Page 15 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy #2)
As the door closes behind them, silence settles over us like a heavy shroud. My fists clench at my sides, and I force myself to focus on my breathing, keeping my emotions in check. But one glance at Leander tells me everything I need to know—he’s unraveling, caught in a storm he didn’t ask for.
“What do I do?” Leander’s voice wavers as he looks between me, Callan, and then Ziggy, searching for an answer that won’t tear him apart inside.
Ziggy shrugs, his grin sharp and unapologetic. “Don’t look at me, man. I’d say hell to the yes if I was chosen.” His calm confidence throws Leander off balance, and it’s almost satisfying to see the crack in his usual composure.
Leander huffs, running a hand through his hair as he mutters, “There’s so many dragons in the bond.
Or will be. You know how they get…” His voice trails off, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.
We all do. The memory of Mina’s last yearly—how we’d been forced to sedate her to keep her from destroying herself and everything around her. The raw power. The chaos.
Callan steps forward, his calm demeanor unshaken as he rests a hand on Leander’s shoulder.
“Yes, we’ve got three dragons to help endure her aggression when the time comes—when we’re ready to have kids.
” He pauses, a dark humor tugging at his lips.
“But I don’t know about you, Leander. I don’t fancy getting torn to shreds just to bring a child into the world. ”
The corners of my mouth twitch in response to Callan’s bluntness, but I don’t let the amusement show.
Callan moves to the kitchenette, his focus shifting as he sets a kettle on the stove to boil water for tea.
The quiet clink of the teapot fills the room, a stark contrast to the weight of the conversation hanging over us .
The whistle of the kettle almost drowns out the sounds coming from Mina’s bedroom.
Almost. Moans, growls, and the occasional crash or snap of something breaking echo down the hallway.
I shift uncomfortably, my eyes fixed on the paintings hanging on the wall in front of me. We all do—pretending we don’t hear it.
Ziggy, ever calm, drops tea bags into mugs and pours hot water before bringing the tray to the table. He sets it down with a soft clink and studies the nearest painting, like he’s analyzing a battlefield.
“So, if this painting is accurate, Mina will have six mates in her nest?” Ziggy asks, his voice infuriatingly even.
“As of right now, yes,” Callan replies, glancing briefly at the egg carrier on the table beside him.
“What do you mean, as of right now ?” Leander asks, stirring his tea without looking up.
Callan exhales through his nose, his gaze sharpening as he scrutinizes the painting. “Some dragonesses have eight to ten males in their nest,” he says, his voice carrying a note of careful thought. “Mina’s being strategic, if you ask me.”
I step closer to the paintings, my curiosity outweighing my unease. “Can you elaborate?”
Callan gestures toward the painting’s details.
“Black dragons are territorial. At night, their scales make them nearly invisible. Red dragons, as they age, produce fire so hot it can melt metal. Klauth is already at wyrm status; his flames could reduce anything to slag.” He motions to a section of the painting depicting Klauth standing alone, his claws clutching what can only be Mina’s father’s broken body.
“Gryphons have unmatched eyesight,” Callan continues, pointing to his own good eye, then nodding toward Leander. “Nightmares—like you—are living lie detectors, able to read people’s intentions like flipping through a book.”
I freeze mid-step, the weight of his words pulling at my thoughts. “Why would she pick me?” I murmur, taking a sip of the tea Ziggy handed me, letting the heat steady me.
Callan doesn’t even pause. “Gargoyles are nearly indestructible.” His tone is flat, but his words land heavy. “She’s building her nest for offense and defense. She’s choosing mates who can protect, attack, and counter any threat that comes her way.”
The pieces fall into place, and I stagger slightly, perching on the arm of the couch. My mind reels as the implications settle in. “Klauth is dragonic royalty,” Callan adds, quieter now. “When he hatches, if he can regain his human side, he’ll rule over all dragon kind.”
My throat tightens, and I glance back at the painting, feeling the enormity of what’s happening crash into me like a tidal wave. “Mina is his queen…” I breathe.
Callan only nods, his expression unreadable.
My gaze shifts to Ziggy, who’s staring at the painting with a calculating look.
My mind churns with possibilities. If I were Mina, I’d consider adding Ziggy—the displacer beast—to the nest. His ability to warp space could ensure her and any future children’s swift escape in the worst-case scenario. The thought makes my stomach churn.
The possibilities are endless, and for the first time, I wonder if even Mina realizes the full weight of what she’s building.