Page 3 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“Have you memorized the maps of the campus and buildings?” Dad’s voice is calm, but I can feel the weight behind his words as he brushes a rogue strand of my green-silver hair behind my ear. His eyes, golden, the same intense shade as mine, study me closely.

“Of course. As well as all the hidden tunnels, escape routes, and weapon caches on campus,” I reply, my lips curling into a smile. I lean into him when he pulls me to his side, his arm strong and protective. His kiss lands softly on my temple, a rare moment of tenderness. In public, he’s the imposing figure everyone expects him to be. But in private, he’s different. I’m his pride and joy, his greatest accomplishment.

“You are so much like me, it’s not even funny,” he says, his voice soft but laced with a kind of admiration that makes my heart swell. I know he sees more of himself in me than he ever admits. “I know you don’t want to run a flight like your mom.”

My face twists in distaste. The mere thought of following in her footsteps sends a ripple of unease through me. It’s not that I don’t respect her—she’s powerful, commanding—but her life is suffocating. The obligations, the constant scrutiny... it’s not for me.

“With who your betrothed is, odds are you’ll be fighting right alongside him,” he continues, his words trailing off into something deeper, something that makes my heart skip a beat. There it is again, that cryptic hint. My mysterious betrothed, the one he refuses to name.

“You still won’t tell me who he is.” I shake my head, my frustration evident as I glance up at him, rolling my eyes. He’s been keeping this secret for too long.

“I know you broke into my office to find out.” He bumps his shoulder into mine, a playful glint in his eye.

“Can’t blame a girl for trying.” I shrug, pulling my hair back between my horns, trying to tame it before we reach the barracks. His knowing smile makes me chuckle, but there’s something else—something lingering just below the surface that makes my skin tingle.

“Not at all,” he says with a soft chuckle before his expression grows serious. “Now go get showered and changed. You need to leave in less than an hour.”

His lips press against my temple once more, but this time, I can feel the weight of unspoken words clinging to the air between us. The thought of leaving makes my stomach tighten. Something’s coming, something bigger than I’ve prepared for. I feel it crawling under my skin, an itch I can’t quite scratch.

As I head toward the barracks, my mind races. Who is he, this man I’m supposed to fight alongside? And why does it feel like the world is holding its breath, waiting for me to step into a future I can’t quite see yet? The tension pulls tight in my chest, and the air feels thick with expectation.

The crunch of rocks under the tires sounds like explosions in my ears, each one rattling through my bones, a stark reminder of how far I am from the safety of home. I glance out the window, my reflection in the glass catching the glint of the silver-edged green scales on my throat. I instinctively brush my fingers over them, the smooth surface a constant mark of my lineage. Green dragon, just like my father, though the silver flecks betray the iron blood from my mother. Even in human form, the telltale curves of my regal horns rise above my hair, a symbol of the iron dragon heritage I can never hide.

“I am so excited to get to the academy!” Addy is practically bouncing beside me, her enthusiasm infectious, even if it grates on my nerves.

“That makes one of us,” I mumble under my breath, staring at the horizon as if the distant mountains could offer an escape. Theacademy looms ahead, a place I should feel excited about but instead, dread curls in my stomach.

“You’ll be fine, Mina. I’m on guard duty for you,” Garrett says, his hand resting on my knee. He gives it a reassuring squeeze, though it feels more like a reminder that he’s always watching, always ready to protect.

I snort, unable to help the smirk that tugs at my lips. “I kicked your ass this morning. Tell me again how you being on guard is comforting?” I raise an eyebrow at him, teasing, though there’s an edge to it. The academy might be filled with danger, but I’ve never been one to rely on someone else to save me. Not when my life has been defined by my father’s training.

“Anyway...” Addy pipes up, waving the academy pamphlet in front of me, the glossy paper catching the light. “There are at least twelve or more species in attendance. And anywhere from a five-to-one to a ten-to-one male-to-female ratio.” Her voice is full of glee, completely missing the undercurrent of tension that hangs over the rest of us. She’s in her boy-crazy phase, eyes wide at the prospect of finding her mate.

I glance down at Iris, my small fairy dragon familiar, nestled comfortably in my lap. She blinks up at me, her iridescent wings shimmering faintly in the low light. “I know what she’s doing the second she gets there,” I mutter to Iris, giving her a gentle scratch behind her delicate horns. “Introducing herself to every available male, hoping to find her mate.”

I roll my eyes. Mates are a fairy tale mothers tell hatchlings, an illusion spun from fantasy. In reality, most of us are betrothed within minutes of birth, our futures sealed beforewe take our first breath.

I can only hope I find my mate, and he’s stronger than my betrothed. Then, maybe, they can fight for the right to keep me. But deep down, I know I’m kidding myself. I’m a shadowblade, a Bladesong child of Abaddon. My fate is already written in blood.

I’m doomed.

The car rolls to a stop in front of the Arcanum campus, my heart skipping a beat as I take in the sight of it. The building looms ahead, casting long, jagged shadows in the late afternoon light. It’s unmistakably gothic, with towering spires that claw at the sky and stone peaks carved into intricate designs that seem to shift when you’re not looking. My gaze is drawn to the gargoyles perched along the edges—some of them too still to be anything but statues, but others... they blink, their stone-like eyes following the stream of new students filing through the gates.

We get out of the car, the chill of the evening air biting at my skin, though the tension in my chest outweighs the cold. Our attendant silently gathers our bags, disappearing towards the northern dorms—where the dragons and dragon kin stay. I breathe in deeply, steadying myself. This is it.

Addy loops her arm through mine, her enthusiasm the only thing breaking the growing tension. “Come on, Mina! Let’s get this over with,” she chirps, practically dragging me toward the check-in table. My pulse quickens as I see the gorgon coiled behind the desk, her serpentine eyes flicking back and forth, sharp and unblinking. Every student gets the same treatment—names taken, packets handed, and a momentary, unnerving glance from her gaze.

“Next,” she calls, her voice a low, throaty rasp. Addy steps forward, giving both her name and Garrett’s with a confidence that comes naturally to her. I try not to flinch as the gorgon’s eyes snap past her, landing on me briefly before darting back. I already know why. Knowing my father, he probably paid extra to ensure Addy would be my roommate—always hovering, always watching for threats, even here.

“Next.” Her voice is sharper now. Addy steps aside, and I take a breath, stepping forward into her direct line of sight.

“Name,” she demands.

“Willamina Bladesong,” I answer, keeping my voice steady, lifting my chin just like my father drilled into me. A show confidence, even if I’m rattled inside. Her slitted eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I tilt my head in question. She’s hesitating.Why?

With a flick of her hand, she passes me a welcome packet. “This contains your room and roommate assignment, class schedule, and the dates for your two assessments. The first is physical. If you survive that, then you’ll face the educational one.” Her voice is flat, no hint of empathy. “Class schedules may change depending on the results. We’ll place you where your strengths are.”

She hands me a badge—my nickname, Mina, in bold letters. I clutch it, feeling its weight more than I should, and glance over as she motions to the right. “Trainers and fourth years will take you to the dorms.”

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