Page 23 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

Tonight will be a battle in more ways than one. And I’m ready to burn this place to the ground if anyone dares to lay a claim on what’s already mine.

The sun has fully set by the time all the females have walked down the aisle, the lingering warmth of the day swallowed by the coolness of evening. Shadows stretch long and dark across the courtyard, their edges soft in the flickering glow of lanterns. We make our way toward the grand hall in the arboretum; the air buzzing with quiet conversations and the faint rustle of fabric.

Inside, the hall is cast in a rich, golden light that catches on the intricate patterns of the polished wooden floors. The females are all seated with their fathers, an unspoken tension simmering in the space between them. Eight males stand before Mina’s table, a mix of nervous anticipation and pride etched on their faces. But she doesn’t give them so much as a glance, her gaze sharp and focused elsewhere, as if already dismissing them.

My father sits beside my sister at the table next to Mina and Abaddon. Cora’s back is straight, her smile edged with a challenge that only a few would dare respond to. Mina and Cora are strategically placed between the fathers, while Ziggy stands behind them, posture rigid. He’s ready to act at a moment’s notice, his alertness palpable, a silent promise of protection. My father leans forward as I approach, his eyes crinkling in genuine pleasure.

“Son, good to see you looking so well.” His voice carries over the hushed murmur of the gathering, and Mina tilts her head, her gaze sliding up to meet mine. I can feel her studying me, even with the black mask concealing half my face. The silver filigree along the edges seems to catch her attention, and I see the subtle shift of her shoulders—an unconscious reaction to the weight of my presence.

“You too, Father.” I incline my head slightly before my eyes shift to Cora. “Cora, are you two behaving?” My tone is light, but there’s a warning beneath it, a reminder of the stakes tonight. My gaze flickersbetween her and Mina, the two females holding far more power than anyone else in this room realizes.

“Of course, big brother.” Cora’s smirk is impish, but there’s an edge to it, a promise of trouble if left unchecked. “After all, we both know our betroths are here tonight. They have to be present, don’t they?” Her words make my jaw tighten, and I can’t help the low growl that rumbles in my chest.

Mina shifts in her seat, the flicker of her dragon’s slits flashing in her eyes as she turns to me. The presence of her dragoness washes over me, a caress of heat that feels almost tangible. “I assume your betrothed is here as well, Abraxis?” Her voice is cool, yet there’s an underlying current of challenge that makes my blood stir.

“Of course she is. She’s as brilliant as she is beautiful. Deadly as she is skilled. A female defines who and what she is, not her bloodline or society.” I tilt my head slightly, watching as both fathers’ attention snaps to me. The unspoken truth hangs heavy between us—they know she’s mine. They signed the contract over twenty-one years ago. A lifetime ago, and yet it feels like no time at all.

“She’s a lucky female.” Mina’s voice is softer now, almost contemplative. Her eyes lower, her gaze shifting to her father. “Please excuse me.” She rises with a grace that seems almost otherworldly, her fingers brushing against the edge of the table. She whispers something to Ziggy, and in the blink of an eye, they’re gone. The absence of her presence leaves a hollow space, a vacuum that pulls at my senses.

“What are your plans, son?” Abaddon’s voice cuts through the silence, his arms crossed over his chest as he studies me with the intensity of a predator sizing up another. His scrutiny doesn’t unsettle me—I’ve been preparing for this moment for years.

“Simple.” I let the word hang, savoring the anticipation that crackles in the air. “I’m going to ask her to dance with me, shift my eyes, and get hers to shift in return. The bond will be acknowledged then, witnessed by everyone here. And then we can reveal the betrothal.” I turn my gaze from one father to the other, waiting for their response. “If that works for everyone present?” There’s a long pause, the weight of my words settling over us. And then, slowly, they both nod. A small, satisfied smile tugs at my lips.

Mina

I take a deep breath,the cool night air filling my lungs as I glance over the sprawling campus below. The lights of the arboretum glitter like distant stars, but I can’t seem to focus on their beauty. My thoughts are tangled, each one more chaotic than the last, making my chest feel unbearably tight. Ziggy’s hand closes around my wrist, pulling me to a stop mid-pace. I blink up at him, trying to mask the anxiety swirling beneath the surface.

“What’s wrong, Mina?” His voice is low, calm—a rock in the storm raging inside me. He tilts his head, concern etched into every line of his face.

“Can a female sense her mate without shifting?” The question spills from my lips before I can stop it, the words heavy with a desperation I wish I could hide. I drag a hand through my hair, the familiar motion doing little to soothe me. “I feel like I’m going insane.”

Turning away from him, I grip the stone railing, fingers digging into the icy surface as if it can anchor me to reality. I close my eyes,listening to the wind as it whispers through the trees below. It feels like a thousand tiny voices—each one mocking me for the uncertainty that’s taken root in my chest.

“Absolutely they can,” Ziggy says gently, stepping up beside me. “All you need to do is shift your eyes, and he has to shift his, and the bond will snap into place. As for sensing your mate … depending on how much time you’ve spent around them, it can be a weak tether at this point.”

I open my eyes, turning my gaze to him. His green eyes watch me intently, understanding and patience radiating from his steady presence. But his words only make the knot in my chest tighten.

“My betrothed is down there somewhere.” I wave a hand toward the glowing arboretum lights, frustration bleeding into my voice. “What if my mate intends for me to be a breeder, whereas my betrothed wants me as his equal? What do I do then?” My heart pounds in my chest as I meet his gaze, a thousand possibilities swirling in my mind—none of them promising.

Ziggy’s expression softens. “You’re a very smart woman, Mina. You know you won’t be happy as a breeder.” He offers me his hand, and after a heartbeat of hesitation, I place mine in his. “Choose the path that will bring you the most joy.”

Before I can respond, his phone buzzes. He glances at it, brow furrowing slightly before a small, amused smile tugs at his lips. “Balor just messaged me—your father is getting irritated fending off all the males.”

I laugh softly; the tension easing just a fraction. “Let’s go save my father,then.”

In an instant, the world blurs. Ziggy’s power wraps around us, folding time and space like it’s nothing more than a piece of paper. The tower disappears, and the hall materializes around us, filled with the hum of conversation and music. My father stands at the center, surrounded by a half-circle of agitated males, his posture rigid with thinly veiled annoyance.

“Why couldn’t I be a displacer beast?” I mutter, nudging Ziggy with my elbow. “Being able to phase across distances would be very handy.”

“Because you are my greatest accomplishment and perfect just the way you are.” My father’s voice is a deep rumble as he turns to face me, a smile softening his stern features. He places a kiss on my temple, the familiar scent of him—spice and leather—filling my senses. “Choose a male and go for a dance before the natives get restless.”

I glance at the crowd of males—each one staring at me with thinly veiled intensity. The weight of their gazes presses down on me, but I force myself to smile, hiding the turmoil still churning beneath my calm exterior. My instincts, sharp and untamed, tug at the edges of my consciousness, urging me to do something to choose.

“Cora?” I call softly, and she steps up beside me, her presence a comforting, solid warmth at my side.

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to close my eyes and let my instincts guide me.” A smile tugs at my lips despite the nerves tightening my stomach into knots. “Just make sure I don’t trip over anything.”

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