Page 37 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll behave.” Her voice is a soft purr, dripping with promise. “Well, mostly.”

“Right.” I swallow, the concern fading as excitement takes its place. Whatever happens next, one thing is clear: with Mina by my side, there will never be a dull moment again.

I choose to have us land just outside the Shadowcarve Campus. It’s the most logical place for us—neutral ground and the only location where Mina has a haven in her tiny apartment. The skies above us are churning, dark clouds barely concealing the rising storm of tension I feel radiating off my mate. I glance down at her, my chest tightening as I take in the resolve etched into her features. No matter what happens, I’ll be by her side.

The moment we step through the double doors, the courtyard falls silent. All eyes snap to us, friends frozen mid-step, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. I tighten my grip on Mina’s waist, my thumb rubbing soothing circles against her side.

“What?” I smirk, but the look I cast over the gathered shifters is a warning—daring them to say something I won’t like. Before anyone can muster the courage, I pull Mina against me, bending down to press a kiss to the crown of her head. Her warmth settles me, and I can’t help the possessive surge that courses through my veins as I breathe in her scent.

“You look real good in black, Mina,” Balor remarks, his voice carrying the faintest hint of approval as he steps forward. His gaze sweeps over her, then back to me, assessing the changes. He inches closer until he’s just inside the range where he can properly catch our combined scents. “Congratulations are in order. It’s about time.” He grins, and though the tension in the courtyard lightens slightly. I catch the edge of wariness in his eyes. He moves to slap my shoulder—a gesture both casual and carefully measured—before offering Mina a polite wave.

Mina looks up at me, her brows furrowed in confusion. “What was that?” Her question is a low murmur, meant only for my ears.

“Upside of being mates, love. Strangers won’t try touching you anymore, and neither will friends—unless they think they’re mates or you initiate contact first.” I explain, my voice softening. I watch her as she contemplates this, then turns to face Balor, her expression hesitant before she reaches out and gently touches his arm. A second later, her nose wrinkles, and I feel the flicker of discomfort through our bond.

“Oof, my dragoness doesn’t like your scent anymore. I’m sorry, Balor.” Mina’s apology is genuine but laced with a hint of bemusement as she pulls back, taking the bag I’ve been carrying for her. Without another word, she heads into her apartment, the door clicking softly behind her.

“We heard what happened with her father.” Callan’s voice draws my attention, and I turn to find him leaning against a stone wall, arms crossed over his chest. His gaze is heavy, but I see the concern buried there. “It’s the talk of the campus. Abaddon’s been brought up on multiple charges of abuse based on what his betrothed said. She and her daughter have been removed from the Risedale nest and taken into protective custody.”

“It was horrible. Probably worse than you were made aware of,” I say, jaw tightening at the memory. “I wanted to end him right then and there, but Mina?—”

I stop myself, knowing Callan understands. He nods slowly, then pushes off the wall, his gaze drifting to Mina’s closed door before he turns back to me. I grab his arm, pulling him a few steps away from the others. “Are you going to talk to her?” I tilt my head, studying one of my oldest friends, trying to gauge the emotions flickering across his features. He’s always been hard to read, but now…

“She deserves someone who matches her strength and ability, not a liability like me.” Callan pulls off his eye patch, revealing the long, jagged scar that runs down his cheek and over his ruined eye. He holds my gaze, the barest hint of self-loathing shadowing his expression. “I couldn’t protect her before. What good am I now?”

“Strength isn’t just about power,” I counter softly. “She wields lightning even in her human form, and I think that’s because of that faerie dragon familiar of hers.”

As if on cue, the familiar zips past us, a blur of shimmering scales and trailing light, before it vanishes through the crack in Mina’s apartment door. Callan’s lips twitch into a half-smile, his gaze following the tiny creature.

“I’m glad you came back today,” he says after a moment, his tone shifting to something more serious. “The missive about the choosing arrived. Mina’s in the first round to go into Malivore and see if an egg is hers.” He pulls a sealed envelope from his jacket and hands it to me.

The paper feels heavy in my hands as I break the seal and skim through the contents. My heart pounds louder with every word. The choosing … Mina’s gut instinct was correct. Somehow, she knew today would be the day. But how?

“Did her familiar tell her?” I murmur, eyes narrowing as I read through the instructions again. It’s possible. That tiny fae beast is more than what it seems. Or was it simply a lucky guess? My gaze drifts back to the apartment door, my mind spinning with possibilities.

Either way, I won’t let her go in alone. My dragon roars in agreement, a deep, resounding echo in my chest that settles with a surge of protective determination. The choosing is only the beginning. If Malivore eggs choose her…

The thought chills me to my core. There’s no telling what we’ll face, what dangers will lurk within that cursed place. But there’s one thing I know for sure: I’ll be there. Every step of the way.

The door swings shut with a soft thud behind me as I stride into the room, the familiar faces of my team lighting up with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. I pause, letting my gaze sweep over them, gauging reactions. The air crackles with energy, a quiet hum of powerbeneath the surface that sets my skin buzzing. A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I open my arms slightly in greeting.

“We’re finally bonded,” I announce, my voice low but carrying through the room. A ripple of excitement spreads like wildfire. Leander grins wide, the flash of teeth almost feral, while Ziggy smacks the table with a resounding clap, his approval radiating like a heatwave.

“About damn time!” Ziggy crows, his eyes sparking with pride. There’s a round of murmurs and low chuckles from the others, each more animated than the last. The bond—it’s what we’ve fought so long for, and it’s finally ours. But we don’t have time to celebrate. Not yet.

I motion for everyone to move, the gravity of what’s coming settling over us like a weighted cloak. The easy smiles shift into focused determination as we make our way to Callan’s office. A massive map dominates the center of his table. The layout of the Malivore egg chamber sketched out in fine detail. I study it for a beat, committing every line and mark to memory before Callan’s deep voice breaks the silence.

“All the eggs are present for this year’s choosing,” he says, tapping the paper where each one rests, his finger hovering just above the inked ovals that represent the future. Power hums beneath my skin again, the thought of what’s at stake sending a thrill through me. One misstep and?—

“Starting without me?” Mina’s voice cuts through the room like a blade, clear and commanding.

I look up just as she steps through the doorway, her presence drawing every gaze like a magnet. There’s something inherently lethal about the way she moves—graceful, confident, but with an edge of danger that never lets you forget what she’s capable of. Her eyes, that moltengold of her dragon’s, burn through Callan as she strides over to the table. Every muscle in my body tightens in response to her nearness, the bond between us crackling with raw, unrestrained energy. The guys shift, their excitement mellowing in the face of her power.

“Sorry, we were trying to get a game plan together before presenting it to you,” Callan offers, his voice steady, but edged with a hint of nervousness. Mina’s head tilts ever so slightly as she studies him, the gold in her eyes brightening, swirling. It’s like watching the sun flare to life behind a veil of storm clouds—beautiful, yet terrifying.

She turns that gaze on me, and I feel it like a physical caress and challenge all at once. One brow arches, the smallest of movements, but I catch the knowing look beneath. She’s already pieced it together. Knows I’ve held something back.

“Basically, the short version is: don’t touch an egg that isn’t glowing for you,” I say, reaching out to pull her closer. She comes willingly, the warmth of her body fitting perfectly against mine as I hold her tight. The bond flares, bright and sure, and I feel the rush of her power intertwining with mine. A heady, intoxicating sensation.Mine. My mate. I press my lips to the top of her head, a silent vow that I won’t let her out of my sight during the choosing.

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