Page 49 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“Where are your dragon mates?” Leander asks, stepping closer as he studies how Balor’s coils have pinned my arms to my side. His voice is laced with concern and urgency, the soft rustle of his movement underscoring the tension.
“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice strained. “Whatever is blocking the shift is also keeping me from reaching Klauth. I suspect Thauglor’s inability to sense me triggers his hatching.” I stare into Balor’s eyes, lost in thought. “There used to be an ancient tradition—a scale exchange between mates,” I continue, recalling whispered legends of bonds sealed with scales, the memory sending a shiver along my spine.
I glance over my shoulder at Klauth. “It was once common practice,” he murmurs, eyes widening as he realizes why I mentioned it. “We can sense parts of ourselves, even if we can’t sense your dragon.” He exchanges a long look with Abraxis before returning his gaze to me.
“Where I am, a dragon can’t fit—he chose it on purpose,” I say, my eyes drifting to Balor’s glistening scales before meeting the wary stares of my dragon mates. “Will Balor’s scale become part of me? I’m somewhere underground wherever I am, yet his basilisk could reach me if it learns my location. I think that’s why the vision remains incomplete—because all the pieces aren’t in place yet.” My voice trembles with the weight of the uncertainty, each word heavy as lead.
Abraxis’s eyes blaze with anger, Klauth resumes his pacing, and Balor uncoils from around me, shifting back as the room fills with a suffocating tension and dread.
“You would wear my scale?” Balor cups my face between his rough, warm hands, his touch both gentle and insistent as he searches my eyes for any hint of hesitation. The cool night air mingles with the heat of his skin, and I feel his gaze probing deep into me.
“Why wouldn’t I? I intend to take scales from both of my dragon mates so that they can rain fire down wherever I’m held prisoner. If you can get to me—wherever I am—it only makes sense.” My voice is low and determined, each word carrying the taste of hope and love.
“Basilisks are looked down upon by most of dragon society,” Ziggy says softly. I watch him absentmindedly pick at an invisible speck of lint on his shirt. His tone is quiet, yet laced with an edge of disdain. The sound of his fingers brushing the fabric punctuates the heavy silence around us.
“Shit’s gonna change, damn it,” I growl, locking eyes with Balor. Anger blazes in my chest like a wildfire, and my teeth clench in a silent snarl. “I will not let anyone be looked down upon ever again just because of their species.”
My voice trembles with passion as I continue, “I’m looked down upon because I am half-green dragon, deemed untrustworthy because of the color of my scales.” Even as the rumbling growl in my chest deepens, I taste the metallic tang of fury and defiance.
Balor draws me flush against his chest, and I feel the solid warmth of his body against mine, his heartbeat drumming steadily in my ear. “What do we need to do to implant the scales? And do we need one from Mina as well?” His voice is steady and urgent as he tries to change the subject. He turns toward Klauth, silently seeking confirmation.
Klauth’s response is measured, his tone calm despite the tension. “We need a scale from Mina, and all that has to happen is we cut ourflesh and implant the scale. In theory, the scale will only live on a true mate.”
He shrugs his broad shoulders and shifts his hand slowly as he searches for a scale to gift me. I can almost feel the weight of his conviction in the careful way he moves.
“Here, let’s start with mine.” I shift my left arm, the cool air caressing my exposed skin as I search for a scale that gleams with potential. With a steady breath, I extend the talons on my right hand. I feel the slight resistance of my skin as I use the tip of my talon to rip a scale free from near my thumb. The scale catches the dim light with its iridescent green and silver hues. Cradling it, I carry it over and offer it to Abraxis.
“You want to gift me your first scale?” Abraxis’s eyes flicker with surprise and a trace of admiration as he glances from me to Klauth, then over at Balor before finally meeting my gaze again.
“It’s why I’m standing here, silly. Open your shirt so I can stab you and place the scale.” His compliance is immediate—he quickly unbuttons his shirt, the fabric rustling softly as he exposes his chest. I choose a precise spot, pressing my talon against his skin until it cuts him. He hisses softly, a sound that blends with the quiet tension of the room, and I carefully plant the scale. I watch, mesmerized, as his skin knits around it with a smooth, almost hypnotic speed.
“Wow … It feels like the bond is stronger now.” Abraxis smiles, his expression softened by awe, and then he pulls me into a passionate kiss. His lips are warm and insistent, and I feel a surge of reassurance in his embrace—a certainty I haven’t felt in far too long. I smile into the kiss and wrap my arms around him tightly before reluctantly pulling away.
“Your turn.” I say, tilting my head as I peel open the leather of my jacket to reveal the upper part of my chest. The cool air brushes over my exposed skin. Abraxis shifts his hand and studies the delicatescales by his wrist, eventually plucking one free with deliberate care. He hesitates, his talon hovering uncertainly over my chest. Taking his hand in mine, I press his talon against my skin until it cuts me. He jerks his hand back, as if I’ve committed the ultimate sin, but I persist. I carefully press the tender flesh against the wound, feeling my skin knit quickly around the scale as if sealing our bond. A quiet smile spreads across my face as I murmur, “The bond definitely feels stronger.”
Klauth steps forward then, holding out his own scale with a reverent smile. The scale shimmers in the dim light, its cool surface a promise of connection. “Will you honor me by accepting my scale?”
“Of course.” I reply, my voice a blend of determination and vulnerability. Unlike Abraxis, Klauth shows no hesitation as he drives his talon into my chest. I feel the sharp prick of pain, followed by a rush of warmth as he places the scale into the freshly cut wound. I watch in awe as my flesh quickly knits around his scale. The sensation akin to a powerful wave washing over me.
The surge nearly knocks me off balance, and Klauth’s muscular arms steady me as he murmurs reassuringly. “Wasn’t expecting that to happen, my treasure.” He teases softly as he unbuttons his shirt. I search for a scale for him, my fingers grazing over his skin as I select one that gleams with promise.
With a decisive motion, I dig my talon into his chest. The sharp sting of the incision is immediate, and as I pull my talon away. I swiftly press the fleshy side of my scale into the opening. Klauth blinks in surprise as he fixes his gaze on the thick, green, and silver scale now embedded in his chest. Before he can utter a word, he pulls me into a warm, enveloping hug and presses a tender kiss to my forehead.
When he pulls away, I stride over to Balor, the air between us charged with unspoken promise. “You don’t have to accept my scale, Mina,” he says softly, holding it up as if weighing its worth. I smile mischievously and choose a completely different, secret place for it.
I turn and lift my silver and green hair up, revealing the smooth curve of my neck. “Find a place along my hairline on the back of my neck. I don’t want Lysander to know I have your scale,” I whisper, my voice low and conspiratorial. I close my eyes and lift my hair aside, feeling each strand brush softly against my skin as he begins his careful work.
“Brilliant and beautiful.” He kisses the back of my neck, the warmth of his lips igniting a pleasant shiver, before finally finding the perfect spot for his scale. Then he calls out, “Klauth, I need your assistance—I don’t have talons like you do.”
“Of course.” Klauth’s reply is quiet but resolute. A thick silence settles over us for a moment before I feel the precise, sharp pain of his talon digging into my skin once more. The sting is immediate, yet oddly soothing, as I sense the second Balor’s scale beginning to heal in its new place.
I pluck one last scale of mine and watch Balor as he pulls his tee shirt up over his head. I stare at his defined chest before picking the place over his heart. I dig my talon in, then sink my mostly silver armored scale into the hole I made. We watch his skin knit around it, healing almost instantly. I rest my hand over my scale on his chest, hoping against hope this is enough.
My entire body buzzes like a live wire, each nerve alight with the electric connection to my three mates. “Hopefully, this is enough to save me later,” I murmur, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. I glance around at them and meet wary, searching eyes. Deep down, I know they’re uncertain whether this plan will work, but right now it’s the best shot we’ve got.
CHAPTER 27
Vaughn
