Page 48 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy, Year 3)

Soon, Warwick lands and strides over. “I thought you weren’t coming. We were getting slaughtered,” he says, his tone edged with worry .

Klauth huffs. “Your queen went to war for this den. She won,” he replies, his gaze lingering on Mina before he walks over to her.

“Your dad is in the infirmary. He was hit pretty bad by green dragon acid,” Warwick adds hesitantly, glancing at Mina. “The healers need green dragon acid to create a healing salve.”

I exchange a glance with Klauth. “I don’t know if Mina can produce it. Her dragoness has lightning,” I remark, watching as Klauth and Mina approach.

“What happened?” Mina asks, her eyes shifting between me and Warwick.

“Vox was injured and the healers need green dragon acid,” Warwick says before I can intervene.

Mina’s gaze drops to the ground as she nods slowly. “Abraxis and Klauth will have to harvest it from me. My dragoness will bite anyone who gets too close. Get the healers to bring glass containers.” She pauses, waiting until Warwick leaves, then fixes both of us with a determined look.

“I will show you where the acid glands are in my mouth,” she instructs, glancing briefly at Klauth. With a deep sigh, she continues, “There are two glands in the back of my mouth—one that produces a sleep toxin and the other, acid. Get extra jars and harvest both. I have a plan.”

I step away and shift into my black dragon, landing carefully on the cool cobblestones. Laying down flat, I open my mouth wide. In a move that both amazes and unnerves me, Mina climbs completely into my mouth and walks along my tongue.

“Right here,” she says, touching a spot near my back upper molar.

“This is where the acid is produced.” She walks a few steps forward and presses near the middle molar on the top.

“And here is where the sleep toxin is produced.” With deliberate care, she retraces her steps back to the opening of my jaw.

Once she’s clear, I shift back and study her uneasy expression. “What’s wrong?” I ask softly, opening my arms to her. Without hesitation, she dives into my embrace, clinging tightly.

“I shouldn’t have three breath weapons,” she confesses, her eyes darting toward Klauth.

“Do you want me to shift with you? To keep you under my wing while Abraxis harvests the acid? Would that make you feel safer?” Klauth asks in a tone far gentler than I’ve ever heard him use with her.

“Yes,” she whispers, “but we need to warn the others not to come close while I’m so nervous.” She meets my gaze, then looks back up at Klauth. “Please relay my concerns. One wrong move and my dragoness will kill without a second thought.” Klauth gives her a reassuring kiss on the temple.

I fire off a quick text to my mom, warning the den not to come out until the jars are delivered. Her reply is swift. Warwick will bring out the jars. The healers, it seems, are afraid of Mina.

“I have the jars,” Warwick calls, holding up a box. The glass containers clink against each other as they shift in his grip.

“Good, leave them here and then head inside. Mina is uncomfortable, and Klauth is going to shift with her,” I remark casually, as if this were an everyday occurrence. Then again, Klauth waited a thousand years for a mate like her—there’s not much I’d put past him at this point.

Mina steps closer and locks eyes with me.

“Do you remember where I touched?” she asks, and then, in the oddest moment, she grabs my face and stares deep into my eyes.

“Do not break eye contact. I’m going to try something.

” Her voice reverberates through my mind, and all I can do is watch as my perspective shifts.

I suddenly see from her point of view—inside my mouth. She points out where the different glands are, explaining which is which. When she pulls back and smiles, I feel disoriented. “What was that?” I ask, my voice trembling as she steps back.

“A happy little present from Klauth,” Mina replies, before she shifts into her dragoness form. Her dragoness turns to face Klauth, and he shifts, rising high above her—easily triple her size. Mina lies down, and soon Klauth follows, draping a protective wing over her and drawing her close.

“Okay, Mina, I’m going to start with the acid,” I announce as she lays her head down and opens her dragon’s mouth wide.

I carefully advance, finding the first gland hole.

I search further back for the acid gland, and when I locate it.

I open the jar and position it over the hole.

A small dribble of fluid appears, then a modest gush follows.

Once the bottle is nearly full, I step back and walk halfway toward the building.

A healer rushes out to grab the jar, then runs back inside. I quickly secure two more jars to extract the sleep toxin from the slightly swollen gland—likely rarely used. Repeating the process, I fill both jars, stepping back as Mina shifts and examines the blueish-purple fluid.

“I’m going to hide this in our home, then join you to check on your dad,” Mina declares.

She closes the distance between us and kisses me passionately.

My heart thunders in my chest, each beat echoing like the first time our lips met.

I hold her tightly, and my dragon rumbles in contentment.

“I love you, Abraxis,” she whispers before backing away toward Klauth.

“I love you too, Mina. See you soon,” I reply softly as she climbs up to perch behind Klauth’s crown of horns.

I watch them take off into the dusky sky before turning to head inside.

Moments like these make me question why she fights so fiercely—when all I want is to hold her close.

But my dragon reminds me, Klauth is the dominant drake.

Mina is safer with him than she ever will be with me.

I take a deep breath as I head inside my parents’ den, silently praying that my father isn’t too badly injured.