Page 11 of Queen of the Cursed Egg
“May I be of assistance, mate?” Klauth asks, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. I nod slowly, feeling the weight of his gaze on me.
“I think you need to see what my breath weapon can do.” I smile, knowing deep in my core that it’s stronger than it was the last time I dug a nest. The familiar tingle in my chest builds, a warmth that spreads upward toward my throat.
“I would be honored.” Klauth lowers his head and raises his fist to his heart, the gesture both formal and deeply meaningful. The rings on his fingers catch the light, casting small prisms across the stone walls. I lower my head below his. I learned this is how you honor anelder who honors you, the position of submission both foreign and strangely comforting.
We leave soon after to head to the new nest site, our footsteps echoing through the corridors as we ascend from the depths of the lower nest. The air grows fresher as we near the surface, though my mind remains focused on the task ahead. I’m hoping that this draws attention and gets back to my father. The thought of him learning of my actions sends a thrill of both fear and satisfaction spiraling through me. Let him come—we’ll be ready.
I circlewhat will be the new nest site several times and realize that there is only enough space for me barely. The crisp mountain air rushes over my scales as I beat my powerful wings, surveying the jagged peaks below. Before I land, I unleash my breath weapon at full power. The lightning races over my scales just before it roars up my throat, the metallic taste filling my mouth as it strikes the mountain in several places at once. The stone is pulverized. Some of it turned to dust that billows upward in ghostly plumes.
I circle several times, leveling part of the crags between the peaks. The scent of ozone and scorched stone fills my nostrils as I work. My wings ache pleasantly from the exertion, muscles stretching with each powerful stroke.
Several passes later, I land and dust puffs up around me, coating my scales in a fine gray powder. I let my breath weapon loose again. The air hums with the residual energy, making my scales vibrate. I strike several more times, making enough room for Klauth to land on an odd angle. When he shifts back, he steps closer to me, his heavy footfalls crunching on the freshly broken stone, and makes room for Abraxis to land.
My attention is drawn to another section of the mountain, and I strike again. This time I sustain the lightning, allowing it to branch off in three directions as I change the angle of my head. The heat of it burns in my throat, a pleasurable pain. Unlike Klauth’s fire, my lightning seems to splinter the stone, breaking it into small pieces that rain down with a musical clatter. I listen to Abraxis telling Klauth about the last time I used my weapon to dig, his voice carrying on the thin mountain air.
“Mate?” Klauth calls, and I turn my head to look at him. His scent—smoke and brimstone—reaches me even through the dust. “Allow me to shift and dig out what you broke loose already.” He rests a hand on my front leg, the warmth of his touch penetrating my scales as he stares into the hole I have started.
I shift back, my bones and muscles contracting painfully as I return to my human form, and move with Abraxis out of the way. Klauth shifts, and it still amazes me, the size of his great wyrm dragon. The ground trembles beneath my feet as he transforms. His talons cut through the stone like a knife through butter, the sound of scraping rock echoing across the mountaintop. As he digs, I see how deep my breath weapon destroyed the stone, the charred edges still sizzling with residual energy.
“As much as the idea scares me, I think your breath weapon got stronger, Mina,” Abraxis says as we move further out of Klauth’s way. The wind whips his hair around his face, bringing his woodsy scent to my nose.
“I think so too.” I rest my head on the ball of his shoulder, watching Klauth dig. The rhythmic motion is hypnotic, his massive form moving with surprising grace.
He leans in and kisses my cheek, his lips warm against my wind-chilled skin. “I’m going to leave you two alone. There’s something you still need to do for him.” Abraxis pulls his braid of my hairforward, and I nod. It was long overdue for all of them, and now is as good of time as any.
Abraxis’s sudden departure catches Klauth’s attention, and he shifts back, his massive dragon form shrinking with a shimmer of heat. “Is everything alright?” He takes me in his arms and holds me flush to his chest. His heartbeat is strong against my ear, his body radiating heat that chases away the mountain chill.
“It is now.” I tilt my head back, looking up at him with a smile. The mountain sun highlights the crimson flecks in his eyes.
“Something on your mind, mate?” He presses his lips to my forehead, his breath warm against my skin.
“I’ve got to set something right.” I reach into his jacket and pull out my braid from the inside pocket. The silver-green strands catch the light as I hold it between us. “Please sit.” I motion to a boulder. He moves quickly and takes a seat, the excitement dancing in his eyes almost does me in. I straddle his lap so my chest is against his as I reach for his hair. The silky strands of auburn slip through my fingers. Using a small piece of thread, I knot my hair with his, then braid them together. The auburn of his hair with the silver-green of mine is an interesting contrast, like autumn meeting spring. As I braid, I feel his drake purring to me, the vibration rumbling through his chest into mine. His arms are tight around me, holding me as if I may vanish at any moment, his scent enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth.
When I finish braiding his hair, I lean back, looking at my work. The intertwined strands gleam in the sunlight. I kiss his lips gently, savoring the softness and the taste of cinnamon on his breath. As I pull back, his eyes are shining with unshed tears, the emotion in them stealing my breath. Between the scale and the braid, I know it means a lot to him; the significance making my heart swell.
“You honor us greatly, mate. The scales and braids are ancient rites performed by the strongest bonded mates.” He kisses my cheek, and I smile, leaning into him, the rough stubble on his jaw tickling my skin.
“Will my scales live on my non-dragon mates? I know they have nothing to give me. But to be stronger bound to them would be nice.” I glance down, awaiting his answer, my fingers tracing patterns on his chest.
“There’s only one way to find out.” He smiles and kisses me softly, his lips lingering on mine. “Let’s finish up here, and you can hunt down the others and find out.” Klauth shifts and returns to digging, his massive form blotting out the sun for a moment. Excitement bubbles in my chest, thinking about presenting my other mates with my scales, the endless possibilities making my heart race.
CHAPTER 7
Balor
The first monthof school is over, leaving three months until winter break. The air in the cafeteria buzzes with conversation and the clatter of silverware against plates. Mina has been the picture of calm, cool, and collected, and that has me concerned. Usually, Mina is watching over her shoulder and not trusting anyone, her eyes constantly scanning for threats. Yet here she is, sitting in the middle of a bunch of students she doesn’t know in the cafeteria, holding court like she was born to it. The scent of coffee and baked goods wafts through the air as I observe her from a distance.
“What did I miss?” Vaughn walks up, holding his tray piled high with food. The savory aroma of bacon and eggs teasing my nostrils.
“Not sure. It’s kind of odd seeing her like this.” I motion towards our mate wearing her diadem. The silver and moon stones catching the morning light streaming through the tall windows, and an actual dress, of all things. The fabric flows around her as she gestures animatedly to the students gathered at her feet.
“Hmm...” He hums around a bite of his loaded bagel, the sound of his chewing oddly comforting in its normalcy. “I mean, it could beworse. She could be angry and using her talons to shred the campus again.” He shrugs his shoulders before standing and bringing Mina the bacon and breakfast sausages she wanted.
Maybe this is how Mina may have been her entire life if she was treated like she mattered. I stare at her talking with the gargoyles and several members of Ziggy’s birth pride, her laughter ringing clear and bright above the cafeteria’s din.
“Hey man.” Ziggy says, and I almost jump out of my skin, his sudden appearance sending my heart racing.
“Shit! You know I hate when you do that.” I hold my chest over my heart, staring at him, the leather of my jacket creaking with the sudden movement.
