Page 52 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“What color did you receive?” The guy’s voice is flat, almost disinterested, and that alone sends a jolt of panic through me. Manticores are infamous for their ability to trade skins—literally and metaphorically.If I show weakness, if they think I’m unsure … I reach for my mates’ bonds and give them a sharp tug, grounding myself in their strength.

“White,” the man two rows down announces, holding his egg high for everyone to see. He smiles—a small, smug thing—and I can already tell it won’t hatch. The shell is dull, a muted chalky white, like an oversized chicken’s egg.Useless.

I know it, and he probably knows it too. But he parades it around like a prize anyway, as if daring someone to challenge him.

Before I can respond, I feel Abraxis enter the room. His presence brushes against my senses, a ripple of dark power and possessiveness. He slips through the teacher’s entrance like he owns the place, leaning against the wall with a lazy arrogance that would have most people second-guessing their sanity.

Kai’s eyes narrow at him. Abraxis points to the bite on his neck—my bite. Kai’s gaze whips to mine as I bare my neck, tilting it to show off the identical mark. His expression shifts, but I’m not afraid. I never am, not with Abraxis watching my back.

“Red,” I say calmly, and reach down into my carrier, lifting Klauth from his pouch. The classroom stills. His shell gleams in the fluorescent light, the crimson so deep it’s almost hypnotic, like freshly spilled blood. Silver swirls ripple along the surface, matching the exact shade of my horns.

“The red egg never chooses anyone,” another student mutters, voice trembling as he steps forward. Too bold for his own good.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.” My voice drops to a low warning growl, eyes narrowing as I feel my vision sharpen to my dragon’s. Heat flares across my skin, scales flashing along my forearms.

“Females should be seen and not heard,” the fool sneers, hand stretching toward Klauth.

The moment his fingers brush against the shell, his body locks up, color draining from his face. I watch, detached, as he crumples to the floor, dead before he even hits it.

I raise Klauth to my lips and brush a kiss over his shell. “I warned him.” My voice is soft, but carries through the silence that’s fallen over the room. “Klauth is mine.”

A shudder runs through the students as they look anywhere but at me. My dragoness thrums beneath my skin, her power simmering just below the surface. My scales race up my arms, canines lengthening as I hold my ground, daring anyone else to challenge me.

“Easy now,” Cora murmurs, her fingers ghosting along my lower back. “No one in their right mind is going to touch your egg again.” Her touch soothes the frayed edges of my temper. Slowly, I allow myself to sit back down, Klauth still cradled protectively in my arms. “My brother’s here, and he won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

I exhale a long, slow breath, and nod. She’s right. Abraxis wouldn’t let anyone lay a hand on me or my egg. He would tear this whole place apart first.

Movement catches my eye, and I glance up to see Callan sliding into the seat beside me. He smirks, eye dancing with amusement as he flicks the carrier’s flap open. “Put your baby away so you can focus on your studies,” he teases, voice low enough that only I can hear.

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, carefully lowering Klauth back into his carrier. My fingers linger on the shell for a heartbeat longer before I finally button the flap closed. I glance back at Abraxis, who’s speakingquietly with Kai. Whatever passes between them is brief, and then Abraxis turns, gaze locking with mine.

A gentle caress down our bond makes my breath hitch. He’s gone a second later, leaving the room like a shadow melting into the darkness. My heart slows its frantic pace, and I take a steadying breath.

Whatever else happens today, I know one thing for certain. No one, not even the gods, will take Klauth from me.

Callan’s hand rests on my thigh, his fingers warm against the fabric of my pants as Kai delves into the history of the white egg. His voice is low, each word carrying the weight of a carefully guarded secret. “It’s one of the last purebred ice dragons left in existence,” Kai explains, his gaze shifting to the student who cradles the precious egg like it’s a golden ticket.

The guy beams, practically glowing with pride, and gives a little wave to the class like he’s just won the lottery. But I can see it, the slight cracks forming along the shell, the pale opalescence already dulling. I lean closer to Callan, lowering my voice to a whisper meant only for him.

“The way it looks … it’s not going to hatch.”

He nods subtly, his thumb brushing over my knee. “I agree. It’s probably gone dormant already. Its agenda must not line up with the student holding it.”

I glance down at my egg—its crimson surface is smooth and warm under my fingertips. The contrast between my egg and the white oneis striking. I can practically feel the life within Klauth’s egg, its steady thrum a mirror to my pulse.

“Miss Bladesong?” Kai’s voice cuts through the silence, drawing every eye in the room. “Would you mind coming up here?”

Slowly, I rise, tilting my head as I meet his gaze. “I’d rather stay where I am. You saw what just happened.” My eyes flick toward the cleanup crew hauling the lifeless body of the student out of the classroom, the stench of burned hair still lingering in the air.

“It’s easier for the class to see your red egg safely if you’re up here,” Kai insists, his tone gentle but unyielding. The murmurs build, curiosity simmering just below the surface.

I glance at Callan, and before I can say anything, he’s already pushing to his feet, standing beside me. “I’ll escort her and make sure she feels safe.” He extends his hand toward me, offering me the steady comfort of his presence.

I slip my fingers into his, but as soon as our skin makes contact, the room collectively holds its breath. Callan doesn’t flinch, doesn’t immediately double over in pain or start coughing up vomit. I look up, meeting his wide-eyed gaze with my own surprise.

Oh no.

The whispers are like a tidal wave crashing over us, growing louder with each passing second. I growl low in my throat, a warning sound that silences some of the more obnoxious comments. “Yes, I have a second mate. You can all shut up now.”

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