Page 59 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“I have the jars,” Warwick calls, holding up a box. The glass containers clink against each other as they shift in his grip.
“Good, leave them here and then head inside. Mina is uncomfortable, and Klauth is going to shift with her,” I remark casually, as if this were an everyday occurrence. Then again, Klauth waited a thousand years for a mate like her—there’s not much I’d put past him at this point.
Mina steps closer and locks eyes with me. “Do you remember where I touched?” she asks, and then, in the oddest moment, she grabs my face and stares deep into my eyes. “Do not break eye contact. I’m going to trysomething.” Her voice reverberates through my mind, and all I can do is watch as my perspective shifts.
I suddenly see from her point of view—inside my mouth. She points out where the different glands are, explaining which is which. When she pulls back and smiles, I feel disoriented. “What was that?” I ask, my voice trembling as she steps back.
“A happy little present from Klauth,” Mina replies, before she shifts into her dragoness form. Her dragoness turns to face Klauth, and he shifts, rising high above her—easily triple her size. Mina lies down, and soon Klauth follows, draping a protective wing over her and drawing her close.
“Okay, Mina, I’m going to start with the acid,” I announce as she lays her head down and opens her dragon’s mouth wide. I carefully advance, finding the first gland hole. I search further back for the acid gland, and when I locate it. I open the jar and position it over the hole. A small dribble of fluid appears, then a modest gush follows. Once the bottle is nearly full, I step back and walk halfway toward the building.
A healer rushes out to grab the jar, then runs back inside. I quickly secure two more jars to extract the sleep toxin from the slightly swollen gland—likely rarely used. Repeating the process, I fill both jars, stepping back as Mina shifts and examines the blueish-purple fluid.
“I’m going to hide this in our home, then join you to check on your dad,” Mina declares. She closes the distance between us and kisses me passionately. My heart thunders in my chest, each beat echoing like the first time our lips met. I hold her tightly, and my dragon rumbles in contentment. “I love you, Abraxis,” she whispers before backing away toward Klauth.
“I love you too, Mina. See you soon,” I reply softly as she climbs up to perch behind Klauth’s crown of horns. I watch them take off into thedusky sky before turning to head inside. Moments like these make me question why she fights so fiercely—when all I want is to hold her close. But my dragon reminds me, Klauth is the dominant drake. Mina is safer with him than she ever will be with me.
I take a deep breath as I head inside my parents’ den, silently praying that my father isn’t too badly injured.
CHAPTER 32
Mina
I exposeto the others that I have three breath weapons—something I’ve always wanted to keep hidden because I feel like a freak. In truth, it’s not really three; the only one I can control on my own is lightning. As I speak, Thauglor’s egg vibrates inside its worn leather carrier. I sigh, flip the top open, and trace the smooth curve of the egg’s shell with my fingertips. I can feel his warmth seeping into my skin as I watch the shell pulse like a slow, steady heartbeat.
“You okay, Mina?” Vaughn asks as he steps into my private lab—a sanctuary tucked away in my nest high above Risedale. The space is quiet, filled with the subtle aroma of aged parchment and oiled metal, and it feels as secluded as it is safe.
“Yeah … Just trying to further weaponize my toxin,” I reply, biting my bottom lip as memories of that resistant male dragon flash through my mind. “It was scary. Balor and Callan are examining it to see what happened.”
“Your lightning didn’t hurt it?” Vaughn asks, his eyes widening as if he’s just seen me grow extra heads.
“Yeah … That was probably the only time I said ‘oh shit’—aside from when my dad tried to kill me the second time,” I say, my hand absently stroking Thauglor’s shell as if seeking comfort.
“He hums like Klauth did,” Vaughn observes. He shifts until he stands directly behind me, his muscular arms wrapping around me and pulling me close. I feel his steady heartbeat and warmth press against me, a welcome distraction from my racing thoughts.
“Yeah, he knows when I’m stressed. I don’t like that whatever hybrid that male was remained unaffected by my weapon,” I confess, pausing as the weight of the revelation settles on me.
The lab door creaks open and Balor appears, visibly shaken. “What happened?” I ask, my voice trembling. I rush over and guide him to the worn couch, the fabric soft under my touch. Vaughn quickly brings over a glass of cool water, and I urge Balor to drink as I try to steady my own churning thoughts.
Balor’s eyes lock with mine, his bottom lip quivering slightly. “It’s part basilisk.” We stare at each other for several heartbeats, and then reality slams into me like a tidal wave. If Balor and I have a child—the one in the painting—it will be more powerful than the male I killed.
My mouth drops open, and my chest feels as if a heavy weight has settled on it, making each breath a struggle. I stumble, collapsing onto the nearest chair as I repeat the thought over and over. That male—the one I killed—was half basilisk. I try to force the pieces to make sense, but they slip away like mist.
“Why do Balor and Mina look like they are in shock?” I hear Abraxis ask before I even see him. Klauth walks in with him, followed by the rest of my mates.
“The male that Mina ripped the throat out of was half green dragon and half basilisk,” Callan explains, his voice low and heavy with disbelief.
“Shit…” Abraxis echoes, shock written plainly on his face.
Then, a deep, rhythmic purring sounds behind me. Before I can process it, a tentacle wraps around me and lifts me gently. Ziggy, who is sprawled on the floor, shifts so that I’m pressed against his soft, black fur. The instant I feel his warmth, the dam holding back my tears breaks, and they flow freely down my cheeks. I have just killed a male who could have answered all the questions we have about what could be.
Leander comes over and settles beside me, resting his head on Ziggy next to mine. He pulls me into his arms, and his soothing voice whispers, “Let it out, baby. Ziggy and I will be here however you need us. No questions asked, no words needed.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead. A gentle promise of comfort. I nod, running my fingers through Ziggy’s fur, grateful for these two—the feelings guys in the nest—who never push me to speak before I’m ready.
We lie together for what feels like an eternity before I steady my breathing. Slowly, I pull away and notice Klauth deep in conversation with Balor about the discovery. As I draw closer, tears well up again, blurring my vision and weighing my heart with guilt.
“I’m so sorry, Balor—I didn’t know what he was … If I hadn’t killed him…” My voice falters, unfinished. Before I can continue, Balor rises swiftly and presses his lips against mine, silencing my confession with a fierce tenderness.
The unmistakable heat of Klauth’s body behind me sends my pulse into overdrive. Part of me yearns for these two together, their raw dominance igniting a dangerous, liquid heat that pools deep within my core. Balor withdraws just long enough to press a gentle kiss against my forehead.
