Page 16 of Klauth (Dragonis Academy, Year 2.5 #3)

Chapter Sixteen

I stand in the ruins of my once-proud castle, the chill night breeze brushing over my scales like distant memories.

Broken stone and ash linger in the air, tickling the back of my throat with each breath.

The moonlight spills across the shattered battlements, casting sharp shadows that cut through the darkness.

Every crack and creak echoes, as if the castle’s ghosts are still whispering in these desolate halls.

Mina steps back, positioning herself so both my massive eyes can see her. Her voice, barely above a whisper, dances on the night air. “I know you’re my mate. I feel it. I’ve felt it since your egg started responding to me … since you started responding to me.”

Her scent shifts in that moment—gone is the anxiety that hung around her like a veil. Now it’s laced with a bold, intoxicating confidence that teases my senses. I inhale deeply, and for the first time, the air around us tastes charged with possibility.

She tilts her head to the side and gives me a soft, inviting smile. “May I see your human side? Hold you in my arms.” When her eyes flutter shut and she bows her head, my heart thrums harder. Her trust rolls over my scales like a gentle current, warm and steady.

The desire to shift hums through my body, but my dragon resists.

My ancient bones feel fused to this form, reluctant to abandon the might of my dragonic shape.

I can hear Mina’s heartbeat quicken—steady, yet tinted with anticipation.

The rhythmic pulse is louder to my keen ears than the faint rustling of leaves blown by the nighttime wind.

I stare at her small human form. She’s so delicate and yet so fearless, standing against the rubble. The moonlight casting silver along the edges of her horns. I want to feel that warmth against me. I want to protect her always.

Eventually, my dragon relents. Shifting back is an odd sensation, bones contracting and muscles rearranging beneath my skin.

A crackling heat dances along my spine as scales fold away, revealing pale flesh.

The night air feels colder on this skin—like a thousand needles pricking at my human form.

I straighten, shaking off the lingering heaviness in my limbs.

My gaze drifts across what’s left of the battlements—broken stones stand as silent witnesses to a past life.

The once-grand corridors are nothing but dark silhouettes against the moonlight.

The temple of Bahamut remains untouched in the distance, a silver spire of hope amid the gloom.

The academy stands nearby, its lights flickering like fireflies in the night.

Mina waits, patient and trusting. She looks so small and yet so fierce: flawless skin glowing in the moon’s gentle rays, hair like emerald silk threaded with liquid silver. Her horns curve with a regal splendor, reminiscent of the iron dragons of old—magnificent even in her human form.

My heart—now wholly human—pounds furiously in my chest, a primal echo of my dragon’s roar. I’ve seen the most breathtaking views of the ocean under a moonlit sky. But nothing compares to the sight of Mina: determined, brave, and illuminated by starlight.

“Mate…” The word rasps in my throat, my voice thick from centuries of disuse.

She blinks up at me, and I’m snared by those golden eyes.

Her trembling hands lift toward my face, each finger a soft brush against my temples before drifting down to cup my cheeks.

My breath catches; tears threaten to fill my eyes as the gravity of this moment sinks in.

Her trust is a tangible thing, pulsing between us like a heartbeat.

“Mate.” Her voice is a whisper that my dragon echoes in a triumphant roar deep within me.

I don’t hesitate. I lean down, scooping her into my arms, the coolness of her body so vivid against my heated skin. She wraps her slender arms around my neck, tears shining in her eyes like liquid moonlight. Then she kisses me—light as a breeze at first, but filled with longing.

I pull back gently, thumbs brushing the tears away from her cheeks.

My mate. At long last, I have my mate in my arms. I trace my gaze along her features as though memorizing them for eternity.

“Why do you cry, mate?” I can’t help but rub my cheek against hers, inhaling her calming scent, letting a soft purr rumble in my chest.

“I’m happy,” she murmurs, voice trembling with relief. “Happy the books were wrong. They all said you would more than likely kill me.”

I taste bitterness on my tongue at the memory of that mage’s curse. He vowed to paint me as a monster for all time, and apparently he succeeded. My vision flickers between dragon-slit eyes and human irises, fury, and sorrow mingling like a sour ache in my chest.

“Yet you came anyway,” I say, my voice low. My fingers thread through her hair, marveling at its silky thickness. I let my touch travel to her impressive silver horns, feeling the faint ridges that speak of her dragon’s power.

“You saved me,” she whispers, fingers curling in my hair. My breath stutters at the gentle contact, a low purr escaping my throat. “If you were going to kill me, you could have just breathed fire on me when you flew overhead.”

“That is true…” I murmur, leaning in to brush my lips along her jaw.

Her skin is so warm, and the moment my teeth sharpen, my dragon stirs, urging me onward.

A shiver of exhilaration courses through me as I graze her throat.

She tilts her head, baring it in offering, and my purr becomes a deep roar vibrating through my chest.

I bite down. My canines sink into her flesh, and her hot, copper-sweet blood fills my mouth.

A sudden surge of power thrums through me, as if our bond is a living, breathing force sparking against my every nerve.

Slowly, I withdraw, licking at the wound to seal and soothe it.

My mark, bold and undeniable, overlaps any that came before.

Mina giggles softly, her exhalation feathering across my cheek. The sound lights me up from within. I draw her close again, unable to stop myself from nuzzling her shoulder, inhaling her scent like a lifeline.

“Where should I bite you?” Her voice trembles with both curiosity and hesitation.

“On the same side I marked you,” I respond, bowing my head and shifting to give her space. Her warm breath skates over my skin, drawing goose bumps along my arms. Then comes the first brush of her lips, swiftly followed by the sharper sting of her teeth breaking through my flesh.

The bond ignites in me like a sunrise after a long, cold night—spreading warmth through every corner of my being, anchoring me to her soul. My blood courses with power, and I sense hers merging with mine, forging an unbreakable link.

When she finally pulls back, I remain still, arms around her, my breath ragged.

I feel the pulsating connection that ties me to this brave little dragoness.

The distant crash of the sea and the whisper of the wind through the crumbling stones fade into nothing.

All I can hear is the frantic drum of our hearts—beating in unison, at last, as mates.

I soar through the sky alongside Mina, the wind whipping across my scaled cheeks and rushing into my nostrils, sharp with the high-altitude chill.

The mating flight is everything I ever wish for and more—thrilling, raw, and electric with the bond we share.

My wing muscles burn pleasantly as I slow my powerful strokes to match her pace.

Flecks of golden sunlight reflect off her dragoness scales, making her shimmer like living fire.

She shows me the modest beginnings of her nest, the earthy smell of freshly upturned soil and stone still clinging to my nostrils.

In truth, it’s a thousand times better than what Syrax once dug for herself—Mina’s den already holds warmth and a sense of belonging.

Yet, there’s so much more an older, more powerful drake like me can do to make a safe haven for my mate.

I’ll wait to offer my improvements until our bond is stronger; there will be plenty of time for that.

By necessity—and to keep my “resurrection,” so to speak, a secret—I allow Mina to carry me back toward her home.

Clinging to her ridged back, I run my hand over her scales, feeling their hardened edges, sharp as blades under my palms. The world below has transformed so dramatically since I was last free.

As we approach the academy grounds, I spot numerous structures—tall and proud.

My father drew these designs long ago, and now they stand as testament to our shared dreams. There’s the faint echo of voices drifting up from below, and the scent of cooking fires lingers on the breeze.

Mina circles Malivore several times before landing in a swirl of dust and leaves.

The moment my feet meet the soil, I feel the cool, damp earth beneath my boots.

Mina shifts back and takes my hand. Her skin is warm, and the subtle press of her fingers against mine sparks our bond.

We move through the main doors into Malivore, my gaze roving over polished stone floors and torch-lit corridors.

The hallway air tastes faintly of scented wax and old parchment, like the knowledge of centuries saturates these walls.

Her nerves flutter through our bond. She’s worried—maybe about my reaction to her nest mates, or their reaction to me. The corridor feels almost too quiet aside from our footsteps echoing off the stone.

Outside her door, I see her hand hesitate near the knob.

I rest my palm on the small of her back, feeling the slight tremor of tension in her spine.

I hope my warmth conveys reassurance. When she finally opens the door, her scent washes over me—musky, spicy, undeniably hers.

She’s claimed this place; it smells of her power and presence.

Five males stand around what appears to be a marble table, cups in hand.

A faint aroma of something bitter—perhaps coffee or a brew—hangs in the air.

Mina steps back, her shoulder blades pressing into my chest. I feel her breath hitch, and the subtle shift of muscles as she leans into my strength.

Her dragoness is acknowledging me as the strongest drake, seeking comfort in our bond.

Gently, I nudge her forward so we both can step fully into the room.

The door clicks shut behind us, the sound loud and final in the hush.

Mina’s reaction is immediate: “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Klauth.

” Her voice quivers with adrenaline, and I can taste the excitement in the air—metallic and electric like charged lightning.

She tilts her head back to look at me upside down, her emerald hair brushing my chest. I bend and press a kiss to her forehead, inhaling her warm, heady scent before turning my attention to the others.

Tradition dictates her other dragon mate should make himself known. He hands Mina a second mug; the steam rising from it carrying a sharp scent, maybe coffee, perhaps. She bares her neck to him, but not as fully as she did with me. Interesting.

“Abraxis Havock,” he introduces himself, his voice a low rumble that resonates in my chest. “I hail from the Blackhaven nest.” He lifts his fist over his heart in greeting, then extends his hand.

“Blackhaven, you say?” I reply, my tone gritty but laced with respect.

“That is the same nesting grounds Thauglor comes from. Good, strong stock there.” I clasp his hand, noting the dryness of his palm and the slight hesitation in his grip.

“I accept our mate’s choice to let you lead this nest. Unless,” I add with a slow smirk, “my influence proves a better protection.” My nostrils flare, picking up his scent—dark and stormy, with an underlying tang of woods.

The young male lacks life experience; I sense it in the way he shifts his weight.

Mina’s hair brushes against my forearm as I gather it, exposing the litany of scars.

The tang of old blood seems to hover in the air, even though the wounds have long healed.

“Typical black dragon—biting their mate constantly,” I tease in a low rumble.

I tilt her chin back, showing off Abraxis’s mark on the front of her throat and mine on the right side.

I sense the heat beneath her skin, her pulse beating fast. “If I know my old friend, he’ll leave his mark on the opposite side, giving our mate here a full collar of bites. ” Dark amusement thrums in my voice.

I lift her hair again and my gaze lands on a crescent-shaped imprint at the back of her neck. The flesh there looks tender, though healed. “Who did this one?” I growl softly, letting my eyes sweep the room as I search for the male.

“I did,” a tall, athletic male answers—black hair streaked with fiery undertones.

I arch a brow, studying him, noting the faint blend of unusual scents clinging to him: a bestial musk, with hints of mythical creatures.

“Tactically brilliant to bring a nightmare cross into the nest,” I say, voice dropping as I test the air around him.

“I smell a displacer beast... a basilisk... and a gryphon.” My attention drifts to the gargoyle form, the heavy stone essence radiating off him. “Did someone steal his amulet?”

Mina explains it happened around the time I saved her. The memory stirs in me, recalling the taste of adrenaline on my tongue, the roar of blood in my ears as I fought to protect her.

“Where’s Thauglor?” I ask next, remembering how our eggs were kept close once she claimed us. Now that I’ve hatched, I need to see with my own eyes that my old friend is safe.

Mina’s face lights up as she slips onto the balcony.

The early morning air spills in, crisp and laced with the scent of moonlit dew.

She returns moments later cradling Thauglor’s obsidian egg.

I can feel the faint thrum of magic pulsing in tandem with her heartbeat.

She whispers softly to him, pressing a gentle kiss to the dark shell.

The egg vibrates in response, as though it wants to break free right that second.

Mina points an accusing finger at Abraxis. “You, of all people, know how much I talk to my eggs. Don’t act like this is new.”

The love in her eyes warms my chest—knowing this is the same tender expression she graced my egg with.

“Your voice is what gave me hope I’d be free,” I whisper, recalling the soothing lull of her words through the shell.

“I heard every word, felt every kiss, and understood how fiercely you fought to keep me with you always. We are lucky to have such a strong dragoness.”

I move closer, my claws scraping gently against the smooth floor as I approach.

Carefully, I brush my palm over Thauglor’s shell.

It’s cooler than mine was, but I still sense a familiar spark of life and magic.

“Rest easy, old friend,” I murmur. “A descendant of your line stands in our nest. We are safe.”

Up Next: Progeny of the Cursed Egg