Page 33 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

The quiet shuffle of our steps fills the silence between us. I don’t notice the darkened surroundings or the heavy, ornate doors we pass until we reach the base of the tower where we’re staying. When did we get here? Abraxis’s hand grazes my neck, his touch soft as he unclasps the collar, the metal dropping away like a shackle I hadn’t realized I was still wearing.

“Mina.” His voice is a low murmur, his fingers tilting my chin up. I blink, startled to find myself staring into his eyes. The hardness I wore like armor crumbles beneath his gaze. He lowers his lips to mine, the kiss gentle, patient. His arms encircle me, pulling me against his solid frame, and I feel a fraction of the tension ease away, my head resting on his chest as if it’s the only place I can breathe.

Without a word, Abraxis lifts me effortlessly, cradling me to his chest as if I’m something precious. Something worth protecting. He carriesme through the double doors of the bathroom, where the scent of lavender and sandalwood mingles with the cool air.

“Bath or shower?” he asks softly, his lips brushing against mine in another fleeting kiss, his tone coaxing me back to reality.

“Bath,” I whisper, my voice thin and distant. The word slips out before I can even think, and I sag against him when he sets me on my feet, his hands steadying me as if he fears I might break apart at the seams.

The rush of water fills the silence, echoing around the spacious bathroom. I move mechanically, reaching behind me to untangle the knots of ribbon that cinch the corset. The fabric falls away, pooling at my feet like a discarded shell. I shiver, not from the cold, but from the stark emptiness inside.What did I even train for? What did I prove, running that course four times a day, mastering every weapon he left out?Hours upon hours of concocting poisons, of pushing myself to exhaustion—only to realize now that I was just another pawn on his board.

I drop several bath oils and fizzing cubes into the water, their soothing scents swirling up in a misty haze. The dress slips to the floor in a whisper of silk, followed by my underwear. Abraxis doesn’t move, his gaze steady and silent as I step into the steaming bath. The scales along my shoulders and down my spine shimmer faintly under the soft glow of the bathroom lights, the intricate patterns of them spreading outward like delicate wings across my shoulders that will never carry me anywhere.

A deep sigh escapes me as I sink into the hot water, the heat enveloping me, chasing away the lingering cold in my bones. I pull my knees up to my chest, making myself small, like I can curl in on myself until I disappear. Everything I thought I knew—my childhood,my father’s approval—shattered in one dinner, the pieces scattering into fragments too jagged to piece back together.

Abraxis shifts beside the tub, his shadow cast long and dark across the tiled floor. “Mina,” he murmurs again, the weight of my name grounding me, pulling me back from the abyss of despair. His fingers dip into the water, tracing the scales along my shoulders with a featherlight touch.

I close my eyes, battling against the storms raging in my mind. Every hope, every dream, every fragile piece of happiness I once held dear shattered in a single night. The memories swirl like a maelstrom, threatening to pull me under. But then, a gentle rustle of fabric draws me back, followed by the soft lapping of water.

“Come here.” Abraxis’s voice is a soothing balm against the pain searing my chest. He pulls me closer, cradling me effortlessly in the water’s embrace. My cheek rests against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heart anchoring me. “You are perfect, just as you are. Don’t let his sexist bullshit destroy you.”

His words cut through the dark haze, and I lift my head slowly, looking up at him. The raw, unfiltered love in his eyes causes a tight knot to form in my throat.How does he still see me this way, even after everything?

“It hurts … I thought I was different,” I whisper, my voice breaking on the last word. A sigh slips from my lips as I lay my head back on his shoulder, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of him. The scent that always manages to calm the raging tempest inside me.

“He’s a fool for not seeing how wonderful you are,” Abraxis murmurs, his lips brushing softly against my forehead. The tender kiss is a promise, a vow that he’ll always see me, even when Istruggle to see myself.

“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” I murmur, guilt twisting my insides. “He wasn’t that bad the last time we had dinner.” But even as I say it, I know I’m lying to myself. The truth is hard and ugly—my father is the monster everyone warned me about, the one I was too naïve to believe in.

“We don’t have to stay here.” Abraxis’s voice drops to a gentle whisper, as if he’s afraid any louder will shatter what little is left of me. “We can go to my parents’ place if you want. I’ve got my own villa just outside of their nest.”

I blink up at him, a ghost of a smile tugging at my lips. The thought of leaving this place—leaving behind the toxicity, the suffocating weight of expectations—feels like the first deep breath I’ve taken since dinner. “That might be a nicer way to spend our month off than staying here,” I admit softly, my voice barely more than a breath.

Slowly, I lift myself up, leaning in to press my lips against his. The kiss is soft, carrying all the gratitude I can’t put into words. I hum softly against his mouth, letting the warmth of him wash over me. His arms tighten around me, and I can feel the protective strength he’s holding back, like he’s waiting to take on all my battles, to be the shield between me and the world. He’s everything I could have ever hoped for in a mate. My refuge amidst the storm.

As we break apart, I glance up at him, the tension in my shoulders finally easing. “Take me away from here, Abraxis,” I whisper, resting my forehead against his. “Anywhere … as long as it’s with you.”

Abraxis

When my motherfirst warned me that Abaddon was a monster and hinted at the possibility of him abusing his wife, I dismissed it as overprotective speculation. But after seeing how he acted tonight at dinner, the truth of every whispered rumor and story finally sinks in. He is a monster—a true one, not just in the metaphorical sense. My mate lies broken in my arms. Her heart shattered into a thousand jagged pieces. She didn’t even bother to dress after our bath, simply curling up beside me, silent tears soaking into my chest.

Even my drake, who is usually impatient and relentless in his demands, is uncharacteristically quiet, his usual hunger to complete our bond overshadowed by concern. He sees our mate’s pain and realizes, just as I do, that there’s no physical wound we can heal for her tonight. The damage goes deeper.

While Mina sleeps, I carefully slide my phone from my pocket, my fingers trembling with rage as I type out a message to my father.Abaddon’s crossed a line. I want to kill him.His response is immediate.I can practically feel his fury reverberating through the screen.Bring her here immediately.

With dawn’s first light creeping in, casting the room in muted blues and grays, I slip out of bed as quietly as I can. My chest tightens at the thought of waking her, of disrupting the fragile peace that sleep has afforded her. But we need to move. Abaddon’s lackeys are always lurking, and it’s only a matter of time before they sniff out our escape.

“Mina,” I whisper, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her cheek. Her eyelids flutter open, revealing the faintest spark of hope in her gaze. The small smile that follows almost breaks me.

“We’re leaving. Get dressed. As soon as you’re ready, we’re gone.”

Her eyes light up like firecrackers in the dark, and she’s up before I can blink, tearing through the clothes I’d set out for her. The sight of her beloved leathers draws a sneer of disgust, and instead, she digs through the bag, pulling out the standard-issue black set we received from school. A small, vicious part of me understands—these are hers now—her choice. Abaddon’s realm holds no claim over her anymore.

She dresses swiftly, sliding her hood over her head and expertly wrapping her horns until they’re concealed. A predator in disguise.

“There’s a passage over here to get us out unseen,” she murmurs, voice low. Moving to a floor-length mirror, she taps a hidden button. A faint click echoes, and the mirror pops open, revealing a narrow, dank passageway behind it.

I grab our bags, slinging them over my shoulder as I follow her into the darkness. The air is thick with moisture, and the scent of mildew clings to the stone walls. Our only source of light is the small sphere of lightning she manifests in her hand, its glow casting eerie, dancing shadows that seem to pulse with a life of their own.

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