Page 56 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“I didn’t hear her say anything,” Cora protests as she approaches my dragoness. “You’ll let me use your egg chamber?” she asks, her eyes pleading.
My dragon rumbles its assent, reminding her she may use the chamber where I was hatched. The chamber above is part of my private residence—reserved only for me and my bloodline. When my dragoness finishes her rumbling, Cora nods gratefully.
“I understand. Thank you,” she murmurs, smiling as she carefully steps past the dead eggs, gathering her only viable egg before heading inside.
I seize Warwick by hooking a talon around him, halting his advance. In one swift motion, I shift back, standing toe-to-toe with him. “If Cora lays another egg this year, I will personally ensure you never have use of your favorite part again.” My talons extend from my human hands as I tap the back of one against his groin.
“Understood, my queen…” Warwick replies, bowing his head and quickly retreating.
Before I can shift to dispose of the eggs, two young drakes scurry forward to clean up. I arch an eyebrow as I watch them tidy and thenclear out the nest. Lowering my head slightly in acknowledgment, they smile and wave before disappearing back inside. I stand for a long moment, staring at the now empty cavern as silence settles in.
“Why did Mom challenge you?” Abraxis asks softly from behind, wrapping his arms around me. The warmth of his embrace steadies my racing heart.
I lean back against him and sigh heavily. “She was worried about Cora. She didn’t want me to get upset about the eggs again.” Slowly, I pivot in his arms, resting my head against his shoulder as my arms wrap around his waist. “Klauth told me about another dragoness—one who was essentially bred to death. Too many hatchlings in too short a time can deplete a female.” I close my eyes, letting the familiar comfort of his hold ease the turmoil inside me. For once, my inner dragon isn’t railing against me for taking what seems like a submissive stance with my mate.
“I was going to talk to him about that,” Abraxis admits quietly. “But we also have to remember that my sister willingly went into season again. She’s just as much to blame.” He presses his lips gently to my forehead before leading me inside, and I let his warmth carry me away from the storm of the night.
I walkinto the lower part of the compound, and a chill creeps along my neck, setting my scales on edge. The cold stone beneath my feet and the faint odor of damp earth stir memories I’d rather forget—childhood days steeped in loneliness and pain. I pass the main sitting area, its low murmur of conversation and shadowy corners whispering warnings, and head toward the egg chamber.
Inside, the air is warm and heavy. Cora stands there in the dim light, cradling her son in her arms as she gazes at an onyx egg resting in the egg cradle. I step into the doorway and murmur, “Hey.”
“Hey,” she replies in a soft, resigned tone. Her voice trembles like a distant echo in the cavernous room. “I just wanted William to have a sibling. He’s the only hatchling in the compound, and it’s so lonely for him.” I watch as her eyes soften while she leans down to check on her sleeping babe, the quiet rhythm of his breath mingling with the low hum of the room.
“We grow fast. I get it,” I say, stepping closer. My fingertips hover over the egg’s smooth, dark surface—barely touched by the colors of her mate. It’s a bit larger than a big watermelon, cool and weighty in my hand. “Was it easier when you were your dragoness?” I ask, tilting my head as I search her face for any sign of regret or relief.
She laughs—a soft, bittersweet sound that fills the silence. “Oh gods, tons easier. The wait sucked, but it was painless.” With a gentle smile, she kisses her son’s forehead, the gesture both tender and melancholic.
“It was what—three days from conception until you laid the eggs?” I probe, piecing together what I’d overheard from Klauth.
“About that. We counted, I think, a little over two days after it was finished,” she replies, her smile tinged with nostalgia. I furrow my brows and, almost instinctively, brush aside her hair to search along her neck for scales. “What are you looking for?” she asks, a trace of amusement in her eyes.
“Scales. You don’t have any,” I reply, sliding her hair aside again, double-checking what I know to be true.
“You’re the first female I’ve seen with scales in human form, Mina. I don’t think it’s a common trait,” Cora says, her tone a mix of wonder and caution as she takes my hand and leads me out of the egg chamber.
I bite my bottom lip as we return to the main sitting area, where murmurs and subdued laughter fill the space. Klauth catches the puzzled expression on my face and arches an eyebrow. “Am I an oddity for having scales in my human form?” I ask, glancing between Cora and him.
“These days, probably,” Klauth replies. “Back in my time, only the most powerful dragonesses bore scales in their human form.” He then turns his gaze to Vox. “Do you know of any other females with scales in their human form?”
Vox paces the room, his boots echoing on the stone floor, then stops to lift Cerce’s hair. He reveals three delicate scales along the back of her neck. “Nothing compares to what Mina has. She nearly has armor in her human form,” he observes, his voice low and measured.
I think to Klauth, ‘I can cover my ribs, stomach, and arms with scales when needed, not just my neck.’
Almost immediately, his voice resonates in my mind, ‘No one outside our bond needs to know that.’
Before I can dwell further on our secret, Ziggy suddenly bounces in front of me. My heart jumps, and I squeal, nearly stumbling backward. “Shit, Ziggy!” I exclaim.
He boops my nose with a soft, playful nudge. His purr vibrates against my skin as he chides, “It’s not nice to talk only to Klauth in front of everyone.” In a swift, unexpected move, he dips me backward and plants a quick kiss on my lips before helping me steady myself and trotting off.
“You two share a mental bond?” Vox asks, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. I glance over at Klauth, who leans casually against the wall.
“Yes. I am a great wyrm—it’s a gift that comes with age. I share itwith my mate for her safety,” he grumbles, his deep voice blending with the low ambient sounds of the room.
“That must be very handy,” Vox adds, glancing first at Abraxis and then at me.
“It is. It comes in handy when I run the gauntlets and need someone to keep an eye on me. Besides, it saves me from having to rely solely on Ziggy,” I reply with a smile, snuggling closer to Callan as he ambles past me.
Callan’s gryphon emits a high-pitched whistle—a sound that sends a delightful shiver through me. I purr softly, nuzzling his cheek and the underside of his jaw, feeling warmth flood through me. My eyes close as I melt into his arms. The comforting warmth of his embrace mingles with the ambient murmur of the room. “I’ve never heard a gryphon make those noises before,” Warwick comments. Instantly, my scales prickle with a protective heat, a fierce instinct rising within me at the mention of Callan.
