Page 51 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“Fair enough,” I grumble, dropping Callan unceremoniously. “Next time,warn me.”

I lean down and capture her lips in a gentle kiss, letting her warmth wash away the last dregs of my anger. My gaze flickers down to the egg in my hand, still glowing faintly. “Can you believe this shit?”

I shake my head, muttering under my breath as I stalk off towards the kitchen. My thoughts whirl as I try to process everything that’s happened in the last ten minutes.Coffee. I need coffee. I pass Mina the egg as I pass her heading towards the kitchenette.

“Are you going to put pants on?” Mina calls out behind me, laughter evident in her voice.

I glance down, belatedly realizing that I’m still only in my boxers. I shrug. “Nope. My nest, I don’t need pants.”

I hear her snort of amusement as I reach the kitchen, startling Ziggy. He’s mid-sip when his gaze lands on me, eyes widening. “Put the pork sword away, dude. No one needs to see that thing first thing in the morning.” He shields his eyes dramatically.

“Get over it.” I roll my eyes, reaching for a mug. “We’ve all showered together in the barracks—you know what I’m working with.”

“Wait—allof you have showered together?” Mina’s voice is curious, and I glance over my shoulder to find her perched on a stool, the egg cradled in her lap. That wicked glint is back in her eyes, and I know someone’s in for it later.

I grin, handing her a cup of coffee and leaning down to kiss her temple. “Yup. But none of them look half as good as you do in my shirt.”

The egg pulses in her hands, and I swear it’s approving.

It’s the first time in years I’ve had a lazy Sunday. The kind of day where the world outside fades into insignificance, and all thatmatters is the peaceful atmosphere inside these four walls. Mina has her back against the arm of the couch, one leg hooked over mine, the other draped across my lap as she reads through the heavy tome Callan brought over yesterday. The soft rustle of turning pages fills the room, blending with the muted hum of the egg carrier at her side. Callan is seated at the opposite end, her feet in his lap as he massages them with the kind of care that makes me almost envious.

“What are we doing today?” Balor’s voice breaks the silence as he emerges from his room, his unruly hair sticking up in wild angles. He stretches languidly, his arms above his head, and then fixes us with an expectant look.

“As little as possible,” Mina murmurs, glancing up over the top of her book. A teasing smile curves across her lips. “It’s been a helluva year so far.” She shifts slightly, the fabric of her shirt rustling as she arches her neck, tilting her head to peer up at him. “Ooh, while you’re up, can you grab me another coffee, please?”

“Sure. Cream and three sugars?” Balor asks as he pivots on his heel, already heading towards the kitchen.

“Yes, please.” She hums softly, her attention drifting back to the tome’s faded pages as if she’s fallen back under its spell. I catch a glimpse of the section she’s reading—the scrawled, angular script details the cursed eggs’ capture and the tragic fates of the drakes within.

“Find anything interesting?” I lean to the side, trying to read over her shoulder, the scent of her perfume teasing my senses. It’s a soothing scent, grounding me as much as the warmth of her legs over mine.

“Klauth…” Her fingers trail over the edge of the egg carrier, a fond smile touching her lips. “He was the hardest to capture. He went into a rage after his intended’s nest was attacked and burned to ash.” She cants her head slightly, those radiant eyes locking onto mine. “I know another drake who would tear the world apart if anything ever happened to me.”

My chest tightens as I hold her gaze. She’s always had this uncanny way of reading me, of knowing exactly what I’m thinking before I say a word. The corner of my mouth twitches up, a dark promise lingering behind my voice. “I think Klauth would join me in razing the continent if he’s hatched. There wouldn’t be a single soul left alive outside of your nest.”

As if understanding, the egg carrier thrums softly. A low, resonant sound that I can feel more than hear. My fingers curl protectively around Mina’s leg, my gaze dropping to the delicate rise and fall of her chest, the slight shimmer in the air around the egg. Magic pulses faintly, and I wonder if Klauth is responding to the conversation—if somewhere, deep within that enchanted shell, he’s already attuned to the fierce protectiveness I feel for the woman at my side.

Mina’s laughter breaks through my thoughts, light and melodic, as she strokes the egg carrier with one hand. “I would wager that you are right, my love.”

A comfortable silence settles over us, broken only by the turning of pages and the rhythmic thump of Balor’s steps as he returns, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. “Here you go, Miss Queen of caffeine,” he jokes, handing it to her with a flourishing bow.

“Thank you, kind sir.” Mina takes it, her fingers brushing his briefly. Then she returns to reading, her eyes scanning the lines with that determined focus she gets when she’s on the verge of discovering something crucial.

I settle back, content to watch her. The hum from the egg carrier blends with the faint murmur of her reading voice, each word areminder of how precious these moments are. There’s no looming threat today, no cursed relic to chase or enemy to confront. Just this quiet, unguarded peace, and the steady presence of the people I love most.

Balor plops down beside us, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “So, what’s the verdict? Do we laze around all day or find some trouble to get into?”

“As tempting as trouble sounds…” I trail off, tightening my hold on Mina’s leg just enough to feel her warmth seep into my skin. “I’m content to do absolutely nothing.”

The afternoon stretches on; the light shifting subtly as the day wears on. Mina continues reading, Balor throws a blanket over us and dozes off beside her, and Callan quietly traces absentminded patterns on her ankle. There’s a tranquility in the air, a fragile balance I rarely get to enjoy. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I allow myself to simply exist in it.

Mina

My science classirritates the ever-loving hell out of me. Every word that leaves Kai’s mouth grates on my nerves, especially the way he talks about the eggs like they’re nothing more than objects. No reverence, no respect.

“How many cursed eggs do we have in this class?” he calls out, voice indifferent as if he’s reading off a shopping list. The last round of the choosing took place yesterday, and only three eggs picked hosts. Everyone else is left staring at each other and wondering what went wrong.

I rise from my seat slowly, exchanging a look with the guy who received the white egg. His gaze flickers to mine, the barest acknowledgment, before dropping back to his desk. The third person isn’t even in this class—she has a period after ours.Lucky her.

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