Page 29 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

“Solstice break!” she hisses, waggling her eyebrows. “We’ve been talking about it for weeks.”

I roll my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. “We’re leaving after this class,” I say calmly, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

Her pencil clatters to the floor. “What?” She stares at me, jaw slack, eyes wide with shock. The ripple of her reaction draws a few curious glances from the students nearby.

“We’re flying to my family’s nest,” I explain, shifting slightly in my seat. Garrett straightens beside me, his attention fully on us now.

“Are we all being picked up?” he asks, leaning back and locking his gaze with mine, the uncertainty flickering in his eyes. I bite back a sigh, noting the way his shoulders tense, the way he looks like he’s bracing himself.

“We’re flying. I don’t know if my dad is sending a car for you and Addy.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. Dad isn’t sending anything for them, and we both know it. Garrett’s failed too many times as a guard, and I can only imagine what kind of punishment awaits him.

Cora’s fingers brush my arm, her touch gentle. “Are you and my brother better?” she asks softly, concern clouding her eyes. “I mean, you haven’t been crying at night anymore. And you’ve been eatingmore again.” There’s a warmth to her voice that wraps around my chest, squeezing tight. She’s such a good friend. Too good.

“We’re … getting there.” I force out a laugh that feels too hollow, too brittle. “Maybe a month of me not almost being murdered every few days will do us some good.” The words come out sharper than I intend, but Cora doesn’t flinch. She just nods, understanding etched in her gaze. “I won’t be in the dorm with you after the break,” I continue, glancing down at my hands. “Lysander is giving us a place in either Malivore or Shadowcarve—depending on if an egg chooses me or not.”

Addy’s head snaps up, her face pale. “Most don’t live if the egg hatches.”

A chill trickles down my spine at her words, settling deep in my bones. I meet her gaze evenly, letting the silence stretch between us. “I’m well aware,” I say quietly, refusing to let the fear show. The room seems to still, tension simmering just beneath the surface. Even Iris pauses mid-flight, hovering near the windowsill as if sensing the shift in the air.

Before anyone can say more, the sharp, piercing ring of the bell shatters the silence. Relief floods through me, the sudden reprieve almost dizzying. Literally saved by the bell. I stand, gathering my things with more urgency than grace.

I make it back to my dorm room in record time, my heart pounding with a mix of relief and nerves. The door creaks as I push it open, and I’m immediately met with the sight of Abraxis standing near the doorway, directing the movers like some kind of sentinel. His eyesflick to mine as I enter, and the tension in my shoulders eases—just a little.

“Wow, that was quick.” My voice sounds breathless even to my own ears. I take in the sight of the unfamiliar males hauling my belongings out of the space I’ve called mine for the last two semesters.

Abraxis shifts slightly, his wings fluttering as he rattles off the explanation. “Lysander wants to move the new female in after break. Your stuff will be in my old quarters until the trial. When we return, we’ll stay in your room at Shadowcarve.” He pauses, his brow furrowing as if he’s trying to measure his words. Then, in a sudden, uncharacteristic moment, he looks at me sheepishly. “If that’s okay with you?”

It’s not often that I see him like this—unsure. His hand scrubs down his face before he flexes his wings again, the tension clear in every feathered line. “Shit, I overstepped, didn’t I? Balor warned me I might do it.”

Abraxis rambles on, and I’m too surprised to interrupt. It’s such a stark contrast to the fierce, protective drake I’ve come to know. The way his voice speeds up, almost tripping over itself, like he’s afraid he’s ruined something before it’s even begun. It’s the most adorable thing ever.

I close the distance between us and reach out, resting a hand on his forearm to still him. The contact sends a soft shiver up my spine, but I keep my voice steady. “You’re the drake. Your goal is to provide and protect. I’m just … shocked, that’s all. Nothing bad, I promise.”

His eyes meet mine, searching for any trace of deception, and then his shoulders drop ever so slightly. “Okay, good. I sent our bags ahead, so we didn’t have to figure out how to carry them while shifted.” He turns back to watch the movers, and I can almost see the gears turning in his head as he double-checks each of their movements.

“You thought of everything.” I tilt my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. The unfamiliar sense of not having to be in charge all the time is going to take some getting used to, but … I think I might like it. “Is my outfit in the bathroom like I asked?” I ask softly, watching as the tension slowly bleeds out of him.

“Yeah, it’s in there,” he replies, the corner of his mouth lifting in a tentative smile. He shifts his weight and glances toward the window. “I’ll wait over here for you.”

He gestures to the window seat—a familiar spot where he often watches over me—and then steps away to give me space. My gaze lingers on him for a moment longer, tracing the lines of his wings before I slip into the bathroom.

Closing the door behind me, I exhale slowly, feeling the weight of everything settle around me. The air is thick with a mixture of unease and anticipation. Moving my things, staying in his quarters, staying together at my parents’ nest... it’s all happening so fast.

The outfit is laid out neatly on the counter, exactly how I requested. I run my fingers over the soft fabric, Abraxis’s thoughtfulness clear in every detail. My heart swells with something I can’t quite name as I change quickly, smoothing down the material and shaking out my hair. The mirror reflects a version of myself I’m not quite familiar with—a girl who doesn’t have to face the world alone anymore.

With one last steadying breath, I open the door. Abraxis glances up from his spot by the window, his gaze immediately softening as he takes me in. “Ready?” he asks, his voice a low, soothing rumble that makes my insides warm.

I nod, the smallest of smiles tugging at my lips. “Yeah. Ready.”

My heart pounds in my chest as I slip my hand into his, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine. His eyes flicker with surprise, but he doesn’t pull away. We weave through the maze of the dorms until we step outside, the chill night air biting at my cheeks.

“The flight field is this way,” he murmurs, pointing with his free arm. Then something shifts in his gaze—a mischievous, almost wicked gleam lights up his expression. Before I can react, his arms are around me, strong and secure, and suddenly, the world tilts.

A startled gasp escapes me as we launch into the sky, his wings beating powerfully against the wind. The sensation of weightlessness sends a burst of laughter spilling from my lips, the sound foreign and unexpected. Did that really just come from me? He glances down, eyes wide and curious at my reaction, before returning his focus to the horizon.

“I didn’t think your wings could bear both our weights,” I murmur breathlessly, the words almost lost in the rush of wind. My fingers tighten around his neck as he shifts us higher, the lights of the academy shrinking below.

“Sorry, this was faster,” he says, his voice low and steady, though he doesn’t tear his gaze away from where he’s headed. I follow his line of sight, marveling at the ease with which he maneuvers us through the air.

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