---
The egg pulsed in my arms.
Warm. Alive. Almost…watching me.
I didn't know how far I'd run. My lungs burned. My legs felt like they'd been carved from stone. But I didn't stop—not even when the temple's final roar collapsed into silence behind me. Not even when the smoke faded into the canopy above.
Because I knew if I slowed, I'd remember the look on his face.
That officer. The strongest of them. The one who'd taken the egg without hesitation—without right.
He would've left me to die under the rubble.
I gritted my teeth and gripped the egg tighter, its obsidian-black shell veined with molten red light. It thrummed like a heartbeat against my chest, syncing with mine. Or maybe I was just delirious. I didn't care. The others would've killed for it. Had killed, maybe.
But I didn't steal it. I survived it.
I tore through the underbrush, thorns slicing across my forearms, leaves slapping my face. The forest floor was slick with ash and moisture. Distant birds cawed overhead—then went eerily quiet.
And that's when I heard them.
Voices.
Steps crashing through leaves. Cloaks brushing bark. Weapons drawn.
I froze, ducking low behind a thick root, chest heaving.
"—Wait, is that… someone's ahead."
I turned slowly. Three mages stepped out from the far side of the ridge, coming through another tunnel mouth half-concealed by vines. They wore the same expedition gear—enchanted cloaks, light armor, sigil-etched gloves.
One of them locked eyes with me.
"Auno?" she called. "That you?"
I knew her. Silha. Rank 3 fire mage. She was with the secondary scout team. I opened my mouth—but the words caught.
Because all three of them had just seen it.
The egg.
And I saw the moment they realized what it was.
Silha's gaze sharpened. The other man—Tarn, I think—stepped forward, eyes narrow. "Where's Vren? And the others?"
"I—" I took a step back.
"Is that a dragon egg?" Silha cut in, voice tight with disbelief.
"No," I lied. "It's not what you think—"
But it was too late.
The third, a broad-shouldered earth mage, already had his gauntlet glowing. "You little rat," he spat. "You killed them, didn't you? Took it and ran like a coward!"
"What? No!" My heart pounded. "They died—the vault collapsed! I saved it—I saved myself!"
But none of them listened.
Silha's flames crackled to life. "You think we'll just let you walk out with that? That's a royal-class artifact—a dragon egg, you bastard!"
They came at me fast.
I turned and ran.
Branches tore at my clothes. Roots tried to catch my boots. The egg throbbed harder now—panicked, almost.
They hurled spells.
Fire licked past my cheek. A stone spike missed my leg by inches. Wind slammed into my back like a hammer.
I stumbled, fell, rolled—but never let go of the egg.
Never let go of her.
Because deep down, something told me she wouldn't let go of me either.
---
The wind howled as I darted between the trees, heart pounding like a war drum. Every breath scorched my lungs. Every branch whipped at my skin. And still—they chased.
I could hear Silha shouting spells. Tarn cursing my name. The earth mage's footsteps pounded behind me like a drum of judgment.
The egg pulsed harder with each second. I swore I felt heat radiating from it now, not just warmth—but pressure. Energy. Like it was alive. A presence curled deep inside.
I clutched it tighter, pressing my face into its side. "Come on, do something. Anything. You're a dragon egg, right? Hatch. Breathe fire. Fly me out of here!"
A bolt of fire grazed my shoulder. I screamed, staggering as the pain bit through fabric and skin.
"I'm gonna die—" I panted, heart clawing its way into my throat. "Come on, Sparky! I'm giving you a name and everything—just help me!"
That's when it happened.
The egg flared.
Not just light—power. Blinding, blistering, white-hot power. It cracked in my hands, fire bursting from within like the breath of a god.
My body lit up.
Not from outside—but from within.
Power flooded my veins. My eyes snapped open—and the world changed.
Boom.
Flames exploded outwards in a blazing ring, shredding the forest with a force so strong it hurled trees like twigs. The explosion roared like a dragon's cry, a tempest of fire and fury. The chasing mages didn't even scream—most of them were gone in an instant, burned to ash and bone.
Only one remained.
The earth mage.
He'd shielded himself with a barrier—cracked, trembling, useless now. His arm hung limp. Blood dripped from his mouth. He stared at me with wide, terror-stricken eyes.
"You…" he gasped. "What the hell are you?"
I didn't know how to answer. I didn't even know how I was still standing.
He cursed under his breath and fell with a thud.
I stared down at my hands—still steaming. The egg floated beside me now, spinning lazily, pulsing with flickers of red-gold light.
And I knew.
I wasn't carrying power.
I was bonded to it.
I ran.
Not because anyone was chasing anymore—but because I didn't know what else to do. The trees were gone. The forest was half-demolished. Smoke curled around my legs as I stumbled toward a nearby ridge and found a cave just beyond the charred remains.
I collapsed inside, panting.
The egg hovered nearby, like it was watching me.
I wiped the sweat from my face, hands still shaking. "Okay… okay, Sparky. What the hell was that? You saved me—or maybe I saved you. But we're even now, right?"
The egg pulsed once. Then twice. Like it was listening.
I laughed breathlessly. "Sparky. Yeah. You need a name. And I really hope you're not some evil war monster who'll roast me in my sleep."
The egg rose higher.
Glowed.
Burst into flames.
"Wait, no—!"
The fire engulfed me again—but this time it didn't burn. It hugged me. Cradled me. Pulled me under like warm ocean waves.
Then everything went black.
---
I groaned as light pierced my eyes.
The scent of smoke lingered in the air—but it was faint now. Distant. A memory.
I blinked blearily.
Stone ceiling. Faint embers around me. And something… soft.
Something warm and curved and dangerously feminine pressed against my chest.
My hand reflexively squeezed.
My fingers sank into something that felt like it was made to be touched. Firm yet soft. Smooth as silk. A perfect curve that fit right into my palm like destiny had sculpted it for me.
I flexed my fingers again. "Hnnn…"
She shifted in my arms.
I froze.
And slowly—very slowly—I looked down.
A woman.
No—a goddess.
Naked.
Her skin glowed faintly like fresh-forged gold, smooth and flawless. Her hair shimmered like ember silk, cascading around her bare shoulders. She had the kind of beauty that hurt to look at—lips made for sin, curves sculpted by desire, and a body so divine it felt like dreaming.
And her eyes—
They opened.
Burning red. Deep. Ancient. Like a dragon's gaze distilled into human form.
When our eyes met—I felt my entire body seize. Like staring into a volcano right before eruption. Beautiful. Deadly. Eternal.
I couldn't breathe.
And I couldn't look away.
She smirked faintly. "You're touching me."
I blinked.
Then looked down.
My hand was still full of her ass.
I pulled back in sheer panic—blushing, stammering—but before I could say a word…
She leaned in closer.
And whispered in a voice that rumbled like distant thunder:
"You're Mine."
---