Page 19 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“Oh,” she finally says, looking between Klauth and Ziggy. She backs up until she meets Ziggy’s chest, reaching for his arms so he can enfold her from behind. The room smells faintly of stone and damp cloth, but now there’s also the spike of tension—like charged air before a storm.
“I took out my implant,” she announces. Her voice is steady, though I hear the tiniest edge of apprehension. “I want my first clutch and to have control over my body instead of almost killing you and your father again.”
The words hit like a thunderclap. Balor sputters into his drink, coughing violently. Leander, who’s just stepped into the kitchen, catches the mood immediately and pivots on his heel, slipping away before all hell breaks loose. Vaughn shifts to his gargoyle form with a low growl, stone scraping against bone in a way that sets my teeth on edge.
Abraxis stands there, mouth working silently as if he’s tasting the air for the right response. Klauth squares his shoulders, turning to faceAbraxis fully. “Anything less than‘I support your decision’will result in us stepping outside to discuss this like drakes do,” Klauth warns, his voice as cold as the marble beneath my hand.
Abraxis’s eyes widen. He nods, his posture stiff and uncertain. “Is this truly what you want?” he finally manages, sounding as though someone just drained every last ounce of certainty from him.
“I do,” Mina says, letting out a breath that seems to have been locked in her lungs. “The chemicals aren’t good for me, and almost killing people just because it’s safer for me to sleep isn’t the best game plan.” She snorts a laugh, pushing away from Ziggy’s chest. “If a great wyrm can’t contain me, the world is in deep shit.”
A small shiver courses down my spine at her casual prophecy of chaos. Then she crosses the kitchen, taking my hand in hers—her grip is warm, pulsing with life. She leads me into my room without another word, leaving the others behind in the charged silence. The faint echo of her footsteps mingles with my own, and I can’t help but wonder how the night will unfold.
I guess I know who she’s sleeping with tonight.
CHAPTER 11
Mina
I wakeup still snuggled next to a very naked Callan, my cheek resting against the warmth of his chest. The soft rise and fall of his breathing lulls me for a moment, and his skin smells faintly of musk and last night’s sandalwood soap. He holds me so tightly it’s as if he expects me to vanish at a moment’s notice. The shrill ring of the alarm shatters the quiet, and I groan as I reach over to shut it off.
“Come on, sleepyhead, I have a class this morning.” My voice is still husky with sleep, and I nibble lightly along his jaw before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. His stubble tickles my chin, and the pleasant scrape sends a little shiver of anticipation through me.
“Keep doing that and you’re going to miss first period,” Callan mumbles, voice rough. He pulls me tighter against him, his arm a band of heat around my waist.
“You know Kai isn’t a fan. I really need to get to class.” I give him one more playful nip. The faint tang of his skin lingers on my tongue as he reluctantly releases me.
When I roll out of bed, my feet sink into the thick rug, and the chill of the morning air coasts over my bare thighs. Callan stands on the other side, pulling on a fresh shirt. I slip my uniform dress over my head, feeling the crisp fabric slide along my skin.
“Who’s walking you to class today?” he asks, buttoning his pants.
“I’m going to take Klauth with me. Ziggy is available until the end of second period, but I’d rather use him as an escape option,” I say softly, snapping the dark green Shadowcarve ribbon around my waist. The faint rustle of the ribbon reminds me of a coiled serpent, making me feel both dangerous and protected.
“Are you considering his offer?” Callan steps close, the warmth of his body radiating across my shoulder.
I lower my eyes to my backpack and the empty egg carrier peeking from it. “I am. But it’s something I feel I need to discuss with Abraxis alone.” The thought weighs heavily on my heart. Part of me doesn’t want to abandon the surname I chose. The other, Klauth’s name—savage and ancient—holds more weight and could afford the nest more respect.
“Makes sense, Mina. I mean, you could take one of your other mates’ names. Willamina Whitlocke sounds rather esteemed.” He smiles at me, and I can almost taste his amusement on the air.
“Hmm … If I wish to sound like an aristocrat, I will consider your surname first.” I lean in, pressing a playful kiss to his lips, before padding out into the main sitting room. My bare feet make a light tapping noise on the polished floor.
A rich, roasted scent of coffee greets me as I pass the kitchen island, where the guys gather with steaming mugs in hand. There’s a subtle undercurrent of tension in the air. Maybe I’m imagining it, or maybe it’s just the usual buzz of morning energy in a place like this. I cross the room and step outside onto the balcony.
A cool gust of wind lifts my hair as I enter my miniature poison garden. The thick, earthy fragrance of damp soil mingles with the heady perfume of belladonna blooms. My breath catches at the sight of those glossy black berries hidden beneath the dusky leaves. They look like little glistening drops of night. I crouch beneath the low-hanging branches of the bush, retrieving Thauglor’s egg with careful hands.
“Good morning, Thauglor.” The shell is smooth and unexpectedly warm against my palms. I press my lips to it and smile when I feel a faint pulse—like a tiny heartbeat under my fingers.
“I imagined what you looked like when you spoke to us a hundred times,” Klauth says, leaning on the doorframe. Behind him, the shadowed interior of our living quarters stands in stark contrast to the sunlight here. “My imagination pales compared to what you really do.”
“I loved you from the moment I felt you respond to me.” I gently run my fingertips over the egg’s shifting patterns. A soft hum vibrates my palm, and I chuckle. “He’s happy he’s the center of attention now.”
The belladonna leaves brush against my dress as I move past them to check the rest of my poison garden. A bitter, almost metallic tang lingers in the air—the promise of toxic power in each leaf, petal, and root. The watering can in my hand gurgles softly as I give a few plants a light drink.
“You realize most of the things in here can kill you, right?” Klauth says, motioning for me to step out. His gaze flicks from me to the menacing plants.
“They can kill you, not me. I apparently have the immunity of both my parents’ species of dragons.” I kiss Klauth’s lips as I pass. The warmth of him is a stark contrast to the cool morning air, and the faint hint of coffee on his breath makes me smile.
Back inside, the warmth is instant and comforting. My nose picks up the scents of toast and lingering bacon grease from breakfast. Abraxis stands at the counter with a printout of my classes in hand, eyebrows raised.
