Page 40 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg
A low, rumbling purr vibrates through his chest with every press of his lips against my neck. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers, his breath warm as it ghosts across my cheek, peppering it with feather-light kisses that leave tingling trails in their wake.
“I’ve missed you too.” My hands rise almost instinctively, cupping his face. His skin is cool beneath my palms, his cheekbones sharp like the edge of a blade.
Abraxis’s expression softens, though the sadness in his golden eyes doesn’t fade as he shifts, rolling off me with reluctant grace. He pulls me close, wrapping me in his embrace, and I can feel the faint tremor in his muscles as he stretches his wing out over me. The leathery surface rustles faintly against the mattress as it settles, a protective barrier that both shields and cradles me.
I tug him down gently, our lips meeting in a kiss that is soft yet charged, carrying the weight of all our unspoken words. With two cursed eggs on the horizon, destined to hatch into mates who will complicate our bond, I cling to this moment. Abraxis is my first mate,my first love, and the depth of our connection eclipses even the chaos to come.
His eyes scour my face, searching for signs of weakness or pain. I see the flicker of worry there, the silent question he doesn’t voice:Are you okay?I answer without words, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into another kiss, a slow press of lips meant to reassure him.
I rest my head on his chest, exhaling softly. His scent surrounds me—a heady mix of smoke, iron, and something uniquely his. The steady thrum of his heartbeat against my ear lulls me, and I close my eyes, savoring the solace of being wrapped in his arms once more.
CHAPTER 24
Callan
Winter break has broughtus back to Abraxis’s chalet in the Blackhaven nest site, where the air is sharp with the cold bite of snow and pine. The faint scent of burning wood drifts from the main house, mingling with the earthy tang of frost. Mina spends her days with Cerce in the main house, carrying around the eggs with an almost feral protectiveness. No amount of coaxing or reasoning from any of us has convinced her to leave them behind in the egg chamber. The eggs are her world now. Especially since she’s foreseen them as being her mates in the future.
Today, the air hums with anticipation. We’re expecting Cora and her mate to arrive for the first time. I find Mina and Cerce perched on the high stone wall, their silhouettes framed against the pale, overcast sky. A crisp wind rustles through the trees, and the snow crunches beneath my boots as I make my way over.
I settle beside Mina, the chill of the stone seeping through my pants, and lean in to kiss her temple. Her warmth contrasts against the icyair, and her low purr vibrates against my lips, a sound that sends a ripple of satisfaction through me.
“They’re due here any minute now,” she says, her voice soft yet charged with excitement. Her breath clouds in the cold, the warmth of it barely brushing my cheek.
Cora’s roar shatters the stillness, a haunting sound that reverberates through the valley. Mina’s face lights up, a glow so radiant it seems to warm the surrounding air. She grabs Cerce’s hand, and they dart down the stairs, their laughter trailing behind them like the faint jingle of wind chimes. I’m quick to follow, my boots thudding heavily against the stone steps as the frigid air fills my lungs.
The courtyard is alive with energy. Abraxis, Leander, and Vaughn converge there, their breaths steaming as they wait. Abraxis catches Mina as she bounds to a stop, her excitement bubbling over. His hands steady her, though a crooked smile betrays his amusement at her barely contained enthusiasm.
“They’re almost here,” Mina breathes, her hand tightening around Cerce’s. Her pulse is so strong I can almost feel it, a rhythmic thrum echoing in the charged air. Vox strides out from the shadows, his presence like a looming storm, and tries to gently pry Cerce from Mina’s grasp. The tension between them is a palpable thread, strung tight.
A second roar slices through the cold air, this one deeper, resonating in my chest like a drumbeat. The courtyard falls silent. Mina freezes, her eyes fixed on the sky. Cora’s small black dragoness circles above, her wings cutting through the air with a sound like silk tearing. Snow swirls in her wake as she descends, landing in a graceful, controlled sweep of her wings. Moments later, a large bronze male dragon lands behind her, his size and presence undeniable.
Mina’s eyes narrow as she sizes him up. A flicker of possessiveness and rivalry sparks in her gaze. “I’m bigger…” she mumbles under her breath, her tone bristling with quiet defiance. She gestures slightly toward the bronze male, her posture radiating dominance.
Abraxis buries his face in her hair, his shoulders shaking. He’s trying to muffle his laughter, but the way his breath escapes in uneven bursts gives him away. The warmth and scent of him wrap around Mina as she tilts her head, clearly unimpressed by whatever has him so amused.
Cerce and Vox step forward to greet Cora and Warrick. The cool night air feels heavy with tension, carrying the faint metallic tang of dragon magic. Mina is still glaring at the male as he shifts back, the heat of her agitation radiating toward me like a furnace. I can almost feel the sharp edges of her anger scraping against my skin.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice low, cutting through the charged silence before Abraxis can speak.
Mina’s eyes go distant, clouded with something fierce and primal. Unease prickles along my spine as I step in front of her, trying to shield her from view. “Close your wings,” I snap at Abraxis, my voice sharp as a blade. He obeys immediately, folding his massive black wings and pulling Mina against his chest.
The faint rustle of his wings barely settles before another dragon’s roar splits the air—a low, guttural sound that vibrates in my bones and echoes across the courtyard. This one is different. It carries with it a challenge, a promise of destruction. Mina growls in response, the sound a deep, rolling thunder from her throat.
“He’s coming,” she says, her voice a razor-edged whisper that cuts through the tension. Without hesitation, she shoves Abraxis’s wings apart, stepping into the open with predatory grace.
“Who’s coming?” I ask, my gaze flicking between Mina and the storm-laden sky above. The wind shifts, carrying with it the acrid stench of ozone and something darker, like scorched earth.
“Attor,” Mina snarls, her words laced with venom. “He followed them.”
Mina strides into the center of the courtyard, her movements fluid yet charged with an electric intensity. Abraxis and I follow close behind, the sound of our boots crunching against the gravel drowned out by the rising hum of tension.
“Mom, take them inside!” Mina yells, her voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. She turns, thrusting the egg carrier into my hands with enough force to jolt me. Her gaze locks on mine for a heartbeat—fiery, unyielding, and filled with a quiet resolve.
“Get down!” she roars, shifting without warning. Her emerald and silver dragoness erupts into existence, a force of nature that demands awe and fear. Her wings unfurl wide, glinting like molten metal under the fractured moonlight. The air thickens with the sharp, electric scent of ozone, stinging my nostrils and setting the hairs on my arms on edge.
A deafening crack of lightning splits the sky, followed immediately by the buzzing hiss of its impact. Abraxis winces, his expression tight with pain as he turns to me.
“Mina just took a direct hit from Attor’s breath weapon,” he growls, his voice tense. “She’s fine. But pissed.”
