Page 62 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“Yes. Veil walkers are rare—and stronger than any intrinsic force to ever roam the continents. Mina explained she can almost fast-forward her vision. When she senses multiple outcomes, she can walk through all of them,” Klauth continues, leaning forward to adjust the centerpiece again as if to emphasize the gravity of his words.
“I thought Callan and Abraxis wouldn’t be sent away after you were crowned. Did I misunderstand that?” I stop, setting down a plate, and turn fully to face him.
“They are going because they want to,” he replies, his eyes hard to read. “I can’t say exactly what Mina saw—things may change if I do. But Abraxis will single-handedly eliminate part of a larger threat in this battle.” Klauth pauses, scanning the room before sighing. “He will fall. Mina will feel him get hurt and rush after him. That gives me the right to protect my mate by any means necessary.” He arches an eyebrow and offers a wry smile.
“Oh shit, so that means when Mina feels Abraxis get hurt, you’re going to follow her into battle and even the odds,” I whisper, my eyes widening at the implications of what’s about to unfold.
“Abraxis has one job. Not to die,” Klauth states firmly, then turns and walks away. I watch his retreating back, my mind racing with the weight of his words. Moments later, he crosses the room to take Mina in his arms and kisses her, his actions as deliberate as his plans. In that instant, I realize that this man has plans for everything. No wonder he ruled the continent until his capture.
CHAPTER 34
Mina
I siton the edge of the cliff above the Risedale nest, watching the sun rise slowly over the horizon. The chill morning air carries a mix of salt and earth, and as the first light touches the sky, I can feel the day’s impending battle burn through every fiber of my being. Today is the day when the fight escalates, and I sense Abraxis’s anticipation, too. He knows something monumental is coming. I’ve shared with him as much as I dare without risking the fragile balance of fate.
If everything unfolds as I foresee, today we will finally be rid of the wyvern threat. I hate that my mate must put himself in mortal danger to secure a better future for us.
Lately, Abraxis has felt less important since Klauth assumed command as head drake. I can only hope he doesn’t do anything reckless—he isn’t thinking clearly. Thauglor’s egg hums against my skin, a steady warmth that mirrors my stress and anticipation, as I watch the sunrise with a mix of hope and dread.
“I know—you want to raze the enemy to the ground. Your time is fast approaching, Thauglor,” I murmur, standing up and backingaway from the cliff’s edge. I move toward the small garden that Klauth and Ziggy planted for me. The scent of damp soil and the delicate perfume of young Japanese maple trees fill the air, while a small water feature burbles softly. Fancy fish dart through the clear water, their movements both calming and restless.
I chuckle softly as I stroke Thauglor’s egg, now resting on a weathered bench. “The fire drakes and ambush drakes will try to attack us here, but they’ll never make it up here with us.” I smile as the egg pulses in response. The gentle vibration is a reassuring reminder of the bond we share.
“It still amazes me how you interact with us in the eggs,” Klauth says, settling onto the bench in front of me. His tone is contemplative as he watches my every move.
“It’s not like I’m talking to a lifeless chicken egg,” I reply with a shrug, lifting Thauglor and setting him on my lap. The warm, smooth surface of his shell contrasts with the warmth of my hand.
“That is true. Still, I see what Abraxis meant—you really never let go of his egg,” Klauth teases, tilting his head as he studies me.
“You are a brilliant tactician. Tell me, what would be one of the major ways to destabilize my nest?” I ask, curiosity lacing my tone. I watch the morning light dance across his features as I continue, “If it were me, I’d steal the egg. Second, I’d steal Cora’s child—or egg—or both. Third, I’d destroy Shadowcarve.” I slide Thauglor back into his carrier and stand, feeling the weight of my own words settle over me.
“Someone steals Thauglor, and I would go on a rampage that might set the world on fire,” I confess, beginning to pace as my eyes drift toward the water feature, following the graceful movements of the fish.
“Someone steals Cora’s child or egg—I’d be too busy managing Abraxis to lose my temper completely. I’d be angry, but not utterlydetached,” I muse, letting the image of swirling fish distract me for several minutes as I ponder the intricacies of my vision.
“And Shadowcarve’s destruction?” Klauth asks, just as I notice the rest of my mates walking toward us.
“It’s where I found my true family,” I say, my gaze falling and then meeting that of my mates who are still here. “It’s where I first had the freedom to decide for myself. Shadowcarve is the first place where I could make choices for me—and no one else.” A genuine smile spreads across my face, and my heart sings with the truth of those words.
Klauth leans in, kissing my forehead before pulling me close. “It’s almost time.”
I close my eyes, focusing on Abraxis as I try to force a vision of the unfolding chaos around him. I picture him on a battlement, watchful and resolute. One key event remains unseen.
“What do you see, Mina?” Vaughn’s voice cuts through the quiet like a shard of glass.
I open my eyes and reply, “Abraxis is waiting, watching the fighting raging around him. The manticore are clashing, and some green dragons are attacking the base, testing its defenses.” I meet Vaughn’s gaze, the weight of my words hanging between us.
The sound of powerful wingbeats fills the air, and soon Vox’s black dragon soars above us before landing gracefully in the courtyard. He shifts his posture and strides over, tilting his head as if in silent inquiry.
“Vox, what are you doing here?” Balor asks, closing the gap to shake his hand.
“Would you believe I felt a pull to be here? That I sensed Mina needed me?” Vox replies, his tone laced with confusion as he glances between me and Klauth.
“Apparently, your dragon acknowledges my mate as the dominant dragoness in the region. Only a dominant dragoness can summon other dragons to her,” Klauth says with a smile, kissing my temple.
“I did call for you, Vox,” I state firmly, stepping three paces away from Klauth to stand tall in front of my father-in-law. “You’ve been made aware of what I can do, yes?” I offer no further explanation.
“Yes, Abraxis told me what he said I needed to know,” Vox laughs lightly. “It made no sense how he said it, but I assume there’s a reason for all the secrets.” He smiles at me, and I nod in silent agreement.
