Page 13 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

I take a breath, trying to push down the surge of protectiveness roaring through me. Using the bond I share with my squad, I summon Balor to her side. The need to ensure she gets home safely gnaws at me, and I can’t leave that to chance. As soon as Balor arrives, I wave the still-warm heart at him, a silent command for him to escort her away from this mess.

Once they’re gone, I turn, my muscles still tense, and make my way toward Callan’s office. His silent presence at my side is a welcome shadow as we walk through the halls. Inside, I head straight for the sink, the cold water washing over my hands as I scrub away the blood. The red swirls down the drain, but the weight of what I’ve done clings to me.

“How long until her twenty-first birthday?” Callan’s voice breaks the silence, his tone careful, almost hesitant.

“End of the first quarter,” I reply, watching the water as it finally starts running clear. “It just so lands on the night they’re holding the Royal Protocol dance.” I shake my head, trying to dispel the thought. I glance over my shoulder at him, my voice dark with unspoken tension. “She’s yours too, huh?”

Callan’s eye hardens for a moment before he nods, the weight of the moment settling between us. “Sadly, yes.” He doesn’t say anything more, just turns and leaves the office, disappearing down the hall to who knows where.

Mina

-Tuesday-

I sent Iris last night to my father with an update on everything that had transpired. The weight of it still lingers in my chest. Cora, sensing my unease, took me to the cafe in the Aurelian Conservatory to get hot chocolate and cookies so we could talk. The warm sweetness helped, but not enough. She was just as shocked as I was that her brother jumped to my defense and killed a man. The memory still sends a shiver through me.

We stayed out far later than we should have, distracted by the need to process everything, and by the time we were ready to head back, the sky had turned pitch black. The campus felt eerily quiet. A chilly breeze swept through as we stepped down from the front steps, pausing to take in the stillness. Then we noticed him—a tall figure walking toward us with purpose.

“Good evening, ladies.” Leander bows deeply, a smile playing at his lips, but there’s a tension in the air.

“Hi, Lea,” Cora chirps, her voice far more relaxed than mine. She skips down the steps and wraps him in a hug. “Let me guess, big brother didn’t want me walking home in the dark.” She pouts, tilting her head like a mischievous kitten.

Leander chuckles, but there’s something off about his laugh. “Exactly. After what happened today, he didn’t want to chance the rest of the worg pack coming for Mina.” His hand moves to his hair, fingers running through it nervously.

“So they sent a Nightmare stallion? To protect a pair of dragonesses?” I tilt my head, disbelief lacing my words. My mind races, trying to reconcile how they expect this to work—a prey shifter, tasked with defending us.

Leander’s expression tightens. “Neither of you can fully shift until you hit your twenty-first year,” he says, voice low. “So, I’m better than nothing.”

I realize too late that I’ve struck a nerve. His eyes flicker with hurt. The weight of my words sinks in, and guilt coils in my stomach. “Sorry, Lea. I’m just … not used to needing protection.” I take a step forward, softening my gaze as I offer him a small, hopefully reassuring smile. “Can you forgive me?”

His forgiveness is a relief, but it barely sinks in before a sharp bang on a desk yanks me back into the present. I blink, heart skipping a beat, and find myself staring into the cold eyes of Samara. Her tail rattles in agitation, the sound grating against my nerves.

“Daydreaming, Miss Bladesong?” she hisses, her voice low and venomous.

Heat flushes my cheeks as I drop my gaze to the paper in front of me. “Sorry, it won’t happen again.” My voice is barely a whisper. I keep my eyes glued to the page until I feel her presence slither away.

I glance at the clock—only twenty minutes left of second period. How did the morning disappear so fast?

Before I know it, the bell rings, and I’m walking toward the Aurelian Conservatory, alone. The air feels heavy, as if something is watching me. I quicken my pace, but the sharp voice of Arista cuts through my thoughts.

“Aww, poor baby doesn’t have her bodyguard this time,” she sneers.

Rolling my eyes, I try to keep walking. She’s impossible, always looking for a reason to provoke me. My footsteps echo in the hallway, but hers are louder, quicker. She won’t let it go.

“Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!” Her shove hits me from behind, and I stumble forward, breath hitching as I prepare to hit the ground. But strong arms catch me, pulling me upright.

I look up at the towering figure—a man impossibly large, his grip firm yet steady as he sets me back on my feet. His presence radiates a silent strength, and he scans me over, making sure I’m okay.

“Back off, pebbles-for-brains. We’re having a conversation,” Arista snaps, her voice dripping with malice.

The man moves me behind him, his hand still on my arm, protective and steady. His voice is a low rumble, sending a chill down my spine. “It’s an entire flight against one. I don’t see that as fair.”

“This is a dragon matter, not a gargoyle one. Go back to your clan,” another girl chimes in, standing beside Arista, her eyes narrowed.

“If it’s a dragon matter, then why is a lesser dragon messing with a true dragon?” He cocks his head, his voice cold, calculating.

“I am not lesser!” Arista shrieks, surging forward in a blur of rage.

Before she gets close, Balor steps in, his sunglasses slipping down his nose, revealing the dark threat beneath. “Should we test that theory? Some species of true dragons are immune to my stone gaze.”

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