The Dragon Prince Wants My Heart-Tear

Everyone in the Dragon Shifter clan knew that Baxon, the third prince, loved me more than life itself.

When my Ascendance trials came, he shielded me from three lethal bolts of celestial lightning.

It cost him a thousand years of his cultivation.

To care for his broken body, I gave up my own chance to leap through the Dragon's Gate.

I thought we were the ultimate romance.

That was until his older brother came to visit him.

He sighed and looked at Baxon with pity.

"Do you really love that lowly clam-shifter so much that you would save a double who just looks like her?"

Baxon gazed tenderly at the pearl in his hand.

"Talia's power is too weak. Once Calliope transforms into a Heart-Tear, she will give her entire life's essence to Talia."

"Then, Talia won't be a bullied little shifter anymore."

"She will be my lawfully wedded wife."

The teardrop shed at death is the culmination of a Siren's entire existence.

Baxon knew that better than anyone.

So, I turned my back on him, destroyed our engagement, and prepared to ascend.

I would never look back.

1.

"Father, Mother, I've decided. When the Dragon's Gate opens again, I'm jumping."

"I'm coming back to Echo Cove to lead the Siren clan."

I sent the message through a telepathic spell.

My parents replied almost instantly.

"Callie, with your talent, you can do it. We'll be at the shore to bring you home in three days!"

The spell flickered out.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by cold iron.

The fairy tale everyone envied was nothing but a calculated trap.

Without realizing it, I walked back toward the Glimmer Cave.

Baxon chose this place for me after he took those lightning bolts.

He said it was because the spiritual energy here was rich and would help me heal.

I used to wonder why he chose a cave so far from the Dragon Palace.

Now, looking at the swarms of clam-shifters nearby, I finally understood.

It was all for Talia.

When I stepped into the cave, Baxon was whispering sweet nothings to that pearl.

"Talia, just wait a little longer. I've already secured the engagement."

"At the wedding, I'll personally take her life. I'll turn her into an eternal Heart-Tear for you."

"Once your power is boosted, I'll marry you and bring you to the Dragon Palace!"

The pearl glowed with a sickening light.

It was a lovers' token Talia had given him.

No wonder he slept with it tucked against his chest every night.

No wonder he whispered so many romantic things to me in the dark.

I was such a fool.

He wasn't talking to me; he was sending messages to Talia through that pearl.

When he saw me enter, his warmth vanished.

He tucked the pearl into his sleeve with practiced ease.

"Where have you been? Didn't I tell you not to go out?"

"You're weak after the trials. What if a rogue shifter hurt you?"

In the past, I would have been touched by his concern.

But now, I saw the truth in his eyes.

It wasn't worry. It was impatience.

A Heart-Tear needs the Siren to die in a state of peak health to be perfect.

He wasn't worried about me.

He was worried about his precious medicine being damaged.

I forced a smile and spoke coldly.

"Since when do I need your permission to go for a walk?"

Baxon didn't expect that tone.

His face darkened with sudden rage.

"Calliope, you're getting more ungrateful by the day! I ask a simple question, and you catch an attitude?"

"No wonder the other shifters call you a cold-blooded monster. They might be right."

My chest ached, but I kept my eyes fixed on him.

His words weren't just a heat-of-the-moment mistake.

The disgust on his face was real.

He knew why I was being called those things, yet he still used it to wound me.

Did he even remember five years ago?

When he heard those rumors, he nearly killed the shifters who started them.

He had yelled at them back then.

"Whatever Calliope does, she has her reasons! She is my future bride!"

"Anyone who crosses her crosses me! Try me!"

I swallowed my tears and acted like I didn't care.

"Believe whatever they say. It doesn't matter to me."

Baxon glared at me with arrogant disdain.

"Calliope, I can call off this wedding at any time! Think carefully before you decide whether to apologize!"

I turned away and sat down, closing my eyes to meditate.

Baxon let out a frustrated growl.

"Don't you dare regret this!"

2.

Shortly after Baxon left, a small fish-shifter sneaked into the cave.

"Sister Calliope," she whispered.

I opened my eyes. "What is it?"

She blew a bubble toward me.

Inside the reflection, I saw Baxon.

He was holding a woman in a passionate embrace.

He kissed her forehead with a tenderness he never showed me.

"Talia, in three days, we will be together forever."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Three days from now was supposed to be our wedding day.

He had no idea that the wedding wouldn't be happening.

Talia leaned into his chest, acting all shy.

"Why did you take those lightning bolts for her? You lost so much power. Do you love her?"

Baxon looked happier than I had ever seen him.

He kissed her deeply before answering.

"How could I? Everything I did was for you."

"I only saved her from the lightning so her body wouldn't be scarred. I need her to die willingly at the altar."

It felt like invisible hands were ripping my heart out of my chest.

The pain was so sharp I could hardly breathe.

The bubble popped.

The little fish-shifter looked at me with pity.

"Sister, the nasty things everyone says about you... Baxon permitted it."

"The other shifters know the Siren laws. He told them to gossip about you."

So that was it.

The grand gesture that made me fall for him was a lie.

Five hundred years ago, when I first arrived at the coast, an old turtle-shifter begged for one of my scales.

He said he needed it to save his dying grandson.

Siren scales are formed from our very life force.

Our laws strictly forbid giving them to anyone except our true soulmates.

I followed the law and refused him.

A few days later, both he and his grandson died.

The rumors started then. I was called selfish and cruel.

Baxon was the one who stepped up to defend me.

That was how we met.

He had been plotting to trick me from the very beginning.

The fish-shifter left, telling me I didn't deserve this.

My mind was a mess of memories.

Sirens get very sick every September.

Our bodies become unstable, and the fevers can be fatal.

Baxon had gone to great lengths to find a cure for me.

He told me he fought monsters for months in the Forbidden Valley to get a rare herb.

He even said he used his own heart-blood to brew the medicine.

When I saw his scars, I cried and held him.

"You shouldn't have gone. I'm used to the pain."

Because of that medicine, I became the only Siren who didn't fear the September fevers.

Baxon would kiss my brow and whisper.

"Callie, I never want to see you in pain. I want you to be a happy little shifter forever."

And now I knew.

It was all a sham.

He just wanted a healthy Heart-Tear for his Talia.

3.

When Baxon returned to the cave, he was smiling.

I realized he always came back smiling after we fought and he went out.

It was because he had just seen Talia.

But this time, his smile didn't fade when he saw me.

A few servants brought in a vibrant red wedding dress.

Baxon pulled me into his arms.

"Callie, look at the dress. Do you like it? I had it custom-made."

It was a beautiful shade of crimson.

Usually, this would be the happiest moment for a woman.

But the dress was covered in pearls.

I hate pearls.

Baxon knelt in front of me and took my hand.

"I'm sorry for my tone earlier. I'll be a good husband, I promise. Don't be mad, okay?"

His smile looked so genuine.

I pulled my hand away coldly.

"I'm not mad."

If I got mad at everything he did, I would already be dead from stress.

I wasn't angry anymore. I just didn't care.

Baxon leaned in to kiss me.

"After the wedding, let's have a baby. I want a little girl who looks just like you."

The kiss was interrupted by a servant rushing in.

"Prince! Your brother needs you for an urgent matter!"

Baxon looked annoyed.

"Get out! Can't you see I'mD"

He stopped when he saw the servant's face.

His expression turned into one of pure panic.

He shoved me aside and ran toward the door.

I saw her then. The servant was Talia in disguise.

Suddenly, a massive crack of thunder echoed through the cave.

The ground shook. I trembled and grabbed Baxon's sleeve.

I have been terrified of thunder since I was a child.

My parents used to hold me. Later, Baxon did.

He paused, looking at me with a complicated expression.

The thunder roared again.

"Baxon, please don't go," I sobbed. "You know how scared I am."

Talia started wailing, throwing herself into his arms.

"Baxon, I'm so scared! Take me home! Please stay with me tonight!"

Baxon looked at me with a flash of hesitation.

But it only lasted a second.

He ripped his sleeve out of my grip.

He shielded Talia and hurried out of the cave.

He didn't say a single word to me.

As they left, Talia looked back and gave me a triumphant smirk.

I spent the night alone in the dark, listening to the storm.

I felt numb. The pain was so deep it had gone cold.

Tomorrow was supposed to be our wedding.

And he was spending the night in another woman's bed.

I didn't have much to pack. Just a small bag of essentials.

Talia showed up the next morning, looking smug.

"Calliope, you stole Baxon's love for five hundred years. Today, you're going to pay it back."

She stepped on my bag with her expensive shoes.

"The great Siren Princess can't even keep her man. How embarrassing."

I didn't waste words.

I used a flick of my power to slam her into the wall.

She coughed up blood.

I picked up my bag and dusted it off.

"You're a lowly clam-shifter. Don't test me."

"That was a warning. Next time, I won't be so nice."

Talia glared at me, then started laughing through the blood.

"Keep acting tough! Your power is just a gift for me!"

"Baxon only got close to you for your Heart-Tear!"

I smiled mockingly.

"And you think you'll actually get it?"

Talia's eyes flickered. She suddenly dropped to her knees.

"Sister, I'm sorry! Please don't be mad at Baxon!"

Before I could react, Baxon stormed in.

He saw Talia on her knees and his eyes turned murderous.

He rushed to her side and screamed at me.

"Calliope! How dare you lay a hand on her!"

Talia leaned into him, crying fake tears.

"Don't blame her, Baxon. She's just upset you stayed with me last night. I deserve this."

She coughed up more blood for effect.

Baxon's knuckles cracked as he balled his fists.

"Calliope! Do you know how hard she worked for her cultivation?"

I wanted to defend myself.

But looking at his icy stare, the words died in my throat.

What was the point? He wouldn't believe me anyway.

Talia tugged on his shirt, looking at me with malice.

"I heard Siren scales can heal anything... maybe she could give me one?"

Baxon didn't even hesitate.

"Yes."

He raised his hand and cast a binding spell on me.

Agony flared through my body.

My legs fused together, and I shifted into my Siren form.

He walked toward me, holding Talia.

"Take as many as you want, Talia. She owes you!"

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