Page 48 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

Willamina tilts her head, a playful smile breaking through the tension. “Want me to carry you?” Her eyes sparkle with a hint of mischief, but there’s genuine concern, too. “I mean, my dragoness is rather large, and it might be easier for you.” She winces slightly, clearly unsure how I’m going to take it.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I think I’ll manage.” But the words come out steadier than I feel. This is going to be one hell of a flight—if I don’t mess it up completely.

I shift, feeling my bones contort and elongate, muscle and sinew snapping into new configurations as I take on my feathered form. Pain pulses through me, but I grit my beak and focus on the powerful stretch of my wings as I shake them out. My feathers rustle and shimmer in the fading light, each beat sending a ripple through my body. I spread my wings wide several times, feeling the strain and burn in my muscles. Please, just hold—just for this, I pray to theGods, desperate that my wings will carry me through whatever’s coming next.

The soft crunch of footsteps draws my attention. Mina steps closer, a curious, appraising look on her face. “Hmm … I was almost right about the coloring,” she murmurs thoughtfully. Her fingers reach out, brushing against the feathers along my neck. I tense under her touch, shivering at the unexpected gentleness. “Your feathers are so soft,” she whispers, her voice carrying a hint of wonder.

She circles me, her gaze sweeping over every inch of my shifted form. Her scrutiny is so intense, it feels as though she’s laying me bare. I keep turning my head, trying to keep my good eye on her as she moves. How long is she going to stare? My heart pounds harder with every step she takes. I’ve never felt this exposed, not even when I first learned to shift. Her presence unnerves me, stirring something raw and uncertain within.

“Let’s hope you can keep up,” Willa’s voice breaks through the tension like a whip crack. She steps forward, her expression cool and assessing. I swallow hard as she begins her shift. Bones break and snap, scales erupting over her skin as her enormous form takes shape. Iron and emerald scales glint like polished gems, edged with iron that gleams in the setting sun. The sheer size of her dragoness is overwhelming—imposing and regal, a creature of absolute power. The horns framing her tall, proud frill are lined with faint etchings of silver markings that make her look even more fearsome.

She lowers her head, massive nostrils flaring as she sniffs at my feathers. Her hot breath ruffles them, and my entire shift tenses in response.Run. The instinct screams through me, and I have to fight to keep still. Having a larger predator this close is a terrifying reminder of our differences.Are we that out of sync?Did I damage our bond beyondrepair that my shift is afraid of our mate?The thought cuts deep, guilt tightening my chest.

With a snap, Willa spreads her enormous wings wide, the membranes catching the breeze like sails on a ship. The powerful downward thrust that follows nearly drives me to the ground. I stumble, struggling to maintain balance as the wind she kicks up whips around me. She gains altitude easily, circling above like a sentinel. Her shadow looms over me, a reminder of everything I’m not.

Damn it. I grit my beak and force myself to launch into the air. Every muscle screams in protest as I fight to gain height, each wing beat labored and awkward.Focus.Just keep up. She glides with ease, using a thermal to ascend higher without expending much effort. Meanwhile, I’m flapping hard, every motion an exhausting battle against gravity.

She shifts closer, aligning herself beneath me. I know what she’s offering, and it stings—humiliation and relief warring within me. But pride only goes so far when your wings are ready to give out. With a growl of frustration, I concede, angling down to land on her dragon’s broad back. As soon as my talons find purchase, I shift back.

I slump against her frill, panting as we coast through the sky. Mina keeps her flight smooth and steady, as if she knows how badly I’m hurting. She probably does, I think bitterly, grateful yet ashamed. We touch down in the field an hour later, just outside of town. My legs feel like jelly as I slide down from her back and land on shaky feet.

Willa shifts back in a shimmer of scales and light, her human form emerging effortlessly. She rolls her shoulders, stretching out like she’s just completed a light jog. “I’m sorry,” she says, voice soft. Her gaze flickers to me, filled with something I can’t quite name. “I saw you struggling up there.”

I close the distance between us, pulling her into a tight hug before I can second guess myself. “Your wing is bigger than my entire body, Willa. It was going to be an issue no matter how hard I tried.” I smile, but it’s strained at the edges, my frustration simmering just below the surface. I loop my arm with hers, gently guiding her to my blind side where I know she wants to be. “You were just being you—looking out for me,” I add softly.

She relaxes a bit, leaning into my side as we walk. The wind whistles through the trees, and the smell of earth and fresh grass fills the air. For a moment, everything feels right. But doubt still gnaws at me, whispering that I’m not enough. That I’ll never be able to match her strength or protect her the way I’m supposed to. And it’s a fear I can’t quite shake, no matter how tightly I hold on to her now.

Mina

I don’t knowwhat to do…

I stare across the living space at Callan, a storm of conflicting emotions swirling inside me. Dinner was wonderful the other night—he was the perfect gentleman, attentive and kind. Yet here we are, the bond between us strained to the point of snapping. I glance down at the egg carrier cradled in my lap, sighing heavily as if the weight of it could somehow anchor my tumultuous feelings.

I’m lost, caught in a loop of frustration and hurt.What do I even do at this point?It feels like I’m drifting further from him, no matter how hard I try to reach out. I close my eyes and take a steadying breath, letting the flickering flames in the fire pit draw my attention.

“My sister is coming over,” Abraxis murmurs softly, his lips brushing against my temple in a tender kiss.

“Okay.” The response is automatic. My gaze locked on the flames as they dance and twist, casting long shadows across the room. The next thing I know, his firm hands pull me onto his lap, and his mouthcrashes down on mine, taking me by surprise. A gasp escapes before I melt into him, my fingers threading through his hair, holding him close.

I moan softly into the kiss, letting him guide the rhythm, slow and deep, until I’m breathless. He pulls back slightly, his eyes filled with a warmth I don’t quite feel. He holds me tighter, crushing me to his chest as if he can absorb all of my sadness through sheer proximity. A small smile tugs at his lips, but his voice is achingly gentle.

“Talk to me.” The plea in his tone almost breaks me. I take a shuddering breath, letting my forehead rest against his.

“Just … depressed. Not much has changed.” My voice is thin, barely more than a whisper. “I know he’s damaged, and he doesn’t see himself the way I do. But it hurts me. I barely feel him.” My hand drifts to rub over my sternum, where the bond should be thrumming with life. Instead, it’s a faint whisper of what it should be.

Abraxis’s eyes soften, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “I’ll talk to him when you go out with Cora for a bit. She needs help with her math and science.” He smiles at me then, that boyish grin that never fails to coax a laugh out of me.

“You know I love your sister.” I manage a smile, leaning in to kiss the tip of his nose. “Even if she’s a menace with equations.”

“Are you taking the egg with you?” He glances down at the carrier, resting his hand gently over the flap. His touch is so careful, so reverent, that it makes something inside me ache. How will he be when it’s his egg we’re protecting?

“Yeah, it’s my responsibility,” I murmur, brushing a kiss over his lips before easing off his lap. The moment is broken when the dooropens, and Cora strides in, her presence filling the room with her usual energy.

“Mina!” she squeals, launching herself at me and Abraxis, hugging us both in a tight embrace.

“What’s your responsibility?” Her eyes narrow as she peers around me and notices the egg carrier. I barely have time to react before she’s smacking Abraxis on the chest, her excitement palpable. “Why didn’t you tell me I was going to be an aunt?”

“Cora, wait!” I grab her arm as she fumbles for her phone. “It’s not our egg. It’s a cursed egg.” With a deep breath, I lift the flap, exposing the shimmering surface of the red egg nestled inside.

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