31. Abraxis
Abraxis
I can feel the moment their bond snaps into place like a taut wire being drawn tight. Callan’s tether is faint, like a low, inconsistent hum, as unreliable as the male himself. My teeth grind as irritation creeps under my skin. If he makes her cry again, I might have to break Mina’s number one rule of not hitting a nest mate.
My eyes drift down to the egg carrier strapped across my chest. It feels more like a lead weight, a heavy, suffocating burden instead of the precious living entity it should be. The carrier is cold and lifeless, lacking the warmth and hum it seems to hold whenever Mina wears it. I slip the button loose, lifting the flap just enough to peek inside. The shell is dull, a dried blood color marred with unpolished silver swirls that should shimmer but don’t. A knot tightens in my gut.
“I suspect you may be one of Mina’s mates,” I murmur, my voice low and soft, as if the egg might crack at any moment. “We live in dangerous times, and she’ll need you in the coming years.” My fingers hover near the shell, not quite touching it, as I search for any flicker of life within. Nothing. “If she dies, so does your chance of being free.”
For a long moment, there’s only silence—cold and empty, pressing in like a storm about to break. Then, a pulse of energy shudders through the silver swirls, igniting them for a brief heartbeat before fading back into darkness. My breath catches. He might be a mate of Mina’s after all. If that’s the case, at least I won’t have to worry about him harming her when he hatches.
“I’ll do everything within my power to protect her,” I vow, voice barely more than a whisper. The second the words leave my lips, the egg glows—a fierce, bright crimson that flares and pulses three times, each burst brighter than the last. It’s almost like it’s speaking.
Tension eases from my shoulders. Good. He understands.
I lie back on my bed, keeping the carrier snug against my chest. The scent of old smoke and earth clings to the room, but I focus on the steady rhythm of my breathing, trying to find some sense of calm. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” I mutter to the egg, my eyelids heavy. “A flight of firedrakes has it out for her, and who knows what else might come after her because of what we are.”
A yawn breaks free, and I close my eyes, the weight of exhaustion pulling at me. My body curls protectively around the carrier as I settle in, as if by doing so, I can keep Mina safe. As if I can ward off every threat that’s poised to tear her apart.
The egg hums softly, a low, soothing vibration against my chest. My heart skips. It’s faint, almost imperceptible, but it’s there—a hint of life. A tiny promise.
Maybe Mina talking to the egg wasn’t as crazy as it seemed.
The tugging at the carrier is subtle, almost imperceptible, but it jolts me from the edge of sleep. I react before I’m even aware of it, instincts snapping to the surface. My eyes remain closed as my hand darts out, catching the intruder’s throat in a crushing grip. I twist, throwing them down onto the hard ground beneath me. A roar rips free from my chest, reverberating through the confined space, shaking loose dust and debris.
When my brain finally catches up with my actions, I loom over Mina. My hand is wrapped around her neck, fingers pressing into the iridescent scales that shimmer beneath my touch. She’s grinning up at me, lips twisted in that familiar, infuriating smile that always throws me off balance.
“Fuck, Mina—” I release her immediately, stumbling back a step to drop into a crouch on my haunches, chest heaving. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Only she would laugh at a situation like this. The scales around her throat recede, melting back into her skin until she looks more human again. She reaches up, cupping my cheek with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.
“You reacted perfectly, my love.” She leans in, brushing her lips against mine. Her smile is a slow, lazy curve as her eyes flick to the carrier, then back to me. “Your first instinct was to protect the egg.”
Her words settle deep in my chest, a comforting warmth that fills me with a strange sense of pride. I glance down at the carrier, the precious cargo cradled safely within, and something eases inside me.
“It was,” I murmur, patting the side of the carrier gently. “Klauth and I … we’ve got an understanding. ”
Mina’s expression turns playful as she tilts her head, scrutinizing me with those sharp, molten gold eyes. “Oh really? Because you once told me it was silly to talk to an egg.”
Without warning, she reaches out and lifts the egg from the carrier, hugging it to her chest. The moment it touches her skin, the egg pulses—its surface shimmering as it responds to her presence. I watch, mesmerized, as its faint rhythm gradually syncs with the beat of her heart.
My breath catches in my throat. I fumble with the carrier, adjusting the straps to fit her much smaller frame. “Is that what you’re wearing today, or…?”
She rolls her eyes at me and heads to the dresser, stealing one of my black button-downs. I watch, dazed, as she wraps a cloth belt around her waist, cinching it tight. Before I can process what’s happening, she’s turning back, extending the egg towards me with a solemn expression.
“Klauth, this is my mate, Abraxis,” she murmurs softly. “Please do not harm him.”
The egg pulses again, several times in rapid succession. It’s warm—pleasant, almost—and I swear I can feel its thoughts flickering through each beat. I hold perfectly still, afraid that even the slightest movement might provoke it. It’s ridiculous, I tell myself, to be afraid of an egg.
Mina’s giggle breaks the silence, and she shakes her head, eyes dancing with amusement. “To hurt you is to hurt me. He will not harm you, Abraxis.”
Her words are soothing, but then my gaze drops to the fresh marks raking down her ribs. Jagged, angry lines of red surrounded by raised scales. A sudden, blinding rage surges up from the pit of my stomach.
“What the hell did he do to you?” My voice drops to a growl, so low it’s almost unrecognizable. I don’t wait for an answer. My body moves on autopilot, closing the distance between me and the doorway where Callan has just appeared, casual as anything. I slam him against the wall, lifting him clean off his feet.
“What. Did. You. Do?” The pressure of my hand on his throat has him gasping, eyes bulging.
“I marked her. She’s mine too,” he chokes out, struggling against the grip that could easily snap his neck.
My vision tints red, the egg pulsing violently in time with my heartbeat. I should shove it against his skin—let it burn him to ash ? —
“Abraxis!” Mina’s voice cuts through the haze of my fury. She wedges herself between us, her body pressed against mine, the heat of her presence anchoring me.
“He scarred you,” I murmur, voice softer now as I press a kiss to her forehead. But my eyes never leave Callan. The bastard marked her.
“And you scarred me.” Mina tilts her head, exposing the shoulder I’ve bitten and marked so many times before. I stare at my own teeth marks, each one a testament to my claim over her.
“Fair enough,” I grumble, dropping Callan unceremoniously. “Next time, warn me.”
I lean down and capture her lips in a gentle kiss, letting her warmth wash away the last dregs of my anger. My gaze flickers down to the egg in my hand, still glowing faintly. “Can you believe this shit? ”
I shake my head, muttering under my breath as I stalk off towards the kitchen. My thoughts whirl as I try to process everything that’s happened in the last ten minutes. Coffee. I need coffee . I pass Mina the egg as I pass her heading towards the kitchenette.
“Are you going to put pants on?” Mina calls out behind me, laughter evident in her voice.
I glance down, belatedly realizing that I’m still only in my boxers. I shrug. “Nope. My nest, I don’t need pants.”
I hear her snort of amusement as I reach the kitchen, startling Ziggy. He’s mid-sip when his gaze lands on me, eyes widening. “Put the pork sword away, dude. No one needs to see that thing first thing in the morning.” He shields his eyes dramatically.
“Get over it.” I roll my eyes, reaching for a mug. “We’ve all showered together in the barracks—you know what I’m working with.”
“Wait— all of you have showered together?” Mina’s voice is curious, and I glance over my shoulder to find her perched on a stool, the egg cradled in her lap. That wicked glint is back in her eyes, and I know someone’s in for it later.
I grin, handing her a cup of coffee and leaning down to kiss her temple. “Yup. But none of them look half as good as you do in my shirt.”
The egg pulses in her hands, and I swear it’s approving.
It’s the first time in years I’ve had a lazy Sunday. The kind of day where the world outside fades into insignificance, and all that matters is the peaceful atmosphere inside these four walls. Mina has her back against the arm of the couch, one leg hooked over mine, the other draped across my lap as she reads through the heavy tome Callan brought over yesterday. The soft rustle of turning pages fills the room, blending with the muted hum of the egg carrier at her side. Callan is seated at the opposite end, her feet in his lap as he massages them with the kind of care that makes me almost envious.
“What are we doing today?” Balor’s voice breaks the silence as he emerges from his room, his unruly hair sticking up in wild angles. He stretches languidly, his arms above his head, and then fixes us with an expectant look.
“As little as possible,” Mina murmurs, glancing up over the top of her book. A teasing smile curves across her lips. “It’s been a helluva year so far.” She shifts slightly, the fabric of her shirt rustling as she arches her neck, tilting her head to peer up at him. “Ooh, while you’re up, can you grab me another coffee, please?”
“Sure. Cream and three sugars?” Balor asks as he pivots on his heel, already heading towards the kitchen.
“Yes, please.” She hums softly, her attention drifting back to the tome’s faded pages as if she’s fallen back under its spell. I catch a glimpse of the section she’s reading—the scrawled, angular script details the cursed eggs’ capture and the tragic fates of the drakes within.
“Find anything interesting?” I lean to the side, trying to read over her shoulder, the scent of her perfume teasing my senses. It’s a soothing scent, grounding me as much as the warmth of her legs over mine.
“Klauth…” Her fingers trail over the edge of the egg carrier, a fond smile touching her lips. “He was the hardest to capture. He went into a rage after his intended’s nest was attacked and burned to ash.” She ca nts her head slightly, those radiant eyes locking onto mine. “I know another drake who would tear the world apart if anything ever happened to me.”
My chest tightens as I hold her gaze. She’s always had this uncanny way of reading me, of knowing exactly what I’m thinking before I say a word. The corner of my mouth twitches up, a dark promise lingering behind my voice. “I think Klauth would join me in razing the continent if he’s hatched. There wouldn’t be a single soul left alive outside of your nest.”
As if understanding, the egg carrier thrums softly. A low, resonant sound that I can feel more than hear. My fingers curl protectively around Mina’s leg, my gaze dropping to the delicate rise and fall of her chest, the slight shimmer in the air around the egg. Magic pulses faintly, and I wonder if Klauth is responding to the conversation—if somewhere, deep within that enchanted shell, he’s already attuned to the fierce protectiveness I feel for the woman at my side.
Mina’s laughter breaks through my thoughts, light and melodic, as she strokes the egg carrier with one hand. “I would wager that you are right, my love.”
A comfortable silence settles over us, broken only by the turning of pages and the rhythmic thump of Balor’s steps as he returns, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. “Here you go, Miss Queen of caffeine,” he jokes, handing it to her with a flourishing bow.
“Thank you, kind sir.” Mina takes it, her fingers brushing his briefly. Then she returns to reading, her eyes scanning the lines with that determined focus she gets when she’s on the verge of discovering something crucial.
I settle back, content to watch her. The hum from the egg carrier blends with the faint murmur of her reading voice, each word a reminder of how precious these moments are. There’s no looming threat today, no cursed relic to chase or enemy to confront. Just this quiet, unguarded peace, and the steady presence of the people I love most.
Balor plops down beside us, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “So, what’s the verdict? Do we laze around all day or find some trouble to get into?”
“As tempting as trouble sounds…” I trail off, tightening my hold on Mina’s leg just enough to feel her warmth seep into my skin. “I’m content to do absolutely nothing.”
The afternoon stretches on; the light shifting subtly as the day wears on. Mina continues reading, Balor throws a blanket over us and dozes off beside her, and Callan quietly traces absentminded patterns on her ankle. There’s a tranquility in the air, a fragile balance I rarely get to enjoy. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I allow myself to simply exist in it.