Page 37 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
Mina approaches Ziggy and whispers something. In a flicker, they disappear. Moments later, Ziggy returns alone, grabs my arm, and the world twists. The gardens vanish, replaced by a cavern with warm, humid air that clings to my skin. A hint of sulfur wafts through the darkness.
“Enjoy,” Ziggy says, then fades, leaving me standing on slick rock. The rush of water echoes off the walls, guiding me deeper.
At the end of a winding tunnel, I find a wide chamber with a natural hot spring. Steam rises in gentle wisps, and the mineral-rich water glistens under the faint light spilling in from a crack in the ceiling. Mina’s dragoness form sprawls in the center of the pool, her scaled limbs moving lazily in the water as she preens.
A stray pebble skitters under my boot, and her head snaps up. At once, she shifts, returning to her human shape and swimming to the water’s edge. “Are you going to join me?” she asks, tilting her head just so, eyes entirely human but still holding that dragonic intensity.
“If that’s what you want,” I answer, unzipping my fighting leathers. I take my time, letting the rustle of fabric and the slight scrape of leather on rock tease both of us. Her eyes darken with hunger.
“How did I get so lucky to have so much eye candy in my nest?” she purrs, voice echoing softly against the dripping walls.
“Lucky, I guess.” I grin, then run and leap into the water, creating a spectacular splash. The hot spring’s warmth envelops me, easing away the ache in my muscles. I swim closer, catch her around the waist, and press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “What made you decide to come here?”
She exhales a contented sigh. “It has healing properties, and I want to be at my best. Plus, I’ve been trying to spend equal time with everyone, and I have two very selfish drakes to manage.” She laughs, low and melodic, and lays her head on my shoulder. “So I chose you right now.”
I stroke her damp hair, relishing how the mineral-rich water of the hot spring seems to make each strand silkier between my fingers. Steam drifts across our skin, curling around us in hazy tendrils. The heat soothes my muscles, but it’s her warmth—her body pressed to mine—that chases away the last trace of chill in the night air.
Mina’s lips graze my jaw, playfully nibbling in that teasing way she knows drives me mad. A soft, satisfied sound vibrates in my throat as I guide us through the shallower edge of the spring. The smooth rocks beneath the water offer just enough friction to push off and float. Gently, I maneuver us so we’re half-submerged, the steaming water lapping at our waists.
I roll on top of her, supporting my weight on one arm while the other slips around her ribs. With a careful tug, I draw her onto a flat stone ledge at the perimeter of the spring. Leaning down, I capture her lips in a hungry kiss, pouring every ounce of my devotion into it. Her taste is a heady mix of salt and mineral water, intoxicating enough to make me forget we’re not alone in the world.
My sly little minx of a mate shifts beneath me, aligning her hips with mine.Who am I to resist?Slowly, I press forward, feeling each piercing drag through her welcoming heat. A deep, resonant purr escapes her, echoing off the rocky walls of the spring as I bottom out. The flutter of her core around me is nothing short of divine.
“Move, baby…” she murmurs, nose tucked under my jaw, her breath warm against my neck.
I grin against her lips, withdrawing at a torturously slow pace before driving in again, deeper. Her frustrated whine is as sweet as thehumid air around us. My shoulders flex with each measured thrust. Her fingers curl against my skin, urging me to go faster, but I keep my rhythm. This is part of our reconditioning—Idecide how this plays out. Besides, there’s a dark thrill in seeing her perched on the brink of surrender.
“Please, Balor…” she moans when I adjust the angle just enough to keep her from reaching her peak.
“Patience, my love. Good girls get orgasms; bad girls get edged,” I murmur, nipping her shoulder lightly. The second she whines again, I still my hips, letting her feel the weight of my control. When her protests subside, I pull out completely and shift onto my knees, steam swirling around my torso. “Hands and knees, love,” I instruct, tipping my head.
She obeys in record time. The sight of her bared, glistening skin is almost enough to break my composure. Still, I move with deliberate slowness, entering her again and gripping her hips. Then, I unleash a punishing rhythm—each slap of skin on skin echoes in the confined space, droplets splashing against the hot rocks. My Jacob’s ladder piercings catch every sensitive spot, and she soon shatters around me. Her wail reverberates off the stony walls, a symphony of pure, unrestrained need.
I slow when I feel her knees wobble, and together we sink into the water once more, settling onto our sides. Our bodies remain joined, the heat of the spring enveloping us. Carefully, I roll my hips, letting the piercings brush all her best places. I bite down gently on her shoulder—just enough to make her gasp. Her core clenches in response, sending another spike of pleasure through me.
Mina curls my arm tighter around her, guiding my hand to rest just beneath her breasts. Her heartbeat thrums against my forearm like a caged bird. “Someone’s very close…” I whisper, tracing the shell of her ear with my lips before nipping at her earlobe.
“Come with me, baby, please…” Her voice trembles as she arches back, trying to meet my gaze. I kiss her cheek and angle my hips, fully aware it will send us both careening over the edge. We rock together, the motion fanning the steam around us in ghostly swirls. Mina cries out first, her body clenching so hard that I lose myself, pulsing in time with her erratic shudders.
In the aftermath, we remain cocooned in each other’s arms. The mineral-rich water soothes our overheated flesh, and the lingering steam presses in like a warm blanket. My beloved mate is still trembling in my embrace, the center of my world. I’d raze everything—turn it all to stone—if it meant keeping her safe.
I float lazily in the warm mineral spring, water lapping at my shoulders, while Mina clings to my side. A gentle steam rises around us, creating a veil of heat that clings to my skin. The subtle scent of earth and wet stone fills my lungs each time I breathe in. Mina’s voice, hushed and concerned, breaks through the soothing ambiance as she confides her worries about the coronation.
I offer her the plans the guys and I have discussed, hoping they’ll ease her mind. “It’ll work,” I assure her, letting my hand rest on her bare shoulder. She looks at me with those dark eyes of hers, filled with a mixture of doubt and hope.
Before I can say more, Ziggy’s voice echoes from the edge of the spring. “Are you guys coming home soon? Dinner is almost ready.” His tone bounces off the cavern walls, a jarring reminder we can’t stay hidden here forever.
“Who cooked?” I ask as I help Mina onto the smooth rock ledge. Droplets cascade off her body, and I catch the faint scent of her floral shampoo mixed with the mineral tang of the spring.
“Abraxis and Klauth. We’re still in the Risedale nest, having dinner with Cora and Warwick,” Ziggy explains, his figure flickering closerin an instant. The temperature dips slightly when he appears—his presence always brings a subtle chill.
“That sounds great,” Mina says with a grateful smile. Her hand grips mine, and I feel the coolness of her damp skin against my heated palm. The moment she drags me forward, Ziggy places his hand on my shoulder.
In the blink of an eye, we phase back into the Risedale nest’s dining room. The sudden shift hits me like a gust of wind; the room’s light and warmth replace the humid darkness of the spring. Poor Warwick yelps, nearly toppling off his chair in surprise. The savory aroma of roasted meat and spiced vegetables assaults my senses, making my stomach rumble.
Klauth rises from his seat at once, his stern gaze locking on me. He motions for me to follow him out of the dining room and into a narrow hallway. Each step I take echoes on the polished floor, and I catch a whiff of wood polish and parchment as we enter what appears to be an office space.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, noting the tension in Klauth’s broad shoulders.
