Page 50 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“I suspect you may be one of Mina’s mates,” I murmur, my voice low and soft, as if the egg might crack at any moment. “We live in dangerous times, and she’ll need you in the coming years.” My fingers hover near the shell, not quite touching it, as I search for any flicker of life within. Nothing. “If she dies, so doesyour chance of being free.”

For a long moment, there’s only silence—cold and empty, pressing in like a storm about to break. Then, a pulse of energy shudders through the silver swirls, igniting them for a brief heartbeat before fading back into darkness. My breath catches. He might be a mate of Mina’s after all. If that’s the case, at least I won’t have to worry about him harming her when he hatches.

“I’ll do everything within my power to protect her,” I vow, voice barely more than a whisper. The second the words leave my lips, the egg glows—a fierce, bright crimson that flares and pulses three times, each burst brighter than the last. It’s almost like it’s speaking.

Tension eases from my shoulders.Good. He understands.

I lie back on my bed, keeping the carrier snug against my chest. The scent of old smoke and earth clings to the room, but I focus on the steady rhythm of my breathing, trying to find some sense of calm. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” I mutter to the egg, my eyelids heavy. “A flight of firedrakes has it out for her, and who knows what else might come after her because of what we are.”

A yawn breaks free, and I close my eyes, the weight of exhaustion pulling at me. My body curls protectively around the carrier as I settle in, as if by doing so, I can keep Mina safe. As if I can ward off every threat that’s poised to tear her apart.

The egg hums softly, a low, soothing vibration against my chest. My heart skips. It’s faint, almost imperceptible, but it’s there—a hint of life. A tiny promise.

Maybe Mina talking to the egg wasn’t as crazy as it seemed.

The tugging at the carrier is subtle, almost imperceptible, but it jolts me from the edge of sleep. I react before I’m even aware of it, instincts snapping to the surface. My eyes remain closed as my hand darts out, catching the intruder’s throat in a crushing grip. I twist, throwing them down onto the hard ground beneath me. A roar rips free from my chest, reverberating through the confined space, shaking loose dust and debris.

When my brain finally catches up with my actions, I loom over Mina. My hand is wrapped around her neck, fingers pressing into the iridescent scales that shimmer beneath my touch. She’s grinning up at me, lips twisted in that familiar, infuriating smile that always throws me off balance.

“Fuck, Mina—” I release her immediately, stumbling back a step to drop into a crouch on my haunches, chest heaving. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Only she would laugh at a situation like this. The scales around her throat recede, melting back into her skin until she looks more human again. She reaches up, cupping my cheek with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.

“You reacted perfectly, my love.” She leans in, brushing her lips against mine. Her smile is a slow, lazy curve as her eyes flick to the carrier, then back to me. “Your first instinct was to protect the egg.”

Her words settle deep in my chest, a comforting warmth that fills me with a strange sense of pride. I glance down at the carrier, the precious cargo cradled safely within, and something eases inside me.

“It was,” I murmur, patting the side of the carrier gently. “Klauth and I … we’ve got an understanding.”

Mina’s expression turns playful as she tilts her head, scrutinizing me with those sharp, molten gold eyes. “Oh really? Because you once told me it wassillyto talk to an egg.”

Without warning, she reaches out and lifts the egg from the carrier, hugging it to her chest. The moment it touches her skin, the egg pulses—its surface shimmering as it responds to her presence. I watch, mesmerized, as its faint rhythm gradually syncs with the beat of her heart.

My breath catches in my throat. I fumble with the carrier, adjusting the straps to fit her much smaller frame. “Is that what you’re wearing today, or…?”

She rolls her eyes at me and heads to the dresser, stealing one of my black button-downs. I watch, dazed, as she wraps a cloth belt around her waist, cinching it tight. Before I can process what’s happening, she’s turning back, extending the egg towards me with a solemn expression.

“Klauth, this is my mate, Abraxis,” she murmurs softly. “Please do not harm him.”

The egg pulses again, several times in rapid succession. It’s warm—pleasant, almost—and I swear I can feel its thoughts flickering through each beat. I hold perfectly still, afraid that even the slightest movement might provoke it.It’s ridiculous,I tell myself,to be afraid of an egg.

Mina’s giggle breaks the silence, and she shakes her head, eyes dancing with amusement. “To hurt you is to hurt me. He will not harm you, Abraxis.”

Her words are soothing, but then my gaze drops to the fresh marksraking down her ribs. Jagged, angry lines of red surrounded by raised scales. A sudden, blinding rage surges up from the pit of my stomach.

“What thehelldid he do to you?” My voice drops to a growl, so low it’s almost unrecognizable. I don’t wait for an answer. My body moves on autopilot, closing the distance between me and the doorway where Callan has just appeared, casual as anything. I slam him against the wall, lifting him clean off his feet.

“What. Did. You. Do?” The pressure of my hand on his throat has him gasping, eyes bulging.

“I marked her. She’s mine too,” he chokes out, struggling against the grip that could easily snap his neck.

My vision tints red, the egg pulsing violently in time with my heartbeat.I should shove it against his skin—let it burn him to ash?—

“Abraxis!” Mina’s voice cuts through the haze of my fury. She wedges herself between us, her body pressed against mine, the heat of her presence anchoring me.

“He scarred you,” I murmur, voice softer now as I press a kiss to her forehead. But my eyes never leave Callan.The bastard marked her.

“Andyouscarred me.” Mina tilts her head, exposing the shoulder I’ve bitten and marked so many times before. I stare at my own teeth marks, each one a testament to my claim over her.

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