Page 24 of Queen of the Cursed Egg
Klauth is shifted inside the private part of the nest on egg duty, his massive crimson form curled protectively around our future. It was the only way we could get Mina to leave the eggs behind—the reassurance that one of the ancients would guard them with his life.
The crisp mountain air fills my lungs, a welcome change from the humid warmth of the inner chambers. Mina has enacted several work tithes versus money ones to support the growing flight. Her practical nature showing through her leadership decisions. The sound of construction—hammers striking nails, saws biting through wood, voices calling instructions—creates a symphony of progress around us.
Immediate family and those blood-related to bond members live in the mountain below us, nestled in the ancient stone corridors that smell of earth and history. Everyone else who joins builds onto the structures outside of the mountain within the walls, expanding our territory like rings around the core of our unique family. The scent of freshly cut lumber mingles with the natural perfume of wildflowers that Mina insisted be planted throughout the grounds.
“What’s our current count, Thauglor?” Mina asks as she checks the flower bed closest to her, her fingers gently brushing the vibrant petals. The soil is dark and rich beneath her hands, staining her fingertips as she tests its quality.
“Eighteen families outside of our bloodlines,” he answers proudly before pulling out a notepad, the leather cover worn from frequent use. The pages rustle in the light breeze as he flips through them, his meticulous records a testament to his ancient habit of documenting everything.
“My birth pride wants to join,” Ziggy mentions softly, his voice barely audible above the ambient sounds of construction. He avoids looking at anyone when he says it, his shoulders hunched slightly, as if bracing for rejection. The scent of his anxiety—sharp and acrid—cuts through the pleasant aromas of the garden.
“What’s wrong with that?” I glance from Mina to Ziggy, clearly missing something. The tension in the air thickens, pressing against my skin like an invisible weight.
“According to me, nothing,” Mina says with a growl that vibrates in her chest, her eyes flashing with protective fire. “They are family because Ziggy is family. It’s mostly his cousins and a few siblings that want to join.” She reaches out to snuggle with Ziggy, her arm sliding around his waist, pulling him close. The gesture speaks volumes—she claims him, defends him, and will fight for him.
“Some of the dragon nests won’t be so quick to welcome them,” Abraxis says, then stops walking, his boots scraping against the stone path as he halts. His face darkens with concern, weathered features set in grim lines.
“Then they will be given a choice. Accept them or be banished,” Mina’s growl echoes in the courtyard, bouncing off stone walls and making my ears ring. The other dragons milling around stop and watch her, their bodies going still as prey animals sensing a predator. The air crackles with her authority, heavy with the weight of her power. “Ziggy’s family is coming to live here,” Mina yells, her voice carrying across the open space, and then stares at the dozen or so people in the courtyard. They nod and lower their heads beforewalking away, the shuffling of their feet against the ground the only sound for several tense moments.
Mina turns and points to the left side of the courtyard, her movement decisive. “Over there, where all the trees are, would be nice for them. They can build their homes however they need.” She leans her head on Ziggy’s shoulder, the sunshine highlighting the contrast between her silver green hair and his fair skin. The scent of her—ozone and something uniquely dragonic—intensifies with her satisfaction at solving the problem.
“What tithe should I tell them they owe?” Ziggy asks softly. If I remember right, he said his people were struggling because they are considered abyssal dwellers. Their skin shimmers with an otherworldly iridescence even in shadow, marking them as different. Most species won’t hire them, prejudice running deeper than reason.
“Gardening and transportation. Whenever I need it, for them to hunt for me or my hatchlings,” Mina says softly, making sure the tithe doesn’t cost them any money, just time. Her voice is gentle now, her earlier rage subsided like a storm passing quickly over the mountains.
“None of your tithes involve money. How are you keeping the flight afloat?” Abraxis asks, and I arch a brow. That’s been a question I dare not ask, though it’s been simmering in my mind. The wind picks up, carrying the scent of rain from distant clouds gathering over the peaks.
“I’m glad you asked,” Mina smiles and hops up on a low wall to sit, the stone warm from the afternoon sun against her thighs. Her casual grace never fails to captivate me. “Apparently, being Queen has some advantages. There was a considerable amount of wealth set aside from when Klauth ruled here. The temple of Bahamut kept it safe and kept adding interest to it.”
Thauglor steps forward, the leather of his boots creaking, and motions to himself, his rings catching the sunlight and sending prisms dancing across the ground. “I had a considerable fortune hidden in the mountains near Blackhaven and pulled it out of hiding. So between all three things, the Royal salaries, what Klauth and I had put away—technically no one needs to work if they don’t want to,” Thauglor says, his deep voice rumbling with satisfaction.
“I want to work,” Mina says with a pout, her lower lip jutting out in a way that makes my heart skip a beat. A bead of sweat rolls down my spine as the afternoon heat intensifies. Or perhaps it’s just my reaction to her proximity.
“You’re running an eighteen-family flight that’s growing daily and helping with an entire continent. Oh, and let’s not forget going to school, and soon to be a mom to three hatchlings,” I say sarcastically and tilt my head, looking at her. The breeze ruffles her hair, sending strands dancing across her face.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about all that,” Mina says, and we laugh, the sound ringing true and clear in the mountain air. Sometimes she makes this life look so effortless, her strength and determination shining through every challenge like sunlight through stained glass.
CHAPTER 16
Mina
Leander and Iare out in the gardens, harvesting vegetables for tonight’s dinner. The late afternoon sun warms my skin despite the cool mountain breeze that occasionally stirs my hair. My fingers dig into the rich, dark soil as I pluck ripe tomatoes from their vines, their earthy scent mingling with the sweet perfume of nearby flowering herbs. This is the dinner I’ve been dreading for the better half of the last two weeks.
Tonight, we’re going to tell Abraxis’s family about the eggs. Granted, we’re going to act like I just laid them, but that’s besides the point. Not knowing how many moles my father has is making finding him impossible. He always feels like he’s one step ahead of us, a shadow I can never quite catch.
“This is dangerous, Mina,” Leander whispers to me when he steps closer, his boots making soft impressions in the soil as he drops eggplants into the basket. The vegetables land with a dull thud against the woven fibers, their glossy purple skin catching the golden light.
“I know. But how else am I supposed to root out if there’s a spy here?” I tilt my head, looking at him, and there’s a sadness in his eyes. The fiery orange of his irises dims slightly, like embers cooling.
“I can’t defend you like the others,” he laments as he picks several peppers, their crisp snap audible as they break from the stems. His fingers move deftly despite his frustration, the muscles in his forearms tensing with each movement.
“No offense, but that’s exactly why I brought you with me. There’s been things of mine that have gone missing from the lower chambers.” I kiss his temple, feeling the heat of his skin against my lips, and tilt my head, watching him. The scent of cinnamon and smoke that always clings to him fills my nostrils. “Someone that doesn’t belong here is here.” I turn my face away from him and speak directly into his mind. ‘That person has been watching us for the last twenty minutes. I want you to take the basket and walk towards the building. Thauglor is on the cliff face as well as Abraxis, using their black scales to blend in, watching us. I’ll be okay.’
“I’m going to take the veggies into the house to start dinner. Don’t be too long,” Leander says reluctantly, his voice tight with worry. The wicker basket creaks as he takes it from me, our fingers brushing momentarily.
“I won’t keep you waiting. I just want to check the herb garden, and I’ll be right in.” I kiss him on his lips and stare into his fiery gaze. He threads his fingers through my long silver and green hair, the strands sliding like silk against his skin, and smiles. Leander kisses me once more, his lips warm and insistent against mine, then walks away, leaving me alone. The sound of his boots against the stone path fades as he disappears around the corner.
‘Is he here?’Thauglor’s voice echoes in my mind, a deep resonance that vibrates through my skull.
