Page 14 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
My sports bra hits the ground next, followed by my thong. The moist air of the cavern caresses my bare skin, drawing out a sharp intake of breath. Klauth glances my way, and when he fully turns, I see his length throb in time with his heartbeat. Heat flares in my belly. Before he can take another breath, I launch myself at him, hoping to pin him like I would Abraxis. But Klauth has centuries of experience on me. He catches me mid-leap, swinging me around so my backlands against the blanket in a surprisingly gentle collision. A husky growl escapes him, reverberating in my chest as his strong arms cage me.
His dragonic eyes blaze like molten blood. The human side of me twists with indignation at being overpowered. But my dragoness side is gleefully purring, thrilled at his display of dominance.
“If you love me…” His voice is gravelly, fluttering over the sensitive spots along my neck. He peppers kisses along my jaw, tracing a path to his original mark. “If you are mine … You will submit to me here and now. Forever.” His breath washes hot across my pulse.
Inside my mind, my dragoness rolls onto her back, baring her throat to his drake in a gesture of acceptance. I tilt my head, exposing the scar he left on me recently. “I am yours, and you are mine. Eternally.”
He thrusts forward in a single fluid motion, making me gasp as his length fills me completely. I hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. He bites down over the old mark on my throat, and a jolt of pleasure and pain surges through me, stoking the fire in my core. Each roll of his hips sends sparks igniting through my body. The heated stone beneath me amplifying the sensation of being trapped in the arms of a red dragon.
Then I feel him shift, his length growing more textured, ridged in a way that has me crying out with each thrust. I dig my nails into the stone, half expecting to gouge it, as wave after wave of pleasure rips through me. My climax slams into me, molten and overwhelming, while Klauth’s canines stay locked in my throat. Suddenly, he rears up and throws his head back. His roar fills the cavern as he finds his own release, his dragonic ridges flaring and holding me fast. Another surge of ecstasy crashes over me at the feel of him locking inside me.
He finally lowers his head to my neck, lapping gently at the sensitive wound. The metallic tang of blood mingles with the humid air, whilesweat slicks our bodies. My breaths come in panting gasps as I meet his gaze—there’s awe there, quickly replaced by a flicker of alarm.
“I’ve never … It’s never…” He glances down at our still-joined bodies, and I see understanding dawn in his eyes. “Apparently, my drake used his knot and flare. It’s usually just for … breeding. I’ve never done it before.”
I rest my hand on his chest, feeling the pounding of his heart under my palm. “Then we shared a first.” A breathless laugh escapes me, though I feel a shiver of adrenaline at the idea of being stuck like this. The heated floor seems to amplify every subtle movement, intensifying the press of our bodies.
Klauth settles more of his weight on me, careful not to hurt me. The stifling cavern air wraps around us like a second skin. I slide my hands along his jaw, drawing him into a slow, tender kiss. My frantic need to bite and claim him fully has faded, replaced by a deep sense of belonging.
After a moment, I catch a glimpse of the small rod implanted in my forearm. “Take it out,” I whisper, voice trembling with conviction. “I’m done living by everyone else’s decisions. I want to live on my terms now.”
His gaze drifts to the tiny outline on my arm. “What changed your mind?” He presses a soft kiss to my cheek, and I feel the grit of the cavern floor shifting beneath us.
“Everything I’ve done until now—enrolling in the academy, training for war—it was all because my father demanded it. I was supposed to be a weapon. I don’t want to be one. I want to be me, whoever she may be.” My voice tightens, a tear slipping down my cheek. Gently, Klauth kisses it away, his breath warm on my skin.
“If this is your wish, I will grant it.” With a deft flick of his talon, he cuts a small line on my arm. We work together to push the implant free until it clatters onto the stone. It splinters on impact, a quietecho in the steamy darkness. Klauth kisses the fresh wound, his saliva sealing it with the faintest tingle of heat.
I purr low in my throat, wrapping my arms around his neck once more. The distant rush of wind through the mountain pass and the constant hush of the magma flow make the world feel strangely alive around us. But in this moment, all that matters is him and the choice I just made.
I run my fingers through his hair, my gaze fixed on the scarred planes of his face. For nearly twenty-three years, I’ve moved through life on rails set down by someone else. Now, for the first time, I’m free to choose. And it’s all because of this beautiful, war-torn drake I saved from an egg—who saved me right back, and gives me the strength to finally live.
CHAPTER 8
Zigmander
I wake with a sharp gasp,my lungs burning like I’ve been underwater for too long. The sheets beneath my palms feel clammy, clinging to my skin as though they share my panic. Whatever just happened between Mina and Klauth, it hits me like a physical blow. It is so potent I can practically taste ozone on my tongue, like the air right before a lightning strike. Mina’s presence in our bond feels alive, flickering, a crackling wire that sends pins and needles down my spine.
Balor once explained that a new bond can ripple through the others connected. If that’s what this is, then I’m terrified for what will happen once Thauglor hatches and joins us. The thought alone makes my chest tighten.
Kicking the twisted sheets off, I slide out of bed, my bare feet sinking into the threadbare rug on the floor. My pulse still thuds in my ears as I decide to phase into the living room, where it’s marginally cooler. The shift from my cramped bedroom to the open living room always unnerves me—like there’s a brief jolt of mild vertigo when I reappear.
Abraxis is there, hunched over the kitchen counter, knuckles white from gripping the edge. A stale, metallic scent clings to the air, probably from the old pipes or the fridge humming in the corner. He looks like his legs have given out.
“Are you alright?” My voice comes out scratchy as I rush over. I pull out a rickety chair for him to collapse into, then grab a water bottle from the fridge. The cold condensation slicks my palm.
“It’s done … They bonded.” Abraxis’s words hang in the silent apartment, his tone hollow. It sets my nerves on edge.
“That’s a good thing, right?” I crack the bottle open and hand it to him, trying to focus on the cool plastic against my fingertips, anything to ground me. “I mean, we have a great wyrm on our side permanently.”
Abraxis stares at the bottle for a moment before taking a swig. “His bond with her is stronger than mine. The stronger drake will always have the stronger bond and the female’s attention.” He runs a trembling hand through his hair; the motion ruffles the strands, and he looks away.
“Mina loves you. You’re her first mate. She’s your first love.” My anxiety flutters in my stomach as I say it, the echo of that bond’spulse still rattling my senses.
“It’s the way of dragons, Ziggy.” Abraxis exhales heavily, pushing a sealed envelope toward me. I catch a faint whiff of parchment as I pick it up. “Cora’s egg hatched. We’ve been invited to the anointing ceremony.” He motions toward a box off to the side and shakes his head. “Mom sent a dress for Mina. She’s going to be asked to be the hatchling’s guardian.”
“That should make you happy and proud.” My eyes flick to the box. The cardboard is damp in one corner, like it’s been sitting against a drafty window.
Abraxis avoids my gaze. “Her mate’s brother is the guardian for his family. I wasn’t asked because I’m a general.” He stands abruptly, the sound of the chair scraping on the worn floor making my teeth clench. Without another word, he heads into the bathroom. The distant rush of water echoes in the silent apartment.
