Page 20 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy #2)

Mina

Morning arrives far too early, the light creeping in like an unwelcome intruder.

I groan and bury my face in my pillow, dreading the day ahead.

My birthday. A day I loathe every single year.

Last year wasn’t awful—being at the academy meant I escaped the usual gauntlet of sparring and fights back home.

But this year feels heavier, weighed down by everything happening around us.

I didn’t climb into bed until nearly five this morning.

Not until I was sure Abraxis was deeply asleep.

The injuries he came back with this time are worse than anything I’ve ever seen.

His body is a roadmap of bruises, fresh scars marking his skin like battle trophies.

My poor mate is stretched too thin, balancing his academy duties and responsibilities with his fighters.

I spent hours tending to him, oiling his wings, massaging the tension from his shoulders and back.

He fell asleep almost instantly, his exhaustion radiating from him like a physical weight.

Now, as I roll onto my back, I sigh. I should go check on him, make sure he eats and gets another soak.

My heart aches for him, for the endless demands placed on his shoulders.

Shaking off the lethargy, I drag myself out of bed and pull on a pair of leggings and Abraxis’s oversized tee shirt I snagged last night.

It still smells like him, a faint comfort.

I turn the doorknob quietly and slip out into the main living space, padding softly to the bathroom to run a bath for him. The sound of water fills the air, and I test the temperature, adding the oils and herbs I know will help his wings heal faster.

When I step out of the bathroom, I’m greeted by a chorus of voices yelling, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

I scream, heart leaping into my throat as I stumble back, nearly falling on my ass. All the guys are standing there, grinning like idiots, a candle jammed into a donut in Balor’s hand.

“Holy shit!” I yell, collapsing against the doorframe, clutching my chest as if that might keep my heart from bursting free. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Abraxis chuckles, then winces, clutching his side. “Told them ambushing you was a bad idea.”

I narrow my eyes at him but can’t fight the small smile tugging at my lips. Crossing the room, I take his arm, guiding him toward the bathroom. “Give me a few minutes, guys. I’ll be back out.”

They retreat to the kitchenette, shuffling and whispering, probably planning the next way to traumatize me.

“You don’t have to do this,” Abraxis says softly as we enter the bathroom. He presses a gentle kiss to my temple. “I can handle getting in the tub on my own. ”

I shake my head, determination solidifying my resolve. “I want to take care of you.”

Without hesitation, I shimmy out of my leggings and toss aside the oversized tee, leaving me in my sports bra and boy shorts. “Now get in the water so I can treat your wings and back.” I waggle my fingers at the sunken tub, a smirk teasing my lips.

Abraxis gives me a weary but grateful smile, the kind that makes my heart ache and flutter all at once. As he settles into the water, I roll up my sleeves—figuratively, at least. Today might be my birthday, but taking care of him feels like the only thing that truly matters.

When I’m finally satisfied that Abraxis is taken care of, I pull on my clothes and step out of the bathroom, the lingering warmth of the moment fading as I rejoin the guys. “So?” I ask, taking the coffee Balor hands me with a grateful smile. “Why is everyone up so early?”

Balor slides a donut in front of me and relights the candles perched on top. I raise a brow at him, but he just smirks. I stare at the flickering flames for a moment, then blow it out with a quick puff before taking a bite of the sugary treat.

“We have a whole day planned for you,” Callan announces, his grin wide and boyish as he motions to the family day planner sitting open on the counter. “In about thirty minutes, we’re taking off on our date.”

My brow arches in surprise, but before I can respond, Vaughn cuts in. “We each get two hours of focused time with you before dinner.” His tone is calm, but there’s a softness in his expression, a warmth that catches me off guard.

“And dinner is at Drakus tonight,” Leander adds, leaning back in his chair with an easy smile. “We reserved a private room for the nest.”

I tilt my head, my curiosity piqued. “You remembered?” My voice softens, and I find myself smiling as I glance down at the half-eaten donut in my hand.

“Of course I did.” Leander’s gaze doesn’t waver, his voice steady and sure. “You told me how much you loved it when you and Cora went there for her birthday. So I figured we’d take you there this year for yours.”

He gestures toward the others gathered around the table. “It was a joint decision. I just suggested the place.”

For a moment, I’m caught off guard. Their thoughtfulness isn’t new, but this.

.. this is different. I set the donut down and look at each of them, the threads of our connection humming faintly in my chest. “Thank you,” I say quietly, my words carrying more weight than I intend.

This—being seen, being remembered—means more than I can put into words.

Today feels like a bizarre game of musical nest mates, with me as the prize.

Every two hours, one of them meets the other wherever we are, switches out, and takes me on the next adventure.

It’s almost ridiculous how seamless their plan is—like they coordinated every detail to keep me constantly on my toes.

Ziggy, ever the curious one, asked me where three places I’d go if I could go anywhere.

I didn’t think much of it when I answered, listing off the most ancient temples of our dragon gods I’ve always wanted to see.

Next thing I know, we’re phasing through space, jumping from one destination to the next.

I stand in awe before the grandeur of the temples, each one more breathtaking than the last. The temple of the Goddess Tiamat the great grand daughter of the Blood Queen steals my breath with its ancient majesty.

In the heart of the sanctuary, there’s a wish jar—a sealed vessel meant to hold the greatest desires of those who visit.

You write your wish on a slip of parchment and let it join the hundreds of others already inside.

My fingers tremble as I scribble my one wish: that my mates may one day know peace and happiness.

It’s a simple hope, but one I hold so fiercely that my chest aches with it.

I slide the parchment into the jar and draw in a deep breath, closing my eyes to make the wish stick in the depths of my soul.

If the gods have any mercy, they’ll hear it.

When we return, it’s Abraxis’s turn. He takes me to the spa, where we soak in the healing pools nestled deep in the mountain.

The hot spring feeds into the pools, its waters known for their ability to heal wounds, ease stress, and cure illnesses.

Abraxis knew I’d be worried about him, about everything, so he chose a place where we could simply be .

Relax. The warm water soothes more than just my body—it feels like it’s cleansing my soul. He knows me so well, and it’s perfect.

When we get back home, there’s an odd hour slot before dinner that catches me off guard. “You can hang out with the eggs for the next hour,” Balor says, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he hands me the pillow holding Klauth’s and Thauglor’s eggs. Iris curled protectively beside them.

I blink at him, a bit stunned, before the realization settles in. The guys really thought of everything. Each one planned a date or trip to make me feel special, but they even factored in the ones who couldn’t be with us yet—the mates still trapped in their eggs.

With a full heart, I curl up in my recliner, the eggs, and Iris nestled safely on my lap.

As the warmth from the pillow seeps into me, I let my eyes drift shut.

A nap sounds heavenly. Dinner will be its own adventure, but for now, I’m content in this quiet moment with all of them close, no matter their form.

Ziggy makes three trips to move the entire nest to the restaurant, sparing anyone from the hassle of flying the family over.

The guys don’t argue when I insist on bringing the egg carrier with me, and I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or just another sign that they’re too tired to fight me on anything tonight.

Part of me keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, for this all to unravel and reveal itself as a dream.

Any second now, I’ll wake up late for class, heart pounding, and the egg nothing but a fading memory.

The waiter approaches, and Abraxis doesn’t miss a beat.

He orders the family sampler meal, a spread designed to offer a bit of everything for dinner.

I tilt my head, listening as he carefully discusses the platter’s options with the waiter, making minor adjustments here and there.

He even thinks about the nest, making sure there’s something for everyone.

It amazes me how much attention he’s paid, how effortlessly he keeps track of everyone’s quirks and preferences.

“Is there anything else you’d like to do tonight?

” Ziggy asks, breaking into my thoughts as he tears a piece of buttered bread.

The soft rip of the crust echoes faintly in the dimly lit room, and the rich scent of warm butter mingles with the smoky tang of roasted meat.

He pops the bread into his mouth, chewing casually, oblivious to the storm brewing within me.

“There’s one thing…” I reply, feeling a familiar heat rise within me, smoldering low in my belly.

My dragoness stirs, a restless coil of power that ripples through my consciousness.

Her presence is hot and demanding, like molten fire skimming just beneath my skin.

Nights of restraint—just sleeping, just snuggling with Leander—have been driving me to the brink of insanity.

The faint cedar and fallen snow of his scent lingers on my clothes, teasing me, tormenting me.

He’s prey; I’m a dragon. It might not even be safe for us to be alone together.

But inviting Abraxis in? His feral aura is just as dangerous, like an uncoiled viper waiting to strike.

A slow smirk tugs at my lips, a predatory edge curling into the expression as my gaze sweeps over the table.

The flickering candlelight casts long shadows on their faces, sharpening their features, and highlighting every subtle twitch of muscle.

My tongue darts out, wetting my lips as my canines lengthen, the slight pressure sending a thrill through my gums. The weight of their attention settles on me—heavy, expectant—though they don’t yet understand what’s coming.

“I’ll claim what I want for my birthday present at a later date,” I murmur, my voice low, silky, and dripping with intent.

The words hang in the air, charged and electric.

Abraxis’s eyebrows shoot up, his golden eyes narrowing as his gaze darts around the table before snapping back to me.

He knows. Oh, he knows exactly what I’m after.

The realization sets my pulse thrumming with anticipation.

The challenge now is figuring out how to pull it off—how to make him feel safe enough to be alone with me, one on one, when my dragoness is so very hungry.

I bite into one of the candied ribs, the sticky glaze clinging to my fingers.

The sweet tang of honey and spices blooms on my tongue, but it’s a pale pleasure compared to the thrill coursing through my veins.

The faint crackle of the meat under my teeth sends a shiver of satisfaction down my spine.

A deep, rumbling purr escapes me, vibrating in my chest, low and feral.

The fact they have no clue what I’m plotting is utterly delicious, like a forbidden treat waiting to be devoured.