Page 86 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“Just needed to see her.” His tone softens, and I can see the hold our mate has on her nest. The bond between them is almost tangible, a vibration in the air that speaks of battles fought together and sacrifices made.
“It’s understandable.” I motion for him to leave the room, and I follow behind, my larger frame casting long shadows across the sleeping form of our mate. The wooden floorboards of the hallway creak subtly beneath my weight, a stark contrast to the silence of the carpeted bedroom.
The basilisk mate waits outside the door, his pupils vertically slitted in the dim light of the hallway. The air around him carries the faint tang of venom, a warning, and a promise wrapped into one scent.
“Balor or Ziggy are usually on guard duty for Mina.” Abraxis mentions before the male in question enters the room and shifts. The sound of scales sliding against hardwood fills the air momentarily,followed by the soft thud of a heavy reptilian body settling into position. His heavily armored basilisk form coils around the bed facing the door, muscles tensing then relaxing as he adjusts his position. The subtle rasp of his scales against the wooden floor sends a shiver of recognition down my spine—the sound of a predator preparing to defend what’s his.
“Does she truly need to be so heavily guarded?” I ask as we walk, the corridor stretching before us, lined with photographs and artifacts that speak of a life I’ve yet to fully understand. My fingertips brush against the wall, feeling the texture of the paint. Still strange after centuries imprisoned in darkness.
“She feels better not waking up alone. Mina scared is not a fun event to deal with.” He says as we head to the living room, the scent of other dragons growing stronger with each step. My nostrils flare, categorizing each unique scent, mapping out the complex hierarchy of this unusual nest.
Everyone, including another descendant of mine, is waiting for us in the living room. The soft murmur of conversation dies as we enter, all eyes turning toward us. The atmosphere shifts instantly, becoming charged with anticipation. I see two more black dragon descendants, their eyes carrying the same gold flecks as mine. Two bronze dragons stand beside them, clearly the mates of the black dragons. Their skin gleaming like polished metal even in human form. A hatchling that is another descendant sits on the floor, his small fingers working through a puzzle with focused determination. Then there are the rest of Mina’s mates, each with their own distinct scent and presence, forming a protective circle around the room.
“What is happening?” My eyes scan the room slowly, heat beginning to build in my chest as anger rises at having others in my mate’s nest while she sleeps. The temperature seems to rise several degrees, my control slipping just enough to let my displeasure be known.
“Steady, old friend. Mina loves your descendant’s family and allows them in the living room and dining room.” Klauth says, motioning to the four newcomers. His hand on my shoulder is firm, grounding, the cool touch a contrast to the heat radiating from my skin.
“Before it is forced upon me, I wish to come and surrender my rights to the lands that were once yours.” The older male black dragon says, stepping forward. His voice carries the weight of authority and ancient pride. I glance from him to the mate known as Abraxis, and he nods—it’s his father. The family resemblance is striking, from the set of their shoulders to the particular way they hold their wings.
“I, Vox Havock, of the Blackhaven nest, surrender the lands back to their rightful owner, Thauglor Mrithun, my ancestor, and alpha.” My descendant drops to his knees before me per tradition, the sound of his knees hitting the hardwood floor resonating through the quiet room. The air grows heavy with the significance of the moment. Centuries of dragon tradition condensed into this one act of submission. I rest a hand on his shoulder to allow him to stand again, feeling the powerful muscles beneath my palm tense, then relax at my touch.
“I accept.” Tilting my head, I look at this proud male before me and breathe in deeply, catching the scent of his bloodline—my bloodline—mixed with centuries of life I missed while imprisoned. The familiar yet different scent stirs something primal in me, a recognition of kin that transcends time. “I would, however, want you to remain in control of the flight for now. Let them know that I have returned and that the lands are mine once more.”
A collective exhale seems to sweep through the room, the tension draining away like water. The hatchling, unaware of the significance of what just transpired, laughs as he completes his puzzle. The bright sound cutting through the solemnity of the moment, reminding us all of the future we are building—a future that, after centuries of darkness, I am finally part of again.
I standon the edge of the cliff shoulder to shoulder with Klauth and my descendant, looking out over the world. The wind whips around us, cold and biting against my face, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain. Far below, the landscape stretches out like a living tapestry—forests of deep emerald, winding ribbons of silver rivers, and the distant smudge of the academy on the horizon. The vastness of it all, after centuries of imprisonment, still takes my breath away.
“There’s one threat left,” Abraxis says as he flexes his wings. The membranes stretch taut between the bones, catching the late afternoon sun in a translucent glow. I can hear the subtle creak of healing tissue, the faint pop of joints that haven’t fully recovered.
“More than one. The professor Kai,” Klauth says as he looks over at me, his eyes narrowed against the harsh sunlight. The tension in his jaw is visible, a muscle ticking beneath the skin.
“Mina returns to school tomorrow,” Abraxis says as he runs his hands through his hair roughly, the dark strands standing up in spikes from the force of his frustration. His scent shifts subtly, anxiety threading through his natural musk.
“I have meetings all day,” Klauth says as he turns to look at me. His leather jacket creaks softly with the movement, the material polished to a subtle sheen.
Nodding, I smirk, thinking about all the hell I can raise. The anticipation of it sends a pleasant warmth through my veins, a sensation I had almost forgotten during my long captivity. “I’ll go. I wonder how shocked they will be with me walking the halls with her. Will Balor be with us?” Tilting my head, I look at the two of them, tasting the metallic tang of thunderclouds gathering on the horizon.
“Yeah. He won’t leave her with her father still hunting her. And now with the threat of Kai, and who knows how many other teachers are involved,” Abraxis says as he flexes his wings again. The sound of the membrane stretching is louder this time, followed by a barely suppressed wince he tries to hide.
I watch his eyes darting over the edge several times, flicking between the distant ground and the open sky. He wants to fly or at least glide. The desire is written in every line of his body, in the way he shifts his weight forward slightly, unconsciously preparing for flight.
“Let’s go,” I say, my voice carrying on the wind. I run and leap off the cliff, the momentary sensation of free fall sending a jolt of adrenaline through my system before I take flight, spreading my wings. The air catches beneath them with a satisfying whoosh, lifting me upward. The sudden shift from falling to soaring still thrills me, even after countless centuries. Turning, I hover, looking back at my wounded descendant. The downdraft from my wings stirs up dust and small pebbles on the cliff edge. “You know you want to do it. Take the leap and at least try to glide,” I flap and hover in place, waiting for him to take a chance. My muscles work smoothly, powerful strokes keeping me aloft in the turbulent air.
Abraxis walks to the edge and then leaps over it, his body silhouetted briefly against the vast sky. He spreads his wings wide, the injured one extending just as far as the healthy one. He falters for several moments, dropping altitude in quick, heart-stopping lurches. My own muscles tense in sympathetic response, ready to dive if needed. Then he stabilizes, catching a thermal that lifts him gently. I fly closer to where he is, and we glide together on the rising air currents, the warm updrafts cushioning us from below. The sensation is euphoric—the perfect balance between control and surrender.
Within moments of us gliding, I hear the roar of Mina’s dragon behind us. The sound reverberating through the valley and sending flocks of birds scattering from the trees below. Soon she’s under us,her massive form casting a shadow over the ground as she offers us a place to land. Her scales gleam in the sunlight, a mesmerizing mosaic of emerald green and silver that shifts with each movement, reflecting the light like precious gems. Her frill is tight to her back, and I land next to it, feeling the solid strength of her body beneath my feet. I watch Abraxis land too, his touchdown less graceful but successful.
“I did it!” Abraxis smiles and jumps up and down several times, excited. His boots create dull thuds against Mina’s scales, which she seems to barely notice. His face is flushed with triumph, eyes bright with accomplishment, and sweat beading along his hairline from the exertion and stress.
“Congrats, descendant.” I pat him on his back and sit down to lean against Mina’s frill. The ridged scales are warm from the sun, radiating heat against my back. She rumbles deeply to us, the vibration traveling through her body and into mine, a physical manifestation of her voice as she talks about school tomorrow.
The sound is soothing, primal, like distant thunder that promises rain rather than threatens destruction. Her breath smells of lightning and something metallic, washing over us in warm gusts as she speaks. She has plans for everything that is coming to pass. Her confidence evident in the steady rhythm of her enormous heart that I can feel pulsing beneath the armored exterior. Leaning back, I close my eyes briefly, savoring this moment of connection with my mate and descendant. After centuries alone in darkness, these simple moments of belonging feel like the greatest luxury imaginable.
CHAPTER 50
Mina
School is almostover for the year, and I’ve decided that Thauglor is an absolute menace. The fluorescent lights overhead buzz faintly as we navigate the crowded hallway. The sound is barely perceptible beneath the cacophony of voices and slamming lockers. I thought Abraxis was bad with his need to terrorize the students and staff. He has nothing on his ancestor. Thauglor keeps moving me left and right as we walk, his large hands firm but gentle against my shoulders, keeping me out of the path of other students. The heat from his palms seeps through my thin dress, a stark contrast to the cool air circulating through the building.
