Students of various species move between classes in small groups—young dragons practicing controlled shifts in designated areas, gargoyle adolescents testing their wing strength, and basilisk youngsters learning to manage their dangerous gazes behind protective eyewear. The diversity never fails to remind me how far our community has evolved from the old days of species segregation and mistrust.
I arrive at Shadowcarve Academy’s main training complex, where the familiar sounds of combat instruction echo from the practice halls. The building itself is a masterpiece of architecture—reinforced stone walls that can withstand dragon fire, specialized flooring that provides perfect traction for clawed feet, and magical ventilation systems that accommodate beings who breathe everything from regular air to poisonous gases.
Inside one of the larger practice rooms, I spot Mina standing with elegant poise as she observes Vaughn conducting his defense class. He’s working with what appears to be a confident fourth-year student, their movements flowing through complex combat sequences with the fluid precision that comes from years of dedicated training.
I lean against one of the massive stone pillars that support the vaulted ceiling, content to watch Vaughn work his educational magic. He moves among a group of first-year students with infinite patience, walking them through basic defensive movements with the gentle encouragement that builds confidence rather than fear.
Watching him interact with these young students fills my chest with warmth and certainty. Deep in my heart, I know without any doubt that he will be an absolutely amazing father. The way he instinctively knows how to guide without overwhelming, how to correct mistakes without crushing spirits—these are the gifts that make exceptional parents.
A smile spreads across my face as I observe his teaching methods. Vaughn has traveled such an incredible journey from the uncertain, self-doubting mate who first joined our nest to becoming the second most beloved father figure among our children. I’m the favorite, and that’s solely because of my tendency to turn everything into playful games that keep the hatchlings entertained for hours.
He trades places with the advanced fourth-year student, pairing the older student with a nervous first-year who clearly needs additional guidance and support. Vaughn positions himself directly behind the younger student, holding a long wooden dowel that he uses with surgical precision to prompt correct movements and positioning.
The sight is almost hypnotic—he looks like some kind of ultimate puppet master as he guides the first-years through increasingly complex defensive sequences. The dowel touches here to adjust a stance, taps there to remind about guard position, creating a seamless flow of instruction that gradually builds muscle memory and confidence.
Eventually, he steps back and stops prompting entirely, allowing the student to execute the movements independently. But he remains close by, his experienced eyes tracking every motion, ready to intervene if needed but giving the young fighter space to discover his own capabilities.
The teaching display is beautiful in its patience and effectiveness, demonstrating exactly why Vaughn has earned such respect among both faculty and students at the academy.
Mina moves closer to me with that graceful glide that never fails to make my pulse quicken, then wraps her arms around my waist with familiar intimacy. I lean down to press a gentle kiss to her temple, purring softly just for her ears—a sound that speaks of contentment, love, and the deep satisfaction of being exactly where I belong.
But as I breathe in her familiar scent, something subtle has changed. There’s a shift in her natural fragrance that makes my senses suddenly alert and focused.
Slowly, careful not to draw unwanted attention to our intimate moment, I brush her silky hair away from the elegant curve of her neck. What I see there makes my heart rate accelerate with anticipation and excitement.
The color of her scales are beginning its transformation. The first subtle hint of magenta can be detected in the center of eachscale—the earliest sign that her fertile cycle is beginning ahead of our carefully calculated schedule.
“You’re running a few days ahead of our projected timeline,” I whisper close to her ear, my breath warm against her skin as I try to keep my voice casual despite the surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Yeah, I can’t help the biological acceleration,” she responds softly, turning her gaze skyward through the large windows that flood the training hall with natural light. “The current moon phase has moved up our entire timetable.”
“When do we need to begin the operation?” I ask, nuzzling her cheek while breathing in that increasingly potent shift in her scent that signals the approach of her most fertile period.
“By this afternoon, definitely. Maybe sooner to be completely safe,” Mina replies with a smirk and an eye roll that suggests she’s both amused and slightly exasperated by her body’s refusal to stick to our carefully planned schedule. “Thauglor extracted the information from Raven using his ability. I swear, those two share a single brain sometimes.”
“Little Raven actually squealed on our mission?” I ask with surprise, arching an eyebrow as I guide Mina away from the training complex toward a more private location.
“No, her daddy used his wyrm gift to see what secrets she was concealing,” Mina clarifies as we step outside the academy gates into the afternoon air. She laughs softly, the sound carrying notes of affection and mild frustration. “The good news is that he’s completely on board with our plans, so you now have another powerful adult ally.”
As we walk, Mina closes her eyes for a moment, and I notice her natural scent growing stronger and more intoxicating with each passing minute. I recognize that expression on her beautiful face—it’s the look that appears when a wave of her heat cycle washes over her with increasing intensity.
“We need to go immediately,” I declare, wrapping my arms securely around her warm body and phasing us both instantly into the hidden chamber deep within our nest.
The transition from the outdoor academy grounds to our secret sanctuary happens in the space between heartbeats. We materialize in the specially prepared cavern that will serve as Mina’s private retreat during the most crucial phase of Operation Last Clutch.
The chamber has been meticulously arranged with everything she could need—luxurious blankets in her favorite colors, an abundance of soft pillows for comfort, wet wipes for convenience, an assortment of her preferred foods and beverages, and all the other necessities that will ensure her complete comfort during the romantic encounters to come.
The space itself is naturally beautiful, with rough stone walls that provide perfect privacy and acoustic dampening. The far side of the cavern features a natural hot spring that fills the air with mineral-rich moisture, creating an atmosphere of primal luxury that appeals to her draconic nature.
Mina walks away from me toward the steaming water, breathing deeply of the humid, mineral-laden air that rises from the thermal spring. The sight of her silhouetted against the rising steam is breathtakingly beautiful—a goddess in her element, preparing for the most intimate aspects of expanding our family.
“Bring someone to me,” she commands, her voice carrying new depths of authority and desire. Her eyes have shifted fully to their dragon state and glow with unmistakable intent that makes my skin tingle with anticipation.
“I’m on it,” I promise with a confident wink before vanishing from the chamber, phasing back into the world above to begin the hunt for new daddy number one.
Operation Last Clutch has officially begun, and I have my mission. Failure is not an option.
Chapter
