Page 65 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy, Year 3)
Mina
Ziggy stands beside me, with Klauth and Abraxis when Quent arrives, his shadow darkening the doorway before he steps into the dim light.
I offer him the leather-bound notebook, its pages worn at the edges, as well as a wicker basket filled with Vaughn’s favorite things.
The scent of sandalwood incense and dried lavender wafting from beneath the cloth covering.
“Do not delay. Bring that straight to Vaughn and do not open the notebook or basket,” I growl at him, my voice low and threatening. The air between us crackles with tension as he nods. His eyes not quite meeting mine before he vanishes again, leaving behind only the faint scent of his cologne.
“It’s time.” My fingers tremble slightly as I pull Thauglor’s egg from the carrier, its surface warm and pulsing against my palms. I wrap it in silk, the luxurious fabric whispering against the shell.
“I’m sending you with my mate Zigmander.
He’s a packlord displacer beast.” My voice softens to a tender murmur as I speak to Thauglor.
His egg hums in response to my words, vibrating with an eagerness that I can feel through my fingertips .
“Your time is upon us.” I caress the egg, the smooth surface heating beneath my touch before moving the silk aside to press my lips against the shell.
It vibrates harshly, almost burning against my mouth, and I smile down at it.
“You get to torch the headmaster with your acid.” A bitter laugh escapes my throat before I look up at Klauth, his ancient eyes reflecting centuries of patience, before lowering my gaze back to Thauglor’s egg.
The scales at the nape of my neck rises as a powerful sense of déjà vu washes over me.
Drawing in a deep breath, the musty scent of old books and candle wax filling my lungs, I continue.
“I will tug on the bond and force as much power down it to you as I can.” I raise my eyes as Balor enters the room, his heavy footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
“Balor can only do so much to save me. We need your acid to turn him into a puddle of goo.” My eyes remain locked with Balor’s, the golden flecks in his irises seeming to dance in the dim light.
“My scales will not be harmed by your acid, and I will shield Balor from it. Come swiftly when I call for you; our lives depend on it.” I kiss the egg once more, feeling the pulse of life within before wrapping it up and handing it to Ziggy to hide close to where I suspect I will be held.
Ziggy vanishes in a swirl of shadow. Tears well up, silently rolling down my cheeks, their salt stinging the corners of my mouth.
Balor moves before the others have a chance, crossing the room in three long strides and holds me tightly against his chest. The scent of earth and pine envelops me as his muscular arms wrap around my trembling form.
“I won’t let him hurt you. If I die and you live, it’s worth it.
” He presses his warm lips to my forehead, trying to infuse me with his strength, his heartbeat steady and reassuring against my ear.
“No one’s dying,” Klauth says as he steps closer, the boards creaking beneath his weight, his voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade .
“I can at least help dig,” Abraxis says as he tilts his head, looking at me with concern etched across his features, the light catching on the scales that pepper his jawline.
“True, but back off when Thauglor arrives,” Klauth says, and we all look at him, the temperature in the room seeming to drop several degrees.
“His first instinct will be to get to Mina, and he will not know if you are friend or foe. Especially injured, you will be an easy target for him.” The cold way Klauth says it makes the scales on the back of my neck stand on edge, sending a shiver running down my spine.
Klauth closes the distance between us, the scent of smoke and metal accompanying him, and caresses my cheek with calloused fingers.
“I remember you saying the same thing to me. I remember feeling your pain and your fear and desperation through the shell of my egg and not being able to do anything.” He runs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, the gentle touch at odds with his powerful presence.
“I will temper my old friend’s rage when he hatches and protect Abraxis.
” Klauth kisses my lips softly, his mouth tasting faintly of cinnamon and ash.
I feel the truth of his words wash over me like a warm tide.
When we finally break apart, I sigh and lean against his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart before turning to face Callan, whose expression is grim in the flickering candlelight.
“My guard needs to be changed. Yannis has a mate that has eggs.” I look down at the worn floorboards, knowing that whoever is chosen will more than likely die.
The weight of that knowledge pressing down on my shoulders.
“Fin has no mate, and he’s an older guard on the campus. He never took a female and has no one that will mourn him other than us.” The way Callan says it, his voice heavy with understanding.
“Be honest with him. Don’t hide the fact that he may die protecting me,” I whisper as I watch Callan leave the room to find Fin.
The door closes behind him with a dull thud.
It feels like a lead weight is sitting in my stomach as I think about sentencing this male to death, the bile rising in my throat.
“Mina...” Abraxis approaches, his footsteps light despite his size, and looks up at Klauth.
I feel Klauth step back, the warmth of his body receding, and Abraxis takes me in his arms and holds me tight.
My head lowers and rests on his shoulder as I close my eyes, inhaling his scent of leather and sweet herbs.
“Callan won’t lie to him. He will tell him about the dangers of escorting you today, and he will be given a choice.
” I feel the moment Abraxis wraps his wings around me, the leathery membranes enclosing us in a private sanctuary.
The right wing stretches over me easier than the left, its leather brushing softly against my arm.
“I still feel bad. He shouldn’t have to get hurt because everyone has lost their minds,” I whisper against Abraxis’s throat, feeling his body tremble under my lips, his pulse quickening at my touch.
“When does it happen?” Abraxis whispers, his breath warm against my ear.
“This afternoon.” Sighing, I tighten my grip on his leathers, the material creaking under my fingers.
The sound of the latch on the door opening crashes through the room like an explosion.
Abraxis opens his wings, the rush of cooler air making me shiver.
I wipe away the tears with the back of my hand before turning to face Fin, who stands tall in the doorway, shadows playing across his weathered face.
“Your mate told me what’s happening, and I accept the dangers involved.” Fin straightens his posture and smiles at me, the lines around his eyes deepening.
I nod slowly and suck in a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves, the taste of fear burning on my tongue.
“You’ll escort me to Malivore in about two hours, then.
For now, grab something to eat.” I reach into my pocket and pull out one of the tokens I was given to hand out to my personal guards to get the better meals.
The metal coin is cool and heavy in my palm.
“Meet me downstairs at four.” Fin bows after accepting the token, the metal clinking as he pockets it, and leaves the room.
The door closing with a soft click behind him.
Abraxis takes my hand, his skin rough against mine, and leads me from the room, my emotions churning like a stormy sea. Maybe a distraction is just what I need, something to quiet the dread that pulses through every fiber of my being.
Abraxis leads me down the hall to his office, his footsteps echoing against the stone floor, mingling with my own.
The scent of him—leather, pine, and something uniquely his—surrounds me as he closes the door behind us with a solid click that resonates through the room.
The heavy wooden door muffles the sounds from the hallway, creating our own private sanctuary.
Before I can say anything, he closes the distance between us in two swift strides and crushes his lips to mine.
The taste of cinnamon and something darker, more primal, flooding my senses.
Since the accident, Abraxis has been distant and withdrawn, his eyes avoiding mine, his touch hesitant.
Part of me feels like our bond is strained, a once-vibrant connection now dulled and muted.
It’s moments like this in his arms that it burns bright again, flaring to life like a flame fed oxygen.
I feel our hearts beating as one again, the synchronized rhythm pulsing through my veins like liquid fire.
His hands find my hips, fingers digging into the leather with possessive urgency as he pushes me backwards until the backs of my legs hit his desk.
The edge of the desk digging into my thighs.
A soft laugh escapes my lips, the sound surprising even me, as he lifts me to sit on the edge.
The polished wood is cool against my skin through my leathers.
“My Mina...” he whispers against my lips, his breath hot and sweet, as his hands move to the buttons on my jacket.
The metal fasteners click softly as he works them open one by one.
Slowly, he slides the jacket off my shoulders, the material whispering against my skin.
He tosses it onto the floor, where it lands with a soft thud.
“Are you sure?” I ask when I can catch my breath, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Gently, I rest both of my hands on his cheeks, feeling the slight stubble beneath my palms, making him look me in my eyes. His skin is warm, almost feverish, and I can feel his pulse racing beneath my fingertips.