Page 41 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy #2)

Mina

It’s been two hours, and I can finally feel them start to tire.

Thank the goddess—I don’t think I can take any more.

A breathy moan escapes my lips as Callan buries himself deep inside me, reaching his peak just as I do.

Waves of molten pleasure ripple through my body, every inch of me alive with a faint, buzzing sensitivity that makes me tremble.

My skin prickles with the lingering heat of our exertion, the air around us heavy with the salty tang of sweat and the heady musk of lust.

Callan slips free, and I shudder from the sudden coolness on my flushed skin.

I think it’s over—until Leander’s strong arms slide beneath me, lifting me against his chest as he pushes his length inside.

My voice comes out in a breathless gasp, morphing quickly into a chorus of low, continuous moans that echo around the walls.

I’m lightheaded from the exertion, and my senses blur into a whirl of warmth, friction, and the faint scent of his cedar-and-smoke cologne.

The minute his shaft shifts, a deeper pressure flares inside, reminiscent of a drake’s length.

It calls back memories of Abraxis—my body remembers that sensation all too well.

“One more time, baby,” Leander purrs, nuzzling against my cheek.

“Just a little more.” His teeth graze my ear, a gentle scrape that sends sparks down my spine, and I break apart in his arms, crying out his name until my voice is hoarse.

Two more thrusts and he stills, each pulse echoing through my core, making my vision go hazy with pleasure.

He carries me toward the stairs and sits down, keeping me straddled over his lap.

Every muscle in my limbs feels boneless, and I slump forward, resting my head on his shoulder.

His chest is slick with sweat, but it’s oddly comforting against my heated skin.

My breath comes in shallow pants, mingling with the faint, smoky scent from the fireplace nearby.

“Hey Mina, are you ready for dinner?” Vaughn’s chipper voice drifts over, and I yawn, eyelids heavy. The promise of food sends a distant pang through my belly—I’m suddenly aware of how ravenous I am, despite the pleasant exhaustion weighing me down.

“Dinner?” I manage in a half-murmur, struggling to keep my eyes open. A faint warning hums beneath my fatigue. There’s something off. I’ve had more sex in the last twenty-four hours than in the entire past month, and it’s catching up to me in ways that feel … strange.

“Yeah, dinner … I’m making roast lamb, potatoes, and a side salad.

It’s my turn to cook, remember?” Vaughn says with a grin, then glances over at Callan, who’s pulling on his pants.

Callan murmurs something in Vaughn’s ear, and I catch the shift in Vaughn’s posture—he stiffens, tension drawing his shoulders tight.

I’m too spent to even muster curiosity. My mind wanders, floating somewhere between bliss and the edge of concern, when Abraxis appears.

His presence is unmistakable—a silent force that sets my dragon stirring.

He scoops me up, his warmth surrounding me, and his low, deep growl resonates in my bones like a lullaby.

I sink into the sound, letting it lull me into oblivion.

The last coherent thought I have is that something big is happening—something they aren’t telling me.

But I’m too sated, too drowsy, to care … at least for now.

I wake up what feels like forever later, my head buzzing with sluggish warmth and the faint metallic tang of dragon magic hanging in the air.

My sheets rustle as I stir, and I notice Ziggy’s displacer beast nestled against my side.

Its sleek fur bristles beneath my fingertips, and I can feel a steady, low purr vibrating through its muscular flank.

The egg carrier, soft leather straps and all, rests snugly beside me.

From the faint scent of floral soap on my skin, Abraxis must have cleaned me up and dressed me before depositing me here.

“Hey, Zig…” I yawn, the dryness in my throat crackling as I stretch. My joints pop, sending a tingling wave through my arms.

He shifts back on my mattress, and I blink several times to clear my vision until I meet his eerie green eyes.

The glow of them catches the dim light in my room, making them look almost luminescent.

A pang of curiosity flickers in my chest—he wouldn’t be a bad addition to my nest. Tilting my head, I watch him force a small smile.

“We were holding dinner until you woke up,” he says as he rolls off the bed. He offers me a gloved hand, the leather creaking softly when I slip my fingers into it.

I accept the help, then reach back to buckle the carrier under my breasts. The cool straps bite into my rib cage, a subtle reminder of what’s inside. “I’m starving,” I manage through another yawn. My stomach twists and growls in agreement, a hollow pang echoing in my core.

Ziggy grabs my hand, and together we leave the bedroom. The hallway beyond is shadowy, lit here and there by flickering sconces. A warm, spicy scent wafts in the air—dinner waiting for us.

“You definitely need to eat. You went through three out of four mates over five-plus hours,” he says, voice tinged with amusement.

“If you weren’t fresh out of your yearly, I’d say it was starting.

” My cheeks heat at the reminder, and he sweeps my hair aside, exposing my scales.

His fingertips brush them lightly, sending a jolt of awareness through my body.

“Still emerald and silver—we’re good.” He laughs, a nervous edge to the sound.

Rolling my eyes, I step into the dining space, which smells of roasted meats and spiced sauces.

“Listen, I don’t want eggs yet. I’m far too young, and it’s not safe for me.

” My voice comes out steadier than I feel.

I peer up and see all the guys watching me.

Heat blooms on my cheeks again—part embarrassment, part unease.

“I know all the risks if I try laying eggs too young. We’ve got another three years before it’s safe.

” Out of habit, my hand drifts to the implant in my arm.

The small, firm rod beneath my skin is reassuring beneath my touch.

“We’re aware, mate. I’ve been teaching the guys about dragon anatomy and biological processes,” Abraxis says, running his hand down his face. His expression tightens with a grave sort of concern.

“Nooo…” A surge of icy fear grips me, and I cross the room in quick steps. “Please tell me she has the implant like I do.” Abraxis shakes his head, and my heart sinks, as if weighted by lead.

“What’s happening?” Vaughn asks, his voice warbling with uncertainty. His gaze sweeps over everyone’s faces before landing on me .

“Cora…” I stare down at the plate of food he set before me. The mouthwatering aroma of savory meats and steamed vegetables suddenly turns my stomach. A lump rises in my throat.

“What about Cora?” Balor settles beside me, the cedar-like scent he always carries lingering around him.

“Her yearly … It was a few days after mine,” I whisper, eyes fixed on the glossy sheen of the roasted meat in front of me. My palms feel clammy, and I grip my fork until my knuckles whiten. My hands tremble, sending shivers across the cutlery.

“So they sedated her just like we did with you, right?” Balor says, glancing at Abraxis and then back at me.

“They can’t sedate her if it’s not what she wants. She’s mated,” Abraxis replies heavily. I can almost feel the tension pouring off him, thickening the surrounding air.

My appetite completely disappears. I shift the meat around my plate, prodding aimlessly at the sauce while my heart hammers.

“Is this what everyone’s been trying to hide?

” My gaze flickers to Leander and Callan.

Out of my four mates, they’d be the next to know the truth—and the least likely to lie if I ask outright.

“Yes and no,” Leander says, exchanging a troubled glance with Callan. Callan’s eye flicks to Abraxis, their unspoken hierarchy clear in the tense stillness.

Abraxis inhales, and his deep voice seems to reverberate through my bones. “Your father is definitely in league with Arista. Most of what was his nest is with her in the Firedrake Valley. They also have a nest of wyverns with them. We don’t know how many, but they have them. ”

His words sink in, and everything else—the smell of dinner, the warmth of the room, the faint hum of voices outside—fades to a dull roar in my ears.

My father. Arista. Wyverns. The weight of it all closes in on me, cold and heavy.

I can barely breathe as I cling to the edge of the table, struggling to steady myself against the blow.

I sit there in stunned silence, my heart pounding so forcefully I can feel it in my throat.

The bitter tang of adrenaline coats my tongue, and the faint smell of charred wood from the nearby fireplace mingles with our combine scents.

I’m trying to figure out what is more important to worry about first. My best friend and sister-in-law potentially carrying her first clutch of eggs far too young, or that the firedrakes, backed by my father, are now aligned with the wyverns.

The entire situation feels like a catastrophic storm is about to break.

I stare at my hands, noticing how they tremble against the smooth, cool surface of the wooden dining table. Large, comforting hands—rough with old calluses—enclose mine, and I look up into Vaughn’s intense gaze.

“What do you need me to do?” he asks, his voice rumbling low like distant thunder.

“Rend the flesh from that bronze drake’s hide,” I growl, each word laced with venom. My blood roars in my ears, and the coppery taste of rage bubbles at the back of my throat. “How can he be so irresponsible?”

Suddenly, I surge to my feet. My chair crashes into the stone wall behind me with a resounding thud that makes dust drift from the ceiling rafters.

I roar in frustration, the sound echoing off the high ceilings, and my hands fly up into my hair, tugging at the roots.

The tension coils at the base of my neck, my entire body thrumming with unspent fury .

“I swear to Bahamut if anything happens to Cora, his bloodline is going extinct right after my father, Arista, and the wyvern…” My dragoness stirs just below the surface, longing to tear and destroy.

Heat floods my veins, and I feel the distinctive itch beneath my nails as my talons extend.

Emerald and silver scales ripple over my arms, reflecting the golden lamplight with a faint, mesmerizing shimmer.

“Mate…” Abraxis steps in front of me, his own eyes flecked with dragonic gold, as he searches my face.

A faint hint of brimstone clings to him, making my nostrils flare.

“I’m glad you love my sister as fiercely as I do.

But we can’t wage a war on four fronts at once.

If the bronze dragons join the opposing side, we’ll be in serious trouble. ”

He flicks a glance toward Callan before returning his attention to me. “It’s bad enough Father is trying to broker a deal with the blue dragons to appease them since Cora found her mate.”

The reminder prickles at the back of my mind like a nest of hornets.

“Oh, shit,” I breathe, stumbling back until the arm of the couch presses against my thighs.

My pulse continues to race, but I force myself down onto the couch’s edge.

The worn leather creaks, and the faint scent of old polish rises beneath me.

I bite my bottom lip, tasting the salt of my skin, and hold my breath in a feeble attempt to calm myself.

“Can we go check on Cora tomorrow?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s the weekend.”

“That’s not a problem,” Abraxis replies. “She has one of the other chalets on my father’s lands.” His eyes—still tinged with that dragonic shine—betray the same worry pounding in my chest. He simply holds it in tighter than I do.

“Okay…” I exhale slowly, the trembling in my limbs refusing to subside completely.

My dragoness thrashes inside, hungry for blood an d vengeance.

But I have to keep a lid on it, for now.

Cora has been more of a sister to me than the one I grew up with.

Cerce, more of a mother to me than the woman who laid my egg.

Vox, more of a father than the man who donated his genetics to my creation.

With my eyes squeezed shut, I send a silent prayer to Tiamat, my lips moving in a soundless plea.

Please bless and protect Cora. I can’t lose her.

As I open my eyes, I catch my reflection in a tall mirror across the room—emerald scales glint in the flickering lamplight, my talons still extended, my face twisted with barely contained rage and fear.

For her sake, I have to keep it together. If I lose control now, we might all be lost.