Page 64 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“As long as you don’t fall off, yes,” I reply, staring at him briefly before looking to the horizon, trying to find my bearings. The landscape below is a dizzying patchwork of green and brown.
I sense her urging in our bond, her desperation palpable:‘I have to move faster.’Her words are a plea, a prayer whispered into the void.
‘My Treasure, we are halfway there by my estimation,’I add silently, attempting to soothe the worry consuming her, to ease the fear that grips her heart.
But then I hear her desperation. The words are a knife twisting in my gut.‘He will die if I’m not fast enough. The Drow will attack him while he’s down and wounded and kill him. I need to move faster.’Her voice turns into a whine as she pumps her wings harder against the biting wind, the muscles straining with the effort.
“Are we going faster than before?” Balor suddenly asks, his eyes darting around, the question hanging heavily in the air between us.
“Drow will hunt Abraxis once he hits the ground,” I explain, my gaze shifting from Balor to Ziggy and back, the gravity of the situation etched on their faces. “She’s afraid we won’t make it in time. Kill anything that is not from our nest. I’ll deal with the bodies later.”
“You’ve got it,” Balor responds, glancing ahead toward Mina’s head, his expression grim and determined.
Then we hear her roar—an earth-shaking sound that seems to split the sky, the force of it vibrating through my bones. My vision blurs for a moment as I see a black dragon fall from the sky, the sight a punch to the gut. She has seen Abraxis fall. The realization is a cold, sickening weight in the pit of my stomach. “Get ready—he was just shot down. Get him back to Risedale as fast as possible,” I command, staring at Ziggy until he nods, the understanding clear in his eyes. “Get ready.” Balor shifts at my order, his body coiled and tense, and with another thunderous roar from Mina, Ziggy, and Balor vanish into the void, the air shimmering in their wake.
“Time to hunt,” I say to myself, my heart pounding as Mina slows her pace ever so slightly, the change in speed almost imperceptible. The moment her speed drops, I leap from her back, plummeting in freefall and shift. My body twists and contorts as I transform, the rush of wind deafening in my ears.
The first crack of lightning rends the sky, its branches splintering in multiple directions and striking several targets. The air sizzling with the smell of ozone and charred flesh. I catch sight of movement in the trees—shadows converging toward where Abraxis fell. I unleash a searing burst of fire. The flames leaping from my maw in a torrent of heat and light. The flames are so hot they melt stone as they cascade around our enemies. The scent of burning flesh and singed hair filling the air. Banking hard, I circle around where the others protect Abraxis, breathing fire again to encircle them in a blazing ring, a barrier the Drow dare not cross. The heat is a palpable force against my scales.
Mina’s roar burns with pure rage, a sound that makes my scales rise in response. The fury in her voice is a tangible thing. I glance down to see Abraxis limp in Ziggy’s arms. His body is broken and still, before Balor shifts back and they vanish from sight, the air shimmering in their wake. I cannot gauge his condition without distracting Mina, so I trail behind her as she charges toward the outpost, striking everything that moves in her path. The ground trembling beneath her fury. The anger I feel through our bond rivals the heat of my own flames, a searing, all-consuming rage that threatens to engulf us both.
Movement to the right catches my eye, and I twist just in time to avoid a barrage of huge bolts. The projectiles whistle past me in a deadly hail. As I turn to roar at Mina, the warning dying on my lips. I watch in horror as two bolts strike her side and she’s shot out of the sky, her body plummeting toward the ground in a sickening arc. My heart seizes in my chest, a cold, paralyzing fear gripping me. I unleash my breath weapon toward the source of the attack. The flames leaping from my maw in a torrent of heat and light. Screams echo in the valley as I incinerate everything in my path. The stench of burning flesh and melted metal filling the air.
Once I’m certain the threat has been neutralized, the valley is silent save for the crackling of flames. I fly toward Mina and land beside her, my claws digging into the scorched earth. Her massive form lies on its side, a bolt lodged beneath her wing. The sight of it is like a knife to my heart. I detect no scent of blood, only the acrid tang of burnt metal, a small mercy in the face of what could have been. I move closer and nuzzle her gently with my maw. My breath is warm against her scales. Her body trembles beneath me until her head snaps up, and she roars, the sound a defiant cry against the darkness.
I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding as I see her move. The relief washing over me in a dizzying wave. She lifts her wing, and the bolt’s tip is pressed against her scales. The metal glinting dully inthe fading light. Only splintered fragments hold it in place, a testament to the strength of her armor.
‘I’m okay, Klauth. It didn’t penetrate my scales—just knocked the wind out of me,’ she says through our mental bond, her voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.
I stretch my neck and bite the bolt, wrenching it free from her scales. The metal is bitter on my tongue. ‘You are truly amazing, my treasure. I can only hope our progeny inherit half the strength you possess.’ I nuzzle her side, carefully plucking away splinters with my teeth.
‘Is it over?’ she asks slowly, turning her head to scan the smoldering valley. The landscape is a hellish patchwork of ash and embers.
‘Yes, the guys have Abraxis far from here. We just need to summon Callan and then head back to Risedale.’ I carefully stand and lie down beside Mina, sheltering her smaller form under my wing. The warmth of her body is a comfort against the chill of the night. ‘Call for Callan and rest for a bit. I’ll fly us home.’ I feel the pulse through our bond as she summons him, the connection between us a living, breathing thing.
Mentally, I hear Mina yawn, her soft exhale mingling with the steady beat of our hearts. The sound is a gentle lullaby in the stillness. She lowers her head to rest it across my foreleg, her scales smooth and warm against mine. I stare down at the most powerful dragoness ever to grace this dark continent. The sight of her is a miracle amid the chaos. I am blessed beyond measure to call her mine. To be the one she chose to stand by her side, to weather the storms and face the darkness together. And as I hold her close, our hearts beating as one. I know that there is nothing in this world or the next that could ever tear us apart.
When Mina falls asleep,her dragoness releases her form. A very human Mina lies sleeping under my wing, her body small and fragile against the expanse of my scales. I scoop her up and feel the soft rhythm of her breathing against my black talons. A gentle pulse amid the chaos of the burning valley, a reminder of the life I hold in my grasp. The surrounding forest, scarred by battle, blazes fiercely, its flames licking the night sky in a dizzying dance of light and shadow. The acrid scent of smoke mingles with the cool night air, the smell sharp, and stinging in my nostrils.
In the distance, Callan shifts back to his human form, his features sharp, and alert in the flickering light. He quickly climbs onto my back, his movements swift and sure. I had hoped he would take Mina with him. But it seems I will carry her with her body cradled against my chest like a precious treasure. Once he’s secure, his hands gripping the ridges of my scales. I rise onto three powerful legs and launch into the night; the wind rushing past us in a deafening roar. The rush of air against my wings and the steady throb of Mina’s breathing in my grasp soothes something deep within me. It’s a reminder that I almost lost my mate today. A realization that sends a chill down my spine. Softly, I croon a quiet melody, just loud enough for Mina to hear as I hold her close to my chest. The sound is a gentle lullaby in the night's chaos.
I cannot fly as fast as Mina once did, her speed a marvel to behold. But my broad wingspan carries us swiftly over the fiery remains of the forest. The landscape below is a hellish patchwork of ash and embers. As we breach the valley, the heat intensifies, the air shimmering with the force of the flames. The burning treetops glow like embers against the dark sky, a haunting sight that sears itself into my memory. Below, I see fire drakes prowling at the edge of theburning acid. Their silhouettes blurred by the dancing flames, their eyes glinting with a feral hunger. I hover for a moment, my heart pounding, then unleash my breath weapon on the pack. The flames leaping from my maw in a torrent of heat and light. The sudden burst of power silences any warning calls as I swiftly subdue the fire drakes skulking near Mina’s territory. Their bodies crumpling to the ground in a smoldering heap.
Once the territory is secure, the air is still heavy with the scent of smoke and charred flesh. I steer toward the upper courtyard where the black dragons take flight at my approach, their wings beating a hasty retreat to grant me room to land. Balor and Leander rush out. Their voices laced with urgency as they see me cradling something precious to my chest, their eyes wide with fear and concern. I gently release Mina into Balor’s arms, her body limp and unresisting. I feel Callan shift as he launches off my back, his movements swift and agile. As soon as he’s clear, his feet hitting the ground with a soft thud, I shift back and lean in to check on her, my heart in my throat.
“What happened?” Leander asks, concern heavy in his tone as Balor carries Mina inside, his steps careful and measured.
“Abraxis was shot down, and Mina went on a rampage,” I reply evenly, the words heavy with the weight of loss, the memory of her fury still fresh in my mind. “Then I was nearly shot down, and Mina was shot down, too—the bolts couldn’t penetrate her scales.” I fix my gaze on Balor, letting my words sink in. The gravity of the situation etched on his face.
“Bolts meant to take down a dragon couldn’t get through her scales,” Callan adds, carefully examining Mina, his fingers gentle and probing.
“Exactly.” I follow Balor into Mina’s private chambers, watching as he meticulously removes her leathers, the fabric stiff with dried sweat and dirt. Not a single scratch mars her skin—only two large bruises on her ribs where the bolts struck her dragon’s form. Theskin is mottled and angry. We stand in stunned silence, absorbing the miracle that these deadly weapons only bruised her, the realization a cold comfort in the face of what could have been.
“Abraxis wasn’t so lucky. The surgeons are working on him as we speak,” Balor says softly, gently pulling the blankets up over Mina, his touch tender and reverent.
“How bad is it?” I ask, watching the color drain from his face. The sight is a knife twisting in my gut.
“By all accounts, he should be dead,” he murmurs, his voice laced with sorrow as he guides us out of Mina’s room, the words hanging heavy in the air between us.
