Dashen told Sabrina that it is actually very rare for dragon shapeshifters younger than 2,000 years old to find their perfect human match. Even if it was an accident. It was so rare, he has not heard of it in several thousand years. In fact, he told her that the council of elders held a meeting because they do not know how to manage her case.
"It took them a while to finally come up with a decision to force you to leave your human match," he told her.
Sabrina was not in the least appeased by this. Nor could she understand why they are all in such a panic about her finding her match before she is "of age". It is only another 500 years, time passes quickly when you are an immortal and time stretches on forever into eternity. Being called underage at 1,500 years old is kind of ridiculous actually.
"But why am I not allowed to be with my human match before turning 2,000 years old? Is there a reason for it?" she asked.
As far as she can remember, there were no actual reasons listed for why dragon shapeshifters below the age of 2,000 should not seek out their perfect human match to mate. Normally, dragon shapeshifters who have turned 1,500 years of age will be chosen to integrate with the human realm as practise for them to get used to the humans and how things were done in that realm. It was also a sort of training for the dragon shapeshifters to not accidentally reveal the existence of dragon shapeshifters and magic to the humans. Only human matches of dragons above 2,000 years old will be allowed to know the secrets of the dragon shapeshifters and their clans.
"It is a rule the clan council created to protect young and low rank dragons from accidentally revealing their real identities to humans," Dashen told her.
He said young and low rank dragons still do not have the power to discern which human is their actual perfect match and if they were to reveal the secrets of the dragon shapeshifters and magic to these humans, it could drive them mad or worse, they could try to reveal their secrets to the whole world.
"When you reveal it to your perfect human match, due to them being your mate, they will have a strong compulsion to keep it a secret and they will never reveal our existence to other humans," he said.
Sabrina gulped guiltily. She had revealed herself and the existence of dragon shapeshifters to Kavan even before she could confirm that he is her perfect human match. She might have suspected it due to the inexplicable draw between them but she had assumed it was just lust. She was just lucky that he ended up as her human match.
However, that does not explain the clan council of elders' decision to stop her from being with her human match. She found her perfect match and he will not reveal their secrets.
"He is my perfect match and he won't reveal our secrets so I don't see what is the problem about me being with him," she asked, puzzled.
Dashen sighed loudly and patiently.
"You won't have the power to give him immortal life and you will gain that power only at 2,000 years old so this means, he will remain mortal and you will outlive him, then what are you going to do? You will not find another perfect match again," he said.
She considered this for a moment. But even if she doesn't stay with him, he remains as her perfect match, so it doesn't change anything. She will still not be able to find another match after Kavan dies at the end of his mortal life. She told Dashen this.
"Logically, that's how it works. However, you are young, you have not had offsprings…ahem, which you called spawns, so there is still a possibility of you finding another human match after you turn 2,000, maybe even a reincarnation of Kavan," he said.
"But if I stay with him now until the end of his mortal life, this means I will not be able to meet the reincarnation of him 500 years later?" it just doesn't make sense. But then, the cosmic and their magic and the balance of the elements never usually make much human sense.
"Yes, because you have already had offsprings with him, there is no more need for you to meet another perfect match," Dashen said.
"So, we are basically penguins? We mate for life and if one dies, it sucks for the other one forever?" she asked.
"Well, not exactly, penguins do find other mates eventually…we don't," he pointed out.
She huffed.
"Well, it sucks to be dragon shapeshifters then…what's the point of all the power and magic and balancing the elements and whatnots but we have no choice when it comes to our mates," she said.
"But we have digressed! What is it that you are proposing to help Kavan and I?"
"Yes, I was about to come to it before you interrupt me with all these questions. I want to support you both, I don't see why you can't stay together…maybe you will gain more power to make him immortal,"
"So, I will provide a shield, the council elders will not be able to detect you and Kavan together, they will not be able to detect Kavan at all actually," he said.
Sabrina was pleasantly surprised. Dashen, the annoying pompous clan leader she had served like a slave, is actually offering to help. Then she remembered. He will not do anything for free. She narrowed her eyes.
"In return for?"
"Oh easy. Just. Get. Meera. OFF MY BACK with this whole feminism crusade she is on," he snarled.
She giggled despited herself. So, her trick to get Meera on her side worked. It worked so well, it irritated Dashen.
"Hmmm…I don't know…it's not easy since she is passionate about equality and all," she said.
Dashen glared at her.
"I knew it! You put her up to it! You!"
"Hey, you cornered me and made Kavan think I am an adulterous wife so it's only fair," she shrugged.
He rubbed his forehead, resigned.
"Look, it was for your own good, I didn't want the elders to find out but you went and mate with him which sent a huge alarm to the sea jade palace," he told her.
She was surprised. How can a low rank dragon shapeshifter mating with her human match cause an alarm to ring in the sea jade palace? It was totally unheard of. Unless they were tracking her.
"Were they tracking me? How else is there an alarm? I mean I sleep around with various humans over the years and no alarm went off,"
"I was told the alarm will sound if an underage dragon mates with their human match," Dashen explained.
Sabrina made an exasperated sound.
"Please do not use the word underage. You make it sound like I am 15 instead of 1,500 years old!" she said.
Dashen was unperturbed. Instead, he continued explaining his plans on how to shield her and help her.
"Since you no longer have your powers, it will be even easier to shield you and I will not release you from duty so soon anyway,"
"Meera didn't seem keen to marry me anyway…" he hang his head at that.
Sabrina didn't know what to say. If she continues to egg Meera on to marry Dashen, it meant that she has to be called back to serve at the sea jade palace. If she doesn't, she gets to stay with Kavan - granted it is without her powers - but Dashen and Meera might not be happy.
But then again, both of them have been together for over a decade without being actually married. So, it won't make much of a difference anyway.
"How many years?" she asked.
"I can give you 10 years with him and after that, you will have to find a way to win the elders over before the time ends," he offered.
Ten human years is a fair trade but it was a short time for dragon shapeshifters. It could fly by so fast that she might not even realise it.
"But what if I got pregnant? Then what happens?" she asked.
"If you get your own spawns, I can't help you anymore, the elders will find out and my shield won't be able to cover it up,"
"The consequences will be much harsher, it could even mean death for Kavan," he said.
She gasped. She will not put her sweet gentle Kavan's life in jeopardy. The problem now is that they've made love so many times without protection. She hoped she didn't get pregnant from their marathon sex sessions already.
As if reading her mind and her worries, Dashen assured her that it was not so easy for dragon shapeshifters to get pregnant, even with their human match, especially if they are underage.
"Only those above 2,000 years are mature enough to get pregnant easily so you don't have to worry about it but still, it can happen so you have to be extra careful from now onwards," he warned her.
She nodded. There are not birth control pills for dragon shapeshifters so it would seem that Kavan has to use condoms. It would suck but it would also literally save his life.
"So, I can go back to him now? He might be frantic with worry by now," she asked. In human time, she would have been gone for two whole weeks. Dashen might be climbing the walls now wondering what had happened to her.
"Go, just be careful and by the way, please remember this is a huge sacrifice on my side so, don't screw up," Dashen warned her.