Page 77 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg (Dragonis Academy, Year 3)

Mina

I walk back into the main bathroom with the red wine in hand.

The crystal glasses gently clink against each other with every movement, the sound echoing off the marble tiles that line the walls.

Steam rises from the enormous sunken tub, creating a misty haze that catches the amber light from the sconces.

Thauglor is soaking in the deep end, his obsidian wings spread wide open, droplets cascading down the glossy membrane like liquid onyx.

His bronze skin glistens wet, making his muscles seem more defined in the warm light, each contour casting subtle shadows across his torso.

“I have the wine,” I call out, my voice reverberating slightly in the cavernous space.

He turns around to face me, water rippling around his powerful form, and smiles at me.

There’s something about those sapphire eyes that makes me weak in the knees, a gravitational pull I can’t explain.

Walking slowly around the outside of the massive tub, the cool stone floor beneath my bare feet.

I set the bottle and glasses down on a little marble table, the condensation from the chilled wine already beading on the dark glass .

“Are you going to join me, mate?” He flexes his wings, the movement sending a gentle wave across the water’s surface. My eyes lock on the powerful muscles that span from his neck to his shoulders, taut and defined like carved bronze.

“Enjoy the bath for a bit. I’m not the one that’s been imprisoned for a thousand years.

We have forever to get to know each other.

” I climb onto the cushioned chair and cross my legs under me, the soft velvet upholstery warm against my skin as I settle in to watch him.

The rich aroma of the wine mingles with the steam and the subtle scent of cedar from the bath oils.

The next thing we know, Klauth comes barreling into the main bathroom, the door banging against the wall as he enters.

He skids to a stop on the slick floor, his breathing heavy and quick.

We both turn and stare at him like he’s a hydra that’s sprouted an extra head.

The sudden tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a talon.

“Are you okay, old friend?” Thauglor asks as he swims closer to us, the water lapping gently against the sides of the tub with his movement. His voice carries concern, deep and resonant in the steamy air.

“Yeah, I just thought...” Klauth’s eyes dart from me to the wine, then back over to Thauglor, his normally composed features twisted with worry. A bead of sweat trickles down his temple, whether from his rush to get here or from the humid air. I can’t tell.

“Thought what?” I smile like the cat that swallowed the canary, feeling the curve of my lips and the heat rising to my cheeks.

I know exactly why he’s in here. He thinks I am going to get Thauglor drunk, then make him submit.

It’s a forbidden ancient tradition among our kind that would shift the power dynamics significantly.

Klauth looks absolutely flustered as I lean forward and grab my glass of wine, the cool crystal a stark contrast to my warm fingers. I sip at it innocently, the rich flavor blooming on my tongue—notes of blackberry and oak with a hint of vanilla .

“You know exactly what I was thinking.” He waggles a finger at me. His brow furrows deeply, creating lines across his forehead that betray his age despite his otherwise youthful appearance.

I sit the glass down before I stand up. The chair creaking softly beneath me, and walk slowly towards him, exaggerating the way my hips sway.

The soft fabric of my clothing whispers against my skin with each deliberate step.

His eyes are locked on every movement, his pupils dilating slightly in the dim light.

“You were thinking,” I step into his space, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body, and walk my fingers up his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart through the thin material of his shirt.

“I was going to get Thauglor drunk.” I reach up and kiss the underside of his jaw, my lips tracing a path all the way to his ear, breathing in his scent of smoke and cloves.

“Then get him to submit to me.” I bite his earlobe gently and smile against his skin, feeling the slight roughness of stubble against my lips.

Slowly I turn and press my back against his front, feeling the solid warmth of him behind me.

Reaching back, I grab his hands, the skin rough and calloused from centuries of battles.

I lock eyes with Thauglor across the room and run Klauth’s hands over the curves of my hips and up to my chest. I throw my head back, exposing the vulnerable length of my throat, the ultimate gesture of trust among our kind.

“It’s so much more fun to surrender and just feel everything,” I whisper, my voice husky and low. The tension between the three of us crackles like lightning before a storm. Each of us is acutely aware of the ancient power dynamics at play.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, mate,” Thauglor rumbles as he steps out of the water.

The sound reverberates through the tiled room, deep and commanding.

My eyes trace the path the water droplets take down his chest and between his defined muscles.

Each droplet catching the amber light like liquid gold.

The surrounding air seems to shimmer with heat, steam rising from his bronze skin in the cool bathroom air.

“Not dangerous.” I tilt my head, exposing his mate mark to him, feeling the stretch in my neck muscles and the coolness of the air against the sensitive skin there.

“I know what I want and what we need.” I cross my arms behind my back, then press them back into Klauth’s stomach, feeling the firmness beneath my touch.

He inhales sharply, the sudden rush of air audible in the quiet room.

“Are you sure about that, mate? It’s been forever since I’ve felt the touch of a female,” Thauglor purrs dangerously low as he lowers his lips to my throat.

Waves of heat roll off Thauglor’s body as he moves closer, the temperature in the room seeming to rise with each step he takes.

His hands caress my shoulders, his touch gentle yet possessive, leaving trails of warmth that spread across my skin like wildfire.

The connection between us pulses with ancient energy, a bond that transcends the physical.

My inner dragoness stirs, restless and powerful, urging me to take control. But I resist, curious to see what happens when two ancient dragons align. The tension in the room is palpable, hanging in the steamy air like an unspoken promise.

Unexpectedly, Klauth turns me when Thauglor steps back.

It’s now that I know Thauglor sees the scales that span the width of my shoulders, up my neck and down my spine to my hips, where they fan out again.

The scales shimmer in the dim light, iridescent and otherworldly against my human form.

His lips press against my scales, and it sends a jolt of energy straight through me, like lightning dancing across my skin.

“You honor us, mate.” His lips caress the width of scales on my right shoulder, his voice filled with reverence and awe. The vibration of his words against my scales creates a sensation unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

Before I can respond, Thauglor suddenly lifts me in a swift motion and leaps into the tub.

I squeal in surprise before we hit the water.

The sound echoing off the marble walls. When I surface, I’m laughing, water streaming down my face and hair plastered to my skin.

I spin in his arms, feeling weightless in the warm water.

A second splash announces Klauth’s entrance, and he appears at my back, his presence solid and comforting. The water ripples around us, creating gentle waves that lap against the sides of the tub.

Did I die?

Or am I having one hell of a sex dream?

The connection between the three of us intensifies, an ancient bond forming. The water seems to amplify every sensation, every touch magnified, as if the very elements are celebrating our union. My breath comes faster, my heart racing with the significance of this moment.

“Tell me now that you don’t want this,” Thauglor says, his eyes capturing mine, gold flecks dancing in sapphire depths like stars in a night sky. He wiggles his length, teasing me right where I need him most.

“I want it,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the water. The words seem to hang in the steamy air, a commitment that goes beyond the physical, touching something primal and eternal.

“Shhh... Don’t rush,” Thauglor says against my lips as Klauth steadies me with firm hands on my waist. “This bond has waited centuries. We have time.” Thauglor says against my lips as Klauth takes control of my hips and presses me down onto his best friend’s length .

I gasp, feeling how thick Thauglor is. He has the same bumps on his length that Klauth did when he knotted me.

My core flutters and pulses, knowing exactly what that means for me.

Intense pleasure, feeling him everywhere all at once and being stuck together until he releases me.

When I’m halfway down his length, he slams up into me, burying himself to the hilt.

I cry out and arch back towards Klauth. He kisses me deeply, holding me as Thauglor rolls his hips agonizingly slow.

The ancient connection strengthens, feeling the power of it coursing through my veins like liquid fire. My entire being pulses with energy, responding to the ancient call of my mates. This is more than physical desire—it’s the union of souls meant to be joined.

I arch back towards Klauth, seeking his strength as the intensity of the moment overwhelms me.

He kisses me deeply, grounding me as the power of our three-way bond reaches its peak.

The water around us seems to vibrate with energy, responding to the ancient ritual of mates connecting for the first time.

Klauth’s hands cup my breasts, rolling my nipples between his fingers until I cry out.

My core pulses hard, trying to milk Thauglor’s length for all its worth.

He pulls me away from Klauth and encases me in his wings, slamming up hard into me with each thrust. He grunts into the curve of my neck with each thrust. A deep growl builds in his chest as I feel his length changing within me.

The bumps raise hitting spots I thought only Klauth could hit.

Then there’s the fullness of his flair that locks him fully in place.

I cry out just as he roars his release, throwing his head back.

His voice echoes in the bathroom, rattling things off of shelves and sending them crashing to the floor.

I can hear the bathroom door slam open, the heavy wood colliding with the marble wall with a thunderous crack that echoes off the tiled surfaces.

The sound of multiple footsteps fills the room, shoes squeaking against the wet floor and voices raised in surprise.

Steam swirls in the disturbed air, momentarily obscuring the intruders.

“Nothing to see here,” Klauth says behind me somewhere, his voice tight with irritation. The water ripples and sloshes against Thauglor’s wings as Klauth wades through the pool to usher everyone out.

“Mina, I’m leaving food,” Balor calls out, his deep voice resonating through the humid air.

I hear the heavy ceramic tray hit the marble table close to the side of the pool we’re on, the dishes clinking softly against each other.

The rich aroma of freshly cooked meat and herbs wafts over, making my stomach clench with unexpected hunger.

All I can do is stare into Thauglor’s gold-flecked sapphire eyes.

They glow faintly in the darkness created by his wings, which curve around us like a living canopy, sheltering us from prying eyes.

Beads of water cling to his long lashes, catching the dim light filtering through the steam.

My fingertips trace his high cheekbones, feeling the warmth of his skin and the barely perceptible texture of ancient scars so faint they’re invisible to the eye.

I stare at one of the most beautiful men I have ever seen.

His skin is damn near flawless, a beautiful dark bronze that gleams with moisture in the low light.

My fingers dig into his thick, wavy hair, slightly coarse against my palm, as I pull him to me for a kiss.

His lips are surprisingly soft against mine, tasting faintly of the wine I drank earlier, mingled with something uniquely him—wild and ancient, like storm clouds and earth.

It’s different with Thauglor, something about him is magnetic.

The scent of him—acid and ancient forests—fills my lungs with each breath.

My dragoness wants to be curled up under his wing, safe from the world that constantly demands more from me.

I’ve never craved the idea of being kept safe, of making myself small.

The concept of not having to be the strong one all the time is foreign, yet strangely enticing.

It settles in my chest like a warm stone, heavy but comforting.

Thauglor has that quiet dominance, the kind that simply is.

He doesn’t need to be loud or aggressive.

Each subtle shift of his muscles, each controlled breath, radiates power.

His presence alone screams dominant male— don’t fuck with me .

Even the water seems to yield to him, parting around his form as if acknowledging his authority.

The bathroom door closes with a soft click as the last intruder leaves, and I feel rather than hear Thauglor’s low chuckle against my lips. The vibration travels through my body, settling low in my abdomen.

Deep down, I know he’s exactly what my nest needed.

What I needed.

The realization crashes over me like a wave, undeniable and all-consuming. His arms tighten around me, as if sensing my thoughts, solid and secure. For once, I allow myself to surrender to the sensation of being protected rather than being the protector.