Page 8 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy #2)

Mina

Vaughn’s gargoyle form is mesmerizing—raw, untamed beauty.

His four horns curl from his head like a regal crown, and his skin is dark, and reminds me of a shark’s hide—rough, dangerous.

But those wings. My breath catches every time I see them.

Massive, slate-gray expanses of leather and sinew, their sheer power evident in the thick bone fingers that spread the membranes.

At the peaks, sharp claws gleam, eerily similar to Abraxis’s.

I can’t help but wonder—does he use those claws during mating, the way dragons do?

The thought sends a shiver through me, my instincts stirring.

Any lingering doubts about his attraction to me dissolves when he tears away the remnants of his sweatpants with a feral growl.

My gaze drops, and heat blooms in my chest as my dragon stirs, purring approval.

His erection is impossible to ignore, standing tall and proud, reaching toward his sculpted abdomen.

I don’t wait. Leaping into his arms, I refuse to give him even a second to hesitate.

His strong hands grip my ass, pulling me closer.

I bury my face against his neck, inhaling his scent, rubbing against him like it’s the only thing that can soothe the ache thrumming through my veins.

A low growl rumbles from my chest as my teeth shift, sharp dragon fangs replacing their human counterparts.

I nip at his skin, a frenzy of instinct and want overtaking me. My dragon screams to mark him, to claim him as ours, and I can feel her pushing for control. But Vaughn has other plans.

His tail snakes around my waist with startling precision, tightening like an iron band and pulling me back just enough to force my eyes to his. His voice is a low, commanding growl, dripping with dominance.

“If we’re going to do this,” he says, his lips curling into a predatory smirk, “we do it my way.”

My pulse quickens, and a mixture of defiance and submission surges through me. My dragon rumbles her discontent, but there’s no denying the thrill that shoots through me at his words.

I’m locked in a standoff, baring my teeth at him, but he only smirks.

The audacity of it sets my blood boiling.

That smug, infuriating grin dances across his face for just a moment before he lets loose a growl—deep, rumbling, and primal.

The sound vibrates through the air, and I feel it, a phantom pulse that twists through my core, sending a thrill skittering over my scales.

My lips part, and I unconsciously lick them, tasting the anticipation heavy in the air.

“So?” I taunt, my voice steady despite the storm he’s conjured inside me. “What is your way?”

I try to lean back, but his tail tightens around my waist like a living python, holding me firmly in place. My frustration rises, but it’s tinged with something else—something dangerous, enticing.

The coil loosens suddenly, releasing me, only for his hands to claim their place.

His fingers dig into my ribcage as he lifts me effortlessly, and his tail snakes lower, guiding my legs to drape over his arms. I’m suspended, his strength a reminder of how utterly outmatched I am.

His eyes blacken, abyssal and endless, just before he surges forward.

His mouth claims me, hot and unrelenting, his tongue moving like it’s designed to ruin me.

He devours my core as though it’s the only thing keeping him alive, the need in his every movement raw and consuming.

My breath catches as his claws—sharp, lethal extensions of his wings—dig into my shoulders, pinning me in place.

His tongue elongates, snaking deeper, and I arch involuntarily, a helpless cry escaping my lips. Every nerve alights, every thought vanishes under the onslaught of sensation. He owns me in this moment, body, and soul, and I’m powerless to resist.

My orgasm rips through me like the lightning pulsing up my horns.

I try to thrash and grind down on his face, but can’t.

He tightens his grip on me before his tail snakes up and into my pulsing core, replacing his tongue.

Vaughn latches onto that little bundle of nerves, flicking it relentlessly.

My hips jerk with every flick of his tongue, his claws on his wings dig into my skin harder, making my back arch further until my head is hanging backwards.

Vaughn rumbles deeply, making his lips vibrate harder against me. Panting, I keep saying his name like a prayer. I feel like I am two heartbeats away from having my orgasm be the death of me.

I let out a sharp gasp as Vaughn pulls me down onto him, the stretch of his length taking my breath away.

His soulless black eyes bore into mine, a flicker of human hazel flashing in them for the briefest moment before vanishing.

He’s giving me time to adjust, his hands sliding along my sides in slow, soothing strokes.

His deep rumble vibrates through me as he leans in, nibbling along my jaw and down my neck, careful to avoid Abraxis’s side. His lips hover over my shoulder.

“Is this mine?” he growls, his teeth grazing the skin before biting down—not hard enough to break the surface, but enough to send a shiver through me.

“Yes…” I pant, the word escaping as I instinctively try to move to find some kind of release.

His hands clamp down on my hips, stilling me completely.

“Not yet, little mate.” His wings sweep forward, cocooning me in their shadow, cutting us off from the rest of the world.

His voice is soft yet commanding, a gravelly whisper against my ear.

“Gargoyles do things a little differently.” He nuzzles my cheek, his lips trailing down my neck to the curve of my shoulder.

My breath catches as he grips my hips tighter, lifting me almost completely off of him, the sensation pulling a whimper from my throat. Then, with a feral growl, his teeth sink into my shoulder, sharp and unyielding, as he slams me down onto him, burying himself to the hilt.

The sudden, overwhelming pleasure sends me over the edge, and instinct takes over. I lunge forward, sinking my teeth into his neck, just beneath his jaw where it’s most visible—where everyone can see. The act is primal, and I’m loving every moment of it.

The moment our teeth break skin, something snaps inside me.

A searing, molten wave crashes through us, tethering us together in an unbreakable bond.

Our simultaneous release sends sparks dancing behind my eyes, the world blurring into nothing but heat, light, and Vaughn.

His growl deepens, vibrating through me as I collapse against him, his wings wrapping me tighter, possessive and protective.

The evening stretches on, slow and intimate, every moment with Vaughn etched into my skin and memory.

Out of all my mates, I never would have expected him to be the one to savor every touch, to make love to me repeatedly, as if it’s the first time.

His hands trail over me, his lips press against mine, and every caress feels like it carries the weight of eternity.

He keeps me wrapped in his wings, knowing how much I love the cocoon-like security of being encased in them.

It’s sometime after midnight when we finally curl up together, his form shifting back to human.

My fingers trace the lines of his skin, lingering on the mate marks I’ve left on him.

There’s the one on his shoulder, the spot I’ve bitten repeatedly, almost possessively.

Then there’s the bold claim under his jaw, the one that practically screams, fuck off, he’s mine.

No matter what he wears—his leathers or the school uniform—it’s always visible, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Mina?” Abraxis’s voice carries into the room, an echo in the otherwise quiet nest.

I sigh, rolling onto my side to face the door. “I’m in Vaughn’s room!”

The door creaks open as Abraxis and Callan step inside. It’s rare for me to be in anyone else’s room; my own is neutral ground for a reason. I rise onto my elbow, the bite Vaughn left on my shoulder displayed without shame.

“How did everything end up?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intend.

A slow, predatory smile spreads across Abraxis’s lips, his eyes flashing with dragon-like slits.

“The arrows in the section you were in were poison-tipped,” he says, far too calmly.

“Which is not how they were supposed to be. We”—he motions to Callan beside him—“believe someone was trying to kill you. Obviously, they don’t know you’re immune to most toxins and poisons.

The fire drakes and Arista are obvious suspects. ”

My stomach twists, unease blooming. “Something’s off…

” I sit up, letting the sheet pool around my waist. Vaughn shifts beside me and pulls out one of his oversized shirts, offering it silently.

I slip it on, the fabric falling mid-thigh like a dress, and move to stand just out of reach.

The unspoken rule among my mates about not entering each other’s spaces lingers in my mind.

“Why are you so calm?” I narrow my eyes at Abraxis.

“Because Vaughn’s in all your core classes now, the ones we couldn’t test you out of,” Abraxis says smoothly, his gaze shifting past me to Vaughn.

“Now that you’re fully bonded, I don’t have to worry as much.

” His eyes glint with approval as he points to my shoulder.

“Good job,” he says to Vaughn with a thumbs-up before turning to leave the doorway.

Callan lingers, tilting his head to the side.

I tug the neck of Vaughn’s shirt over to reveal the bite mark again.

He grins, a mix of pride and satisfaction, and nods.

“First day of classes tomorrow,” he reminds me.

“Nine a.m. sharp.” He winks, the gesture as teasing as it is sincere, before following Abraxis out.

I shake my head, letting out a slow breath as I watch him go. Vaughn’s hand brushes against mine, grounding me. Tomorrow, the academy’s chaos begins anew, but for now, I let myself savor the calm before the storm.

“Come back to bed. We still have a few hours of sleep,” Vaughn murmurs, pulling me back under the covers.

I let him, curling into his warmth and resting my head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulls me, and sleep takes me quickly.

In his embrace, I feel safe—relaxed in a way I haven’t felt in so long, except maybe when I’m with Abraxis.

Morning comes far too early. I slip from Vaughn’s arms reluctantly, dragging myself back to my room.

It’s a familiar routine now: packing my bag for the day and slipping into the horrid uniform that’s more slip dress than clothing.

The dark green Shadowcarve sash ties at my waist like a badge of warning.

I sigh, rolling my eyes at the memory of all the academy’s regulations as I grab my science books.

Wednesday mornings mean first period science, and while I’d rather not deal with it, skipping isn’t an option.

I strap the double egg carrier under my chest, concealed under the stiff jacket that second-years are required to wear.

It feels like armor, but not the good kind—restrictive, suffocating.

With one last glance in the mirror, I step out into the main living area and spot Balor approaching. He’s holding a coffee cup and a pastry.

“Try not to kill anyone today, will ya?” he says, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

I can’t help but laugh. “If they don’t try killing me first, I won’t kill them.” I beam at him, taking the coffee and sipping it gratefully.

Vaughn walks in, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “I was thinking we hit the cafeteria in the southern dorms on the way to Arcanum.”

I blink at him, confused. “There’s a cafeteria here? ”

Abraxis raises his mug in a lazy salute. “The northern dorms are set up like houses with stocked kitchens for dragons and dragon kin, since we need to eat more often than other species.”

“Oh. That makes sense then,” I say, finishing off my coffee and pastry. “Let’s go explore this cafeteria.”

Vaughn takes the lead, guiding us out of Malivore and across campus. The southern dorms are starkly different from ours, looking more like apartment buildings than the house-like setups we’re used to.

“This might be a bit of a culture shock for you,” Vaughn warns as we approach. “We have to wait in lines for food and drinks, and there are seating arrangements. Plus, there’s a hierarchy in the cafeteria.”

I arch a brow at him, the corners of my lips twitching. “Hierarchy? I can’t wait to see what kind of hell I’m walking into.”