Page 21 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy #2)

Abraxis

Mina has been on edge lately. The tension rolls off her in waves, sharp and heady, like the ozone before a lightning strike.

After surviving dinner with her last week, her intentions are as clear as glass.

She wants Leander—desires him with a hunger that’s almost tangible.

But she’s not acting on it, and I need to know why.

The corridors of Shadowcarve are cloaked in dim, flickering light, the stone walls cold enough to leech warmth from the air.

My boots click softly against the polished floor as I make my way to Leander’s office.

The faint scent of ink and old parchment hits me as I push the heavy oak door open without knocking.

“Hello to you too, Abraxis. What brings you here?” Leander doesn’t look up at first, motioning lazily to the chairs in front of his desk as he finishes jotting something down.

“Mina,” I say, her name leaving my lips like a low growl, more a statement than an answer. His pen freezes mid-stroke, and he’s on his feet in a heartbeat .

“Is she okay? Does she need us?” There’s a panic in his voice, and he moves for the door like a predator zeroing in on its prey.

I grab his wrist, the heat of his pulse thrumming beneath my fingers.

“She’s fine,” I say evenly, releasing him before the tension in his arm becomes resistance.

My wings unfurl slightly, shifting as I lean back against the wall.

The faint rustle of their leathery folds echoes in the quiet space.

“I’m more curious why you haven’t completed your bond yet. ”

Leander exhales sharply and returns to his desk, but instead of sitting, he perches on the edge, his posture tight, his expression guarded.

“I’m honestly not sure,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I wake up with her in my bed, roll her onto her back, kissing her—hell, grinding against her—to show her I’m down for whatever she wants. But it doesn’t go any further.”

His words hang in the air, thick and heavy, and the scent of his frustration is palpable—a faint mix of salt and something darker, like scorched wood.

“She’s not taking it further?” I ask, my voice dropping an octave, carrying a faint edge of disbelief.

“No,” he replies, shaking his head, his brow furrowed.

“Hmm…” I let the sound draw out, considering the puzzle before me. Her hesitation doesn’t sit right. Something is off, and I won’t let it fester. “Hold that thought.”

The cool air shifts as I stand, my shadow stretching long and distorted across the stone walls.

Without waiting for a response, I leave his office, the door creaking shut behind me.

Now, I need to find our wayward mate and figure out what the hell is holding her back.

I won’t allow another damaged bond in this nest .

Mina is at Ranathor Keep, the sharp twang of her bowstring slicing through the cool evening air.

Each arrow she releases sails with deadly precision, thudding into the targets that Callan raises from their hidden locations.

The faint scent of wood smoke and the earthy tang of damp stone mix with the lingering sweetness of Mina’s perfume—something spicy and wild, just like her.

“I need to steal Mina for a minute,” I call to Callan before he can raise the next target. My voice echoes off of the towering stone walls, startling a nearby crow into flight.

Mina spins toward me, lowering her bow, her movements fluid as a predator’s.

Her gaze locks on mine, molten amber and swirling with unrest. She’s on edge—I feel it in the charged stillness around her.

“Hey, baby,” she purrs, her voice a low hum that curls through me like smoke.

She rises onto her tiptoes, her lips brushing mine, warm and soft with a lingering taste of the honeyed tea she must have sipped earlier.

I kiss her back, savoring the fleeting connection, before stepping back. “I need to ask you a serious question.” My tone hardens as Callan ambles over, boots crunching against the loose gravel.

“What’s stopping you from finishing your bond with Leander?” I cut straight to it; there’s no point in sugarcoating with Mina. She’s as volatile as a lightning storm, and indirectness only fuels her fire.

Her answer is immediate, her voice carrying an edge of frustration. “He’s prey, and I’m afraid of hurting him.” Her words hang in the air, sharp and clear, like a blade drawn in warning. From her perspective, it’s painfully obvious, and I suppose it is—looking at it from the eyes of a dragon.

“What do you need us to do?” Callan beats me to the punch, his tone steady, though his jaw tightens. The faint scent of leather and steel from his armor mixes with Mina’s wilder scent as she pivots toward him.

The moment her brow arches, a flicker of something dark and dangerous sparks in her eyes.

We’re in deep shit; I know that look all too well.

“I need one of my other mates in with us, just in case.” Her voice drops, softer but no less commanding.

Her gaze flicks between Callan and me before settling on him.

“You’re a predator, but not a big predator like me and Abraxis. ”

She steps closer to Callan, her boots whispering against the stone, the sound unnervingly soft.

Tilting her head from side to side, she studies him with an intensity that makes him shift on his feet.

Her fingers snap out, gripping his tie, the fabric rasping as she tugs him toward her.

The space between them collapses, charged and crackling with tension.

“You’d be safe to be in there with us,” she murmurs, her voice dripping with confidence. Callan’s breath catches, and I can almost see the gears turning in his mind.

“You want two mates at once?” My voice comes out rough, disbelief coloring my words.

For a moment, I wonder if I misheard her—or if my thoughts are playing tricks on me, dredging up scenes from late-night scrolls through Scalehub.

But the glint in her eyes tells me otherwise.

She’s serious. Deadly serious. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m intrigued.

Mina turns to look at me, and the curve of her lips hardens me in an instant, heat pooling low in my gut.

Her smile is a weapon, sharp and deliberate, the kind that promises pain and pleasure in equal measure.

“I mean, you and Vaughn could be fun. But the other dragons when they hatch…” Her voice trails off, sultry and thick, like smoke curling through the air.

She whistles low, the so und sending a shiver skittering down my spine, and tilts her head back.

Her hand wraps around her own throat, pale fingers digging into her skin as a guttural purr rolls out of her chest. The vibration hums in the air between us, primal and electric, making the fine hairs on my arms rise.

She rolls her head to the side, exposing the elegant curve of her neck before her gaze locks on mine again.

Her smile deepens, a predator eyeing prey, before her attention flicks to Callan.

“Later tonight, my apartment here. Just the three of us.” Her voice is a dark promise, low and dripping with intent.

Her lips part, revealing the glint of elongated canines.

My breath hitches when her tongue flicks out, slow and sinuous, dragging over the sharp points of her teeth.

The flash of her pupils—slitted and inhuman—sends a primal thrill through me, my dragon shifting restlessly within.

She doesn’t wait for a response, just turns and strides back to the targets, her movements sleek and purposeful, like a predator returning to its hunt.

Callan’s throat bobs as he swallows hard, his wide-eyed gaze darting between Mina and me. “She’s extra spicy today, isn’t she?” he whispers, his voice shaky.

The tension in his words draws a smirk to my lips, though it’s tinged with frustration.

Her feral energy, the edge to her movements, is my fault.

I haven’t been able to keep up with her lately—not with my injuries, not with how drained I’ve been.

She’s holding back with the others, I know that.

They’re smaller, weaker in her eyes because of their shifts.

With me, she can let loose. She can be as rough, as aggressive, as dominant as she craves.

It’s why our shoulders are littered with our bites scarred so no one questions who we belong to.

And she needs that—needs me at my best.

I glance toward the targets, watching the fluid, forceful way she moves. The impact of each shot she fires ripples through the air, the sharp tang of arousal mingling with her scent—a heady mix of smoke and wildflowers, laced with something darker and more primal.

In a way, I can’t wait for Klauth and Thauglor to hatch. It’s exhausting being the only male dragon in the nest, bearing the full weight of her needs. But for now, she’s mine to handle. And tonight? They’re in for one hell of a ride.

Shaking my head, I leave Callan to finish the archery session with Mina.

The sounds of bowstrings snapping and arrows striking their targets fade behind me.

The tension in the air lingers, prickling at the back of my neck.

I know the root of the problem now, and I need to warn Leander before he walks blindly into a disaster.

Instead of walking the short distance back to Shadowcarve, I take to the sky.

The rush of wind tears past me, cool and sharp, against the leather of my wings.

The weight of my thoughts dulls any pleasure I might have found in the flight, but for a brief moment, the air tastes crisp and free.

My boots scrape the stone as I land in the courtyard, the impact reverberating up my legs, grounding me.

I rush up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

The echoes of my boots are a drumbeat in the hollow silence of the hallway.

When I reach Leander’s office, I don’t bother knocking.

The door creaks in protest as I push it open.

His scent—ink, parchment, and a faint trace of pine—hits me before his gaze does.

His eyes whip up to meet mine, and I see the color drain from his face. His breathing falters, shallow and uneven, as if he can feel the storm I’m carrying with me.

“Mina is almost feral because of how often I’ve been called away—and because of my recent injury,” I say, my voice low but tense.

My gaze drops to the dull sheen on my black boots before snapping back to him.

My throat tightens as I force the next words out.

“Dragons can be rough. Aggressive during sex.”

I reach up and pull the collar of my shirt aside, exposing the pale, silvered marks of healed bites and the raw redness of newer ones.

The cool air brushes against my skin, making the faint sting of the fresh wounds more pronounced.

Mina’s teeth. Dozens of them, leaving their claim on me repeatedly.

Leander swallows hard, his knuckles whitening as he grips the edge of his desk. “She’s scared of hurting you,” I continue, each word a sharp edge. “So, she’s bringing Callan in with you tonight—for your safety.”

His jaw tightens, but his eyes glaze over for a moment. I can see the shock settling over him like a weight. “She wants a threesome?” The question hangs in the air, but his expression shifts, his eyes burning orange as his nightmare stirs beneath the surface.

“It’s more that she’s afraid because you’re prey,” I explain, shrugging as casually as I can while sitting on the back of the couch, facing his desk. The leather creaks under my weight. “If you startle, she might accidentally hurt you. Prey drive and all.”

Leander tilts his head, his lips pressing into a thin line as he pieces it together. “Why doesn’t she want you in there?” he asks, his voice sharp, his eyes narrowing.

I hesitate, the silence stretching like a taut wire. The air between us thickens, heavy with unspoken truths, and I know he won’t like the answer.

“Two dragons would definitely trigger your shift,” I add, watching him closely. “And if that happens, someone might accidentally get burned—or torn apart.” I pause, letting the gravity of it sink in. My dragon shifts uneasily within me, sensing Leander’s rising tension.

“I assume it’s happening at her apartment here?” His voice is thin as he reaches for his day planner, the faint scratch of pencil against paper almost drowned out by the pounding in my ears.

“Yes.” The word feels like lead on my tongue. It’s as if I’m sentencing my best friend to death.

“Okay.” He stands abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor, and leaves without another word.

I stare at his desk for too long, tracing the grain of the wood with my eyes, before finally pulling myself away.

My legs feel heavy as I make my way back to my office.

The scent of the ancient stone halls—cold and damp—clings to me.

I know I won’t sleep tonight. I’ll stay close, ready, in case things go bad.