Page 58 of Guardian of the Cursed Egg
I’m so verywarm in my bed, the softness of the sheets sliding against my skin with each tiny shift. Moonlight filters through the tall windows of our dorm room, casting faint silver patterns over us. It feels like muscular arms are banded around me, their solid weight an anchor in the darkness. My dragoness, usually restless, lies silent within, giving me a rare moment of calm.
Another set of hands glides over my hip—smaller, smoother. The contrast sends goosebumps rippling across my flesh. I roll into that powerful embrace and inhale deeply. The heavy, musky scent of Abraxis envelops me, awakening a familiar, possessive need in my core. My eyes flicker open to find him looking down at me; shadows accentuate the sharp angles of his face, and though exhaustion clouds his features, desire still burns in his gaze.
A gentle kiss lands on my shoulder, softer than Abraxis’s intense hold. I turn to see Callan, his breath warm and slightly minty against my skin as he leans in. “I’ll take you to soak in the bath when you’re done,” he murmurs, voice hushed as though we share a secret, beforecapturing my lips in a delicate kiss. The taste of his mouth is faintly sweet—an echo of honey or tea—and it sends a shiver through me.
Behind me, the bed dips with a soft creak as I shift to face Abraxis once more. “I missed you, mate…” His voice is rough, edged with the low rumble of his dragon. It vibrates through me, stirring my own primal side.
“I missed you too, my beloved.” My voice wavers with longing as I slide my hands over the hard planes of his chest. The heat of his skin seeps into my palms, each muscle flexing beneath my touch until my fingers rest at his neck, where I can feel his pulse racing.
In one swift motion, Abraxis rolls us so I’m on my back, his full weight pressing down on me in that perfect way that makes me sigh. His obsidian and crimson wings unfurl and fold around us, sealing out the world with their leathery warmth. Trapped within this cocoon of heat, I let out a purr of contentment, shifting to guide him between my legs. I crave the closeness. Dragon mates rarely separate for long, and each new skirmish steals him away too often. Every moment apart gnaws at our bond.
Abraxis reaches down, his touch burning a trail against my skin, and tears away the flimsy silk of my underwear with a distinct rip. My breath catches. Then he presses forward, each inch stretching me and soothing the ache that’s been growing in my soul. A soft moan escapes as the sensation washes through me like a lullaby made of fire and promise.
I tilt my head back, baring my throat to him in full submission. My heart thuds in my ears, every beat of a drum fueling my rising desire. Abraxis kisses a path along my neck, sharp teeth grazing my flesh in teasing nips before he finally sinks them in. A fierce spike of pleasure-laced painflares, binding us even tighter. Our bond hums through every nerve, buzzing with life and love as he moves. Each slow roll of his hips makes me keen, sparks igniting behind my eyelids as though he’s everywhere at once, claiming me, completing me, until the only thing I know is him.
Abraxis and I stay in bed for what feels like hours, the soft scrape of sheets against my bare skin sending tiny shivers up my spine. The cloying scent of sweat and musk hangs in the still air, a potent reminder of our endless lovemaking. My body hums with residual pleasure, and when he finally drifts off, I press a gentle kiss to his temple. Carefully, I tuck him in, nestling the egg carrier beneath his arm. He shifts in his sleep, hand curling possessively around it, a low rumble escaping his chest.
I rise unsteadily, my thighs protesting with a pleasant ache, and grab my robe. The corridor is dimly lit as I wobble into the main room, each step causing the plush carpet to squish softly underfoot. A swirl of warm air caresses my face, carrying the faint scent of orange peel and incense from the still-burning candles.
Callan is in deep conversation with the others, his voice a comforting, resonant murmur that rumbles through my chest before I even see him. But the instant his gaze meets mine, a familiar wave of desire coils hot in my belly. He crosses the distance with barely contained excitement, scooping me off my feet in a whirlwind hug. My laughter echoes around us, and I lean down to plant quick kisses across his cheeks. The whistle of his gryphon echoes through the suite—bright, jubilant—and it makes my heart flutter, knowing his beast is as content as he is.
“It still amazes me how the sound of our shifts makes you smile,” Leander says, stepping forward and offering me a chilled bottle of orange juice. Droplets of condensation roll down the sides, cool against my fingers when I take it.
“It’s important that man and beast are happy,” I say softly, returning his warm smile as I tip the bottle to my lips. The citrus bursts across my tongue, sweet and tangy, refreshing the lingering taste of Abraxis on my lips.
“If you ever want a displacer beast in your inner nest, I’m your man,” Ziggy says with a mischievous grin. His words hang in the air, and I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.
I let out a light laugh, pressing myself closer to Callan’s chest, breathing in his woodsy scent. “I think six mates may be enough for me to wrangle.”
“You have four mates,” Balor points out, his voice a little harsher than usual.
“Two are going to hatch,” I say, narrowing my eyes in warning. My heart twinges as I recall how fragile that truth is.
“We talked about this, B,” I begin, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Dragon kin are mistreated and go insane. Unless you want to go get neutered, it’s not safe.” I turn away, throat tightening with the sting of tears I refuse to shed.
Callan’s grip on my waist tightens reassuringly. “Let’s take you for a bath,” he says, guiding me gently toward the main bathroom. “I’ll try to take your mind off things.”
His tone is as soothing as the promise of warm water, and though my chest still feels painfully tight, I find a glimmer of relief in the thoughtof losing myself—at least for a while—in the steam and his tender touch.
Steam coils thick in the air as soon as I step into the spacious bathroom, carrying with it the soft, soothing scent of lavender and warm vanilla. I can almost taste the sweetness on my tongue, and the gentle hum of the jets droning against the tiled walls envelope me. It doesn’t shock me when Callan leads me to the enormous tub, already filled with steaming water that swirls in hypnotic patterns.
Without hesitation, I let my robe slide off my shoulders, the silky material whispering against my skin before pooling at my feet. My breath catches at the first contact of the hot water on my toes. It’s blissfully warm—my tense muscles gradually easing, and every dull ache melts away the deeper I sink. The jets churn the water around me, massaging my spine. I close my eyes to savor the gentle pulsing against my shoulders.
What does surprise me, though, is Callan and Leander stepping into the tub—both completely naked. My eyes fly open, and I let out a small gasp, my gaze roaming over them in open admiration. The heat of the water is nothing compared to the sudden flush that warms my cheeks. Despite them being the leanest of my mates, they carry a grace that draws my eyes like a magnet. Leander is just a touch taller, while Callan has a slightly broader chest.
My senses sharpen as I take them in. The faint sound of water rippling against their bodies. The hint of their combined scents—something clean, masculine, tinged with a supernatural spice that’s uniquely theirs. Callan’s honey-gold hair contrasts with Leander’s obsidianstreaked with red and orange, reminiscent of the mane of his shift. The two of them move in closer, generating subtle waves that lap at my shoulders, and my pulse quickens.
Callan settles on the stairs of the tub, the whirring jets causing bubbles to cascade around us. Leander guides me forward, his hands firm yet gentle at my sides, urging me to settle onto Callan’s lap. My thighs burn deliciously at the heat of Callan’s skin pressed against mine, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle at the electric anticipation thrumming through me.
“Hello, beautiful,” Callan murmurs, voice low and intimate. His hand weaves into my hair, just between my horns, his fingertips grazing my scalp. The contact sends tingles down my spine, and the bubbles shift against my bare skin. When he places his hands on my hips, I feel the water ripple under his touch.
“Hey…” I manage through a soft laugh, my voice echoing against the tiled walls. His thighs shift beneath me, and the warmth spreads farther as Leander steps closer, the heat of his body radiating against my back. I can sense his cautious nature—even in this closeness, his muscles are slightly taut, like he’s ready to leap away if needed. Yet there’s comfort here, a familiar trust that stems from our shared history.
“Coming to play, baby?” I tease, a hint of a purr in my tone. The memory of our first time flickers through my mind; Callan and Leander were there then, too. The faint scents of sandalwood and musk cling to their damp skin, sending my dragoness stirring.
“Maybe just a little,” Leander replies. I feel the warmth of his breath against my ear, stirring the surface of the water. “We didn’t know how wound up you were going to be,so…”
“…we opted for safety instead of taking chances,” Callan finishes for him. He and Leander exchange a glance that I catch in my periphery, the water lightly sloshing as they shift positions.
