Page 61 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
Mina exhales a heavy sigh and then slides down to sit in my lap. “I feel horrible for killing that male,” she confesses, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “But I understand—it was better he was him than me.” She glances down at her hands, as if searching for answers in their familiar lines.
“We at least know that when our child is born, they’ll be safe from most dangers,” I say, kissing her lips again in an effort to be the strong one for both of us.
She nods and hugs me tightly, her arms warm against my back. “It’s okay to be sad or scared, Balor. It’s just us here. You can be the big, scary basilisk outside of this room.” I feel her breath hitch, and her body shudders slightly as she clings to me.
My arms wrap around her, holding her close as if my embrace could mend her wounded spirit. I remember the one therapy session we shared—she confided in me about the emotional abuse she endured. Where tears meant punishment and crying became asilent, guarded defense. That memory still burns as I hold her, promising silently that we can both be strong and scary outside of here.
She pulls back just enough to meet my eyes as I feel a single tear roll down my cheek. Gently, she leans in and kisses it away, a tender act that speaks of unspoken forgiveness and understanding. Deep inside, I mourn silently for the one regret I dare not voice. How I wish I could have asked him about his own upbringing.
“My big, terrifying basilisk,” Mina teases with a soft smile, her voice warm against the chill of the night. Her words spark a laugh from deep within me, a sound that feels both unexpected and healing.
“I’m so terrifying,” I murmur, half in jest, feeling a tear continue its slow journey down my cheek. I cast a sidelong glance toward the heap of my shed lying against the wall.
Mina traces my jaw with the delicate tip of her finger, her touch light and curious. “I never thought in a million years we’d be here, like this,” she whispers. Her eyes wander over my face, down to my chest, and back up again, and a soft laugh escapes her lips. “Can I be honest with you?” Her gaze shifts, flickering between human and dragon, vulnerable and raw.
“Of course,” I reply, caressing the side of her cheek. She closes her eyes briefly, as if savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.
“If I wasn’t afraid of getting you killed, I would have asked you out before I met Abraxis,” she admits with a smirk, shaking her head after the confession. “You were one of the first males not afraid of what I am. You felt dangerous and safe at the same time. I wanted to get to know you better, but I was terrified of what my betrothed might have done to you.” She tilts her head, studying my reaction, searching my eyes.
I am shocked, to say the very least. “Most are afraid of me, too. Can I be honest with you?” I counter, my voice low and earnest.
“A truth for a truth, of course,” Mina says, leaning back against the wall so she can face me fully.
“I knew you were mine the minute our eyes met,” I confess, feeling a weight lift off my chest as I speak. “The way you looked at me—I swore you knew. When I saw you with Abraxis for the first time, I realized you didn’t even know he was your mate. So, I buried the bond. I know it was stupid, that I could have confessed after you bonded with Abraxis, but then Callan…” I pause, the memory of dejected Callan stinging like a fresh wound. To throw my hat into the ring then would have only driven him further away.
“You sacrificed your happiness for your friend,” Mina whispers, kissing my lips so softly that my heart flutters from the gentle contact.
In that tender moment, wrapped in each other’s embrace and the soft warmth of the hot spring. I realize that even amidst the darkness and the scars of our past. We have found something precious—a shared truth that binds us in a way that is both dangerous and beautiful.
Some hours later,we emerge from the hot springs, our skin still warm and damp, to find the kitchen alive with the sounds and scents of dinner preparation. The polished surfaces gleam under the soft glow of the overhead lights. The aroma of sizzling herbs and roasted vegetables mingles with the lingering tang of salt from the springs. In the center of it all, Abraxis is busy cooking, his focused expression softened by a hint of a smile.
Mina glances at me, her eyes curious, then back at Abraxis. “Are youfeeling okay?” she asks softly, one eyebrow arched in quiet concern as she steps closer to him.
“Klauth and I figured out that most of our birthdays are clustered together,” Abraxis explains casually, and I steal a glance over at Klauth. He nods, confirming the truth in Abraxis’s words. “So tonight we’re celebrating Klauth’s, Leander’s, and Callan’s birthdays. Next month are Vaughn’s, mine, and Thauglor’s. While yours and Balor’s are separated by a few days.” Abraxis’s tone is light, and I lean back against Balor, letting his familiar warmth soothe me.
“Our birthdays already passed,” I murmur, wrapping my arms around Mina in a quick, affectionate hug. I remember the small trinkets we left on each other’s pillows, tokens of celebration and remembrance.
“What can I do to help?” I ask, nudging Mina gently toward one of the birthday boys in the nest.
“Maybe set the table?” Abraxis shrugs, his casual demeanor at odds with his usual command. It’s rare to see him leading the nest like this. Mina is typically the one in charge.
I move to the dining area and begin setting the table. The clink of cutlery and the soft rustle of napkins filling the quiet space. Soon, Leander steps up beside me. “Klauth had a long talk with all of us while you were off with Mina,” he whispers, his voice low as we arrange the plates. “He said that a dragoness dominates a nest when she feels unsafe. Our goal is for each of us to take over one aspect of the nest so that Mina can settle in better.” His words resonate with the gentle clatter of tableware and the subdued hum of conversation.
“What’s my role in all this?” I ask, setting the next plate carefully before looking back at him.
“You and Ziggy are on Mina protection detail,” he explains, glancing briefly at Callan and then at Abraxis. “They’re getting called back to the front again. This time, it’s on our border—not over the line likebefore. Klauth is holding our troops within our borders to prevent the fighting on the other side from spilling over.” Leander looks down, then away, as if the weight of his words presses on him.
“Mina doesn’t know, does she?” I whisper, a trace of worry creeping into my tone.
“She told us about it last night. We sent scouts, and what she said was true,” he sighs, shaking his head in quiet resignation.
Just then, Klauth’s deep voice cuts through the murmuring, “We are trying to keep this light, gentlemen,” as he places a centerpiece crafted from dragon glass in the middle of the table. The glass catches the light, scattering flecks of red and amber across the white tablecloth.
“Mina is going to lose her mind if they leave tonight,” I murmur, turning to face Klauth. His calm demeanor makes me feel both reassured and uneasy.
“She just wrote three things she’s seen and sealed the envelopes. Each envelope contains a trigger—a contingency plan, in case one of those events occurs,” he explains, tilting his head as he gazes past me toward Mina. She stands beside Abraxis, helping with dinner, her presence steady amid the rising tension. Klauth’s measured tone contrasts with the urgency in my mind.
“So she’s seen the war, and three possible events, and she’s prepared instructions for each?” I ask, feeling as if he might sprout a dozen heads with the complexity of his explanation.
