control. A gift you should be grateful of my son."

"Trust me, I am. Harry is unlike anyone else. You'll see soon enough."

"You keep saying that, but yet have been purposely obtuse on the details for the last week. You haven't even given us a full name, much less anything else."

Maybe it was because Harry no longer wanted to go by their former name. Until the little merrow picked a suitable name, Quinn was happy to keep his family in the dark. He respected his intended's wishes.

"He's pretty."

"That is like saying the sun is bright. Every submissive is pretty Quinn."

"No Mama, he's pretty. I've never seen someone as beautiful as him. Inside and out. Sometimes I wonder if meeting him was real. My mind might have conjured the entire experience."

"Then I guess we will see when he shows, if he was only a figment of your imagination. Now if you'll excuse me, I see that your father has picked…where did he acquire such hideous shoes? I swear it was Patrick's doing." His mother vanished in a swirl of annoyance as she went to correct the eyesore of his dad's choice of footwear.

The blond healer had two full minutes alone in the hallway before he sensed another presence appearing beside him. One that was not as completely welcomed.

Alejandro. Quinn's fourth older brother and a cocky temperamental alpha. The two of them had a long and difficult relationship. Strained at best. Hostile at worst. Back when Quinn was still an alpha rank, the two of them were known for getting into savage fights. Many injuries occurred and a lot of pride hurt, Two hotheaded and stubborn alpha living together was truly a recipe for disaster.

Luckily those days were long gone.

Hopefully.

"Hello dearest little brother of mine. How does it feel to have the family is all in a huff because of you. This entire week everyone has been gushing about your soulmate. Father and Patrick have returned to meet your intended. Enjoying the spotlight? At least it's for a good reason this time. Not another troublesome situation you've caused."

The larger dragel continued without waiting for Quinn to attempt to reply. Alejandro refused to have a mind connection and had zero interest in learning how to sign. The lack of communication ability did not serve to aid their strenuous relationship.

"Personally I'll be glad for this to be over. I've grown tired of hearing about you and more so exhausted about mother hovering all day. I wonder if this means you'll be leaving the family estate. Most circles live together after all. Which brings me to my curious nature. What kind of submissive would accept you as you are now?"

Quinn halted in place as his heart beat wildly in his chest. His brother was being cruel. Knowingly playing on his deepest fears. Yet the blond could not retaliate and Alejandro was taking advantage.

"Did you lie about your status? Omit your shrouded past dear little brother? Tsk tsk. I pity the little submissive that got stuck with you. A nullified alpha. You better make sure not to fuck it up. The family cannot afford for you to make another public scandal. We've only just recovered from your last stunt."

Quinn forced himself not to cry as he clenched his fists. He refused to allow his brother's awful words get to him. At least not where he would be seen.

"Can't even defend yourself. What a shame. I hope you at least protect your future bonded better. Health and long life to you, little brother. You're going to need it." And just as quickly as Alejandro appeared, he left before someone noticed.

Did his brother really come only to torment him? Yes, he would. They may not physically fight any longer, but psychological warfare wasn't off the table.

Today was turning into a real shit show and the main event was yet to happen. Speaking of, he should send a portal-

There was a sudden distortion in the air. Blueish teal light burst into view as the scent of ozone and sea salt wafted through with a breeze. Quinn tried to ignore how his clothes were instantly damp from the extreme onslaught of humidity. A byproduct of water portals unfortunately.

A small form stepped out of the portal with ease before it faded away taking along the overwhelming moisture.

"Quinn!" Harry bright sea green eyes instantly focused on the blond healer. The merrow tackled the older dragel and nuzzled his chest with surprising affection.

Quinn luckily had decent reflexes and caught Harry. He wrapped his arms around the smaller male and tugged them closer automatically. The scent of the sea only grew stronger and Quinn found himself longing for more.

He gently pushed his mental connection to snap into place so he could speak clearly with Harry. "Hello Harry. I was about to send you a portal. Wait, how did you manage to enter? The estate has strong wards surrounding it. Only someone keyed into the wards or someone invited through a portal could by pass them."

The merrow released his hold on the healer. Harry tilted his head curiously. "You sure? There wasn't any resistance. You might want to double check the wards. I used my soul connection with you to port myself here. I didn't realize you were going to summon a portal for me."

Quinn's brow furled in confusion. He knew for a fact the wards were working fine. There would be chaos if the wards were malfunctioning. Which meant it should not have been remotely possible for Harry to port himself. Even using a bonded connection, the wards would prevent it. This was a matter he would have to bring up to his parents later.

For now, the healer was preoccupied by obscenely gazing at Harry. Quinn hadn't seen the merrow without his dragel features manifested before. Without them, Harry was positively tiny. The submissive was just shy of being over five feet tall.

Quinn's healer knowledge kicked in. The average height of a submissive was six feet. And they are typically the shortest of all the ranks. Alphas tended to be the largest with an average height of eight feet tall.

Harry was significantly smaller than any other dragel he knew on record. If Quinn wasn't his healer, the blond would be worried about severe malnutrition or a potential seal or curse. But Harry's bloodwork and magic scans came out with a clean bill of health.

"Hello? Quinn?" Harry poked Quinn's cheeks a few times. "You okay? You went all spacey."

"Ah sorry about that. I got distracted. I, uh, never had a chance to see you in this form before. It's lovely." And the blond meant it.

Harry was truly a mesmerizing vision of beauty.

His long hair was styled up in loose thick braids meeting together in a large bun. Shrunken white lilies and small pearls were pinned delicately throughout the braids. It was simple yet elegant. An appearance of grace Quinn expected more so of a royal.

Harry wore simple tailored dress robes. The deep forest green hue was an interesting colour choice. Not something most merrow would have chosen. They tend to stick to shades on the oceanic spectrum. When they chose to wear anything at all that is.

Quinn noticed Harry's black pearl necklace dangling on its silver chain. Another simple piece that worked well to highlight Harry's natural beauty.

That's when the healer noticed. There on Harry's slender neck in a deep navy design was a full bonded mark. The small brand was still pulsing lightly which meant Harry and Theo consummated rather recently.

Frankly, Quinn was surprised Harry was able to peel himself away. The creation of a bond, especially one's first, is extraordinarily intimate and usually renders the parties unwilling to separate for days if not weeks.

"Congratulations are in order. I'm happy you and Theodore were able to bond. I'm sure both of you feel much more grounded and stable with your soulbond in place."

Harry's eyes dimmed for a brief moment. "Thanks Quinn."

The blond felt a minute wave of restrained annoyance spill through their mental connection. A double edge effect that the healer worked hard to never abuse. While he has a link active, it was unlikely someone can hide their true thoughts and emotions from him. It was a boon at times when healing, but in social settings, it tends to have a negative effect.

Something had happened between Harry and Theo, that much was obvious. There was a good amount of anger hidden away. However it was the looming sense of hurt that stood out to Quinn.

"I hope you and Theo aren't at odds because of the dinner. I didn't initially extend an invitation to Theo because at the time, you were not yet bonded. And he and I were both courting you however now that you are bonded, he is of course welcomed. This entire affair should not holster bad feelings. If it did cause a rift between you both, I apologize. We can reschedule."

Quinn did not allow himself to wonder how his mother would react if he told her last second to add another place to the table. Or worse, if he had to tell her to cancel the dinner. He might as well sign his death warrant.

Harry plastered a forceful smile. "You're being too nice. It's okay, really. I wanted to spend time with just you and your family today. Besides, if I'm being honest, Theo is currently in the dog house. He doesn't get to have a fancy dinner."

Quinn understood Harry's subtle meaning. Theodore messed up big time and Harry was pissed. The healer sighed inwardly. Seems his life was never going to be dull between his family and Harry.

"Well, how about I introduce you to the rest of the family? Dinner is about to start soon and Mama has been dying to meet you." He reached for Harry's hand and laced their fingers together. The blush on the submissive's cheek made Quinn's chest puff with happiness. Suddenly all the weight on his shoulders lifted. With Harry by his side, Quinn's fears faded into a numb spot in the far reaches of his mind.

"Mama!" Quinn pulled Harry into the grand dinning hall where most of the family was already gathered. "Harry is here!"

Instantly every pair of eyes snapped towards the two of them. Quinn grinned at the stunned expressions his family poorly concealed as they all studied his intended.

His mother, always the perfect host, recovered first. "Welcome to our home Harry! It's such a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Surajini, Quinn's mother." She approached slowly, keeping a healthy distance in between herself and Harry.

Quinn rolled his eyes. That wasn't necessary. Yes, it is possible his mother and Harry would have a negative reaction to each other, but the chance was highly unlikely.

It was usually only unbonded submissives that were risky to be near each other as they tend to have one of two reactions when meeting. Best of friends or hostile enemies.

His father followed closely behind. Keeping a steady hand on Surajini's shoulder. "Hello there, I am Hiram, Quinn's father." Hiram's eyes stayed trained on Harry. Quinn sighed inwardly. His parents were being a tad dramatic.

Harry stepped forward and flashed a dazzling smile that Quinn swore physically dazed his parents. "I'm Harry. Thank you for much for allowing me the chance to meet you all. Your home is lovely."

Surajini let out a coo as she broke her social distancing and scooped Harry up in her arms. "Oh my goodness. You're simply too adorable! My son was not exaggerating about how pretty you are. Although he neglected to tell us you are a merrow. What a lovely surprise." She gave the smaller submissive a tight squeeze before setting him down.

Harry flushed a cute lilac. "Um, thank you. You're really pretty too. I can see where Quinn gets his looks. I mean, both of you are beautiful!" Harry added as he glanced up at Hiram.

The Kalzik Alpha stepped forward. "Haha such a little charmer. No need to be so nervous. Let's get you acquainted. Sadly not everyone could make it. Some of the family had prior important appointments to keep. I know you've meet Bharin. He is our steadfast gheyo."

The hulking figure gave Harry a terse nod of acknowledgment. The merrow waved in reply. He liked the massive gheyo. The fighter was serious and a tad aloof, but on the inside he was generous and kind hearted.

Hiram gestured to a young alpha that shared similar features to Quinn. They were not as good looking, but they were certainly larger in stature. "This is Alejandro. One of Quinn's older brothers."

Harry automatically got a bad feeling as Alejandro's sharp eyes raked over his body. He had seen eyes like those before. They belonged to someone that haunted his memory.

An uncomfortable shiver tingled down his spine. The merrow shuffled uneasily on his feet. He didn't want to make a scene. Not here, not now. He swallowed thickly and worked on ignoring the young alpha.

"I can't believe my dear little brother managed to luck out with such an adorable submissive. Always fascinating how Quinn's fortune strikes gold no matter the circumstances." Harry was not fooled. The words were honey sweet, but the tone conveyed envy and spite.

Obviously Quinn and Alejandro had a past. A messy one by the looks of it. The blond's grip on Harry's hand had subconsciously tightened to the point of discomfort.

Harry ignored it.

If his physical touch was helping to stabilize Quinn's emotions, then he didn't care if the healer's broke his bones. Wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed later.

Besides, Harry didn't miss the snarl forming on Bharin's lips. Nor did the merrow unnoticed how Alejandro was seated furthest away from Quinn and Bharin.

"I'm glad to meet you. I think it's important for me to meet as much of Quinn's family as I can." Harry padded himself on the back for such a suitable Slytherin comeback. Maybe the sorting hat was right after all.

"And these are my daughters. My eldest, Dyshoka and of course the twins, Karnati and Farnati." Hiram continued his introductions with little pause.

Harry wasn't sure if he was purposely ignoring the tension or if he was simply unaware. Either way, he was thankful for the excuse to divert his attention.

Dyshoka was attractive in the way that he remembered Ron describing veelas to be. Otherworldly stunning with an allure strong enough to stop a lesser man's heart. Harry knew she was the type most men would kill to have her as theirs.

Well, minus himself. He…swayed a bit more to her kind and pretty brother. He would probably kill for Quinn if needed. Knowing his own luck, that may end up being the case. His life ceased to be dull the second he was born after all.

Karnati and Farnati were equally beautiful, if only a tad young. They still had some time to grow into their natural looks.

The closeness they shared reminded Harry of another pair of twins. The memory caused a twinge of sadness and longing to stab at his core. He missed few things from his past life and Fred and George happened to be one of those.

Harry faintly sensed Theo's sudden concern seeping through their bond. No doubt his alpha picked up his distress. He smothered his sorrow and packed it away metaphorical bottle before sending reassuring emotions.

Harry made a mental note that he needed to watch out for his wayward emotions now that he was fully bonded. Can't have his bonded rushing to his side every time he had a flashback or emotional lapse.

"Harry? You okay? You went a bit spacey there." Quinn touched the merrow's forehead in concern.

"Ah, I'm sorry. My alpha seemed troubled and it caught me off guard." Harry felt a little guilty lying, but it did the trick and seemed to ease the looks of worry he was receiving.

Surajini looked the most relieved as she settled down at her spot on the left of the head of the table. "Oh. That's completely understandable darling. Feeling someone's else emotions can be a foreign experience that leaves most newly bonded overwhelmed. No one will judge you for that. Let's take our seats. Maybe some good company and good food will help."

Harry and Quinn sat across from each other while Harry was sandwiched between Dyshoka and the twins. Hiram sat proudly at the head with his submissive and beta, Patrick if Harry recalled correctly, on either side. Bahrin sat beside Surajini and Quinn while Alejandro was placed next to Patrick.

Quinn's eldest sister leaned towards him and began to whisper in his ear. "You're doing great Harry. I know our family is a bit dysfunctional, but I promise you'll settle in soon enough. I'm really excited for you and Quinn by the way. My brother is complicated, as I'm sure you know. But this whole week, he hasn't stopped smiling, so clearly you're good for him."

Harry found himself blushing again at the strange compliment. The submissive was just glad that Quinn was well loved by his family. Well, most of it at least. "Thanks. I like him a lot. He keeps me calm and makes me feel safe."

Dyshoka seemed to have found something comical in that statement as she struggled to contain her laughter. "I'm sorry. It's just, the irony of it. Perhaps you really are destined for each other."

Surajini's magic flared a for brief moment and just like at the Welcoming Feast at Hogwarts, everyone's plates were suddenly filled to the brim.

Harry glanced around the table in awe. It's been some time since he's seen such an abundance of food. He might have preferred his simple diet, but the sight and smell of such delicious food made his mouth water.

"A small toast, it is a good day when we are able to celebrate a joyous occasion. Today, our youngest son invites a soul bonded intended to our hearth. We toast to their long health and life. May they be successful in all their endeavors. Blessed be thy Immortals."

A chorus of "Blessed be thy Immortals," chimed back.

Hiram, as alpha and host, traditionally ate the first bite. An old custom to provide proof that the food was not poisoned or tampered with. Once he swallowed, and well, didn't kneel over, the rest were allowed to dig in.

Harry didn't want admit he was slightly overwhelmed by all the options. Usually at the Hogwarts feasts, he tended to eat whatever was closest and of course treacle tarts.

Quinn apparently noticed his dilemma and silently and discreetly used clever charms to fill his plate. The healer must have remember his tendency to prefer simplistic foods as his plate displayed a handful of steamed veggies and lightly seasoned grilled chicken.

Harry locked eyes with Quinn and mouthed a wordless thank you.

There was idle chatter between the family members. And Harry was glad the attention drifted away from him. He listened as he slowly munched on his meal. The conversations were largely about upcoming events for this season's hunt.

A distinguished clan like the Kalziks were highly sought after. Harry could not fathom the social pressure of having to be in attendance to numerous functions. He struggled with his own school's timetables, much less the inner workings of high class society.

He hoped that he wouldn't need to be dragged to those events after Quinn and him bond. He would make Theo go instead. That was the alpha's area of expertise.

Harry much rather be at home reading and drinking tea or out exploring some long forgotten wilderness that was likely cursed. Both of those sounded much better than attending stuffy social parties.

"So Harry," The merrow's stomach fell as he glanced over to Alejandro. The alpha looked innocent enough, yet Harry was getting an ill omen. "Do you want children?"

All chatter ceased in an instant. Every pair of eyes locked onto the two of them. Harry spotted Quinn's face bleaching to a concerning level of white. That did not bode well and the merrow found himself internally preparing for the worst.

The question was dressed as curiosity, but Harry got the feeling this was intentional. "I haven't decided. I'm still young. I don't think it would be wise for me to attempt to raise a child while I've hardly left my own childhood behind." All that was true. Although if he was being honest, he hadn't considered children at all. He figured he was too damaged and too caught up in worldly affairs to be able to safely raise a family.

The young alpha wasn't swayed. "Admirable and wise. Although surely one day you will? I haven't come across a single submissive that didn't crave a child. Even a ferros like yourself must have those instinctual desires."

Harry did not like where this was leading. His eyes narrowed at Alejandro. He briefly wondered why no one was cutting in, but he decided to ponder that later.

"Well I hope you are still searching for other potential circle bonds. I'm not sure if my dear brother mentioned to you, but he is unable to foster young. A bit of a nasty incident. However you if you still want kalzik blood, I'm sure any one of my other siblings, myself included, would love to court you."

Harry's jaw twitched violently. The fucking audacity. Apparently all alphas today were being little shits. The merrow's temper was not cooled enough for this.

"Harry! Don't, it's not worth it! He's trying to bait you." Quinn's voice was hectic and distraught. That only fueled Harry's anger to a new height.

He pushed back his chair and stood to his full height. His magic snapped and crackled just beneath his skin. Ready to be unleashed and cause mayhem. The dragel side of him wanted nothing better than to rip out the offender's throat, but he kept control. Just enough. For now.

"Who I want in MY circle is not your business. I know who Quinn is and I accepted him flaws and all. You are out of line. Apologize now and I will forgive this."

Alejandro dropped his fake innocence as he glared ruthlessly at Quinn. "How could you want him? He's broken. Unable to fulfill the most basic duty to his submissive. You deserve much more. A rare surface merrow with such intoxicating and indescribable magic? To settle with the our clan's shame? It's disgraceful!"

The table erupted in symphony of growls and howls in seconds. Harry ducked as he narrowly avoided getting his head caved in by a flying bowl of potatoes.

Bharin was standing with rage burning in those dark eyes. His booming voice shook the walls and floors. "How dare you speak of Quinn in such a way!? You are the disgrace and truly despicable. To attempt to sabotage and steal your own brother's intended?!"

Alejandro's wings snapped open and the young alpha bared his fangs at the gheyo. "Stay out of it you brute. This is not a matter for you worrying your pea brain over. Stick to your sword fighting and bashing heads."

That did not go over well. Bharin lunged forward only to be stopped by Harim and Patrick who both entered the screaming match.

Wings and claws flashed dangerously. Surajini was escorting her daughters away from the incoming fight.

Meanwhile Quinn frozen in shock as he watched his family descend into utter chaos.

Harry locked eyes with the his healer. He could see the pain and sadness and hurt welling up in those soft teal eyes.

The merrow made a decision right then. Screw the consequences and fuck tradition. Harry climbed on top of the table. He ignored all the bickering and death threats and random spells zooming through the dinning hall. He kicked away the plates until he had a clean line towards Quinn.

"Harry?" Quinn's unsure voice echoed his head. "What are you doing?"

The submissive nibbled on the bottom of his lip nervously as he stood in front of the blond dragel. He can't go back now. He made up his mind already.

Harry plopped himself down on the healer's lap and wrapped his legs over the blond's hips. He grabbed Quinn's chin and made their eyes lock together.

"Do you trust me?"

Quinn searched Harry's face with confusion etched deep in his soft features. The healer felt as if Harry's green eyes were piercing his very soul in this moment.

He felt exposed and raw in a way that made him feel like a spec of dust floating in the vast emptiness of space, while Harry was this bright supernova, ready to consume him whole.

"Do you trust me?" Harry repeated softly yet firmly.

Quinn nodded mutely. "What are you planning?"

A feral mischievous grin tugged at Harry's full lips. "I'm proving that you are mine and no one else's. You got that? You are MY healer. You are MY bonded. I choose you."

Quinn couldn't stop the warbled hiccup of raw emotion as tears spilled down his cheeks. All he saw were Harry's sharp twin fangs flashing for a brief second and then Quinn's mind went blank as his skin and soul simultaneously burst into fiery flames.

This invisible bubble seemed to sprout around the two of them. A sphere of natural soul magic. A shield to force all the fighting and screaming to fall into white noise.

Right now, it was just Harry and Quinn. Two soul bonded that were perhaps a little broken and carrying too much on their shoulders.

But now, they had each other and somehow the weight of the world lessened as their souls tangled and intertwined, joining together to share their burdens for eternity

Chapter 11: Names have power

Summary:

Harry and Quinn return to Theo. Harry drops a bombshell on his lovers.

Chapter Text

Theo was at his wit's end. The alpha had been keeping close tabs on his submissive through their bond and doing so was driving him mad.

Harry's moods were all over the place. It started off well, Harry being nervous but overall excited. That was expected since Harry disliked social gatherings.

There were a few dips later on. A brief moment of sadness that alerted the earth dragel. Yet before he could focus on Harry's sudden lament, the merrow shut down their emotional tether. It snapped like a dry twig and Theo recoiled from the minor backlash.

Harry clearly noticed his snooping and wanted privacy.

A little while later Theo was preparing documents for him and Harry to go over now that they're officially bonded. That's when a thundering headache rocked his mind.

Rage.

Pure rage filtered through their emotional bond. Theo hissed loudly as his head throbbed. He could tell Harry was struggling to control his bloodlust. It was forcing his own dragel features to come out in response.

He clenched his fists and took several deep breaths. Whatever set his merrow off must have been extreme. Harry surprisingly had great control for a someone with an ill temper and a ferros.

If it wasn't for his Oretta forcing him to stay, he would have attempted to infiltrate the Kalzik estate by now. He likely would not made it far. Circle homes were strongly guarded against intrusion.

Despite the emotional rollercoaster, Theo did not detect a hint of fear. Whatever was happening, he knew at least Harry wasn't in danger. He was just wickedly pissed.

He did attempt to call forth a portal to the Kalzik estate. It was instantly denied. That only served to make the young alpha worry more.

His major consolidation was that Harry was in a house filled with Nevarah's elite healers. They would never allowed any harm to come to Harry.

It wasn't long after that Theo was stunned by the 180 degree turn in mood. An overwhelming sense of love and joy clashed with his own anxiety. Harry was greatly pleased with something.

It didn't take a genius to connect the dots. His submissive must have bonded to Quinn.

The alpha let out an exasperated sigh. Harry truly was going to be the death of him.

And…now he had more paperwork to fill out.

Quinn had dragged Harry out of the dinning hall and straight to his bedroom. He couldn't face his family at the moment. Not while Harry's lips were still stained crimson with his blood and his neck was pulsing with a brand new claim mark.

He settled Harry on his bed as he began to pace back and forth in deep thought. This had not gone at all according to his plan.

He wanted to treasure the courting process with Harry. He wanted to do it right. Harry deserved the full experience. To be spoiled and loved and shamelessly given all the affection he could want.

Now that entire plan was a dumpster fire. Quinn could not believe what his own brother had said and done. Not in his wildest nightmares could this have been foreseen.

Bharin will never forgive Alejandro for this. The blond wasn't sure he could forgive his brother at this moment either. This was going to break his poor parent's hearts. They had always despised when their children fought. And now this was surely going to cause a major rift. Quinn had no idea what to do. How was he going to salvage this one?

"Quinn?"

The healer stopped pacing to glance at Harry. A concerned frown was pulling at the merrow's lips. Quinn hated that. Harry should never be frowning.

"I'm sorry Harry. I didn't mean to worry you." Quinn sat down next to Harry and gently scooped up his new bonded into his lap. Harry nuzzled the claim mark, purring contently at the sight of it. It looked right. Like it was always meant to be there.

"I should be the one apologizing. I ruined the whole dinner party. And I ruined our courting. I know you had all these really amazing plans. I fucked it all up." Harry mumbled softly into the crook of the blond's shoulder.

Quinn squeezed Harry in firm embrace to reassure them. "You did no such thing. My brother did all the ruining. You acted like any sane dragel would when their choice of intended is questioned and threatened."

"I know, but…I still feel guilty. I wanted this to go well. You asked me if we could take it slow and I barely made it over a week."

Quinn chuckled softly. "The universe works in mysterious ways. Maybe this is how it was meant to happen. I'm not complaining. We might have skipped a few steps, but that doesn't we can't still experience everything. Like for example…"

The healer fished out a small black box out of his pocket. "I was planning to give this to you after the dinner. Technically it's after dinner. Here, open it."

Harry leaned back and nimbly took the offered gift. He slowly opened it to reveal a pair of matching black pearl earrings. Just like the one he had dangling on his necklace.

"I enchanted them myself. They will glow when you're within two feet of any poison or toxin. If you happen to ingest any, the charms will put you in a state of suspension until I can arrive. Which is the last charm. It can activate a private portal for me to use to come directly to your aid."

Harry traced his fingers across the jewelry with unabashed awe. "Thank you Quinn. This is truly amazing. Knowing me, I'll probably need them one day. But uh, I don't have my ears pierced. I can barely touch them without…" Harry blushed as his remembered how sensitive his ears were.

Quinn gave him a knowing grin. "I'm aware. Merrow's have extraordinarily delicate ear fins. Luckily you have a professional healer at your beck and call. There's a simple charm to temporarily numb your ears and another very easy spell to create painless piercings. If you want."

Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I do! Why wouldn't I want to show your gift?"

Quinn flushed. All that worry he had for the last few days about his courting gift seemed trivial now. He reached over to cup Harry's ears ever so gently before he muttered the charms. He grabbed each earring and pressed lightly against the soft thin membrane on each side. The jewelry slid in with no resistance. Not a minute later and Harry was all set.

"I've healed the holes so there is no chance of scaring or bleeding, but make sure not to get them snagged on anything or you can still rip them out by accident."

Harry flashed a smile. "I'll do my best. Now, it's your turn." The merrow pulled out a thin wooden case the length of his forearm and balanced it in Quinn's hand. "It was a bit of a challenge to get, but it was worth it."

Quinn curiosity was greatly peaked. The shape of the box reminded him of a wizarding wand case. He undid the clasp and cracked open the lid.

The blond stared at the object with astonishment. It was a feather. A beautiful one at that. The quill was pearly white at the base and slowly grew into various shades of blue before stopping with a black tip.

Quinn could sense elemental magic flowing from the feather. It was impossible to miss the telltale aura of the sea surrounding the small object.

"I don't…what is it from?" Quinn was not well versed in magizoology. All he knew was this had to be from something powerful and likely rare.

Harry let out soft giggle. "It's from me. It's my feather. Well, I guess it's yours now technically."

Quinn's head snapped up, nearly causing whiplash, as he looked at Harry. "How? You don't have feathers. I saw your full halfling form that day at the clinic and I would recalled something that significant."

"Oh. Well that's because I only have them in my full dragon form. Which is why it was such a pain to collect one. Hard to do without opposable thumbs. Or hands."

Quinn almost dropped the feather from shock. "This is from your true dragon form?" He stared at the gift with reverence. The significance of such an item was paramount.

It went beyond a standard courting gift. While scales were often exchanged with intended and bonded, those were scales from their halfing forms. Not from a full dragon transformation. The level of difficulty and the physical pain to remove a true dragon scale highly discourage people to use them as traditional gifts. Not to mention, there was ten times more magic imbued in a true dragon scale. Making them dangerous to carry on one's person.

Quinn didn't know which part was most surprising. That Harry knew of and could apparently transform into a full dragon or that the merrow offered such an intimate present.

"Mhm. I wanted to give you a scale, but none of them were loose so I settled on the feather. A few of them grew around my head. Actually now that I think about it, I've never shed a scale in that form. Is that weird?"

Quinn pondered what species Harry could be. He wasn't aware of any dragons with feathered crowns. "Ah well, full dragons shed very sparingly. Typically once every half century. As you can imagine, dragons don't like to be weakened so they shed as little as possible."

Harry nodded in understanding. "Makes sense now that you explained it. It's not as fancy as your gift, but maybe you could use it as a quill for work."

Quinn made a loud wheezing noise at that implication. "Harry! No! You have no idea how wonderful this gift is. I would never dare use it as if it was some mundane quill. The magic stored alone in this one feather could be used to power entire rituals or be a focus for a wand."

Harry raised an eyebrow. So it was likes a phoenix feather? That's kinda weird to imagine. "It's just a feather to me, but it's yours now. You can do whatever you want with it."

"I shall treasure it. Perhaps I'll see about making it into a hair piece. That way I can show it off properly."

Harry hummed a content trill. He liked the idea of his bonded displaying his courting gift.

That also happened to remind him. "Do you want complete our claiming marks now?" Back at the dinning hall, Harry only had a chance to give his mark to Quinn, but the blond hadn't had the opportunity to return the favor.

Quinn looked sheepish. " I do. Very much so. But, remember how I said that I would have to set up a ritual? Healers like me have a strict diet as a policy so we can perform complex healing rituals without backlash. Ingesting blood is risky as any property in said blood could threaten the sensitivity of our magic."

Harry cocked his head. "So you're implying my blood is dirty?"

Quinn paled. "No no! Not at all. But if you've taken potions or had a curse or under the influence of anything of the sort-"

"But you know I'm not. You're literally my healer and you saw my scans right? So shouldn't my blood be clean?" Harry crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.

The blond sighed. "Again, I didn't mean to imply you were dirty! But…you're not wrong." Harry had the most uninfluenced blood Quinn had come across. For someone to have no potions, seals, curses, etc… at all in their system these days was rare.

Besides, Quinn can request time off from work. He should regardless. It's custom to spend several days together with your newly bonded. Now he had the perfect excuse to take time off. Bharin will be pleased no doubt.

"Where do you want your claim mark?" Quinn gave in. He couldn't deny Harry this, not after Harry was already sacrificing so much for him.

The merrow's eyes brightened with excitement. Harry tugged at his robes until his entire left shoulder was exposed. He pointed to a spot on the opposite clavicle of where Theo's mark was proudly displayed.

"I want to keep them even." Harry provided no other explanation. Quinn took that as his queue. He took a long inhale to settle his nerves. The blond kissed the spot softly before sinking his fangs into the soft flesh.

Harry let out tiny murmur of a moan as their magics intertwined for a second time and cemented their bond permanently.

Quinn gulped down a mouthful of Harry's cold blue blood. It was surprisingly refreshing. Like drinking from a flowing waterfall. It was potent and positively spicy with wild magic.

The blond immediately felt a surge of energy coursing through him. All his weariness vanished. His heart sped in his chest as if he had chugged a double dose of caffeine shots. Quinn will have to be wary of the circle using Harry as their personal battery source. Especially the gheyos.

The healer lightly traced the glowing claim mark as it shifted into a navy coloured symbol of their bond.

"Mhm." Harry sighed contently. His magic was more settled than before and it was making him quite lethargic.

"As much as I would love to cuddle with you and take a much needed nap, I'm afraid our alpha will storm the estate if you don't make it back to him soon."

Harry huffed softly as he stifled a yawn. "He worries constantly. He will end up grey soon if he doesn't learn to relax."

"Alphas and relaxing hardly are words that can said in the same sentence. He will likely mellow as the circle grows and he learns to rely on the others." Quinn played with Harry's hair by picking out the cute accessories. He didn't want them to get too tangled.

"He better. Or else you and I will force him to take some chill pills." Harry stretched out across Quinn's lap like a sleepy feline. "Alright. Will you walk back?"

Quinn grinned and pressed their noses together. "Of course. Although I hope you mean using a portal because I don't think either of us can walk the distance."

Theo jumped from his desk the second he felt Harry's presence enter the wards. The young alpha was sprinting down the hall to greet his submissive by the front door.

Harry looked tired as he leaned heavily against Quinn's larger form. Once those sea green orbs spotted Theo, Harry let an out a tiny smile.

Theo felt a wave of instant relief hit him as he noticed Harry's subtle way of forgiving him. The weight he had been carrying all day lifted. His bonded wasn't angry at him anymore. Now his inner dragel could settle the fuck down.

"You alright Harry?" Theo knew the likely answer, but he figured Harry would want to voice it for himself.

"Just peachy. Got myself a doctor. And made a new enemy. So the dinner party was a rousing success in my humble opinion."

Theo pinched the bridge of his nose. It was quickly becoming a motif that Harry decides to break the mold whenever possible.

Somehow their little circle had a healer rank before a beta. Not impossible to do, but highly unheard of for the triad to remain incomplete. Harry will probably remain unbalanced until he finds the circle's beta. Theo could only pray that happens soon.

Theo inspected Quinn as they all stumbled into the den. The blond seemed happier despite the circumstances. Not too surprising Theo supposed. Bonding to Harry was a positive experience for sure.

"Welcome to our little family Quinn. I know Harry has been gushing over you since that day at the clinic and I can't blame him."

Quinn blushed under the compliment. "It was a two way street in that regard." The blond nervously glanced between Harry and Theo a few times. "Um, Harry did you happen to tell Theo?"

Harry blinked sleepily as he flopped across Theo's lap. "Huh? About what? Oh. Um. I didn't. I thought that was a personal thing and I didn't want to share a secret that wasn't mine to give out."

"That's kind of you. But it's no longer just mine to keep. Anyone that joins the circle has the right to know." Quinn focused his attention at the young alpha now. "I am asexual. I told Harry a few days ago and he was extremely accepting. I hope this doesn't provide any issues between us."

Theo instantly shook his head. "Of course not. I am honoured that you've included me. Your sexual preferences and identity are your own and I will respect and cherish you for whoever you wish to be."

Quinn sagged with relief. Harry rolled his eyes and poked the blond's ribs. "I told you Theo would be fine with it. You both worry too much. Would be great if you guys would trust me a bit more."

Theo and Quinn sighed simultaneously. There was never winning against Harry.

"I want to elaborate a bit. I know my sexuality falls on a vast spectrum and I want us to all be on the same page. I've already told Harry, so this is mainly for you Theo. I still enjoy physical touch. It my preferred way to show affection. Cuddling, handholding, hugs, and grooming, are all accepted and welcomed. I on rare occasions will do light kisses on the cheek or lips, but with no disrespect to you Theo, for right now, I reserve that level of intimacy only for Harry. I hope that is okay."

The alpha smiled warmly at Quinn. "Stop apologising. You are telling me the way you like to be shown love and affection. There's nothing wrong with that. I will do everything I can to make sure you feel comfort in our lives."

Quinn bit on his bottom lip with watery eyes. "Thank you Alpha."

Harry leaned up to nuzzle under the blond's chin, letting out a soothing purr. "Stop feeling sad. You're mine and Theo will protect us. Right?"

Theo swallowed thickly. "Always."

Harry hummed softly. "Good. Now, can I nap please? I'm still tired from last night."

The golden eyed alpha cracked a grin. "Almost my love. While you were away, I went ahead and began filling our paperwork to fill with the city's registrar. I wanted you to get a chance to review it before I submit it."

Theo summoned the file from desk and handed it to Harry. The drowsy submissive leaned up against the two of them so he read properly without straining his neck.

"Seems ok with me so far. Although I don't want to stay with Ilsa for long. I do want to go back to my island eventually. We will have to build a house since my little hut won't exactly fit a circle."

"I thought you would say that. I have some paperwork in the works about getting the land in your name. Technically your island doesn't exist on any records. It's like it appeared out of thin air. Which should make it relatively simple to get it into your name legally." Theo supplied casually.

"Speaking of," Harry pointed to the name listed for the circle. "Why did you name our circle Nott-Gorgens? You get to be in there twice. What am I? Chopped liver?"

Theo flushed. "No of course not. It's just…usually the alpha's name is used for a circle name."

"I thought the highest ranking name between the alpha and submissive is used." Harry questioned curiously.

"That is true. But that means it's still me, by proxy since I am Ilsa's heir."

The merrow blinked owlishly at both his bonded. "But I outrank her. My full name is Harrison Einar."

"……"

"……"

"……"

"Why are you guys so quiet-are you, oh bloody hell, they fainted