Page 36 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

The leather of his wings stretches around us, the rich, dark membrane of his wings creating a cocoon that shuts out the world, leaving only us. I turn my head, my gaze tracing the veins and striations of his wings, so powerful and yet so beautiful. The reality of what’s about to happen coils low in my belly, making my core clench in anticipation. I tilt my chin, offering him my throat, and Abraxis doesn’t waste the invitation. His lips press against my pulse point, lingering for a heartbeat, before he rolls his hips forward.

Heat flares between us as I feel him at my entrance, the pressure making me tremble. I wiggle my hips slightly, feeling his length slide through my slick folds, coating him with my essence. A guttural growl rumbles in his chest as he feels how wet and ready I am, and that’s all he needs. With a slow, deliberate motion, he presses into me. My dragoness stills, and for a moment, there is nothing but silence—absolute, perfect stillness—as he fills me, inch by glorious inch.

A feeling of wholeness washes over me, a peace that roots deep in my bones before the fire reignites. He moves, his hips rolling with agonizing slowness, every shift, and slide of his body against mine setting my nerve endings ablaze. I crave more, need more, and my fingers dig into the muscles of his back, desperate to pull him closer, deeper. At my urging, he lowers his head, his breath hot against my skin, and then his teeth sink into the soft flesh over my mate mark.

The moment his tongue touches my blood, everything changes. He pulls back, and his hips snap forward, hard and fast. Each thrust comes with a ferocity that steals my breath, his movements wild and untamed, like he’s lost himself in the feel of me. The headboard slams against the wall in time with his movements, a steady beat that echoes through the room. My senses narrow, focusing only on the slide of him within me, the feel of his wings cocooning us, and the brutal, exquisite pleasure that builds with each hard snap of his hips.

He growls my name, a low, feral sound, and I arch against him, losing myself in the heat and fury of it all. The world outside doesn’t exist—only this, only us. He’s relentless, claiming me with each thrust, and I match him, meeting his wild abandon with my own. Pain and pleasure blur as his talons dig into my thighs, pinning me in place while he drives deeper, and I feel something inside me unraveling. Every thought, every worry, every piece of me shatters as I cling to him, and I know, in thismoment, I am completely his.

My heart pounds in my ears, echoing the frantic pulse thrumming through my veins as he growls, “One more…” The sound rumbles against my skin, almost vibrating through me as Abraxis barely gives me a moment to catch my breath from the last orgasm that shattered through my body. I’m still pulsing around his length, muscles fluttering with every move he makes, and I can’t help but shiver as he keeps going.

“Just one more, Mina, then we fall together,” he promises, his voice rough and thick with need. I can’t form words, only nod weakly as his lips press hot kisses along the column of my throat. The sharpness of his teeth grazing my skin sends another rush of heat through me, pooling low in my stomach. His talons, which had been gripping my hips with bruising force, slowly retract, leaving faint pricks of pain that add to the electric pleasure coursing through my system. He shifts, adjusting the angle, and that slight movement has my blood boiling all over again.

I bite back a whimper as I lift my hips to meet him, matching each powerful thrust. My nails dig into his shoulders, holding onto him for dear life, and it’s only when I hear the tearing of fabric that I glance down. His claws—razor-sharp and deadly—are buried into the mattress at the apex of his wings, anchoring him in place as if he needs to keep himself tethered to reality.

Before I can process it, he pulls out, leaving me empty and gasping, and in a blur of movement, he flips me onto my stomach. A broken gasp escapes my lips as he slams back into me, his hands gripping my hips to lift me higher until I’m perfectly aligned for him. He sets a relentless pace, every thrust driving me forward on the mattress, the sheets twisted and shredded beneath my talons as I fight to hold on. I’m a continuous moan, the sound high and breathless, the build inside me coiling tighter and tighter.

“So close…” I pant, my voice shaking, every nerve in my body on fire. I can feel the pressure mounting, a delicate, torturous balance between pleasure and pain, the first flutters beginning to ripple through me.

He rises, pulling me with him until we’re kneeling, his chest pressed against my back, the heat of him scorching my skin. One hand cups my throat, his fingers splayed wide, the pressure just enough to make my pulse hammer. The other slips lower, trailing down my stomach, and I can’t help the way I arch into him, every inch of me desperate for his touch. He reaches that bundle of nerves at the apex of my thighs, and the moment his fingers rub against it, I feel myself unraveling.

“Once more, Mina … Come for me,” he breathes against my ear, his voice nothing but a desperate plea. His thrusts slow, becoming deeper, the angle hitting that perfect spot inside me with unerring precision. I can’t hold on. His fingers circle and rub, unrelenting, and the world shatters around me as pleasure crashes over me in a tidal wave. Stars explode behind my eyelids, and I scream his name, the sound raw and broken as I throw my head back against his shoulder.

He roars, a sound that echoes through the room, his thrusts turning rough and erratic as he chases his own release. Each pulse of his length inside me sends aftershocks through my body, every nerve tingling and sensitive. Slowly, as if afraid I’ll break, he lowers us onto the bed, his body a solid, comforting weight above mine. One wing drapes over me, a protective shield, and his arm bands around my waist, pulling me flush to his chest. He’s still trembling, breath hot against my neck as he peppers soft kisses along the tops of my shoulders.

I can barely keep my eyes open, the soothing warmth of him lulling me into a drowsy haze. I sigh, nestling closer, his scent wrappingaround me like a cocoon. For once, I let myself relax completely; the tension draining away as sleep tugs at me. I roll over and curl into him. His heart beats steadily beneath my ear, grounding me, and I let go, falling into the blissful darkness.

For once, I fall asleep and do not dream.

Abraxis

Everything is finallyright in the world. Mina has accepted me—truly accepted me—and now we’re bound to one another in a way that words can’t fully capture. Over the last week and a half, we’ve spent every waking moment solidifying our bond. Our scents have blended together, merging until no one can tell where I end and she begins. According to my mother, it’s the way of true mates—two becoming one, creating something entirely new.

“We should head back soon,” Mina murmurs, her gaze fixed on the courtyard separating my villa from my parents’ nest. After our first night of bonding, we were kicked out. Apparently, our combined scent drove the staff mad with lust and aggression—something I found amusing, but wholly understandable.

“Yeah, I don’t really want to, though,” I admit, stretching out lazily on the bed with nothing but a sheet slung low over my hips. The silky fabric is a cool contrast against my heated skin.

“Unlike you, Mister Havock, I haven’t finished school.” Mina’s voice is light, teasing, but I catch the flicker of annoyance in her eyes as she returns to packing her bags.

“True,” I agree, propping myself up on one elbow. “But is there really anything left they can teach you that you don’t already know?” I pull the sheet back and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, letting the cool air kiss my bare skin. I watch her closely, my gaze lingering on the way the sunlight catches in her hair, the strands crackling with barely restrained power.

She pauses mid-motion, her eyes widening as she takes me in. For a moment, her focus shifts, and I know she’s considering abandoning her task. A brilliant pink blush creeps up her cheeks as she shakes her head, trying—and failing—to hide her reaction.

“Seriously?” She gives me an exasperated look, but there’s no mistaking the hunger that still burns in her gaze.

“What?” I ask, a slow smile curving my lips.

“Later,” she says firmly, though the word trembles on her lips, betraying her resolve. “We need to get back. The first round of the choosing is soon, and I don’t want to be skipped.” She waves the invitation card at me, arching a brow as if daring me to argue.

“Fine,” I grumble, making a show of dragging myself off the bed. I grab my new leathers, sliding into the soft, supple material while watching her dress. Mina’s leathers are new too—crafted especially for her by my father’s people. Gone are the dark green hues of her father’s clan. Now, she wears the sleek black leathers of our people, her silhouette a striking shadow against the soft morning light.

I almost can’t wait to see what Arista and her flight do when we show up wearing matching leathers. I can already imagine the shock, thewhispers, the looks of envy. “I almost can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when we return,” I say, my voice light, though there’s an edge of excitement in it. This is the beginning of a new era—one where Mina and I stand as equals.

Mina laughs, a rich, melodic sound that sends shivers down my spine. Lightning crackles through her long hair, tiny arcs of energy dancing across her skin. “That makes two of us,” she says with a wicked grin.

I blink, slightly concerned. Mina has always been a force of nature, but there’s something more today—something electric and wild that hums beneath her skin.

“Mina…” I start, but she just winks at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

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