Page 47 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg
“Callan and I already reviewed the plans your dad sent for where the chamber is compared to the rubble,” Leander says, his sharp russet eyes catching the fading light as he tilts his head. “The three of us will search while the dragons dig. We may need to borrow one of you to move some of the rubble to make the search possible.” He motions to Vaughn, who lands heavily nearby, the ground vibrating under the impact. A gust of air follows as his wings fold tightly to his back. “He’s strong, but if it’s an entire wall, a dragon will be best.”
“Agreed,” I mutter, the crisp air carrying the faint tang of metal and machine oil from the students’ training area. I glance toward the students, noting the creak of gears and the clatter of launched projectiles. “Not following my lesson plans for today?” Arching a brow, I tilt my head, studying Leander.
“Given how upset Mina was, letting all the students have a free period to get used to working the machines was best,” he replies, his tone pragmatic but laced with weariness. His breath fogs in the cool air as he sighs and turns to watch the class. “I can’t show favoritism to our mate and paint a bigger target on her back.”
Leander has a point. The faint hum of conversations drifts toward us as the students chatter while they practice, their movements brisk but less tense than usual. Mina needed this—space to laugh, to feel light again after what happened in Callan’s class. The decision to leteveryone mess with the weapons was a compromise, one that seems to have struck the right balance.
I cross my arms, my talons scraping lightly against the leather of my gauntlets, and watch Mina beam as Vaughn claps her on the back. A brief smile tugs at my lips. She deserves every stolen moment of happiness.
Class concludes, and the air still hums faintly with the metallic tang of machinery and the low buzz of students’ fading conversations. Mina lingers near the large contraption she and Vaughn had been operating, her voice soft but laced with curiosity as she probes him about the machine’s intricacies. The faint scent of heated oil and scorched metal clings to the surrounding space, mingling with the musk of sweat from a long day of training.
I stroll up casually, boots crunching against gravel, my steps deliberately unhurried. I stand several feet behind her, folding my arms and waiting for her to notice me. Vaughn’s sharp eyes flick upward, meeting mine. The moment stretches, tense but polite, before he dips his head slightly and shifts back, pulling on his shirt in one fluid motion. The faint scent of cedar and earth wafts from his clothes as he breaks the silence.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” he asks, his voice carrying a faint rasp as he glances between Mina and me.
“I don’t know.” Mina answers before I can respond, her tone thoughtful, almost absent. “I want to go look at the ruins.”
“I can go with you?” I offer. The words are barely out of my mouth when she startles, spinning to face me. Her breath catches, and her pale gold eyes light up, a flicker of her dragon gleaming in their depths. She’s radiant, despite the shadows etched beneath her eyes.
Before I can react, she’s in my arms, the faint floral scent of her hair enveloping me as she hugs me tightly. Her warmth seeps into my chest, grounding me.
“That would be great,” she says, her voice lighter, though her gaze darts briefly to the egg carrier. She hesitates, scanning the area. The tension in her shoulders is palpable. Only Vaughn lingers nearby, his imposing frame a silent reassurance.
“I’ll fly. You and the eggs can hitch a ride for once,” I offer, leaning down to press my lips to her forehead. Her skin is warm against mine, the soft contact a balm to the unease radiating from her. She exhales, the sound a blend of relief and weariness.
“That would be wonderful … and weird,” she says, a faint laugh escaping her. Her fingers curl around mine as she leads me toward the open field beyond the siege weapons. The scent of trampled grass and cool earth rising with each step.
“Why weird?” I ask, tilting my head as I shrug off my armor. The leather creaks as I bundle it together with the sword, binding it tightly with practiced ease.
“I can fly. I have my own dragon and wings that can carry me to the ruins.” Her hands rest protectively on the eggs, the light catching the delicate shimmer of the carrier. “With everything going on, I worry about them being stolen from me.” The faint hitch in her voice is a dagger to my chest.
Her sigh nearly breaks me. I can see it—the weight she carries, the fierce love that makes her guard those eggs as though they’re already ours. I step closer, my voice low and steady. “I understand that. It’s why I offered to carry the three of you. I want you to feel happy and safe. It’s my honor and duty to give that to you.” I press my lips to her forehead again, lingering as her tension dissolves under my touch.
“Thank you,” she whispers, tilting her head up to meet my gaze. I half expect her dragoness to surface, her pupils sharpening into slits. Instead, I’m met with the pale gold of her human eyes. They’re soft, vulnerable, and it stirs something deep in me.
“It’s why I love you so much. You only want what’s best for me—for us.” A soft laugh escapes her, airy and genuine.
I reach out, cupping her cheek, my thumb brushing over her smooth skin. “What made you laugh?” I ask, my smile matching hers as I look down at her.
“Dad told me how bad the feud was between our nests. Yet here we are.” Her eyes search mine, a mix of amusement and disbelief. “Your parents are amazing—not the monsters my dad painted them as.” Her laugh is softer this time, tinged with something bittersweet. “You have the parents I always wished for.” Her voice falters, her gaze dropping to the egg carrier.
I study her carefully. “Your mom seemed like a good person,” I say, my thumb tracing slow, soothing circles on her cheek.
“She … she said I reminded her of my father,” Mina says, her voice quieter now. She reaches into her pack, the rustle of fabric filling the pause, and pulls out a letter. “Here.” She hands it to me.
The paper feels rough in my hands, the ink slightly smudged, as though it had been gripped too tightly. My eyes skim the words, theair around me growing heavy. The truth unfolds in painful detail—the male she loved stolen from her, their bond severed. Mina’s sister is that male’s daughter, not Abaddon’s. The forced mating between Abaddon and Layla as their dragons. My hands tremble as I finish the letter. It all makes sense now—the fortress her dragoness has become, the weight she carries.
I can’t speak. Words fail me, so I do the only thing I can. I pull her into my arms, holding her as tightly as I can without breaking her. Her warmth seeps into me, and I vow silently that she’ll never endure something like this again.
“I need to tell the others,” I murmur into her hair, my voice thick with emotion. “And my parents.”
Mina just nods against my chest, her silence louder than any words she could have said. My poor mate. She deserves peace, and I’ll stop at nothing to give it to her.
CHAPTER 29
Mina
We spentthe better half of the afternoon exploring the ruins. The air was heavy with the scent of moss and damp stone. The silence is broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant caw of birds. It was a welcome distraction after the gut-punch of my mother’s letter. Her words still linger in my mind like a bitter aftertaste. She doesn’t want to see me anymore because I have my father’s coloring. The jagged edges of her rejection cut deeper than I’d care to admit. I remind her of him—of the male she despises.
