Page 19 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

Lysander raises his hands, palms out, in a placating gesture. “You’re not in trouble, Mina,” he says softly. “I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”

Something shifts in her posture, a tension releasing as she nods, her head dropping as she clings tighter to Cora. “Thank you for checking on me,” she murmurs, her voice small but grateful.

“I think for tonight, it might be safer for you to sleep here in the barracks,” Lysander continues, his tone gentle. “My top warriors have rooms here. If that makes you feel better.” He gives her a reassuring smile, but my drake still watches her closely, coiled tight, ready to react.

“Thank you.” Mina lowers her eyes again, her voice quieter, and then turns down the hallway toward the bedroom.

I narrow my eyes, muttering under my breath, “That was too easy.” I was expecting more resistance, maybe even a war. Something isn’tsitting right in my gut, and I can’t help but feel like the quiet before a storm is brewing.

When Cora steps into the room and softly announces that Mina has finally fallen asleep, the tension in my chest loosens just a fraction. My mate is safe, resting. Ziggy offers to take my sister back to her dorm, and she leaves with him. I turn to Balor and Leander.

“I’m going to crash on the couch,” I mutter, already rummaging through the closet for a pillow and blanket. The guys exchange a glance, but they only offer quick goodnights before heading out. I settle onto the most uncomfortable couch known to man, every spring digging into my back like it’s out for vengeance.

Sleep? Not likely. Every little sound keeps pulling me back from the edge—Mina’s soft breaths, the rustling of her blankets, even the wind against the window. My senses are too sharp, too attuned to her, and every time I stir, it’s to check if she’s alright.

It feels like minutes, but somewhere in the early morning, a blood-curdling scream shatters the silence. My heart slams in my chest as I jolt awake, tangled in the damn blankets. I’m on the floor before I can free myself, but the second I’m loose, I’m sprinting down the hall toward the bedroom. The sound of her cries fuels my panic.

I burst through the door to find Mina thrashing in her bed; her sheets a trap, her arms pinned. The blanket twisted around her neck, choking her. I waste no time tearing the sheets away, freeing her from their strangling grip.

“Mina,” I whisper, my voice rough as I gather her trembling body against mine. “Shhh... I’m here. You’re safe.” She’s so small compared to me, fragile, shaking like a leaf caught in a storm. Her face finds my chest, pressing into the solid planes as if seeking shelter, and I freeze.

I’ve imagined her like this, countless times—her skin against mine, her warmth so close, but always with a far different outcome. My body reacts to the intimacy of the moment, to the memory of all those mornings in the shower where I’d fantasized about what would happen next. My hips shift back, trying to hide the hardness against me. The last thing she needs is to feel that.

“He... tried to kill me...” she whispers, her words a broken murmur against my skin as her body relaxes in my arms.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you. Ever.” My voice is low as I press a soft kiss to her forehead, pulling her closer before gently lowering her back down. But the mistake becomes clear as I hover over her, my weight on my arms, her slitted gaze on me. My drake pushes at the surface, desperate to claim her now. Here.

I try to pull away, but her hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist. “Don’t leave me,” she pleads, her voice breathy and fragile, making my heart stutter.

“You’re not awake enough to make that decision,” I rasp, trying to convince myself more than her.

Her golden eyes blink wide open, locking onto mine. She bites her bottom lip, staring up at me with a vulnerability that crushes me. “It might be a mistake for both of us... might even break my heart,” she whispers. “But please, stay. I don’t want to be alone.” A single tear escapes, rolling down her cheek, and I brush it away with my thumb.

“As you wish.” The words feel heavy, like a promise I’m not sure I can keep. I grab the extra blanket from the foot of the bed and lay on top of the covers beside her, rolling onto my side to face the door. My body is on fire, every muscle tight, my arousal painfully obvious beneath the thin fabric. Tiamat help me if she notices the raging hard-on in my pants. I yank the blanket higher, trying to bury myself in it.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her lips brushing against my bare shoulder blade before she presses herself to my back. Her body, soft and warm, fits perfectly against me, and I can hear the moment she falls asleep—her breathing evening out, the tension leaving her body.

But me? I’m wide awake, with an aching boner and my mate nestled against me like some cruel torture. My need to touch her, to claim her, to make her mine is a raging fire, but I can’t. Not like this. Not now. And I sure as hell can’t relieve myself without waking her up.

I’m officially in my own private hell.

Mina

The day before the dance…

Math class feels like an excruciating waste of time today. My leg bounces impatiently under the desk, a restless energy that has nothing to do with the equations in front of me. All I can think about is how we’ll be excused from classes early to go dress shopping with Cora’s mother. Dress shopping—something that feels more like a punishment than a privilege. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that part. The plan is to attend this class and then art before we get released. My professor was kind enough to let me skip the art of war and archery courses for the afternoon. I guess being ahead of the class has its perks.

“Are you excited for later?” Cora whispers, sliding into the seat next to me. Her shoulder brushes against mine, and I feel the buzz of her enthusiasm vibrating in the air between us.

“No. I hate dresses,” I mutter, a low growl reverberating in my chest.The very thought of being stuffed into some flowy fabric prison makes my muscles tighten.

Cora’s eyes brighten with excitement, undeterred by my sour mood. “You might find your mate,” she says, her voice practically bubbling over. “And that outranks a betrothal.”

I barely manage not to roll my eyes, turning my gaze back to the notes sprawled across my desk. The formulas blur together, numbers and symbols bleeding into a meaningless mess. “My betrothed will not keep me as a pampered breeder,” I state flatly, clenching my jaw at the mere thought of it. “My father promised me that since we started my training. He knows what I want.”

Cora sighs softly, giving me a sympathetic look, but I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes. I know she means well, but the life she’s chosen—a delicate path of pleasing other nests and keeping the peace—just isn’t for me.

“Dividers up and clear your desks! Test time!” Professor Anipe’s voice slices through the room like a whip, snapping my focus back to the present. “Top five grades will win the first of many surprises today,” she adds, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous gleam.

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