Page 45 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
A low, primal call wells up inside me—a raw, dragonic vocalization—and I can hear Klauth fighting to suppress it. “Mina … behave…” he growls, his tone rough with the effort of holding his instincts in check. I know that if I push, I might finally claim what I want. But I’m too tired; that burning fire in my chest has dwindled to embers. I feel my inner dragon settle into a deep, drowsy sleep as I glance at Klauth, resigned.
“It’s over…” he murmurs softly, just as I feel Vaughn’s growl signal his release along my shoulder. Slowly, Vaughn shifts back to his human form, releasing my hands and running his fingers through my hair with deliberate care. “Your scales are back to normal,” he remarks quietly, then pulls out and secures the condom before discarding it.
“How are you, my treasure?” Klauth asks, opening his arms wide. I move slowly and melt into his embrace. The warmth of his body and the faint trace of his cologne wrapping around me like a familiar lullaby.
“Tired. I want a bath and a nap,” I murmur, my voice heavy with sleep as I nuzzle his shoulder. He scoops me up effortlessly, and I feel the soft rustle of his clothes against my skin.
“The guys have your bath ready, so let’s get you cleaned up,” he says, kissing my temple gently as he carries me out of my room. We navigate several winding turns until we reach a natural hot spring carved into the mountain in my home. “We got lucky—a natural spring runs through this mountain, giving us hot water year-round,” he explains. The air here is steamy, filled with the tang of mineral-rich water and heated stone. While the soft murmur of water trickling over rock creates a soothing symphony.
I yawn and take in the scene: all of my mates, except for Vaughn, are gathered in the hot spring. Their faces lit by the gentle glow of the heated water. “A hot bath will feel so good,” I murmur, snuggling into the warmth and letting out a long, relieved sigh. The aches ofmy fertile period weigh on me, but the comforting heat promises relief.
“Do you want me to help bathe you?” Abraxis asks softly from the edge of the tub, his voice blending with the soft lapping of the water.
“Just a bath—I’m too sore for anything else,” I reply. Klauth hands me over to Abraxis, who wades into the water with me. The heat seeps deeply into my muscles. I feel the tension melt away like wax under the summer sun.
“Hey, beautiful,” Leander greets as he comes over and presses a tender kiss to my temple. I murmur a quiet “Hey…” and close my eyes while Abraxis supports my floating form. I feel Leander’s gentle hands massage my shoulders. His touch is both firm and caring, as the mingled scents of warm water and sandalwood drift around us.
“Bath, then food, Mina,” Callan announces, holding a soft washcloth as he cleanses the arm nearest him. The cool fabric against my warm skin is refreshing, a small comfort amid the lingering heat.
Balor soon appears, carrying a glass of juice with a straw. “Drink, baby…” he teases, tapping the straw to my lips. I laugh, feeling my cheeks warm as I reply playfully, “Stop giving me reasons for my mind to wander into the gutter.” His mischievous smile confirms he’s delighted by my reaction. I savor the cool sweetness of the juice as it refreshes me.
Finishing the drink, I roll my eyes with a smile. “Seriously, stop tempting me,” I say, though exhaustion is already pulling me under. The gentle ministrations of my mates, the enveloping heat of the spring. The soft murmur of water lull me into a blissful drowsiness—a welcome respite in the darkness of this night.
Winter breakends far too soonfor my liking, and we have to return to the academy. Most of the students remain blissfully unaware of what transpired before the break—except for whispers about the purge. As Vaughn and I slip into the bustling cafeteria for a quick bite, the warm, buttery aroma of toasted bread and freshly brewed coffee mingles with the low murmur of conversation. I can still taste the lingering bitterness of secrets in the air.
Klauth, being the king of the Aurelian Isles, is buried in political duties while I’m stuck in class. His absence is a constant, aching reminder of what I could be doing. I settle next to Vaughn as Marri’s voice cuts through the hum of chatter.
“How’s it feel to be back?” he asks, his tone teasing but curious.
“It’s tough readjusting to a daytime schedule,” Vaughn replies, and as I lean into him. I feel the reassuring warmth of his body and the steady thrum of his heartbeat through the fabric of his shirt.
Before I can lose myself in the comfort of his presence, Lyla leans forward. “We heard about the purge results. Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper, as if sharing a dangerous secret meant only for our ears. Her earnest eyes search mine, and I can almost taste the relief in her tone.
I lean in closer, my voice equally soft. “For what?”
Brawn chimes in, pulling Lyla onto his lap and planting a kiss on her cheek. “The fire drakes supported the Nagas’ advances. Now that their biggest backers are gone, there’s been less trouble.” His words blend with the clatter of trays and low laughter around us, punctuated by the faint scent of cinnamon on his breath.
I shrug, my gaze drifting down to the waffles neatly arranged on my tray. They’re perfectly golden, still steaming, and the sweet, buttery aroma mingles with the scent of freshly ground coffee. “I guess it was a win-win for everyone,” I say, more to myself than to anyone else.
Glancing to my left, I notice Balor seated there. His intense eyes scan the room with a quiet vigilance that makes my pulse quicken. Leaning forward, he brushes my cheek with a gentle kiss. “You need to eat, Mina. We have first years who need more training, and I was hoping you’d help.” His tone is both commanding and tender, and his breath, warm against my skin, sends a comforting shiver down my spine.
Across the table, a pair of gargoyles—faces chiseled like ancient stone—lean back, their cold, unyielding stares fixed on Balor. “You have a basilisk in your nest?” Marri asks, glancing from Vaughn to me. His words hang in the air like a challenge, echoing off the hard surfaces of the room.
Vaughn bursts into laughter. “Balor is the shit, man. If you need something—or someone—messed up, he’s your guy. I swear, he’s deadlier than most of the dragons in the nest.” His boisterous tone, laced with crude affection, makes Balor’s chest puff up with pride.
“Thanks, man…” Balor replies, patting Vaughn on the shoulder. His gaze drifts back to me as I rest my hand on the smooth, cool surface of the egg carrier. “How’s Thauglor today?”
I flip open the carrier and peer at the black egg inside. Its shell is smooth and unyielding, dark as if it holds a fragment of the void itself. “He’s good,” I say, smiling as I run my fingers reverently over the shell. As I caress it, I feel it warm under my touch—a slow, rhythmic pulsing that sends a shiver through my fingertips, reminiscent of a distant, steady heartbeat.
Balor leans in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Do you know when he’ll hatch?” I use our hand signals to tell him ‘not here’.
I draw in a deep breath and stand, the clamor of the cafeteria momentarily fading as I address Vaughn. “I’ll see you in archery last period,” I say before leaning down to press a firm, lingering kiss tohis lips. His taste—a blend of mint and rich coffee—grounds me during swirling uncertainty.
“See you soon,” Vaughn replies softly. Moments later, Balor takes my hand, and we step out into the cool corridor. Outside, the campus buzzes with early-morning activity. The sound of rustling leaves and distant footsteps is a backdrop to my quickening heartbeat.
I scan the surroundings before pulling Balor close and whispering into his ear, “He’s going to hatch because I’m in danger. It’s not clear who it’s from. My gut says Lysander.” I pull back to study his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, I catch a flash of reptilian slits behind his gaze before he slides on his sunglasses, concealing that wild intensity.
“Do we know when?” he asks as he pulls me against his side, his grip both protective and possessive as we head toward the Arcanum campus.
