Page 26 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg
I step closer to the paintings, my curiosity outweighing my unease. “Can you elaborate?”
Callan gestures toward the painting’s details. “Black dragons are territorial. At night, their scales make them nearly invisible. Red dragons, as they age, produce fire so hot it can melt metal. Klauth is already at wyrm status; his flames could reduce anything to slag.” He motions to a section of the painting depicting Klauth standing alone, his claws clutching what can only be Mina’s father’s broken body.
“Gryphons have unmatched eyesight,” Callan continues, pointing to his own good eye, then nodding toward Leander. “Nightmares—likeyou—are living lie detectors, able to read people’s intentions like flipping through a book.”
I freeze mid-step, the weight of his words pulling at my thoughts. “Why would she pick me?” I murmur, taking a sip of the tea Ziggy handed me, letting the heat steady me.
Callan doesn’t even pause. “Gargoyles are nearly indestructible.” His tone is flat, but his words land heavy. “She’s building her nest for offenseanddefense. She’s choosing mates who can protect, attack, and counter any threat that comes her way.”
The pieces fall into place, and I stagger slightly, perching on the arm of the couch. My mind reels as the implications settle in. “Klauth is dragonic royalty,” Callan adds, quieter now. “When he hatches, if he can regain his human side, he’ll rule over all dragon kind.”
My throat tightens, and I glance back at the painting, feeling the enormity of what’s happening crash into me like a tidal wave. “Mina is his queen…” I breathe.
Callan only nods, his expression unreadable.
My gaze shifts to Ziggy, who’s staring at the painting with a calculating look. My mind churns with possibilities. If I were Mina, I’d consider adding Ziggy—the displacer beast—to the nest. His ability to warp space could ensure her and any future children’s swift escape in the worst-case scenario. The thought makes my stomach churn.
The possibilities are endless, and for the first time, I wonder if even Mina realizes the full weight of what she’s building.
CHAPTER 15
Mina
The start of second quarter…
I wake up screaming, clutching my chest, the phantom pain of the malfunctioning roller hitting me still lingering. The memory of slipping away, of death creeping too close, is too much for my mind to handle. My scream shatters the silence, and within seconds, the door bursts open. All four of them—Callan, Abraxis, Vaughn, and Leander—storm into the room, their urgency wrapping around me like a safety net.
Callan is the first to reach me, his hand gentle on my arm. “What happened?” His voice is calm, but his eyes are wild with worry.
Abraxis doesn’t wait for an answer, already tugging me toward him across the mattress, his grip firm but reassuring. “Are you okay?” he asks, his tone low and fierce.
Vaughn is at the edge of the bed, his hand brushing against my leg. “How can I help?” His quiet intensity soothes me, even as his concern mirrors the others’.
Leander lingers at the foot of the bed, his presence solid. “What do you need me to do?” His voice is softer, yet no less earnest.
I tremble, my hand pressing against my chest, as if to shield myself from the memory. The nightmare’s vividness refuses to fade, the impact of the roller replaying in my mind. I force myself to meet their eyes, my voice shaky but determined. “Just … just a horrible flashback, that’s all,” I say, trying to ease their concern.
They don’t look convinced, their gazes darting between me and each other, their tethers thrumming with worry. I can feel it in the room—the tension, the need to protect me from something they can’t fight. The closer we get to the winter formal, the harder it is for me to keep the nightmares at bay.
I lean into Abraxis’s hold, letting his strength anchor me, even as I fight to keep the tears from falling. “It’s fine,” I whisper, though we all know it’s anything but.
“I want to try something.” Callan’s voice is soft, but carries an edge of intent. He extends his hand toward me, his golden eye glinting in the low light. I glance at the others, unsure, but something in his expression settles me.
I hesitate, then slide off my bed, placing my hand in his. His warmth seeps into my skin as he leads me out of my room, across the dimly lit hall to his. The shadows stretch long and quiet, the silence between us heavy with unspoken understanding.
“Sometimes when I can’t sleep, or I feel like I’m not safe,” Callan begins, his voice low and calm, “I shift and sleep in my nest.”
We step into his room, and my eyes fall on a hammock in the corner, hanging snugly between two beams. It’s more than a hammock—lined with soft, dark feathers and worn blankets. Itradiates comfort and safety. I watch as Callan climbs in with practiced ease. Moments later, his gryphon form emerges, golden and regal, yet somehow gentle as his large head peeks out over the edge.
I don’t need more of an invitation. Taking the hint, I look back at Vaughn and Abraxis. They exchange a silent glance before stepping forward to help me. Abraxis lifts me first, his touch firm but careful, and Vaughn steadies me as I climb into the nest.
Callan shifts slightly to make room, his movements deliberate, and then lifts a wing. I freeze for half a heartbeat, but his expectant gaze and the soft croon that escapes his throat pushes me to move. I scoot closer, slipping beneath the protective curve of his wing.
Nestled against his gryphon’s body, the warmth envelops me like a cocoon. The steady lub-dub of his heart thrums in my ears, a grounding rhythm that seems to sync with my own. The tension I didn’t even realize I was holding unwinds. His wing shifts slightly, settling over me like a weighted blanket, shielding me from the rest of the world.
The steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his body, and the unshakable security of his presence lull me faster than I thought possible. Within moments, my eyes close, and for the first time in days, sleep claims me completely.
Three weeks until the winter formal, and it’s driving me insane. I know I have to go—being the General’s mate comes with obligations. But the stubborn, childish side of me wants nothing more than to skip the whole thing.
