Page 5 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

I glance over the expanse of the campus, trying to push down the unease coiling tighter in my gut. It’s an expanse of stone, shadowed by the approaching night, and it feels far too exposed for my liking.

“Will your sister sell you out?” Balor’s voice cuts through, casual as ever. He sits on the stone rail, back to the sprawling campus below, but his tone holds a sharpness that tells me he’s paying more attention than he lets on.

“Not if she wants to know who her betrothed is.” I arch a brow, my gaze flicking between them. They know better than to press that point. The silence stretches as Balor considers the implication.

“Arista’s flight will be an issue,” Leander says, inspecting his nails as though this entire conversation bores him, but I catch the shift in his stance. He’s not as indifferent as he looks.

“Maybe,” I admit, though the twist in my gut tells me it’s more than ‘maybe.’ “Then again, my mate’s smart. Skilled, if her father’s letter is truthful about her training.”

That’s what unsettles me most—Abaddon’s reputation for weaving truth with lies like a well-spun web. Greens are notorious for twisting everything. Tomorrow’s assessment will reveal how much of what he said holds water. My gut twists tighter, a knot of anticipation and worry.

I can’t afford to be wrong about her.

The door bangs open nearly thirty minutes later, and Ziggy saunters outside, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. I arch a brow, waiting for him to explain, and he chuckles as if he’s holding back a secret too good to keep. “I think Mina might kill Arista herself.”

My wings twitch, leather rustling as I shift to face him fully, trying to appear relaxed, though his words grip my attention. “What do you mean?” My voice comes out steady, but there’s an edge to it I can’t quite hide.

Zigmander grins wider, clearly enjoying this. “Arista was going on about how you’re hers and all that nonsense. You should’ve seen it, Abraxis. The dragonic slits flashed in Mina’s eyes—cold, lethal. She didn’t say a word, just turned and stared Arista down like she was prey. Then, out of nowhere, she pulls a blade. Had her pinned to thewall, the point right at her jugular.” His laughter spills out, rough and gleeful. He stops watching me, but I don’t return the amusement.

“What happened?” Leander cuts in, his tone sharp, thankfully asking the question that’s burning in my throat. Otherwise, Ziggy would be on the receiving end of my temper.

Ziggy leans back, crossing his arms, relishing the tension. “Mina gripped Arista’s jaw, turned her head side to side—” He glances at me knowingly, and I already understand. Mina was checking for the mate mark, the unmistakable bite of a drake on his claimed female.

He continues, “Then Mina shoves her—hard. Arista lands flat on her ass. Mina called her out, said that if she was truly yours, being a black dragon, your mark would be visible for everyone to see.” Ziggy’s laughter softens into a low, amused rumble. “She shut that pompous bitch right up. But I’ll tell you, she probably made an enemy for life.”

I can’t disagree. Ziggy’s right—Mina’s earned herself a dangerous foe. My mark would be unmistakable if Arista were telling the truth. I feel the weight of the situation settling in, the precarious balance Mina’s just shattered. “She’s right,” I mutter, my gaze shifting in the direction where I know Mina is. “If Arista were mine, my mark would be visible for all to see.”

A flicker of pride mixes with concern. Mina’s sharp. Her father must’ve taught her well about drake customs, about how different species claim their mates. But even that knowledge doesn’t ease the tight coil of worry in my chest. I glance back at Leander and Ziggy, knowing full well the challenges ahead. These next few years will test every shred of my sanity. A drake can only go so long without his mate once she’s matured, and Mina is close—dangerously close—to being everything I need.

And Arista? She won’t let that go. The problem is, neither will I.

It’s well past midnight, and the halls of the dorm are quiet, almost too quiet. Perfect time to walk, check on the new students—or at least that’s what I tell myself. Who am I kidding? I’m here for her.My mate.

Ziggy drags his feet beside me, yawning, but I don’t care. I need to see her to make sure she’s safe. My eyes fix on the thick wooden door, a solid two inches of barrier separating me from her. Wordlessly, Ziggy grips my arm, his fingers cold as he phases us through the door with a single breath. No sound, no disturbance—just darkness enveloping us as we step inside.

My sister took the bed closest to the door, just like I asked. Always dependable. If anything happens, she can reach me through our bond in seconds. The middle bed... her friend. Gem dragons are so fragile. It’s laughable she’s even here. I doubt she’ll survive tomorrow. The thought passes, dark and dismissive, as my focus sharpens on the bed near the window.

Her silver-green hair spills across the pillow like a cascade of moonlight, her chest rising softly beneath the blanket I gave her. I marked it with my scent before I sent it to her. A silent claim, a warning to anyone who dares touch her. She clutches it close, curled against the fabric like it’s a lifeline.

My gaze sharpens. There, under the pillow—her hand. I crouch, quiet as a shadow, and gently lift the corner of the pillow to reveal the pommel of a dagger tucked beneath her fingers. A slow smile curls at the edge of my lips.Clever. Smart mate.

Without a word, I place another bandolier of knives on the desk. She’ll need them for tomorrow. The desk is cluttered with books onpoisons, open pages covered in her neat script, alongside vials—full and unmarked. Prepared, as far as I’m allowed to interfere.

The thought of what tomorrow holds gnaws at the back of my mind, but I push it aside. I have other matters to attend to first. Lysander, the headmaster, will need to know my mate has arrived. And my schedule—everything—will need to change.For her.Only for her.

I linger a moment longer, taking in the sight of her, memorizing the peaceful rise and fall of her chest. Then, with one last look, I step back into the shadows with Ziggy. She’s safe for now.

Mina

I joltawake at the sudden banging and yelling, instinct kicking in before my mind fully catches up. Rolling off the bed, I land in a crouch, dagger already in hand, eyes fixed on the door. My pulse quickens as a ripple of scales moves over my chest, abdomen, and up my throat. Bahamut’s blessing, I remind myself, thankful for the armored scales of my mother’s species. Not the soft, delicate ones my father has. With a steadying breath, I reach under the bed, fingers curling around another blade. Cora is already poised to strike, eyes sharp, muscles tense. Addy, however, has slid under her bed, her slight frame hidden from view.

The loud click of the lock disengaging snaps me back to the present. I slip further into the shadows, blending seamlessly as I wait. The door creaks open, revealing a tall figure framed in the harsh light from the hallway. My breath holds, muscles coiled, ready.

“Get dressed. Assessment day starts now. You have fifteen minutes to be in the arena with whatever you can carry.” His voice is cold,impersonal, before the door slams shut, and the pounding begins again down the hall.

For a moment, Cora and I lock eyes—there’s no need for words. In one smooth motion, we launch into action. I dive back under the bed, my hands finding the one case I’ve been hoping I wouldn’t need to open anytime soon. My fingers hesitate briefly over the latch before I flip it open, revealing the dark green, nearly black leathers of the Shadowblades.

Slipping into the leathers feels like slipping into a second skin—familiar, cold, and comforting in its own way. I strap on the armored bodice beneath it; the basilisk shed tough enough to protect my chest and throat. Its weight is a reminder of the dangers ahead, but also of my readiness. My heart races as I work quickly, braiding my hair tightly, wrapping blackout tape around my silver horns. They’d give away my position far too easily otherwise.

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